Page 10 of Honeymoon for Seven

There was only one thing about how this day was playing out that Nick liked: a chance to get to know Ginnie better. Aside from that, everything was falling apart at the seams. The ship was moving along, but still swaying from side to side. Any minute now he expected to see chairs and tables and dishes and maybe even people flying back and forth like a scene from a bad tornado movie.

“Has your sister tried to reach you?” Ginnie walked slowly at his side.

In all the chaos of the announcement and his mother’s fall, it hadn’t occurred to him to look at his phone.

“I thought I overheard the passenger entering the room across the hall say something about the ship turning on phone access to all passengers because folks were left behind.”

Enthused for all of three seconds, he immediately noticed only one bar on his phone. “The ship may have given us access, but the storm seems to have other ideas.” He flipped his phone around for her to see.

“Maybe when we get away from this mess you’ll be able to talk to your sister.”

“Hope so. I’d feel better if I knew they were somewhere comfortable and safe.” He didn’t want to share all the visions of past tsunamis and hurricane images that were replaying in his mind.

“I’m sure they’re fine.” Her lips tipped up at the corners and a sparkle shone in her eyes. “Probably enjoying time alone.”

He couldn’t argue with that. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to hit the concierge desk before grabbing a bite to eat.”

“Don’t mind at all. I’d like to find out how long before they think we’ll be able to sail out of this mess and when the other passengers will be able to join us.”

Once they reached the promenade deck, he was surprised by how few passengers were milling about. Then, as if to remind him, the ship leaned sharply left, almost knocking him and Ginnie off their feet. Smart people were probably in their cabins and not trying to walk around.

As they approached a café, a young woman with long blonde hair sat like a rag doll in one of the chairs. Her head tipped back along the top of the seat, her companion had a cloth he was dipping in a water glass and gently wiping her forehead. His face pinched with concern, he softly asked her if she thought she could make it back to the room. The poor woman started to shake her head and stopping short, her one hand flew to her stomach and the other to her mouth.

Now that Nick looked a little more closely, the poor woman did appear a bit green around the gills. The ship shifted again and once more, Ginnie bounced against him. This time he grabbed her by the arms to steady them both. “You okay?”

Her gaze locked with his and she dipped her chin just a hint. For a long moment neither moved until the ship swayed in the opposite direction and Nick jogged back a few steps.

Ginnie stretched out an arm to balance herself against the shop window. “I think we rock less when we keep moving.”

“Agreed. Let’s get moving.” He almost reached out and grabbed her hand. The move felt so natural, but common sense prevailed.

“Oh, dear.” She stuttered to a halt.

Nick glanced up in the direction she stared. A line of people at the concierge desk wrapped around the atrium and down the opposite hall. He bit his tongue, because what he was thinking wasn’t as fitting for polite company asoh, dear. “Maybe we need to eat now and ask questions later.”

“Or maybe you need to get in line and I need to go bring us back a hot dog or something easy to eat while standing.”

For a fraction of a moment he considered her suggestion, then he looked at the length of the line and knew it wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “No, let’s get some food. Maybe they’ll make a general announcement soon.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking.” He hadn’t needed to announce who he was, Nick remembered the voice from earlier and couldn’t help but think what perfect timing. “We have no solid information for you on when the storm will pass or when your fellow passengers and loved ones will be able to rejoin the ship. Please be patient and we will update you as soon as we have more information to share.”

There was lots of muttering and some people on the line shifted about.

“I am guessing in about five minutes’ half of those people are going to realize they’re hungry and aren’t going to learn anything more when they get to the front of the line.”

A handful of people stepped out of the line and Nick knew she was right. “But I don’t think they’re going to need even five minutes.” Spinning around, he grabbed the hand he’d wanted to grab early and darted towards the rear elevators leading up to the buffet. “Last man to the elevator is a rotten egg.”

The loud cackle that escaped Ginnie’s throat made his bold gesture of grabbing her hand and bolting down the ship so totally worth it.

Chapter Six

For the first time in forever, Ginnie felt like a schoolgirl. Running through the ship, holding hands with a good-looking guy, skirting around people lingering on the shopping deck, bumping into each other when the ship rocked. The laughter only grew louder and stronger. As if propelled by rocket fuel, they darted up the stairs. With each flight, their steps slowing ever so slightly. When a couple of teens came racing up the stairs halfway to the buffet deck, their gazes caught, his grip on her tightened, and with only a sly smile, the two raced the kids up the rest of the stairs—and won!

Of course, at the top of the stairs breathing was coming hard and heavy, but they’d done it, and even if her lungs were desperate for air, she couldn’t stop laughing. “That was fun.”

Sucking in a long deep breath, bending over in a mirror image of her stance, one hand on his knee, the other still holding onto her, Nick nodded. “It was, wasn’t it?” He lifted his head to where the kids were now running across the floor and into the buffet area. “But I might need to be in better shape if we’re going to do this again.”

That only made her laugh harder. “Maybe I’ll just have a salad for lunch.”

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