Afraid Knot, page 7
The kids encircled her, trying to read the clue.
Jimmy shouted, “I know, I know!” He raced towards the stairs.
Olivia jumped out and yelled. “Arrrr! Who’s coming to steal my treasure?”
Jimmy lunged at her with his paper sword.
Chico squawked. “Uh oh!”
The sword crumpled as it hit Olivia’s thigh.
Olivia lunged towards the kids. “Are you here to steal my treasure?!”
The kids screamed and ran towards Hayley and Rachel. Isabella started to whimper, and Rachel scooped her up and whispered in her ear.
Olivia leaned down. “If I share my treasure with you, do you promise not to give away my secret location?”
“Treat!” Chico yelled.
The children joined in, chanting, “Treat, treat, treat!”
Olivia opened the trunk and the kids dove in grabbing toys and candy. “Just one toy and one piece of candy each.”
Jimmy shoved a handful of treasure in his pocket. Olivia saw him but decided not to push the issue with him.
Isabella hung back, too scared of Olivia in her pirate costume to come closer.
Olivia pulled out a few gold foil wrapped chocolate coins and a plastic necklace and handed it to Hayley to give to Isabella.
Isabella grabbed them from Hayley and buried her head in Rachel’s arms.
Hayley got the kids’ attention. “Time to leave the pirate alone to guard her treasure. We have a party to go to!”
The children’s shrieks echoed off of the wall.
“Argh!” Chico shouted.
“You’re not helping, Chico.”
Hayley led the kids away. She glanced back over her shoulder. “See you in the Disco after you get out of your outfit?”
Olivia nodded. She closed the lid on the treasure chest. When she turned around, she saw Alex leaning against the wall, looking at her.
“Oh!” Olivia hesitated. “I didn’t know you were still here.”
“I figured you might need security if the little pirates got out of hand.”
“Everyone dance to the port side of the ship. Do you know which side is the port side?”
The kids looked quizzically at Rachel.
“It’s your left side.” Rachel held up her left hand.
The kids wiggled, but didn’t move to their left.
Jimmy raced around in circles.
Hayley grabbed Olivia’s hand and pulled her up front. “Let’s show them how it’s done!”
Rachel called out more dance moves while Olivia and Hayley led the kids in the dances.
“Let’s see if we can make the ship bounce in the water! Everyone jump up and down!”
The kids all jumped up and down to the beat of the music.
Rachel pretended she was going to fall from the ship rocking back and forth. “Whoa! The ship is rocking and rolling!”
The kids jumped higher, giggling.
“Freestyle!” Rachel shouted into the microphone.
The children went bananas, dancing and wiggling to the music. Jimmy flopped to the floor and spun around on his back.
Olivia swept Isabella into her arms and spun her around the dance floor until she giggled uncontrollably.
Hayley and Rachel grabbed the hands of a couple of the children and danced with them in a circle.
Sweat trickled down Olivia’s forehead as she carried Isabella around the dance floor. “Up?” Olivia lifted Isabella up into the air, as Isabella belly laughed.
“Me, me, me!” The kids grabbed Olivia’s shirt and shorts to get her attention. She lowered Isabella to the ground and danced with a few of the other children.
Hayley tapped Olivia on the shoulder and gestured for her to follow her. Olivia left the kids dancing to the music.
“They’re going to sleep well tonight!” Olivia shouted over the music.
“Me too. All this dancing makes up for not going to the gym this week.” Hayley pointed to the cake. “They are going to crash from the sugar in that frosting. Help me cut up pieces and put them on plates, please.”
“Of course.”
Hayley cut the cake and Olivia scooped the pieces onto small paper plates. She stuck a fork in each piece of cake. Once they had enough pieces cut up and plated, they gestured to Rachel to lower the music and lead the kids over.
Olivia handed out drinks to the kids as Hayley and Rachel took them each a piece of cake.
“Everyone sit on your bottoms and be careful not to drop your cake.”
A little boy leaned towards his slice of cake and licked the frosting off. “I don’t like cake. Only frosting,” He announced.
Olivia looked at Hayley and shrugged. “It’s my favorite part, too!”
Hayley grinned as she licked the knife. “Not bad.”
Jimmy jumped up, holding his plate filled with cake. “More!”
Olivia walked up to him. “Jimmy, you still have most of your slice of cake. Now sit down on your bottom before you spill it.”
Jimmy dropped to the floor. His plate launched out of his hand and the cake went flying.
Oliva tried to grab it before it hit the floor.
Jimmy jumped up when he realized his cake was falling. His head collided with Olivia’s face.
Olivia reeled backward, blood trickling down her chin. Warm blood covered her palm as she covered her mouth with her hand.
A gasp hissed out of the nearby children.
“I didn’t mean it.” Tears ran down Jimmy’s cheeks. He threw the plate on the floor.
Olivia closed her eyes and took a breath. “I know you didn’t. Rach, can you get Jimmy another piece of cake?”
Rachel scooped up another slice of cake for him.
“Jimmy stay on your bottom so you don’t drop it, okay?”
Jimmy nodded.
Olivia bent down to clean up the cake. A little girl recoiled from her.
Hayley grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. “Let me see.”
Olivia swallowed. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
Hayley shook her head. “Your lip is really split. You might need stitches.”
Olivia shook her head. “No, it’s not that bad.”
“Do you really want to take the risk of having a scar on your face?”
Olivia’s shoulders sagged, “No.”
“Then go see Dr. Kohli. He’ll know what to do.”
“I can’t leave you and Rachel here all alone with all these kids.”
“Go. We’ll be fine.” Hayley walked Olivia towards the door. “Their parents will pick them up in just a few minutes.”
Barrett met them at the door. “Whoa! What happened to you?”
Hayley sighed. “Oh good, you’re here. Olivia got head butted by one of the kids and split her lip. Can you walk her down to the infirmary?”
Barrett looked into the Disco. “I’m supposed to be getting things set up for when we open.”
“I am perfectly capable of walking myself down.” Olivia waved Hayley and Barrett off, another gush of blood ran down her chin as she took her hand off of her mouth to talk. Olivia wobbled.
Barrett grabbed her arm. “No, she’s right. I’ll take you to Dr. Kohli.”
“Thanks Barrett. Keep an eye on her.”
“I will.”
“Back to the munchkins for me.” Hayley jogged back into the disco.
Barrett pulled out a handkerchief. “Here, you can use this to stop the blood.”
“Thanks. You really don’t have to walk me down. I know how to get to the infirmary.”
“Ah, it’s no big deal. I bring passengers down there a few times a week when they’ve had a little too much to drink.” Barrett pushed the elevator button. “Lots of folks overestimate how much they can drink when the ship hits some waves. At least you’re not going to barf on me. You’re not feeling sick are you?”
Olivia shook her head. “No, you’re safe.”
Barrett sighed in relief as he punched the B Deck button. “Good. I’ve had some doozies this week, so it is good to know.”
“Been a crazy cruise, huh?”
“Yeah. Some cruises you get bigger partiers than others. I had someone pass out cold, and a couple of women were in one of the bathrooms fighting a few days back. I also had to escort a few passengers to their cabins who couldn’t stand up by themselves. It’s always something. But that’s my job, you know?”
“I think I’ll stick to doing my magic show.”
“Were you doing a magic show for the kids when you got hurt?”
“No, I’m helping out in the youth department this cruise.”
“Lots of kids this cruise?”
“Yeah.” Olivia slurred. “Sorry, my lip is swelling, and it is hard to talk.”
The elevator opened and Barrett held the door open for Olivia.
She pulled his handkerchief away from her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I think I ruined it.”
“Aw, don’t worry about it. My mom sends me packs of them in every care package she mails me.”
“That’s sweet of her.”
Dr. Kohli looked up from his desk. “Goodness. What wild animal got you this time?”
“A wild animal named Jimmy.”
Dr. Kohli narrowed his gaze. “I am unfamiliar with that species.”
“Jimmy is a seven-year-old boy.”
Dr. Kohli nodded and laughed. “Ah, yes. As the father of five boys, myself, I am familiar with the damage they can do. Thank you for bringing Ms. Morgan to me, Barrett. I’ll handle it from here.”
“Yes, sir.” Barrett waved to Olivia and headed out.
“Let me look at your injury.”
“It’s not bad. It’s just bleeding a lot. You know how much stuff in your mouth can bleed. I wouldn’t have bothered you, but Hayley wanted me to come.”
Dr. Kohli pulled the handkerchief away from her lip. “Hayley was right. It is rather deep.”
“I’m not going to need stitches, am I?” Olivia winced.
Dr. Kohli pulled an ice pack out of his freezer and handed it to her. “No, I believe a butterfly bandage will keep your lip together while it heals.”
“I have a show tomorrow night. I can’t have a bandage on my face.”
Dr. Kohli held up a bandage. “It is tiny, my dear. No one will see it from the audience.”
“Can I take it off during the show?”
“My dear, you do not want it to scar, do you?”
Olivia shook her head. “No, I really don’t.”
“Then behave yourself and leave this on. I want to see you back here in two days so I can make sure it is healing and you don’t have an infection.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, that’s my girl.” Dr. Kohli applied the bandage and held up a small mirror. “See? It hardly shows.”
Olivia’s bottom lip was swollen to twice the size of her top lip and was already turning color. “Hardly.”
“Keep ice on it to reduce swelling.”
Dr. Kohli followed her to the elevator and pushed the button.
“You don’t need to take me to my cabin.”
“Of course, dear. I’m actually going on a hunt for a missing wheelchair. It was missing when I came into the infirmary the other day. I assumed someone would bring it back, but it looks like I need to make a report with your friend Alex.”
“He’s not my friend. I mean, he’s my friend, but…” Olivia trailed off.
“Of course, my dear.” Dr. Kohli winked at Olivia.
“It doesn’t look that bad, Liv.” Hayley stabbed a lettuce leaf and shoved it into her mouth.
“My lip is so swollen, I can see it when I look down.” Olivia stuck out her lip. “And it is purple.”
Rachel rubbed Olivia’s shoulder. “It doesn’t look as bad as it feels. I promise.”
“Maybe we can put some purple lipstick on you and it will look intentional.”
“I hope the swelling will be down by the time we do the show.” Olivia cautiously slurped her soup. “Do you think we’ll be able to cover the bruise with makeup?”
“I made a lot of fake bruises when I took Theatrical Makeup in college. I’m sure I can cover it.”
“I hope so.” Olivia held the ice pack up to her mouth. “Sorry I’m so slow at eating. I keep dribbling down my chin.”
Hayley put her drink down on her tray and stood up. “Take your time. I’d say you should just take the entire night off, but we have the production show tonight so we can’t cover babysitting. Do you want me to talk to Tristan and see if he can have someone cover for you when we have to leave for the show?”
Olivia shook her head. “No, everyone is busy. It’ll be okay. The kids will just be watching a movie. I can ice my mouth there just as easily as I can in my cabin. Hopefully, their parents will pick them up early tonight.”
“Tristan said that if a parent doesn’t pick up their kid at the end of babysitting, we can tell them they can’t leave them with us again.”
“Yeah, but I worry Isabella’s parents would just leave her alone in their cabin after she falls asleep.”
“I never thought of that. Why have kids if you don’t want to take care of them? I enjoy having my freedom. That’s why I don’t plan on having kids.” Hayley picked up her tray. “Don’t rush. Rach and I will handle it until you get there.”
Rachel put a dish of pudding in front of Olivia. “Chocolate pudding will make you feel better.”
“Thanks. Love you both.”
“Love you, too. Sorry you got hurt.”
Rachel and Hayley put their plates in the dirty dish bins and headed up to the Kid’s Club.
Olivia finished her soup. She licked her spoon clean and dipped it into her pudding.
“See you later, Nell.” A crew member got up and left the Officer’s Mess.
“Nell?” Olivia recoiled as she realized she’d said her name out loud.
“Yeah?” A small blond in a cruise staff evening uniform spun around and looked questioningly at Olivia.
“You’re Emerald’s roommate, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” Nell looked Olivia up and down, taking in Olivia’s youth staff uniform. “You work in her department?”
“Not really. I’m just filling in this cruise.” Olivia winced as she bit her lip. “Do you have any ideas about what happened to her?”
“No. Not really.” Nell shook her head. “She’s probably staying in some guy’s cabin.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I told her she couldn’t keep bringing back strange guys to our cabin.”
“Oh. Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem.” Olivia ate the last spoonful of pudding. “Did she leave all of her stuff?”
“That good-looking security officer came with some other guy. They took all of her stuff.”
“Alex? I mean, Officer Ballas?”
“Yep, that’s the one.”
“Oh. If you hear from her, would you mind letting me know?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the last person Emerald would seek out. But sure, I’ll keep you in mind if I hear from her.” Nell picked up her tray and headed out.
“You only have five left. They’re settled in on the mats watching a cartoon.” Rachel grabbed her tote bag. “Need anything before I head to the theatre?”
“No. Thanks for getting them settled for me.”
“I hope the parents come and pick the kids up in a timely manner so you aren’t here too late tonight.”
“Thanks. I am pretty ready for today to be over.” Olivia raised her ice pack to her mouth.
“If it helps, the swelling is down some.”
“I think the ice is helping.” Olivia nodded. “Break a leg.”
Rachel headed out. Olivia sat down at the desk and pulled out her book. She adjusted the desk light to shine on the pages in the dimly lit room.
One by one, the parents came and picked up their children until only Isabella and Jimmy were left. Olivia tried to concentrate on her book, but she couldn’t help looking up at the clock, hoping they’d show up.
Jimmy’s mother came to pick him up at 11:30pm. She gathered her sleepy child up and carried him through the Kid’s Club.
“I didn’t do it.” Jimmy pointed at Olivia’s bandage on her lip.
“Of course you didn’t, Jimmy.” She looked at Olivia. “What happened to you?”
Jimmy’s eyes widened.
Olivia touched her face with her hand. “Just an accident.”
“You should really be more careful working with children. You need to lead by example.”
Olivia took a breath. “Thanks for the advice.”
Jimmy and his mother headed out, leaving only Isabella asleep on the mat.
Olivia walked over to the television and turned it off, plunging the room into darkness, and returned to her place at the desk.
The clock ticked closer to closing time.
Olivia read another chapter.
A light flashed across the windows of the Kid’s Club. Olivia leapt up and ran to the door to the kiddie pool. She peeked out of the small round window in the door.
A flash of light skimmed the deck, pausing on the shallow pool.
Someone with a flashlight was walking back and forth across the deck.
Olivia shivered.
She put her hand on the door handle and then pulled it back.
The light vanished around the corner.
“Did they close up?”
Olivia jumped at the voice calling from the gate.
“You said they were open until two, right?”
“That’s what that chick said.”
Olivia crossed the Kid’s Club. “I’m here. Isabella is sleeping on that mat by the windows. Let me turn a light on so you can get her.”
Olivia slowly raised the lights until Isabella’s sleeping form appeared.
Her parents crossed the room and scooped her up. Isabella looked at Olivia groggily as her mother carried her out of the Kid’s Club.
Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.
She packed up her book and her now warm ice pack and put them in her tote bag. Olivia turned up the lights and picked up the pillows and blankets strewn around the floor of the room. She stripped the pillowcases off the pillows and threw them and the blankets into a trash bag for housekeeping to pick up.
She locked the door behind her and headed towards her cabin.
