Cruisin’ For Love, page 8
Mark was impressed with her huge heart.
Sophia continued. “I just want to get back to our cabin, take a nice long shower in the bigger bathroom, wash my hair, and get ready for a wonderful dinner in the dining room, with my Prince Charming and my three little angels. I’m ready for a perfect night. How about you?”
“We’ll eat ice cream for dessert,” Mark whispered in her ear careful not to let the girls know. “Drink hot chocolate and watch the stars show up. Then, we’ll go to the theater for the fairy dust show. Then, my love, we’re going to dream all night about what the next ten years is going to be about.”
She kissed him as they headed back to the car.
“All the other stuff is just crap, anyway,” she ended.
Chapter 10
Sophia and the girls came early to the dinner table, as Mark was having a short meeting with Teseo and some of his senior staff at the bridge. The Cloptons, the couple from New York, were the next to arrive, followed by the Brandon’s about ten minutes later.
Mrs. Brandon gushed over how nice the girls looked tonight. “Is it a special occasion of some kind?”
“Well, this whole cruise is special for us since it’s coming up on our ten-year anniversary. We are going to be redoing our marriage vows while we’re here, but I don’t know, today I just felt like dressing up extra fancy. And the girls are going to love the show tonight at the theater.”
“Oh? You know, Kevin and I did not see the first show. Was it good?”
“Yes, they have a very talented group. We enjoyed the first one. It was a rock and roll, fifties type of dance, and the girls were glued to it, even went up on stage afterwards. Usually, they hire very good talent here.”
Mr. And Mrs. Clopton vowed that they’d try to take in a show at least once. “But we kind of enjoy the casino. So, when we’re at sea, that’s pretty much where you’ll find us,” Mrs. Brandon laughed.
“And the drinks are free,” Mr. Brandon added.
“I’ve got the girls, and they can’t go in the casino, so we do other things. But not to worry, I’m not a gambler. Neither is Mark.”
They were asked for their orders, the girls ordering everything off the children’s menu, plus desserts from the adult list. They’d caught on very early that if they didn’t like something, they just didn’t have to eat it, and order something else. It was an arrangement that Sophia thought was going to greatly impact their dinners at home.
“Did you hear the news?”
Mrs. Clopton was eager to spill something. Sophia was guarded, hoping there wasn’t about Mark that was going to be discussed.
“No, I’m not sure. What are you talking about?”
“Well, it seems someone has hacked into some of the passengers’ accounts here onboard, and all kinds of people are finding charges to their accounts that they didn’t authorize. If you ask me, it’s those darn teenagers. And I think next time we take a cruise, I’m going to request that it be either a full family cruise, or adults only,” her tablemate said.
Sophia knew that Mrs. Clopton’s radar was correct.
“Do you know who’s doing it? I understand there are a bunch of rowdy kids on here, not being looked after,” Sophia offered.
Mr. Clopton scrunched up his nose. “They’re awful. Practically knocked us over last night. They were running all around the outside of the ship, they came barreling into the theater I was told, and nearly interrupted the show. I just don’t understand what parent would let their child do crazy things. It’s dangerous. It’s dangerous for the rest of us.”
“Well, the good news is, the captain of the ship, is a friend of ours, from past cruises and from the time when I used to work for this company full time. That’s how Mark and I met. But he’s aware of certain individuals who are causing some problems so I don’t think it’ll be very long before they’ll find out who these kids are, but I don’t understand how they would get credit card information and room charge information.”
Mr. And Mrs. Brandon were frowning but didn’t have much to say. Finally, Mr. Brandon asked his wife if perhaps she should check their balance.
Sophia agreed. “Yeah, I’m going to have Mark do the same thing. When did you hear about this?”
“Everybody was talking about it in the library. And on the buses, when we took the tour of the island? Oh my gosh, I think on that bus out of the thirty or so there must have been ten couples who had unauthorized charges on their account. They had to wait a long time before they could get somebody in customer service to help them, and they promised it would get straightened out in the next day or so.”
Mr. Clopton began, “What kind of an operation is this that allows these types of things to happen?”
“The only problem I’ve ever had with this cruise, is years ago on one of my trips I used a brand-new credit card. I hadn’t called and told the credit card company that I was going to be traveling overseas, but I had a huge balance that was available to use, and I planned on maximizing it out during the voyage. Well, I used it one time, and then the next time my card was shut down. I had a difficult time getting through to anybody in the US to get it straightened out, and I wound up having to borrow from the ship. It was most embarrassing. Now I understand to let them know in advance.”
“You wonder if even that is safe,” added Mrs. Brandon.
“Well, friends of ours back in New Jersey said that this is one of the safest cruise lines you could be on. And they have a very good track record as far as illnesses and cleanliness. The food’s great.” Mrs. Clopton shrugged. “I guess they can’t monitor everything. Life is just so complicated these days,” she added.
“I agree, the staff and food and service, it’s first rate,” said Mrs. Brandon.
Just then, Sophia saw Mark sashaying attractively through the dining room, stopping conversations wherever he walked past a table. He smiled and nodded to those who acknowledged him for being one of the dance instructors. He gave Sophia a peck on the cheek before he sat down next to her.
“Everything okay?” she was curious to know.
Mark surveyed the table. He lowered his voice to make it difficult to hear. “Maybe we could talk about it later, but we got problems. Don’t say anything yet.”
Sophia’s dream of a quiet evening of shows and fun, good food and conversation were in jeopardy.
“Should we leave?” she asked him, alerted to what might be happening.
“No, no. We’re good for now. Not here, sweetheart. But here, we’re fine.”
Mrs. Clopton addressed him. “Mark, we were just talking about how some of the passengers seem to have been charged fraudulently on their cabin tab.”
“It could just be an inexperienced clerk at the desk,” Mrs. Brandon disagreed. “We don’t want to spread rumors, do we?” Then she peered at Mark. “You don’t think the captain suspects anything like that, do you? Weren’t you just talking to him?”
Mark studied her, searched the group again, glanced over the tops of the girls, who were drawing on the menus provided them, and then gave a worried look to Sophia.
“Whoa, well, I wasn’t sure that information was going around. Captain Teseo is a friend of ours. As a friend, if I see something I think is wrong, I’m going to tell him. I think I need to keep our conversation private, ladies.”
Sophia was confused, but Mrs. Clopton wasn’t giving up.
“But you will mention this to the captain, won’t you? Or I will.”
Her attitude was huffy. Sophia figured she didn’t like having her gossip skills curtailed.
“No worries there.”
“They think it’s a bunch of teens,” added Mrs. Brandon.
“Yes, I understand,” Mark answered. “I did talk to him about them. He’s doing everything he can. Captain Teseo must maneuver his way around the different police jurisdictions as we go from port to port. But he is looking into a couple of things I mentioned others have as well. No need to panic or go spreading rumors, like Mrs. Brandon said. Let’s get the facts first.”
Sophia felt a bit frosty with the coverup Mark was using but gave him the benefit of the doubt. But she would be peppering him with questions when they returned to their cabin after the shows unless that was now put on hold. She didn’t like that they didn’t have their own table to themselves.
Mark staved off her questions, which drew Sophia’s ire even further. Soon, however, she got lost in the performances and how the girls reacted to them. Even little Domenica, in her father’s arms, was fascinated with the show, and bounced her upper body in rhythm to the beat of the music.
They headed down the glass elevators to the Promenade for some ice cream and to peruse the shops. Sophia spotted a group of teen boys, included in that group was a red-haired boy who matched the description of the one both Mark and her girls had seen.
“Is that him?” she asked Mark, pointing.
“I believe so. You stay near the candy store. I’ll try to be right back.”
When the elevator stopped, Mark took off after the boy and was soon lost in the crowd.
Sophia purchased peppermint hot chocolate since both the girls were done with candy since so much was made of the drugs in Ophelia’s bag.
“I don’t think I even like candy anymore,” she mumbled, glumly.
“Where has daddy gone?” asked Carrie Ann.
“You know he’s trying to find that red-haired boy, sweetheart. Come on, let’s get you seated, and we’ll wait for him to return.”
After over a half hour waiting, Sophia’s nerves were beginning to fray. Crowds of laughing party-going passengers, mostly without children, passed her by. Couples dressed in their eveningwear held hands. On an evening where she’d intended to have an easy-going time, her insides were feeling stretched, and sad. Even morose.
Come on, Mark.
She knew she was going to have to have that talk. Of course, he was always there to protect the innocent, but this was becoming ridiculous. The burden of most of the entertainment for the girls was left with her, while he was chasing kids like a Boy Scout. She wanted to be positive and knew his good and honorable spirit would always win out, that commitment had to also include his own family. It was not okay that they should be abandoned.
Maybe for Mark, putting himself at risk was something he wasn’t afraid of and would do anytime. But for Sophia and the family, who were here to celebrate, not right the wrongs of the world, him risking his life or theirs seemed like an ill-conceived mission. Was he going to be like this the rest of their marriage together, as they tried to do the right thing for the girls? Was it right risking their safety as well?
As the girls began to stir, it was difficult to contain them. Sophia was tiring and felt exposed, vulnerable without Mark around to watch over and help. She made the decision to return to the cabin. She knew Mark would understand if he returned and found they weren’t still at the shop.
She didn’t want to spook the two older girls, so kept the conversation light, and tried to get them interested in tee shirts and trinkets, toys, which Domenica was hard to extract from, and the movie store where passengers could rent DVDs.
Domenica was getting heavy and needed a change. She ushered her brood into a lavatory and let the girls use two of the stalls for privacy. The toddler’s dress was wet. Her tights were smeared with diaper detritus, which she attempted to wipe clean. The girls were babbling on in the stalls, sharing toilet paper and talking about the show.
With Domenica cleaned, she hoisted her up onto her hip, to take everyone back to the room. But instead of two locked bathroom stall doors, both were open, ajar, and there was no sign of the girls anywhere.
In panic, she called out. “Carrie Ann? Ophelia? Where are you?”
There was no answer.
“Girls! Come on, don’t hide on me. Where are you?”
Still, there was no answer.
She checked the two other stalls. The girls were no longer in the bathroom!
Sophia darted out into the lobby area at the end of the Promenade, searching right and left.
“Carrie Ann, Ophelia? Where are you girls?” She tried it again, this time so loud, half the lobby area turned.
She spotted several clerks behind the information desk look in her direction.
“Please! Help me find my girls!”
Immediately one of the Korean crew members ran over to her.
“You have a problem, madam?”
“Yes, yes. My girls. They were in the bathroom with me, and now they’re missing. Oh My God! Help me find them! Please, please help me!”
Several passengers approached, suggesting they could help, and she tried to describe the girls, but hadn’t brought her regular purse with all her photos in them.
“My husband. Can you put out an announcement, have him paged?”
“Yes, yes,” the clerk answered. “Let me contact the Assistant Tour Director. I’ll be just one moment.” She ran, disappearing into a door behind the long counter.
The crowd started to surround her, several people asking questions all at once. Domenica became concerned and then started to wail, screaming at the top of her lungs and was inconsolable. Sophia couldn’t hear any of the comments.
As Domenica’s tears began to flow, Sophia’s did as well. She’d been searching every face she could see, looking for someone who might help, who might know, who might be talking to her girls. Did they wander off or were they—?”
“Sophia!”
The sound of Mark’s voice instantly brought a combination of relief and anger. She turned on her heels, doing an about-face, and beheld her husband’s worried expression.
“Mark, they’re gone!” she shouted as he ran toward her.
She’d barely noticed Ophelia and Carrie Ann holding hands with their dad at his sides, trying to keep up with him. Again, anger flared. Not knowing who to blame for all the terrible things she’d thought about, she chose to unload on Mark.
“Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell me you took the girls? I’ve been worried sick about this. This is so not okay.”
But Domenica was still crying, then reaching for her dad. Sophia then realized she was scaring the baby. Pushing Domenica into his arms, she grabbed her girls, knelt, and hugged them.
“Mommy loves you so much! But don’t do this ever again. This was very, very bad.”
“But we were just waiting outside the bathroom, and we saw daddy!” Carrie Ann protested.
“Do you know what I thought had happened? I thought you’d been kidnapped!”
“I’m sorry, mommy,” Ophelia said, her lower lip protruding, a single tear running down her cheek. Her breathing was labored, and Sophia saw she was building up to a big cry.
“I’m sorry too. Mommy’s sorry.” She hugged the girls again, and then stood.
Mark was having a hard time calming Domenica down. He didn’t look back at her. But he whispered just loud enough so she could hear.
“Come on. We need to get out of here. You’re scaring the girls.”
Sophia stopped following him to the elevator.
After a deep, cleansing breath and some courage self-talk, she blurted out, “I’m the one scaring the girls. Where the hell were you?”
“Trying not to get arrested.”
Chapter 11
Sophia didn’t look at him the whole trek back to their cabin. She stripped the girls down and put nighties on them, rechanged Domenica and put her into a onesie, bringing the crib in from the bedroom and setting it next to Ophelia and Carrie Ann. The girls sat in their beds, looking back and forth between he and Sophia, understanding that everything was on tender hooks, Mom was mad, and they would eventually get free of all this stuff, but they knew, they needed to just wait and behave. Which is exactly what they did.
While Sophia finished up putting the girls down, Mark changed into his pajama bottoms. He grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, walked through the sliding glass door and sat on the balcony outside overlooking the ocean. It had been another tough day, and things weren’t the way they should be when he was turning in to bed. So much had to be resolved, he halfway wished that he could just stay up all night and drink. But that had been years and years since that kind of behavior had consumed him. He wished he could forget.
He knew she’d come out and talk to him eventually. He needed to just let her stay busy and take care of her babies.
Sophia wore one of his oversized cotton t-shirts with the Bone Frog logo on it, that hit her about the mid-thigh. She silently joined him on the deck, drinking a bottle of mineral water.
“I’m ready to talk whenever you want to,” he offered.
“Let me catch my breath. In a couple of minutes.”
They sat listening to the waves lap and crash against the sides of the hull. The moist warm air, even at nightfall, was refreshing, not to mention the calm he needed. He so didn’t want to have this conversation, but he was going to have it anyhow.
He waited, and then she examined the side of his face. “I’m ready. Go for it.”
“I didn’t want to make a scene, Sophia, but whatever you’re thinking, you need to know that I’m very sorry, and this was beyond my control.”
“You’re telling me, Mark, is that I have to just put up with this? I had all three girls for over an hour waiting for you in the candy shop, which is where you told me to wait. I didn’t receive a message from you, you said it’d be just a few minutes and you’d be back. You should have come back and told us or sent somebody to tell us. I was worried sick. And then this whole thing about the girls in the bathroom, I honest to God thought we’d lost them. I thought you took off to go be a boy scout and I was stuck trying to do something I couldn’t control. That’s the long and the short of it. And I am, yes I am pissed.”
