Page 17 of Too Far To Sea
Alvaro smiled broadly. “I would offer my arm but,” his words trailed off as he winked and tipped his head towards her crutches.
Dana followed him as he wound through the dining room, the faint strains of a live string quartet grew. Her crutches sank into the soft carpet as they wound their way around the tables to the largest table with a view of the sea. The captain and other male officers stood as she neared. Officer Worth came to the end of the dais and offered her a hand up and into the chair he’d pulled out. A bus boy took her crutches and laid them behind the platform, well out of the way.
Even Brit’s imagination couldn’t have put Dana dining at the captain’s table next to a handsome and single officer.
The captain retook his seat as did the others. “Miss Knight. Thank you for joining us on short notice. I’m afraid we’ve already made introductions and had appetizers in my cabin. If you could introduce yourself, we’ll go around again briefly.”
Dana hoped none of the stress from moments before showed on her face. Her brain was torn between acknowledging the honor of eating at the captain’s table and the mortification of being saved. She gave an introduction so generic it couldhave been printed on an off-brand cereal box. She struggled to remember the names as others gave hurried introductions. The couples closest to here were, the Jacksons from Toledo who were celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary, and the Murres, from Spain, who were celebrating their honeymoon.
A waiter handed her a menu.
Officer Worth leaned over. “The rest of us have chosen our courses. If you’ll point out your choices to the waitstaff, they’ll get your order prepared as well.”
Wishing she could ponder the items, Dana picked quickly, assuming everyone would have to wait on her before being served their first course. Her hand shook as she pointed out the items.
“Relax, other than this table, there are only three people paying attention to the fact you entered the room. And your sister looks quite pleased,” said Officer Worth in a low voice.
The other two had to be Sheila and Mitchell. Dana resisted the urge to look at their table.
Officer Worth asked both couples how they met. The Jacksons met at an Elvis concert. Mr. Jackson even did a reasonable impersonation of the famous singer. “Thank you, thank you very much.” The Murres stopped staring into each other’s eyes long enough to say they met on a dating app.
The first course was served, and Dana’s shoulders relaxed as the meal continued. The captain answered questions about the roughest seas he’d encountered and the friendly dolphin who seemed to always greet him at a port in Australia.
Mrs. Jackson leaned close. “So how did you meet the handsome security officer, shoplifting?”
“Nothing like that. There was a cell phone glitch when we were still in port that set off their security protocols. A one-in-a-million random event.”
“This cruise is not lucky for you?” asked the new bride in beautifully accented English. Dana couldn’t understand the woman’s grammar and if Mrs. Murre was saying she was lucky or unlucky.
“I can’t say unlucky. I may be on crutches, but I get to eat at the captain’s table.” Dana smiled.
“I’d say it is very lucky, since you also get to sit next to the most handsome man at the table.” Mrs. Jackson winked. “Next to my David, of course.”
Dana took a bite of food to avoid responding. This was not some 1980s television show. Officer Worth was not vacation romance material. Well, he was, but unlike the sitcom, he was off limits. And even if there was a small likelihood they could meet up after the cruise; well it was best to not think or act on any attraction she may or may not be feeling. “Yes. I have all the luck of the Irish with me on this cruise.”
Next to her, Officer Worth laughed. “I believe the cruise director made that the theme of the cruise.”
Mr. Murre nodded in the direction of Cheyanne’s table. “But your own group refused to let you in with their party. Not very lucky.”
Before Dana could think of a response, the captain answered from the end of the table. “Which makes ours the luckier table. And reminds me, I have reserved some VIP tickets for tonight’s show for the passengers in this group.”
The octogenarian sitting next to him clapped her hands and others followed. Dana had no idea what the show was, but she clapped too. The conversation turned to the show and the singer’s reputation.
Dana savored the Beef Wellington as she listened to the others talk.
“Enjoying dinner?” asked Officer Worth.
“It is divine. I can’t help but be happy that some poor person had sea sickness.”
“It happens. Have you had any trouble?”
Dana raised her hand to her neck, not quite touching the patch behind her ear. “Alan Hastings warned me about this and suggested I get the anti-nausea patches. I may be over medicating myself as I put one on before coming onboard. But, I decided I couldn’t take the risk.”
“I knew you were a wise woman.”
“Really? I thought I was a security risk.”
“A wise one.” His smile was like a warm hug. Seriously, did he flirt with every passenger like this? Dance right up to the no consorting rule and leave a trail of broken hearts?
