Page 62 of Hearts Aweigh
He scowled at his nanny valet who stood with a pillow tucked under each arm. She wore jeans and a purple Monarch hoodie. Her vibrant red hair spilled around her shoulders.
Abby seemed unperturbed by his displeasure. “Bow-wow-wow-wow glamping is a Monarch specialty. No other cruise line offers this experience.”
“Well, whoever invented bow-wow-wow glamping—”
“It’s threewows.” Abby shifted the pillows so she held them both under her left arm. “Bow-wow-wow-wow! It’s a play on words because we pitch the tents on the bow of the ship, but it’s tailor-made for the pet owners, ergo the bow-wow-wow part. The last wow is for fun.”
She uttered the ridiculous nonsense without even a hint of self-consciousness. Spencer wondered at her ability to embrace any activity, no matter how absurd. He surveyed their at-sea glamour camping site. Employees passed out premade s’mores to the humans and doggy treats to the four-legged passengerssniffing around the collapsible chairs. A ring of tents surrounded them, the flaps folded back to reveal beanbag chairs and twinkle lights strung along the inside.
A brisk wind sliced through his hair, and Spencer pushed the mussed strands off his forehead. “Whoever invented Bow-wow-wow-wowglamping wasn’t taking into account the colder evening temperatures.”
“I admit it’s unseasonably chilly, but Maddie’s loving it.”
She pointed to his daughter, who sat cross-legged in a nearby tent beside the serial hugger from the day care center. The brown-haired girl still carried her rainbow purse, and her mouth was rimmed with a sticky ring of marshmallow remains. She threw an arm around Madeleine and squeezed tight.
“Then you two stay and enjoy.” Spencer stood. “I’ll go to my heated suite and get some work done.”
“No.” Abby shuffled in front of him, the pillows hugged in front of her. “It will be much more special if you’re here.”
He raised his eyebrows.
She blinked. “For Maddie, I mean.”
“We just finished a seven-day cruise, and this new one is nine days. Plenty of time to spend together.”
“But when will you ever get another opportunity to go camping with puppies on a cruise ship? If you absolutely have to work, you can do it once the event’s concluded and Maddie’s in bed. Please, please, please.” Abby clasped her hands. Her arms bunched the cushy pillows tight under her chin. She resembled a little girl saying her bedtime prayers.
“Fine.” He crossed his arms and sat down. “Let’s catch pneumonia together.”
“Yay!” Abby bounded away and joined the girls in the tent.
She placed the pillows beneath them and made sure their jackets were buttoned tight. Spencer had to admit, he’d never seen his daughter smile so big. She laughed in glee as her new friend grabbed her for another hug. Daisy wandered over and knelt beside them, a thick black scarf wrapped around her silver hair.
Spencer shook his head. His mother. Camping. Even if itwason a cruise ship, the sight was unbelievable.
The other three members of her matchmaking crew arrived in a talkative group.
Althea spotted him and bustled over. “Hey, baby.” She sat in the empty chair beside him, leaned over, and bussed him on the cheek.
He lifted his fingers to scrub at the spot but thought better of it. He didn’t want to offend the tenderhearted woman. “Good evening, Althea.”
“Call the papers. Daisy agreed to go camping.” Her laugh was deep and throaty. “Shows how much she loves her granddaughter.”
This night didn’t have to be a total waste. He’d ask this woman some questions that bothered him. Like how his mother ended up on a cruise ship in the first place.
“You’re from New Orleans, correct? Did you and Daisy meet there at a function?”
“A function?” She chortled. “I met your momma in a park.”
“In a what?”
“A park. Those big pieces of land with trees and picnic tables.”
“I’m well aware of what a park is. But it’s hard to envision Daisy Randolph Masterson in one.”
“Maybe that’s why she was there. Because she didn’t want to beDaisy Randolph Masterson. She wanted to beDaisy. Not much chance of her meeting any of her fancy friends on a park bench.”
“I suppose not.”
