Page 95 of Hearts Aweigh
No longer in the mood for more coffee, she stopped by the counter to cancel her order. After exiting the diner, Abby met her supervisor in the hallway. Twila’s face looked even more peevish than usual.
“Abigail.” Twila spoke through pinched lips. “I’m relieved to run into you. There’s a problem.”
“Oh?” Abby got the feeling she wouldn’t enjoy what was coming.
“It’s been brought to my attention you’re spending an inordinate amount of time with Mr. Masterson.”
Good old Maria. She must’ve spread her gossip all night long for it to already have reached Twila’s ears.
Abby forced a nonchalant smile. “I’m merely doing my job to the best of my ability, caring for his daughter.”
“You were seen leaving his suite after midnight. That’s in direct defiance of our policies.”
“Maddie … his daughter was having trouble sleeping. I stayed to comfort her.”
“Nanny valets are not supposed to make themselves available after eleven p.m.”
“But she was sick. I wanted to—”
“Abigail.” Twila’s tone brooked no opposition. “I realize you’ll leave Monarch Cruises soon. Up until now, you’ve been an exceptional employee. Don’t sully your reputation in the last week.”
Sully her reputation? Since when had her life become a Jane Austen novel?
Abby drew herself as tall as her five-foot-two inches allowed. “I promise you, Twila. I am not behaving in any way that wouldsullymy reputation. My attitude toward Mr. Masterson is that of an employee.”
“Good.” Her boss gave a short, emphatic jerk of her chin. “Make sure it stays that way.” She started to walk past. “And no more after-hours childcare in his suite.”
Several emotions wrestled for dominance. Anger. Annoyance. Frustration. And the most unwelcome one of all—guilt.
Abby’s behavior had been above reproach the previous night, but her assertion she only considered Spencer an employer wasn’t exactly true. Regardless of how he’d dismissed her, she couldn’t stop her traitorous heart from drawing closer like a child to a forbidden dessert.
If she knew Maria, the scuttlebutt had reached the entire crew. Good gravy! She’d better get a hold on her feelings before she ruined both her peace of mind and professional reputation.
CHAPTER 48
“SO MUCH FOR YOUR BONES.” Althea stretched on a chaise lounge and tilted her face to the late-afternoon sky.
Emily disregarded the comment because she had no comeback. She’d been certain they’d find answers in the chapel last night, but it was calmer than a post office on Christmas Day. They’d examined every inch of the picturesque room with its short wooden pews and stained-glass windows and found all of nothing.
The four Shippers sat on the sundeck near the front of the ship overlooking the helipad. A fair number of passengers milled around, taking pictures of the calm sea. A sharp gust whipped through the open area.
Daisy shuddered and wrapped a black scarf around her head. “Why are we in this wind tunnel? My hair’s getting blown to pieces.”
Gerry ignored the long strands fluttering in her own eyes and wrote in her notebook. “We never sit out here. Let’s tap into our senses and experience something new.” She inhaled. “Smell that salty air.”
“The ship’s been at a standstill for the better part of an hour.” Emily drummed her fingers against her chair’s armrest. “If wedon’t get a move on soon, we’ll be late to the next port. I wonder what the holdup is.”
A different drumming sound drew her attention to the sky. A helicopter appeared in the distance, heading straight for the MSBuckingham. “Gerry, you got your wish. Something new is on its way.”
The Shippers stood and hurried to the railing. Passengers crowded around, phones raised, recording everything. The helicopter drew closer and hovered over the bow of the ship. Its blades spun in a blurry circle. A light flickered on the tail. The body lowered, aligning itself to the large green circle with the whiteH. It dropped by degrees, rocking in the gusty wind. When the spindly legs finally thumped to the ground, cheers filled the air.
“Well, I declare,” said Althea. “Do you think it’s a medical emergency?”
Gerry scribbled in her notebook. “Either that or a company bigwig who’s too important to walk the gangplank with the peons.”
A short, paunchy man in a black jumpsuit climbed from the cockpit. He withdrew two suitcases, then held open the door. A taller, feminine figure descended. On her willowy frame, the jumpsuit resembled something from a Paris runway collection.
The new arrival made her way to the side as the pilot reentered the helicopter. A crew member in a white uniform rushed to be of assistance with the luggage. The woman tugged her helmet from her head and propped it on her hip. A playful ocean breeze whipped her long golden hair in a silky tumble. She struck a pose as if she knew how many cell phone cameras were pointed straight at her.
