Page 14 of Juicy Pickle

“Is there something I can do for you?” I struggle to keep my tone civil.

“Come for a swim. You’re all dressed for it. You ran off after your speech like a frightened rabbit.”

A rabbit. She called me a rabbit. My jaw clenches. I want her out of here. I’ve kept very strict rules about my office door for years, only to have them all thrown out the window in mere hours on this cruise. Now I have an employee alone with me in a cabin.

“How did you know which room was mine?”

“I knocked on every door. You’re the only one holing up.”

Good God. “I appreciate your concern. I will be on the island tomorrow with everyone else. Until then, I am not at quite the level of leisure as the rest of you.”

She turns the page of one of the books. “Yes, that’s perfectly clear. Okay. But I expect to see you tomorrow.” She closes the book, making me lose my place.

I’m not sure what has made her think it’s appropriate to be this bold with me, and I don’t like it. I open the door. “See you tomorrow, Viola.”

“All right. I can take a hint.” She heads for the hall. “But tomorrow.”

I close the door. This cruise is going to be more difficult than I thought.

Not that I’m tempted by Viola. She’s not my type at all. Colorful and loud is more my brother Court’s speed. Actually, everyone is his type. He’s for any port in a storm. He likes to say all cats are gray in the dark.

I’m a bit more discerning.

I’ve barely sat down again when there’s another knock. Is she back already? I’ve learned my lesson about the peephole and don’t bother to get up.

But after a moment there’s another knock, then Gloria’s tentative voice. “Mr. Armstrong?”

I stride to the door. Gloria is slightly disheveled, her cheeks pink from the sun, her graying hair wild from being wet, then air-dried.

“Is everything all right?”

“I’m so sorry to bother you. I made it my aim to leave you alone as much as possible.” She twists her wedding ring.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s the satellite feed. Did you check it?”

“Not yet.”

“I’m afraid they won’t be able to get it up and running until we stop in Freeport. Something about the receiver getting an electrical surge.”

“On a ship this expensive, they can’t get their satellite feed to work?”

“I’m just the messenger.” Gloria’s face flushes red.

“All right. Thank you for letting me know. I hope we don’t have any emergencies while we’re all here.” Damn it all. I knew this was a bad idea. When Uncle Sherman lets me have it over the marketing snafu, I’m going to give as good as I get aboutthisfiasco.

“I guess we won’t rightly know, now will we?” Gloria forces a smile. “Do try to enjoy yourself, Mr. Armstrong. Everyone is looking to you for the tone of the trip.”

This gets me. Uncle Sherman’s direct order was to make sure this was a lively affair. “Isn’t everyone having fun? There were plenty of drinks getting served at the welcome party.”

“I get the sense some of them are holding back, like you might fire them if they cut loose. Will you be there for karaoke? That might liven things up.”

I could. The Pickles are notorious for their karaoke. It’s a big feature of the yearly gathering of the deli managers. I’ve attended several of those through the years, even though I’ve never worked at one of the family restaurants myself.

I have a couple of karaoke numbers I’ve worked up should I get forced on stage by family. One is a swinging rendition of “Hello, Dolly” that always makes people laugh. And then there’s my take on “You Look Wonderful Tonight” that will usually get me the girl.

But party Rhett is not the Rhett I can be here.

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