First Mates. Cecelia Dowdy

you okay?”

      “Uh, yes, why?”

      “You seemed upset.” Ripples of pleasure flowed through her as she gazed into his hazel eyes.

      The waiter returned with their sodas. “Would you care to order now?”

      She ordered the first item listed. “I’ll have the fish and scallops.”

      “What side dishes do you want with that?” the waiter asked. He recited the choices and she made her selections.

      Winston placed a straw into his drink. “That sounds good. I’ll have the same.” Once the waiter was gone, he selected a roll from the cloth-covered basket and slathered it with butter.

      “So, tell me what a lovely lady like you is doing here all alone on this cruise.”

      She sighed, still trying to push the unpleasant memories away. “I’ve been through a lot the past few months, so my friends felt I needed a break. They insisted I take a vacation and soon enough, I agreed with them.”

      “Oh?” His expression turned curious. “Were you under a lot of stress with your job?”

      She shook her head. “Honestly, no. Actually, work has been a good reprieve for me. I’ve never worked so many hours of overtime in my life as I have these past couple of months. I even brought some things to work on while I’m here.”

      “You brought work to do while you’re on vacation?”

      She nodded. “Yes, I have. I don’t like to be alone for very long with nothing to do.” She told him about her job in the accounting department of a prominent Miami newspaper.

      “That’s where you work?”

      “Yes, I enjoy working with numbers. The accounting manager found another job, and since I was working so many hours anyway, I was the right candidate for the promotion.” She told him about the trials and tribulations of running a successful accounting department. She was still talking when the waiter returned with their food. The aroma of steamed fish filled the air.

      Winston bowed his head and Rainy lowered hers. Lord, thank You for this wonderful meal, and thank You for allowing someone to share it with me. Please guide and strengthen both me and Winston during this cruise. Amen. She opened her eyes and witnessed a smile soften his full lips.

      She cut into her fish. “So why are you on this cruise alone?”

      “Well, for the same reason as you. I’ve been through a lot over the past six months and my brother gave me this cruise as a birthday gift.”

      “When is your birthday?”

      “This Sunday, the last day of the cruise. I’ll be thirty-five.” He frowned as he ate a potato.

      “You’re not looking forward to your birthday?” He wasn’t very old, so she didn’t know why he seemed to dread turning thirty-five.

      “No, I’m not. How old are you?”

      “I’m thirty.”

      “Thirty? I thought you were much younger than that.”

      She smiled. “People always say that I look younger than my age.”

      As they ate their meal, he continued their earlier conversation. “So, what happened? Why have you had to bury yourself in your work?”

      She paused, finishing her entrée. “Let’s just say it was a love relationship that went sour. That’s all I want to say right now.”

      The waiter returned. “Would you like to order dessert?” They ordered chocolate cake.

      She grinned as she tasted the first bite, enjoying the rich sweet confection. Curls of steam filled the air as the waiter poured their fragrant black coffees. She found the hot drink was a nice complement to their tasty dessert.

      He placed his cloth napkin over the empty plate. “That was an excellent meal.”

      She drank her last drop of coffee and placed the china cup on the saucer. “It sure was.”

      “Do you want to go for a walk on the deck?”

      “Sure.”

      As they walked on the deck, they passed other couples. They finally stopped as she gazed into the dark water. The waves crashed upon the ship and the obsidian sky twinkled with stars. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen such a beautiful night.”

      He leaned against the railing and looked up at the sky. “It is nice, isn’t it? Have you lived in Miami your whole life?”

      “No. I’m from Maryland.”

      “Maryland? What are you doing in Miami? That’s a long way from home.”

      She frowned as she toyed with her purse strap. “I love my parents and my family, but when it was time for college, I got a scholarship to a university in Florida and I was more than eager to leave. I was not too enthusiastic about life on the farm.”

      “So, your parents have a farm?”

      “Yes. It’s been in the family for two generations and my father loves it. It’s a dairy farm so we’ve got tons of cows. I just didn’t like all of the chores that had to be done each day. It takes a while to milk all those cows, even though we use a milking machine. Whenever I go home to visit, I always have to get used to the smell all over again. Have you ever been on a farm?”

      “No, can’t say that I have.”

      “Well, you’re not missing much. My dad loves the animals and so does my brother Mark. He’s already taken over a lot of the farm duties since my parents are getting older. Mark’s married and he built a house on the property. I’m glad he decided to stay on the farm because my parents couldn’t run it forever.” Just thinking about the stench and labor on their dairy farm made her cringe.

      “You hated it that much?”

      She nodded. “Yeah, it was pretty awful. I hate the smell of a farmer. My family didn’t really take many vacations since we couldn’t leave the farm in someone else’s care for very long. So I didn’t get to travel much growing up. As soon as I was eighteen, I was out of there.”

      As they continued their walk, she told him the most important thing about herself—her deep faith in God and her baptism when she was twelve. “My parents have always stressed that having a deep faith in the Lord is important, especially in today’s world,” she remarked.

      Plates of elegant fruits and cheeses adorned the tables on the upper deck for the midnight buffet. Flocks of passengers watched the crewmen as they created a large sculpture of a fish from a block of ice.

      Winston selected a small plate of treats, and as they shared the snack, their fingers touched as they grabbed strawberries and cheese. Later, they resumed their walk.

      As fatigue settled into her bones, Rainy suggested they visit the hotel coffee shop. As they continued their conversation, she noticed the velvety darkness gradually fading. “We’ve been talking most of the night!” She yawned and he suggested escorting her back to her cabin. “Hey, you’ve made me do all the talking. You didn’t tell me anything about yourself.”

      He chuckled. “We can save that for another day.” As she unlocked her door, he touched her arm. Tingles of delight raced up her limb and she accidentally dropped her room key. Winston retrieved it and pressed it into her palm. “Rainy, this has been the nicest evening I’ve had in a long time.” He touched her face before he strolled down the hall.

      She swallowed, clutching the doorknob. “Good night.” She closed the door and paced her room, full of energy. She plopped onto the soft bed and selected a piece of fruit from the basket that her best friends, Sarah and Rachel, had sent her as a bon voyage gift.

      She parted the curtains and gazed at the endless expanse of sea. As she finished her pear, she realized