First Mates. Cecelia Dowdy

noticed the passengers in her path. She returned to her secluded hiding place and reclined on the white deck chair. As she closed her eyes, the ocean breeze whispered over the ship and she relaxed. Shadows of sadness filled her mind as she drifted away into blessed sleep.

      Chapter Four

      As Winston abandoned Carol, he walked on every level of the ship, carefully avoiding Rainy’s secluded hiding place. He finally found a secluded spot of his own. The nursery overflowed with energetic children. Several blocked his path as they invited him to a game of hide-and-seek. He plodded through the nursery and entered the empty discotheque. A lone waiter stood behind the counter. “We’re not open yet.”

      He waved the comment away. “I just want to sit for a minute.” I know Rainy wouldn’t dare come into this place. The floor was streaked with dark marks and dirty cups, and glasses littered the tables. He sank in a vinyl chair and dropped his head in his hands, closing his eyes. The boat swayed as they made their way to their next destination.

      “What’s wrong with Rainy?” he muttered. He opened his eyes and enjoyed the cool dark air-conditioned room.

      A group of Hispanic teenagers entered the discotheque, chattering in their native tongue. They regarded him with curiosity before they haphazardly moved glasses and cups, seemingly searching for a lost item. He sighed as he relaxed. He finally stood and exited the deserted discotheque. Everything would be just fine between him and Rainy Jackson. It just had to be.

      Weak sunlight spilled into the room as Rainy awakened the following morning. She blinked, forcing herself out of bed. She was tormented with dreams about Jordan, awakening every hour. She plodded to the bathroom and gazed at her face in the mirror. She looked awful! Her eyes were red and puffy and her throat felt as parched as a desert.

      Brushing her teeth, she recalled the itinerary for the day. They were docking in Grand Cayman, one of the most popular islands to visit. She looked forward to seeing this exquisite place in spite of her sadness. She changed into her bathing suit and packed her bag. She groaned as she left her cabin, fatigue settling in her bones. She pictured herself on the beach, napping all day. Her lips curled into an anticipatory smile.

      She trudged onto the empty deck. She paced and glanced at her watch. Where was the first ferryboat to Grand Cayman? Minutes later, passengers flooded the deck. She scanned the crowd and was glad she didn’t see Winston.

      After she boarded the ferryboat, she removed her book from her bag and tried to read. Passengers chatted as the motor started. Someone sat beside her. She scooted to give the passenger more room. “Hi, there.” Her heart skipped a beat as she gazed at Winston. His presence was like a spark of light on a dark day. He gave her a sad smile. “You look sleepy.”

      “What are you doing here? I didn’t see you before I got on the boat.” With shaky hands, she placed the book in her bag and removed her sunglasses. She placed the shades over her eyes.

      “I was the last person to get on just before the ferry left. I guess you didn’t see me. I really need to speak with you. Can we go someplace for breakfast when we dock?” Pain, raw and fresh, glittered in his hazel eyes, and she couldn’t refuse his request. Visions of the beautiful lady at the pool cluttered her mind. Did Winston really want to continue spending time together on the cruise, or was this just an act? Was he already on a quest to find another date for the remainder of the trip?

      The ferry stopped and clusters of people disembarked. They were the last patrons to exit the boat. “Please have breakfast with me,” he pleaded.

      She sighed, rubbing her back. I’m so hot and tired! “Okay.”

      Passengers cluttered the sidewalk, gazing at natives hawking their wares. Children clogged the street, selling a wide range of merchandise. Rainy reached into her purse and purchased a cotton scarf from a toothless boy for a few dollars.

      They walked in silence for several minutes before they stopped at a restaurant and ordered coffee and sweet rolls. She poured cream and sugar in her coffee before she sipped the fragrant beverage.

      Winston brushed away a stray fly as he fixed his coffee.

      Licking her dry lips, she gazed at the rich gooey cinnamon buns. Her heart pounded as he touched her hand. His light caress calmed her frazzled nerves. She relaxed as she gazed into his eyes.

      “Rainy, please tell me what’s wrong.”

      She closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer. She took a deep breath and told him how her apprehensions returned after they spent the wonderful day together in Cozumel. “I had not felt that happy since I’d dated Jordan. Everything seemed to be moving so fast and I just needed some time alone.”

      “I see.” He gazed at the table, toying with a napkin.

      “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just felt so confused.”

      “You shouldn’t judge every man you meet just from your experience with Jordan. Not all men would treat you that way, especially a Christian man.”

      She sipped her coffee and placed her cup back on the table. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

      He continued to give her his attention.

      “I wanted to know if you were really a Christian.”

      He turned away. “I told you I was a Christian the first night we met. Are you asking me if I was lying to you?” His voice wavered with anger and hurt. The server turned the music louder as he danced to the Jamaican tune while wiping the counter.

      She barely glanced at the server as she abandoned her meal. “So many people in this world profess to be Christians, but then it turns out to be just talk.”

      He sighed and ran his hand over his clean-shaven face. “Why are you asking me this now?”

      She nervously stirred her coffee. “When I first met Jordan, I could tell that he liked me. When I invited him to my church and told him how I had accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, he said that he had done the same thing.” She paused as she put her spoon aside. “Anyway, we worshipped together every Sunday and he even went to Bible study with me. When we broke up, he said he had done all of that just to please me. He said he’d acted the part of a Christian because he loved me so much and he knew how much I wanted a Christian man in my life.”

      He shrugged his broad shoulders. “You are a beautiful woman and you’re intelligent, too. I’m not advocating what Jordan did, but I can understand why someone would go through such measures just to have a woman like you in his life.”

      She folded her arms in front of her chest, glaring at him. “But don’t you think it’s awful? Jordan claimed that he shared my faith and it turned out that it was all a lie.”

      He waited a few minutes, seemingly weighing his words. “Yes, what Jordan did to you was pretty awful. One should never profess a strong belief in Christ when it doesn’t exist. I’m merely saying that a man will sometimes go through extreme measures when he cares about a woman.”

      “Jordan didn’t care about me. He only cared about himself. He was a selfish and cruel man.” Saying the words left a bad taste in her mouth. Winston stared, seemingly surprised by her outburst.

      “So your boyfriend didn’t care about you?” His voice was loaded with curiosity.

      “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I don’t want to ruin such a beautiful day talking about Jordan.”

      They continued to sip coffee and munch on sweet rolls. The server returned to their table and refilled their cups. As she ate her breakfast, she thought about Winston’s advice.

      He continued when the server left. “Relationships don’t always work out. Sometimes you have to lean on God and pray for the strength and guidance to move on.”

      She sighed and rubbed her forehead. Did she even want to tell him more details about her relationship with Jordan? She certainly didn’t want Winston’s pity. God had blessed them