Cruise to Murder
(Book 2, The Zoey & Claire Mystery Series)
By Zoey & Claire Kane
Copyright Breezy Reads 2012
Published by Breezy Reads at Smashwords
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Table of Contents
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The cruise ship was larger than Zoey and Claire Kane had imagined. The Sunburst, with its sleek lines, hundreds of glistening windows, and colored flags lining the bow, promised luxurious adventures ahead.
“Mother, watch out for rolling your luggage onto people’s ankles,” Claire warned.
“Uh huh,” Zo said, but her focus was taken away by the scenery. She romanticized the sea, down to its pungent, fishy smell—It was all part of the mystical marine allure. The latest romance novel she read was about a bare-chested captain, who could swing from sail to sail, holding onto a rope with one arm and a damsel in distress in the other. Perhaps I could experience something similar on this voyage, she mused.
“Oh! Ow!” protested a fellow sailor, scowling.
“Oops! Sorry, sir… So sorry!” Zo snapped out of it, pulling in her leopard suitcases tighter alongside her own feet.
“What did I tell you about ankles, Mom?” Claire was carefully wheeling her three black suitcases.
They were headed up a wide ramp, which led to an entrance aboard ship. It was packed with very wealthy, mostly older, vacationers. Claire didn’t think to ask her mother why neither of them opted for luggage delivery to their suite. She and Zo didn’t feel as if they were part of such a pampered class. It was just happenstance that the two came upon such riches and so recently. Still, they expected to have a lot of fun taking advantage of their nouveau wealth. It was time for a much needed holiday, especially after having just solved the riddles of Hillgate Manor.
As a mother-daughter team, the two complement each other as they enjoy outwitting life’s obstacles. Zo thinks of Claire as the careful, more business-minded one. And Claire thinks of her mother as the free spirit, gutsy one. The two may seem and look to be opposites in many ways, but like any yummy pastry, sugar goes good with some salt. The twenty-five year old is the salt to the fifty-something year old sugar. It always surprises others to find out Claire is so young, because she is so savvy beyond her years. Likewise, people are always surprised to find out Zo is in her fifties, because of her youthful zest.
Zo was wearing a sheer blouse with a dropped neckline over a tank top. Her strawberry blonde hair was braided down her back, leading to her white capris and golden-laced sandals. Claire was wearing a simple summer dress and her brunette, shoulder-length hair was up in a sleek french twist.
“I fear we didn’t dress well enough for the occasion,” Zo finally said, taking in all the hundred-dollar sunglasses, thousand-dollar handbags, Rolexes, pearl necklaces—and, of course—diamonds… big ones!
“I’m just amazed we can out-dress them if we desire,” Claire said. “But that doesn’t matter anyway. We are just now boarding. We have our nice clothes for later, not to be wasted on moments like this.”
“I suppose you’re right, but I do wish I had brought my lovely ruby ring for tonight,” Zo thought, then spotted a group of older women all wearing red hats, complemented with purple fringe, feathers, scarves, or lace. “It’s The Red Hat Society!”
“Oh, I think I’ve heard of them,” Claire said. “Seniors who wear red hats and enjoy leisure activities. See? There are more over there.”
“Yes, yes. Oh, and there must be the Pink Hat Society.” Zo pointed. Younger women with pink hats were interwoven with the party of red hats. “Do you think I could fit in with them, dear?”
“Who?! The Pink Hats? Don’t even try.” Claire was serious. “I would like this cruise to be mostly about us. We have not had fun and relaxation in a long time. Let’s just stick together.”
“I know.” Zo would have put her arm around her daughter, in a side-squeeze, if they weren’t continuing to walk up the never-ending ramp. “How do you think Lucas and Bob will do without us?”
“I think they will be fine.”
“Remember to keep your options open since Jack left. Lucas may not be The One.”
“Bob either, Mother. I think it’s too soon for them to think we are exclusive anyway. What has it been, a couple of months of dating here and there?”
“Yes, but they certainly are good boys, aren’t they?”
“Yes, good boys,” Claire laughed.
After finally entering the center, The Grand Foyer of the ship, they made their way to an elevator of mostly windows, decorated with twinkling lights. They exited on the top deck, where the most elite staterooms resided.
Zo gasped. “That hallway looks to be about two-hundred yards to the left and two-hundred yards to the right,” she exaggerated.
“Oh, no worries.” Claire quickly saw that their stateroom was not too far off. “It’s just right up there.”
“Oh good.”
Zo had the key card and she unlocked their door. Inside didn’t disappoint. It was comparable to a five star hotel suite in Vegas. A chandelier was right in the center of a very elegant sitting room. Champagne and cider in an ice bucket greeted them next to fresh-cut orchids in a vase on a glass coffee table. Two bedrooms off opposite sides from it had king size beds, large flat screen TVs and walk in showers.
“This definitely is a celebrity cruise line. I’ve never seen such rooms aboard other ships,” Claire noted.
“Wow!” Zo exclaimed. “I still have a poverty appreciation for this kind of grandeur.”
They opened a sliding glass door and stepped out to their balcony. They stood there, leaning their forearms against the railing in awe for a moment, looking out across the dark, rippling sea.
“There’s the life boat,” Claire mentioned, nodding in the direction of it, just left of the balcony.
“That makes me feel better,” her mother said with a chuckle.
After hanging up several expensive evening dresses and setting out dozens of high heels, they heard an announcement over an intercom in their rooms. “This is your captain, Vladimir. Welcome and thank you for choosing The Ocean Elite Cruise Line for your vacation experience.” He had a strong accent. “In one hour, 5 p.m., we ask all to gather for a mandatory lifejacket try-on with accompanying tour of exits and life boats. We will sail away in two-and-a-half hours—6 p.m. I invite you to the traditional sailing away ceremony out on The Galaxy Deck. The Sunburst will be sailing to our first stop, Kinikiwiki Island, arriving at this beautiful destination by morning. Bon Voyage!”
They felt thrills of excitement course through them upon hearing the announcement of the island getaway. They met back in the sitting room upon the captain’s last words, all dressed for the evening.
Claire’s large gold locket from The Riddles of Hillgate adorned her black satin dress. Her hair was still up, but tightened into a neater twist with a bit of bangs falling across her perfect forehead.
“Oh, you look wonderful,” said Zo as she centered her daughter’s locket clasp more perfectly to the back of her neck.
“We look wonderful,” Claire beamed. “Wow, your garnet red dress is to die for!”
“Yes, I thought it would make a statement. I bought it in the city last weekend. What kind of a statement does it make, dear? Nothing rude, I hope.”
“You and it go well together. Don’t worry,” assured her daughter with a critical eye. “Why don’t we walk around a bit before the night wears on?”
“Count me in,” Zo chimed.
They both rushed to grab their evening handbags. Zo felt the doorknob to make sure it was locked on the way out.
Suddenly the door to the suite left of them opened up and out stepped a very thin, happy woman wearing a cocktail hat, a geranium-red dress to match, and a deep purple boa. “Oooh, your dress is to die for!” she exclaimed in compliment to Zo.
“That’s what my daughter said.” She chuckled, happy for receiving the remark twice.
“Well, it is.” She gleamed, her fluffy white hair poked out from under the hat. Her blue eyes were sincerely kind and her cheeks pudged out like apples. “Hi, my name is Kathryn.”
Zo shook hands first. “My name is Zoey Kane and this is my daughter, Claire Kane. You can call me Zo.”
“How do you do?” Claire acknowledged.
“Oh, splendid. I’m here with a bunch of lady friends, but you know it is so neat to see a mother and daughter close like you two. You aren’t in business together, are you?”
“Well, not really,” Zo answered. “We did have a very successful hotel.” She didn’t fear bragging. “But now we are looking into other options. Claire was an editor to Eye Witness Magazine,” she added to top it off with a cherry.
“Eye Witness Magazine? Oh yes, I have heard of it, although I haven’t read an issue myself.” Her smile continued. “Oh, well, speaking of publishing,” she quieted her voice and stepped a little closer to the two, “I hear that Felix Belmont, publisher of American Citizen, has a room right on the other side of you two!”
“Really?!” Zo and Claire said in unison.
“Yes!” Kathryn nodded vigorously. “Maybe you will run into each other during the week. Exchange info.”
“Oh, that would be excellent.” Claire thanked her for that bit of information.
“Well, see you ladies around. I have got a meeting to attend.” She waved. “And I’m late!”
“Bye!” Zo said, admiring her charm.
“Did you hear that? Felix Belmont is next door to us. This vacation seems to only get better and better and we’ve hardly arrived aboard ship, Mother.”
CHAPTER TWO
“Now take your life jacket and slip it over the head like so.” A crew member demonstrated effortlessly.
Large crowds gathered in separately appointed areas, learning how to save themselves in case of emergency. The Starlight Room, a very large theater, was Zo and Claire’s appointed meet-up place.
Claire slipped her life jacket on within a couple seconds. Somehow, Zo got hers caught on her pretty hair ornaments. Her arms were stuck upwards waiting for their release. She looked like a crab to her daughter. Claire was trying to be sympathetic, while at the same time unsuccessfully resisting laughter.
“Help,” Zo squeaked, her brown enchanting eyes perplexed, peek-a-booing through the front slats of the jacket.
Claire quickly helped by pushing down on it and moving her mother’s hair strategically out of the way. The scene caught the attention of several people nearby who were tittering amongst themselves privately.
“This is not the first impression I wanted to make.” Zo huffed. “Hurry!”
“I’m trying,” Claire said, pushing harder, making Zo hunch. Finally, the contraption pushed over her head, revealing a stressed, red face.
A crew member came over right away. “Ma’am…”
“Yes.” Zo tried to keep her composure, fixing flyaway hairs.
“The adult life jackets are on that side of the foyer. You have on a child’s.”
“A what? A child’s? Are there any children on this ship?”
Suddenly she heard a baby cry and then spotted a little girl with heart sunglasses, teasing her younger sibling from a couple of tables away.
“Shouldn’t they be on a Disney cruise line?”
“Mother!” Claire chastised.
“Just kidding. Just kidding. Sir, can you help me take this off?” Zo asked the gentleman, kindly.
Later at the sail away ceremony, Claire and Zo had the very front and center spot at the railing of the ship.
“Oh, is that Joan Rivers?” Zo pointed to someone on the deck above them.
“No, I don’t think so. I think it’s an impersonator—a look alike. I bet we’ll see many of them throughout the week.”
“Ladies! Look this way!” A man with a camera flashed a bright light, causing them to blink. “This photo can be picked up later on The Nova Deck. You will find them fastened to a wall of pictures.”
The night air was chilling, but the excitement of disembarking warmed everybody’s spirits. It was completely dark out now, and the stars twinkled as a haven above The Sunburst. Zo and Claire held on to the cold railing and looked ahead to the horizon.
Suddenly music played loud enough for the thousands of guests to hear from a speaker. It was swing dance music. People had brought out glasses with wine to celebrate.
“How come we didn’t think to bring a drink?” Claire asked.
“It’s probably their hundredth time being on a cruise. They know all these things. We, on the other hand, have never been on a cruise. We know nothing.” Zo lowered her voice to a gruff whisper. “Which I think is abhorrently obvious to everyone!”
To that Claire didn’t say anything, but smiled extra big. It was great just having the sea wind blow across their cheeks. When the song was over, they heard a man’s voice say over the system, “Are you ready to go to Kinikiwiki Island?”
“Yeah!” the crowd yelled back.
“I said, are you reeeeaaady?”
“Yeah!” everyone hollered louder.
To that they heard the long low moan of the ship horn; not once, twice or three times, but five times, and then they felt The Sunburst shift and move in the water. And another song played.
Claire had signed them up for the 8 p.m. dinnertime. The two were seated and introduced to their “table mates”—a young couple on their honeymoon. She was dewy-eyed, having the porcelain skin that only a twenty-year-old can have. He looked like a graduated football star. Both were smiles, polite, and shy. They soon settled into eye gazing between each other and all else did not exist for them, which allowed private conversations between the Kanes. It also allowed for quiet time to be dazzled by all the happy people.
“It’s hard to keep from staring,” said Zo, who was a people watcher anyway.
“Do you think we will see Mr. Belmont, Mom? I would love to talk with him. Maybe I could get a position with his magazine. I could write my articles from home and e-mail them in.”
“Do you know what he looks like?”
“Not a clue.”
An impeccably ironed and creased waiter took their order, and did not leave without first removing the napkin Zo had not as yet placed in her lap, shaking it open and placing it for her.
Both had enjoyed their lobster which was buttery, lemoned and delicious. Dessert was on its way. Zo had settled on the banana cream pie and Claire savored the New York cheesecake. The honeymooning couple finished their dessert and excused themselves politely, smiling.
“Why don’t we go to the magic show which is coming up soon in The Starlight Room?” suggested Claire with anticipation.
They managed to get a table fairly close to the stage. While waiting for the magic show, the emcee asked if there would be anyone willing to tell a good joke. Meanwhile, the drinks were being ordered and served to the tables: Pina Colada; Itch Witch; Sailor’s Grog; Purple Whirlagig (double rum and crème soda with a purple pinwheel); all kinds of fruit daiquiris with the garnishes of cherries and limes next to umbrellas, fancy straws and glittering swizzle sticks.
“There is Kathryn, Mom.”
“Yes,” answered Zo, looking toward three booths of Red Hat Ladies. “You know, I have never liked purple and red together, but they have done such a wonderful job of making themselves so cute in it. And, they are all different from each other; not one is dressed the same.”
“Here are some more coming in.”
The group called across to the others, laughing, seeming to be friends to all.
The volunteer joke-teller was giving the punch line—“…Hunchback, Hunchback!”
“I think he’s talking about you and the life-jacket today, Mom.”
“Never mind, dear.”
The music struck up and the announcer yelled energetically, “Here he is, Larrrrrry Potter!”
The magician leaped out onto the stage, twirling out his black cape as he spun to a bow. He removed his top hat and placed it onto a stool. “Yes, that is my name. Welcome. Tonight I am going to astound you by causing things and people—yes, people—to disappear from right before your very eyes, behind this curtained box here.
“But first, a rabbit! Where did the rabbit go? Where is my rabbit? …See there? Gone! Not only did he disappear, but you didn’t even see him in the first place.”
The band played, and he added a dramatic, “Ta daaaaa!”
“We have with us tonight, right in this very room, a very notable man. I am sure you all have heard his name, or at least read his magazine, American Citizen. Previous to this show, he volunteered to disappear for us. Well, actually he volunteered Mrs. Belmont to disappear for us.”
The crowd chuckled.
“There he is—Mr. Belmont!”
Belmont’s booth was laughing it up as the spotlight beamed on him and his smiling wife.
“Did you see him, Claire?”
“Well, not really. The light was too bright and washed out his features.”
A rabbit ran up on stage and stopped in front of the magician. Larry Potter, seeing him, said, “Not now! It’s too late. You’re fired!”
It looked like the rabbit threw a silver dollar as it popped up from the stage.
“Oh, so that is what you’ve been doing.” He picked up the dollar, polished it and stuck it into his pocket. Then he picked up the rabbit and looked him in his eyes. “All is forgiven. Can you get more of these? …What do you mean you can, if I would stake you to fifty bucks?!”
He set the rabbit down, and as it was running off stage to a woman waiting to take him, Potter called after him, “And lay off the bourbon, you know it causes your feet to swell!”
The audience laughed and applauded.
“Wait!” The magician trotted over to the lady who was about to leave the stage. He reached into his pocket and removed his wallet and took out some bills. Potter lowered his voice a little, but the audience could still hear him. “Give this fifty dollars to the rabbit.”
She hesitated, to which he replied, “Trust me.”
Having returned to the spotlight, the show continued: “Good evening, everyone. As I said, I am Larry Potter; no relation to Harry. And although I do wear glasses, you will see I have blonde hair and I am in my thirties; by the way, very handsome and single… hint, hint.” His eyes seemed to meet Claire’s for a moment and she blushed.
“He was looking at you.” Zo nudged her.
“That is simply because mostly everyone in here needs the assistance of a walker.”
“And,” he continued, “I would like to start tonight off with a trick—a classic card trick. Don’t worry, I will have the cameras zoom in on me, so you can see every suspenseful moment projected on the screens to the left and the right of me. Let’s see…”
He started walking back and forth looking for his non-voluntary helper. “Who will I ask?”
Quickly he ran back to Claire with a deck of cards in one hand, while welcoming her to shake his other hand. “Hi, what is your name?”
“Claire.” She smiled, a bit embarrassed.
“Claire,” he repeated into his little microphone attached onto his black vest. “Lamoure mi Claire.” He gazed longingly into her long lashed, large brown eyes which entertained the crowd some more. “Pick a card, any card.” He shuffled and fanned out the options.
Claire went to grab the one third to the right.
“Uh, not that one,” he whispered loud enough for the crowd to hear and laugh.
She went to take another.
“Not that one either…”
Claire laughed and shook her head. Finally she was able to pick one he would let her have.
“Now look at it and don’t tell me what it is.”
Claire put it close to her face and then buried it against her black dress.
“Was it the Queen of Hearts?” He raised his eyebrows flirtatiously.
“Yes!” She exclaimed and showed it to the camera.
The crowd clapped.
“I knew it. Let me ask you, Claire, do you have any king in your life?”
“No!” Zo called out, answering for her daughter.
“Mother!” Her eyes widened.
“Well then, thank you… And for being such a great volunteer, I have something for you.” Larry put a hand behind his back and it suddenly reappeared with a red rose.
As Claire went to take her flower, Larry grabbed her hand and kissed it, but in doing so lost grip of his deck of cards and they fell to the floor of the stage, all face up. The camera zoomed in and the audience saw projected on the screens that every card was a Queen of Hearts.
“Oops,” the magician said sheepishly as part of the act.
Larry continued with a new unwrapped deck to perform many great classic magic tricks and it soon neared the end of his show, where he said he had saved the best for last.
“Now, for the last magic trick, would the special couple please come front and center. Felix Belmont and his lovely wife, Sharon, are going to join me on stage.”
Everyone cheered exuberantly in anticipation, especially Claire, who suddenly felt nervous for no apparent reason. The spotlight went to their celebrity faces again, which were now projected on the screens. The dashing publisher with black hair, perfect teeth and mustache stood, with his gorgeous wife appearing at least fifteen—if not twenty—years younger than him. She had chic, shoulder length blonde hair and a pale blue dress. Mr. Belmont kindly helped pull his wife’s chair out and escorted her on the arm, walking between tables to the stage.
Once they were on stage, the couple waved to the crowd. Larry interrupted the continuously clapping attendees by saying, “I have to my left a six-foot-five-inch tall box. I am going to ask Mrs. Belmont to join me inside the box and Mr. Belmont will lock it shut, so we can’t get out. When he hears me say the magnificent magic words, which I told him secretly beforehand, he will open the box again and Mrs. Belmont will have vanished away. Gone!” He turned to Mr. Belmont, saying, “I hope it won’t be forever,” and then tugged at his collar nervously.
The box wasn’t very wide. First, Mrs. Belmont stepped inside. She pushed her body right up against the side wall of the box and then Larry entered. “Now close the door and lock it,” he told Mr. Belmont, who quickly obeyed, shutting it and turning the key. Several seconds went by where the audience heard banging and shifting around from inside.
Mr. Belmont looked at his watch, making fun of how much time it was taking.
“Okay,” everyone heard from Larry inside on his microphone, “shlama-lama-bing-bong!”
Mr. Belmont put the key back into the lock and opened the door. To the audience’s surprise, Mrs. Belmont had indeed disappeared and for added entertainment, the cameras zoomed on Larry whose hair was now mussed up, his glasses were crooked on his nose and his white collar unbuttoned a few. Lipstick also smeared across his mouth, neck and shirt.
Seeing Mr. Belmont’s upset look on his face, Larry quickly said, “Nothing happened. It’s not how it looks!”
Mr. Belmont punched a fist against a hand in warning and Larry took off running behind the curtains. In less than thirty seconds, Larry came back through the curtain pulling Mrs. Belmont by the hand. His hair was fixed and he now had a clean buttoned shirt on, everything looking back to normal. She, of course, was perfect as before.
The crowd cheered, Zo whistled and Claire sat back clapping in approval.
That was the end of the show. Larry thanked everyone for coming and the lights went dim on the stage, while the lights in the room brightened.
Fifteen minutes later, music kicked up. A blond bombshell danced her alluring way onto the stage in a glittering, slinky dress.“Hello!” she breathed.
“Well, if that isn’t Marilyn, I don’t know who is,” exclaimed Zo.
“Mother, what do you say we get some dessert to relax over and get ready to retire. We have a big day at the island tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They managed to walk through the crowd and get on an elevator up to their suite.
Once inside their room, the two kicked off their heels and sat on a luxurious black leather couch. Zo grabbed for the TV remote while Claire grabbed for the phone.
“Yes, room service?” Claire said. “We would like a slice of tiramisu cake and a slice of key lime pie. Yes, and put a cherry on both,” she added, smiling. “Ten minutes? Thank you…”
Zo switched the channels until it came to one dedicated to The Sunburst’s daily and nightly activities. “This is the life, huh, daughter.”
“Oh yeah…” Claire couldn’t agree more.
CHAPTER THREE
You know that delightful little feeling, when everything is going right and you lay thinking on your bed about all the fun you are about to have coming up the next morning, if only you could get to sleep, so it would arrive faster? That was how Claire felt.
But her thoughts were distracted, when she suddenly heard the Belmonts enter their suite. There was some loud bumping and thumping around. She shifted in bed, sitting up and placing an ear against the wall beside her, to try and hear better. Voices that came across as muffles through the wall were completely unclear; not one word was discernible. She could only make out the tone of the conversation. There were sharp, short sentences—quick and angry. Claire picked up her cell phone and read the time—1:17 a.m. Pretty soon it was quiet and Claire started drifting…
In her dreams she was suddenly aware of something on her foot. It was a white dove, trying to hide its head under her big toe nail. It seemed perfectly reasonable. Then a loud pounding of drums started, disturbing the dove and it flew away, disappointing Claire.
“Claire… Claire.” Her mom entered her dream, wearing a gold Cleopatra costume with the neckline dropping immodestly.
“No, you don’t! You are not wearing that dress.”
“What? Claire, wake up! Let’s get going. We’ve got fun and food ahead of us today, and I already want breakfast!”
Reality came zooming in as her eyelids fluttered open. She stretched and said, “Hurray! Morning is here. Mom, you aren’t planning on any Cleopatra costume for Halloween or New Year’s, are you?”
“Heavens, no! I would want to go in the knickers and long coat of a colonial patriot. I rather fancy that tri-corn hat. If I pull my hair back and band it, so it hangs down my back, I think that would be a very attractive look.”
“Thaaat’s good.” Claire was off to shower and get ready for the day.
Zo called after her, “And your mother doesn’t look good in a black wig!”
“I know.” Claire giggled.
The captain came back on the intercom. “Good morning, guests. This is your captain again, Vladimir. We made it to Kinikiwiki Island at approximately 6:30. The weather outside is a perfect seventy-two degrees with a light breeze. Have a lovely day of play on the island. We are staying the night tonight, so stay on the island late this evening as you wish. Please enjoy your day. And thank you again for choosing The Sunburst for your cruise getaway.”
Although the captain was speaking happy words, his voice came across as dull and disinterested.
“It is probably his bedtime now,” Zo commented.
Finally, they were ready, and were exiting their suite, when out from the suite to their left came Kathryn again.
“Hey, Kathryn! We saw you having fun last night.” Zo smiled.
“You bet. Did you get to talk to the Belmonts?”
“No, not yet,” said Claire.
“Well, I don’t think you could have had much of a conversation with them last night anyway. They were pretty well sloshed up in drinks, when I last saw them. I left the lounge before them, ya know. I know my limit.”
Zo and Claire leaned forward, ready to hear more details.
“Glad to see you girls again, but I’ve got to run. I’m late. See you around.” She hurried down the hallway.
“Well, I thought I heard them clankin’ around last night,” Claire remembered. “They must have been really, really drunk, like Kathryn said.”
“Well, on the ship is the best time for partying I guess. No drinking and driving.”
“Hm…” Claire nodded in agreement.
“But the Belmont’s seem like such a perfect couple. I can’t see them getting slap-silly drunk, unless they were alone I suppose.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Anyway, Mother, do you think that I will be able to see Mr. Belmont today? I would really like to talk to him about my experience in journalism, if not just to meet the man face-to-face and get a handshake.”
“I think you will at least get a handshake out of him during the trip.
“The odds are good. But maybe I should just wait outside his door until he gets out.”
“Yeah right,” Zo said, then her eyes brightened. “But I have an idea!”
“What?!”
Zo opened her purse and fumbled through the mess inside until she came upon a piece of paper and a pen.
“What are you thinking , Mother? Write him a note?”
“Precisely!”
“No, Mom!” she whispered loudly with embarrassment. “We aren’t going to write him a letter. I’ll just run into him by accident like you said.”
Zo put the paper on the wall between the two stateroom’s doors and began to write.
“Please, Mom. I was kidding about waiting outside of his room.” She tried to grab the pen, but Zo moved and quickly finished.
“I’m writing him a letter, not you, Claire.”
“But you are my mother and that will look ridiculous and desperate. I’m begging you.” Claire clenched her fists, pleading.
“How are you my daughter? You have really got to loosen up, my dear.” She folded the note in half.
“At least tell me what it said.” Claire followed her to where she was about to slide it under Belmont’s door.
“It says, ‘Your neighbors, Zoey and Claire Kane—in room 202— are inviting you to a small midnight party in their stateroom. Hope to see you there!’” She quickly pushed it under the door.
“How silly,” Claire said. “Do you think they’ll actually come?” Her voice became serious with hope.
“You never know unless you ask.”
“You said ‘party.’ Who else will be our guests?”
Just then a group of ladies in red hats came out of two other suites across from them, promptly followed by a group of young ladies wearing pink hats.
Zo’s golden brown eyes looked keenly at them. “Oh, ladies!” They turned to see her. “There’s going to be a midnight party in our stateroom. You’re all invited.”
“Really?” they chirped and commented amongst themselves cheerfully.
“Are there going to be games?” one, most elderly, woman asked.
“Absolutely,” Zo said.
Claire’s face became hot. She could barely look the women in the faces.
“So, I hope to see you all tonight. Mr. Belmont and his wife are invited also; so, they may show.”
Their expressions deepened with interest. “Oooh…”
“Then we will definitely try to make it,” one young woman said.
Claire buried her head in her hands and stood behind her mother, her sleek brown hair covering her face completely.
“Oh, and if any of you see Kathryn from room 200, let her know she is invited, too!” Zo added.
They thanked her and then quickly scurried off to go play shuffleboard on the deck.
“Oh my goodness,” Claire exclaimed. “This has just become even more complicated.”
“No, it hasn’t.” Zo grabbed her hand to lead her along down the hall towards the elevators. “We will just order room service. Why have money if we don’t use it?! All we have to do is figure out some games… and I’m sure they’ve got some great shops on the ship and Kinikiwiki Island. Maybe we’ll find something while we’re shopping.”
The two went down to the elevator to get a breakfast buffet to start their day on the island with lots of energy. Then they would go back to their stateroom, get their giant beach bags, bathing suits and matching straw-yellow sun hats for the island.
The two rented a golf cart which was customary transportation on the island. It was nothing like either of them had imagined, even though there were pictures at the customer service desk aboard the ship. It was very lush with greenery. The beach accented the fact by its white sand. They zipped around the curves of the narrow roads, feeling the wind in their loose hair. The volcanic mountain had the appearance of having aged into a tropical temple.
They soon spotted two waterfalls. One waterfall that was very tall looked like it was coming out of the mountain where they would have rather expected to see lava bubble out from, near the top. The two took in as much of the breathtaking scenery as they could, switching places as driver along the way, giving the other moments for drinking iced mango drinks.
“Mother, what do you say we take a dip in the bottom of the little waterfall?”
“Sure. And I can hardly wait for our snorkeling appointment tomorrow at three o’clock.”
“How could we forget?” Claire said. “I am so excited to do that!”
“So am I!”
Zo was driving this time and quickly took a turn around toward the small waterfall. She stopped their cart and they removed their wrap-arounds, revealing their swimming suits. Zo was wearing a black, draped-bosom, one-piece suit, sprinkled with a cherry pattern. Claire had on a velvety mauve two piece.
The two both carefully pointed a toe into the water.
“Oh! I thought it would be cold water. This is actually warm,” said Claire.
“Probably warmed someway by that ‘dormant’ volcano there.” Zo smirked.
It was nice and warm; perfect on the skin. Claire went down to submerge herself completely, feeling the water wrap around her hair and against her scalp. She opened her eyes for a moment seeing her mom’s legs extend down to the bottom where there were many pebbles among large stone-like rocks. She came back up, taking in a deep refreshing breath and slicking her straight wet hair off her face. “It’s perfect. Let’s swim a little.”
“Oh, that’s ok, dear. I don’t want to get my hair wet.” Zo’s hair was wrapped up into a high thick bun. “I want it to look nice for tonight’s party. You know how difficult long hair can be. Yours was once long.”
“Yeah, when I was in the sixth grade,” Claire said. “What about snorkeling?”
“I have a special swim cap saved for that.”
“Okay, and it can’t be used now?”
“No,” she said simply with a smile.