“Okay, okay. You’ve come this far, no? You think it’s just coincidence?” She handed my phone back. “Ask him what time.” She peered over my shoulder while I got in touch with Nikos.
“Noon,” I said when he messaged back. “He’s arranged for someone to take me ashore, and then we’ll return together.”
“How romantic. I’m so excited for you!”
I bit my tongue. Nothing was going to happen between Nikos and me. In fact, damn him and his three thumbs. Why’d he have to go and make a big show by sending me a gazillion flowers?
“I’ll go get my things from the crew quarters.” I tossed my phone aside and stood.
“I’ll be right here.” Dolly hummed as she went from bouquet to bouquet, fluffing up the flowers.
Walking into the hallway, I noticed something reflecting the pot-lights on the thickly carpeted floor. I picked up a pair of silver keys held together by a generic key ring. They were smaller than the cabin keys, with no tags or markings. My fingers tingled as I held them. A pair of orphan keys. They could belong to any door. They could unlock any possibility. I felt a momentary rush of invincibility and the uneasiness in my bones dissolved. After being caught off-guard by Captain Bailey, Dolly, and Nikos, I clutched the keys, feeling strangely empowered.
I had just pocketed them when Teri stepped out of the suite next to the elevator. Her eyes were red and puffy, like she’d been crying a long time. She blinked when she saw me. Then she ducked back inside and shut the door.
“Teri?” I knocked softly. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” came her muffled reply. “I just got some shampoo in my eyes.”
“Can I get you anything?” I waited a few seconds. “Teri?”
I stood outside her door a couple of minutes before I heard the water running. She’d either stepped into the shower again or was trying to get rid of me.
I took the elevator to the crew quarters and slipped inside Alex’s cabin. Relief engulfed me in the small, windowless chamber. It was quiet down here, away from everyone’s issues and emotions and agendas. But it was time to get back to reality.
I retrieved the clear plastic bag stashed under my bed and added the keys to my collection of knickknacks: The Three of Spades, a ping-pong ball, a champagne glass, an hourglass with yellow sand…
I dug into my pocket. There was one more memento.
It was a lock of Alex’s hair, from his hair cut with Vasilis. It was dry now, dark as a raven’s wing.
A sharp rap on the door. “Hello? Anyone there?”
“Just a minute.” I slipped Alex’s hair into the bag and sealed it shut again. Then I kicked it under the bed and opened the door.
It was Hannah, and like Teri, her eyes were red and puffy, like she’d been crying a long time.
What the hell?
“I’m glad I caught you,” she said. “Captain Bailey asked me to see if your bags were ready to bring up.”
“It’s just one bag. I don’t need any help with it. Are you okay?”
“Oh, this?” Hannah pointed to her face. “It’s nothing. Just a slight allergic reaction to all the flowers that came for you.”
“You’re allergic to flowers?”
“Something about these ones. I helped carry them inside, so I must be.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She sniffed. “I’ll be fine. Are you sure you’ll manage on your own?”
“Yes, thanks.” I started to shut the door but paused. “Hey, did Captain Bailey speak to Rachel Auntie about the accommodations or is she still with Ken and Judy?”
“They left a little while ago. Your aunt will use the Captain’s suite, and Captain Bailey will bunk here with Chef Alexandros. It’s just for tonight and tomorrow, then everyone will disembark in Hydra, so don’t feel too bad about it.”
If Captain Bailey had shared her concerns about Alex and me with Hannah, the Chief Steward was giving no indication.
