“It’ll pass when she gets her sea legs,” Augusta said sympathetically.“I used to feel queasy when we first started cruising.”
Pippa nodded her head, her expression sympathetic.“Gilly didn’t want to risk getting sick at dinner.Can’t say as I blame her.”
I nodded, remembering the pale, miserable look on Gilly’s face earlier.“Probably for the best.Hopefully, she’ll be up for tomorrow.”
“And what about you?”I asked her, curious.“You said you were retired too?”
“Augusta was a trophy wife,” Carl teased, placing his hand gently over hers.The older woman’s ring finger glittered with “Still is.”
“Aww,” Pippa cooed.“That’s so sweet.”
“Carl,” she said with a headshake and a smile.“I’m a retired attorney.”
“Criminal or civil?”Ezra asked.
Augusta gave him a friendly but assessing look.“I started as a criminal attorney but ended my career in private practice as a civil litigator.What about you?”she asked him.
“I’m a detective.”
“Private?”Helena asked.
He shook his head.“I’m the head of special investigations for the Garden Cove P.D.It doesn’t get much more public than that.”
“You must have some interesting stories to tell,” Jasper said, joining the conversation.
Ezra shrugged.“A few, but I promised Nora this trip was going to be all fun and sun and no business.”
“How long does it take to cook a bloody steak?”Sebastian muttered under his breath.He and Callie were wedged between the honeymooners and the older couple, and he shifted uncomfortably when he noticed the attention turning toward him.
“Don’t mind my Sebbie,” Callie said, giving him an affectionate pat on the arm.“He gets cranky when he’s hungry.”
Sebastian shot her a sour look but cleared his throat and sat up straighter as if his posture alone might summon the food faster.He glanced around the dining room, his expression tight with impatience.“The least they could do is bring our drinks”
I shifted my attention to the newlyweds sitting nearby.“Where are you two from?”
“Kentucky,” Helena replied cheerfully.“Louisville area.”
Her husband nodded.“Go, Cardinals,” he added.
“I’m a KU fan, myself,” Ezra said, leaning in.
Jordy groaned.“It’s MU or nothing, Easy,” he said, using Ezra’s nickname.“You live in Missouri.Your son literally goes to MU.Dude.”He shook his head.“You gotta root for the Tigers.”
“Mason doesn’t even like sports.Besides...”Ezra pressed a hand to his chest, feigning injury.“...the heart wants what it wants,” he said dramatically.“And this heart wants a Rock Chalk, Jayhawk victory.”
Jordy barked a laugh.“Not this season.They were out in the first round.”He turned to Jasper.“Louisville, too.”
“Isn’t March Madness over?”Pippa asked.
“Not for another week,” Jordy answered.
The guys had started a local pool, including Ezra, Jordy, Scott, and four other basketball-loving friends, for the NCAA tournament the last couple of years.It was twenty dollars to join, and the winner took all.Ezra was convinced he had a shot with Alabama, one of his eight random picks.I didn’t follow basketball or any sport, really, but I was great at parroting back whatever Ezra told me.
“Well, too bad you won’t be able to keep up with it,” I teased.
“There are three sports bars on the ship,” Jasper chimed in.“Pretty sure the games will be on in at least one of them.”
“Thanks, Jasper,” Pippa said with exaggerated sweetness.
