“What in heaven’s name?”I asked, gazing at the captain.
“I know you’ve been feeling down.I wanted to do something to make you feel better.I hope I haven’t been presumptuous.We need to eat, at any rate, so why not enjoy something different?”
I blinked and gazed at the scene before me.“This is…so thoughtful.You are a very kind man when you want to be.”
He narrowed his eyes.“Slander.Don’t tell anyone.”
I laughed and he grinned.
“Anyway, we’re lucky Pearl’s all right.And that you’ve come out of whatever…possessed you,” Dinesh said, then sighed.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, shut up about the fucking dog,” I stated, perhaps a bit harshly, as I didn’t want to think about the incident any further.
The fucking dog in question plopped onto her blanket and yawned, making a sweet sound, before resting her chin and closing her eyes.
“I’m sorry, my dear.Of course,” he said, a little bit taken aback, and for that I felt regret.He was only trying to be kind.
“No,I’msorry.This…” I gestured to the table.“This is lovely.”
“Have a seat.Domingo should be here soon.”
“Domingo!”I exclaimed.
There was a knock on the door.
“Come!”Dinesh said.
The door creaked open and Squid gestured for Domingo to enter, which he did, carrying a tray laden with silver serving dishes.
“Squid, could you help me, please?”Domingo asked, and Squid came into the room behind him.
“Of course.Only tell me what to do,” Squid replied.
Domingo smiled at me and winked.“Dinner is served, gentlemen!”
I thought back to Domingo’s suggestion that we cultivate joy in the face of fear, uncertainty, and grief, and I supposed this was his way, and the captain’s way, of doing so.
“Oh, thank you so very much,” I said, on my best behaviour.“I don’t think I’ve ever been treated to such a luxury.”
“Well, that is a fucking travesty,” Domingo muttered.
Domingo, having worked in the fanciest bordello I’d ever set foot inside, would have enjoyed dinners such as this, given him by men who were interested in his affections and might—
A thought occurred and I glanced between him and Captain Martin.
“Hold on a moment,” I said as Domingo placed his tray on the nearby chest of drawers.
He stilled and Dinesh blinked innocently at me.
I thought about how to put my question into words.
“Did you,” I asked Dinesh, “set a fancy table for Domingo at one time, when you hoped he would be available for your attentions?Perhaps at a somewhat—” I leaned forward and rested my elbows rakishly on the table and raised my eyebrows.“—reduced rate?”
Dinesh opened his mouth as if to deny the accusation but remained silent and looked at his fancy soup bowl.Domingo gave me a long-suffering look, as if I were the most tiresome fellow of his acquaintance, but didn’t say a word.
I straightened, the realization less of a shock than I expected.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I said.
