Chapter 1 #2
“It’s cheaper than those places that senior citizens go,” Minnie had done her research before she presented the plan to the other two, “and we don’t have to cook, clean, or even make our own beds.”
“I’ve heard that the food is excellent,” Dotty had said.
Minnie had whipped out a fistful of brochures and laid them on the table. “And if we watch the sales and book in advance, we get a free drink ticket, too. There’s always entertainment, and God knows, it’ll beat having the same people around us all the time.”
“Pushing walkers and watching reruns on the television in the nursing home lobby.” Dotty nodded.
“I’m in,” Sookie said. “Where do I sign? I want to slide up to the Pearly Gates with every ounce of me used completely up. I’ll be hollerin’ for someone to open the gates and let me tell them all about the wonderful life I had the last few years.”
“You’re the planner among us,” Minnie had said.
“We want you to do the logistics. That means figuring out how to go from one ship to another for at least three months. We need you to plan where we’ll be staying in a hotel for a night or two between our cruises, and the flights or transportation to and from ships. ”
“I can do that.” Sookie had nodded.
The captain’s voice came over the intercom system, telling everyone on their deck to go to the auditorium for the thirty-minute safety class and jerking Sookie back to the present.
The loud knock on the door caused her to grab her sparkly lanyard with her room key on it, slip it over her neck, and cross the floor.
“I’m ready,” she said. “Let’s go get this over with so we can have a drink.”
“I’m spitting dust,” Minnie said, just like she always did before they were finished with the class and could head to the lido deck for the launch.
“I love the launch,” Dotty said. “It’s as exciting as a first date.”
“You remember first dates?” Sookie asked. “I thought we were old.”
“We are old, but our minds are as good as they were when we were teenagers,” Dotty threw back at her. “If you hadn’t had so many first dates, you might be excited.”
“Oh, honey.” Sookie’s brown eyes twinkled. “Blanche on Golden Girls has been my role model for years. I don’t let an opportunity to have a little fun pass me by.”
“You look more like Rose with brown hair, or maybe that tall actress on Hot in Cleveland.” Dotty led the way to where the safety course was being given.
“Add in that I’m smart like Dorothy, and I’ve got them all covered.” Sookie flipped back her hair with a flourish.
Dotty nodded and frowned at the same time. “She’s right, Minnie. She’s managed to outrun Henry for the last four cruises, so she has to be pretty smart.”
“Or maybe she hasn’t,” Minnie disagreed. “Maybe she’s telling him exactly what ship we’re boarding next, and she’s just leading him on.”
“Nope, I’m trying to get you fixed up with him, Minnie,” Sookie teased.
Minnie laid a hand over her heart. “Sweet Lord! I had a good marriage and planned a good retirement with my sweet Walter! I most certainly do not want another husband!”
Sookie opened the door into the big auditorium and stood to the side. “You don’t have to marry ’em, just because you sleep with ’em.”
“I’d have to get a Sex for Dummies book to even know how to do that anymore,” Minnie said, giggling.
“It’s just like riding a bicycle. Once you get the wheels to rollin’, you remember all about it,” Sookie teased.
Dotty headed in first and took a seat. “I’ll look around for a good candidate for the guy in our matchmaking game. I just know in my soul that the guy I pointed out is the one for this trip, but I want to be certain before I make a declaration.”
“Well, honey,” Sookie said in her Texas drawl, “I hope your soul hasn’t been keeping company with the devil and is lying to you.” She sat down beside Dotty and only listened to the demonstration with half an ear.
“You’re the one who talks to the devil, not me,” Dotty told her.
“I do not talk to the devil!” Sookie said. “I love Jesus, even though I drink a little and still enjoy a romp between the sheets.”
Their matchmaking scheme had started on their fourth cruise when they’d befriended a single woman and introduced her to a guy that had been seated at their table one evening.
They’d had so much fun putting the two of them together that they’d decided to try their hand at it again.
Now it was a game that they had only lost twice in the past six months.
***
Dotty claimed a table for four on the lido deck while her two friends went to the bar.
The band up on the next level played “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet.
Dotty checked the time on her phone and smiled.
It really was after five, and the launch would be happening anytime now.
Drinks were flowing and folks were having a good time.
In a week, they’d be ready to go home, but today, everyone was excited to get underway.
Minnie and Sookie returned with drinks, and Minnie handed a dirty banana off to Dotty. “Here you go, girl. I don’t know why you always order one of these for the launch party.”
“It’s my good luck charm. I didn’t have one on the last cruise because y’all talked me into a strawberry daiquiri—and look where it got us.
We failed in our mission to put a couple together.
You didn’t listen to me on the guy I picked out, either, so I went with a different one.
My mojo was off, and it was all because I didn’t have my dirty banana.
I’m considering having another one to start off this launch to be sure we’ll have good luck. ”
“Excuse me,” a young woman said. “Is this chair taken, or would I be intruding? Seems like all the tables are full.”
“Have a seat, darlin’, and tell us your name.” Dotty smiled at the cute little red-haired woman.
She raised a beer. “Ava Cargill.”
“I’m Dotty, and this is Minnie, and that one over there eyeing every single man on the ship is Sookie. Glad to meet you, Ava.”
Ava smiled, but it didn’t reach her emerald-green eyes. “I won’t challenge Sookie for any of the guys on this ship—or in the world for that matter. I’m done with all of them.”
“That’s good,” Sookie said, “because with your looks, I wouldn’t stand a chance if you set your sights on one of them.”
Ava raised her can of beer. “Thank you for that. You’ve made my day. Is this your first cruise?”
“Oh no, honey, we’re snowbirds with green cards,” Dotty answered.
“What’s that?” Ava asked.
“It means we live on cruise ships, and after so many trips, we got a green card saying we are residents,” Minnie told her.
“That’s the short form of it anyway,” Sookie said. “Is this your first cruise?”
Ava nodded. “I’m supposed to be here celebrating my fifth anniversary with my husband, but we’re taking some time apart. I decided to come on the cruise anyway.”
“Getting away from the forest so you can see the trees?” Minnie asked.
“Yep, and I shouldn’t be unloading on y’all,” Ava said.
“Darlin’,” Minnie said with a broad smile, “it’s easier to unload on three old women than anyone else…”
“Oh! My! Goodness!” Ava had to swallow fast to keep from choking on a swallow of beer.
“Are you okay?” Dotty asked.
“I’m not sure,” Ava shook her head and continued to stare across the deck.
“That’s my husband over there in the white shorts and blue shirt.
I arranged this cruise to celebrate our fifth anniversary.
I spent the night of our anniversary alone until about midnight because he had an important business event.
He sent roses, but I’m sure he had his secretary call the florist. When I gave him my gift of this cruise, he said that he couldn’t take a week off work.
The next day I moved out of our house into a hotel.
” She shook her head. “And yet, here he is. I wonder why he’s even here. ”
Dotty, Minnie, and Sookie followed Ava’s gaze. She was nodding toward Mr. Tall, Dark, and Lonesome.
“I still love him even if he has broken my heart,” Ava said with a sigh.
Dotty caught Minnie and Sookie’s eyes. They had helped get lots and lots of relationships started, but not one time had they ever put one that was on the rocks back together.
They smiled at one another, without a word, and accepted the challenge.
With slight nods, they began to plan their next matchmaking job on this cruise.