Chapter 5
Sookie and the ladies had been on pins and needles all day, hoping that their plan to throw Ava and Vince together had worked.
Sookie was on her second beer when Ava appeared in the doorway.
Minnie pushed back her chair and stood up so that Ava could see where they were sitting in the buffet area of the ship’s dining room. Dotty threw up a hand and waved.
Ava made her way around several tables and sat down in the empty chair. Her expression didn’t tell Sookie much of anything at all.
“Did you enjoy that little excursion?” Minnie asked.
“How about the luncheon they serve under the pavilion? Did you make any new friends?” Dotty asked.
“Vince was there, and as luck would have it, I had to sit beside him on the bus which, by the way, was not air-conditioned.”
At the mention of his name, Ava’s eyes seemed to sparkle just a little, and that gave Sookie a little hope. “Did he talk to you?”
“He did. We’re having dinner tomorrow night. He says he’s working on something, but he didn’t want to tell me about it until it was definite.”
“I’m not real sure that’s a good idea,” Minnie said as she picked up her whiskey sour and took a sip.
“Why are you saying that? Of course, it’s a good idea,” Sookie fussed.
Minnie giggled. “I just want her to think about it.”
“It’s just dinner, and we have lots of things to discuss, so why not get it over with?” Ava’s eyes darted around the lido deck as if she was looking for Vince.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Dotty said and laid a hand on her arm. “He’s not here, darlin’. He and Henry are at that fancy Italian restaurant.”
“I’m a little nervous about whatever he’s cooking up,” Ava admitted.
“You were alone with him all day. Were you nervous then?” Dotty asked.
“Not really, but there were folks all around us all day.”
Minnie patted her arm. “You won’t have a meddling mother-in-law or a sister tugging at you from each side, no matter how many people are in the Italian restaurant tomorrow night.”
“But…” Sookie started.
Dotty threw up a palm. “Don’t you be the devil’s advocate, either. We’ve got to know what he’s cooking up, as Ava said. If she doesn’t go with him, then we’ll never know.”
Sookie giggled. “All right! All right! We all agree that Ava should go to dinner with him.”
“Could I come talk to y’all after we finish our dinner?”
“Of course, you can. We’ll be out on the deck in chairs waiting for you. Shall I have a bottle of champagne ready?” Sookie polished off her beer. “I’m going through the buffet line now. I’m starving. How about y’all?”
“I am hungry, too,” Ava said. “Lead the way, Sookie, and I sure hope we need that bottle of bubbly. I want this marriage to work.”
“So do I, and it seems like fate that we wound up on this cruise together,” Ava said.
Sookie wanted to dance across the room or maybe hug herself. They had a couple more days to work their magic, but it was beginning to look like the matchmakers would be successful on this cruise.
Ava pointed to the dessert buffet. “And after we eat, I’m having two desserts. That cheesecake over there and the key lime pie are both calling my name.”
“That’s my girl,” Dotty said with a big grin as she picked up a tray and started down the line. “And I feel in my bones that we just might get to pop the cork on Sookie’s champagne.”
“I hope so!” Ava whispered.