Chapter 14
Millie arrived at the main entrance to Waves buffet early the next morning and found Gloria already waiting for her. “I forgot to tell you to wear comfortable shoes, but I see you’ve dressed for lots of steps.”
“Ready and raring to go.” Gloria scanned the room. “Hardly no one is here.”
“It’s a sea day. Come back at eleven and you’ll find the buffet is the busiest place on board, other than the pool deck.” Millie handed her a clean plate and silverware. “You’ll need protein and enough sustenance to last until after noon.”
The women filled their plates with quiche, eggs Benedict, slices of bacon, wheat toast, and fresh fruit.
Gloria passed by a display of decorative glass containers of yogurt and grabbed one on her way to the table.
Finding a primo spot with an unobstructed view of the ocean, the women set their food and drinks on the table before making a final stop, to the circular set of sinks to wash their hands before settling in.
After they were seated, Millie bowed her head.
“Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful day you’ve given us.
You know how excited I am to have Gloria, Liz, and my other friends on board.
I pray for fellowship, for time to catch up and enjoy one another’s company.
I pray for safety, for keeping our bodies healthy.
Nourish us with this delicious food you’ve provided. Amen.”
“Amen,” Gloria echoed, lifting her head. “What a thoughtful prayer.”
“I meant every word of it.” Millie sipped her coffee and dug into the eggs Benedict. She sliced off a generous portion and popped it into her mouth. “Cooked to perfection,” she murmured.
“Like this bacon and cheese quiche.” Using her knife and fork, Gloria expertly sliced off a piece of quiche and took a big bite. “How the staff can keep everything fresh, hot, and delicious while feeding so many people is mind-boggling.”
“Day in and day out,” Millie said. “Annette and the galley teams are the hardest-working crew members on board, hands down.”
“I was so excited when you invited me to hang out with you. I already took a peek at today’s schedule.”
“We’ll be doing a little of everything, including bingo.”
“I’m sure we’ll run into Liz.”
“I also have a private tour, as well as trivia, and a popular activity…Siren of the Seas’ limbo on the lido.”
“But first the Sunrise Stride.”
“Which is one of my favorite activities.” Millie listed a few more of the highlights. “If, at any point you’ve had enough, you won’t hurt my feelings if you decide to call it quits.”
“No way.” Gloria shook her head. “I’m in this for the long haul.”
The cousins finished their meal and dropped the empty dishes in the bin near the door. Reaching the walking / jogging track, they found a group of guests, an even mix of men and women, already making their rounds.
Millie and Gloria fell into step, walking at a brisk pace along the designated path. Forward and aft, past the pool, the outdoor restaurant, Hurricane, the signature tiki bar, and alongside the ship’s massive smokestack to a secluded outdoor seating area they trekked before circling back around.
“I had no idea the walking track wound all the way around the ship,” Gloria huffed.
“Offering one of the best views on board.”
The sun peeked over the horizon, bringing with it tropical temperatures, but not so much that Millie broke out in a sweat.
Back and forth, around and around they walked until reaching the thirty minute mark.
Millie stood on the side of the track, congratulating the early morning walkers who passed by and handing out stickers. “And one for you.” She handed her cousin one.
Gloria flipped the bright blue sticker over. “Sweat. Smile. Repeat.”
“It’s become sort of a game. Passengers like to collect them.” She passed out several more and waited to make sure no stragglers remained. “We’ve reached the conclusion of our Sunrise Stride.”
“What’s next?”
“A morning meeting.” Millie checked her watch. “If we hurry, we won’t be late.”
Taking the nearest set of stairs, they descended to the theater. Through the double doors and along the center aisle, the women hustled.
A large group of entertainment staff stood near the center of the stage, cups of coffee in hand. The tinkle of laughter echoed and faded when Millie, with Gloria at her side, arrived.
“Good morning, crew.”
“Good morning, Millie,” her team enthusiastically replied.
She tapped Gloria’s shoulder. “My cousin, Gloria, is hanging out with me today.”
“Good morning, Gloria.”
“Good morning.” She gazed around. “What a cheerful bunch for such an early hour.”
Millie began handing out sheets of paper. “It’s time to nominate your favorite activity on board. As you know, I’ll be tweaking the schedule based on your suggestions, ditching activities that aren’t popular and adding a few you think might be well-received.”
“Based on passenger feedback,” Danielle clarified.
“Correct. Write down the least popular, in your opinion, followed by your idea or suggestion.” Millie went over the sea day’s schedule and answered questions before ending the meeting.
Gloria hovered off to the side, waiting for the stage to clear. “You love what you do.”
“More than anything I’ve ever done in my life.”
“And your staff adores you.”
“Do you think so? Sometimes I feel.” Millie struggled to find the right word. “Bossy.”
“Because you are the boss,” Gloria said. “They also respect you.”
“I have a great team.” She glanced at her watch. “And on that note, we have some time before our next event. Let’s go check on our hitchhikers.”
Forward to aft, it was only a short trek from the theater to the crew members’ quarters. Stopping in front of Tohan’s door, Millie discovered it was ajar.
She called out his name. “Tohan?”
No answer.
Millie eased the door open, her breath catching in her throat at what she found on the other side.
Gloria peered over her shoulder. “What in the world?”