Claire Gulliver #04 - Cruisin' for a Bruisin' Read online

  Just then the waitress wheeled out a tea trolley laden with plates and pots. She transferred everything to their table while they sat dazzled by the variety. Lucy said she would pour, so the waitress left them to it.

  “No wonder it’s so expensive. Who could eat all this?” Ruth muttered.

  “I bet we can do a pretty good job of it, I’m starved after all our walking today.” Claire used the silver tongs to help herself to a collection of tiny sandwiches and little savories.

  “I skipped lunch just so I could do justice to it.” Millie heaped her plate.

  “Well, I swam, so I’m hungry,” admitted Ruth.

  “I hope we won’t have to ask for more. It would be a little embarrassing,” Lucy said and the others laughed. “I know for sure I’m saving room for the sweets.”

  The four-tiered plate laden with scones, cakes, petite fours and chocolate dipped strawberries looked almost too pretty to disturb, but they knew they would.

  “Yummy. Ruth, did you try this? It tastes like that little crab puff your group served as an appetizer in Tuscany,” Millie said between bites.

  Ruth picked one up and took a bite, then nodded at Millie as she finished it off. “It could easily be the same recipe.”

  “Did you see any of our table mates at the gardens?”

  “No, but I did see a couple of people from the ship. That couple we sat next to at the races and another couple I met in the internet café. Did you see anyone from the table Lucy?”

  “No, but maybe they went other places or even wandered around the shops here in town. Isn’t this a pretty town with all the flower baskets hanging from the light stanchions? Claire, you should talk to your Merchant’s Association and get them to do that in Bayside. It would really perk up the downtown district.”

  Claire nodded, then admitted, “They’re pretty tight with their dollars. They don’t like to spend money on anything, and I can just hear them complaining about how flowers are apt to die.”

  Lucy grinned, nodding. She knew Bayside was such a pokey little town because the city fathers were loath to spend the money to compete with the fashionable cities of Burlingame and San Mateo which neighbored them.

  She changed the subject. “So Millie, what did you do today while Ruth was swimming her laps?”

  “I fully intended to work on my menus. But when I went for coffee I found Mrs. Bernbaum sitting up there all alone, so I ended up talking to her until it was time to meet Ruth. She was telling me about how she met her husband, not Mr. Bernbaum, her one true love, you know? She’s very interesting.”

  “Did she grab your arm so you couldn’t get away?” Claire wanted to know.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact she did, but I didn’t mind. You know it must be very hard to want to tell people things when they’re all too busy or too disinterested to listen. She told me one of the hardest things about getting old was finding there was no one to share her memories with.” Millie shuddered. “I kind of hope I don’t live that long.”

  “How old is she?”

  “I don’t know, but she was in her thirties when she met her husband in the forties so that would make her ninety something now, wouldn’t it?” She looked around to verify her math and seeing them nod she continued. “Really, she’s in pretty good shape for her age, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I guess so!”

  “I invited her to join us for tea, but she said she had to nap. She says if she doesn’t nap she’ll fall asleep in her soup.” Millie laughed. “Apparently her caregiver and her nephew scheduled her for the early sitting and she wasn’t going to have that.”

  Claire nodded. “Every time I’ve seen her caregiver she’s made some comment about Mrs. Bernbaum staying up too late. One time she said it would take more than a shot of pep from Dr. Feelgood to keep her going.”

  “What did she mean by that, dear?”

  “Well, Mom, I’m assuming she calls Dr. Walmer that. I got the impression she didn’t much like him or the shots he gives Mrs. Bernbaum to give her enough energy for this trip.”

  “He’s giving her shots? What kind of shots? Is that dangerous?” Millie couldn’t contain her alarm.

  “He specializes in longevity. I’ve heard of physicians who do that. They use all the newest discoveries to make sure their aging clients get the most out of their life. Believe me, when I start slowing down I’ll be getting me a doctor like that.” Ruth shook her head as she helped herself to more goodies. “Forget all the doctors who do face lifts, I’d rather be able to do things, to be mobile, to have the energy to do what I want.”

  “I’m with you on that, Ruth. And Mrs. Bernbaum told me she was on a life quest. She has something she feels she needs to do on this trip to Alaska and Richard made it possible for her to do it, so she’s very grateful for his help.” Then Claire admitted sheepishly, “I was concerned when I first met her, because she’s so old. But really, I do like her. And from the little I know about her I’m sure she’s led a very interesting life.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The players had all shifted again Claire noticed when she and Lucy approached their table and found that once more they were the last to arrive.

  “Lucy, Lucy, sit here beside me.” Pearl gushed, indicating the empty chair on her right. “I saved it for you especially.”

  Claire good-naturedly headed for the only other empty chair, on the other side of the table with her mother on her left and Sean Gallagher on her right.

  “I do so want to talk to you about the gardens. We just loved them. And when we returned we had time to explore the city a little and we found a book store. Look what I found.” She held up a copy of An Armchair Traveler’s Adventure, Lucy’s most recent book. “I was hoping to find a copy of Daffodils in the Cotswolds, but no such luck.” Still, Pearl looked very pleased with herself.

  “And I was thumbing though it and I found your picture, Claire. I didn’t know you had anything to do with this book, but I want both of you to sign it for me, if you will.”

  Claire met Lucy’s eyes a moment and then said to Pearl, “I was a member of a group of people who followed the book’s itinerary before it was published. The picture you saw was that group. We didn’t really contribute anything to writing the book, we only tested the itinerary. The book is all Lucy’s baby.” The picture Pearl was referring to was the group picture on the back of the book’s dust jacket which they had taken at the San Francisco Airport before leaving on the tour.

  Claire felt her heart thump with anxiety as she remembered how naïve and excited they all were when that picture was taken. Then she gave herself a mental shake, it was more than a year ago; it was over. They survived or at least most of them did.

  Lucy smiled graciously and took the book from Pearl. Realizing she didn’t have a pen she looked around the table until Harold handed her one from his shirt pocket. She smiled her thanks before murmuring as she opened the book to the title page, “Do you want it dedicated to both you and Harold?”

  “Oh, both of us please. I can’t wait to read it and then if I have any questions, you’ll be right here for me to ask you. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Of course not. I’d be happy to discuss it and I’m sure Claire wouldn’t mind telling you about her trip, would you Claire?” She signed the book and passed it across the table to Claire to sign.

  Pedro arrived just then to take their orders and, after the selections were made, attention was diverted from Lucy’s book while small conversations broke out around the table.

  “Did you go to the gardens?” Sean inquired with interest.

  Claire nodded. “In spite of the rain. Lucy and I hired a car and the driver waited for us. It worked out very well and allowed us to spend as much time as we wanted in the gardens and still get back to town to have a sumptuous tea at the Empress Hotel.”

  “Wasn’t that expensive? The car, I mean.”

  “Well, originally all four of us were going to share, so it would have been much cheaper than taking a sho
re excursion. However, since Mom and Ruth decided they would melt if they got wet, it was only Lucy and I. So I think it cost about the same as the shore excursion. But,” she paused, thinking, “It was still better because we were able to follow our own time line. You know how on the bus you have to be there at a certain time and then wait until everyone else gets there, and there is always someone late, isn’t there? So this way we got to the gardens ahead of the buses and when we left we went directly to the Empress Hotel. It was way more convenient.”

  Sean nodded. “It sounds like it. Maybe Ian and I should think about doing that in Juneau. We’re torn between two activities and if we hired a car maybe we could do both?”

  He leaned forward to speak around Ruth. “Ian, Claire and Lucy hired a car to go out to the gardens and avoided the time schedules for the shore excursions. If we hired a car in Juneau we could probably have time to take the helicopter and dog sled excursion and still see the glacier.”

  Ian nodded. “That sounds like a good plan. Tomorrow let’s check the times and sign up. Hopefully, they still have space.”

  “Helicopter ride and dog sledding sounds pretty exciting. What did you do today?”

  Sean chuckled. “Pub and Ale tour. You have no idea how many pubs and ale houses they have here in Victoria. I had to have a nap when we returned, but not my brother. He drank me under the table.”

  “Hey, wait a minute that sounds worse than it was. Sean’s just getting a little old, so he couldn’t keep up with the rest of us.”

  Richard offered Sean support from across the table. “I understand completely, Sean. I took the Garden and Winery Tour. After doing the Gardens in the rain and then tasting all the wines I felt a little like napping too. Fortunately, I was able to snatch a little shut eye on the bus ride back to the ship.”

  Ian shook his head, his eyes dancing with fun. “Wusses, these guys are wusses.” He winked at Ruth beside him. “I bet you could have kept up, couldn’t you, Ruth?”

  “Probably,” Ruth laughed, “But I didn’t even try. Millie and I stayed on board until it was time to meet Claire and Lucy for tea. We know enough to stay out of the rain.”

  “And what about you, Mrs. Bernbaum? How did you spend your day?” Ian asked from the far end of the table.

  “I had a very nice time right here on board the ship. I stayed warm and dry, had coffee with Millie and spent some time in the Beauty Salon.”

  “Ha, I thought you were looking especially charming tonight.” He winked at her and her face lit up from the attention. “And tomorrow I see we have dress up night, so we’ll all be wanting to look our best.”

  “I love to dress up, but Harold hates it.” Pearl confessed, “So tomorrow I’ll be the happy one and he’ll probably be grouchy.”

  “Ah, Pearl, I’m not as bad as that. And besides when would it be that you’re not the happy one. I only seem grouchy compared to you.” Harold defended himself and everyone laughed, agreeing to the truth in what he said.

  “So tomorrow we’re going through the inland passage. I can’t wait. I understand we’ll be very close to shore,” Millie said her excitement plain.

  “And the sea will be very calm, won’t it?” Mrs. Bernbaum asked. “I’ll tell Anita she can look forward to a good day.”

  “Oh, dear, the poor woman is still sick?” Millie looked concerned. “Isn’t there anything you can give her to help?” She looked at Richard.

  “I’ve given her the maximum dose. She just doesn’t seem to respond. Auntie thinks it’s mental, not just physical, so she won’t recover until we’re all safely back in San Francisco.”

  “What a shame. Why doesn’t she just go back?” Claire suggested, remembering the green look of Anita each time she had seen her. “She could fly back from Juneau, couldn’t she?”

  “She may as well. Frankly she’s so miserable she’s ruining my cruise. But since she is also stubborn, I don’t suppose she will. However, it’s a good suggestion, Claire. I will ask her.”

  “So we have the whole day tomorrow to lollygag around. I love it. I love looking at that list of activities and planning my day around what I want to do. I think that’s what I enjoy the most about cruising,” Ruth said with a smile.

  “Yeah, and if you plan an activity you can still change your plans. The whole pace of things allows you do as much or as little as you want to do.” Lucy grinned, she was enjoying this cruise.

  Millie added, “I like how friendly people are. Have you noticed? If you sit anywhere, people sitting near you start talking to you. And everyone is so nice.”

  “And why wouldn’t they be?” Sean said with an arched eyebrow. “The nightly news shows aren’t dispensing their load of woe and misery, which alone should make us all the happier. We are all fed and entertained and pampered every minute of the day. Everyone is feeling mellow. It makes for good company.”

  “Well speaking of good company, will we see you ladies upstairs for the dancing?” Ian asked.”

  “Of course, do we look like dullards?”

  “Not you, dear, never.” Ian smiled wickedly at Lucy.

  “We’re coming for a while, but Ruth wants to play cards so who knows how long we’ll be there. What about you, Claire, coming?” Millie looked questioningly at Claire.

  “Sure, it’s a nice way to end the evening. Mrs. Bernbaum do you need me to escort you back to your room?”

  “No, thank you, dear. Dickie is going to take me. But Claire, if you have time, why don’t you and your mother come to tea at my cabin tomorrow afternoon? We can see the shore from my balcony while we sip our tea. Bring your friends if you want.”

  “That would be nice. What time?”

  “Come at three if that’s convenient.”

  * * *

  “I thought you weren’t coming,” she complained when he slipped into the chair beside her in the dim piano bar. She waited impatiently, her fingers drumming on the arm of her chair, while he ordered a drink and a refill for her.

  “I tried to get away earlier but it was hard. I didn’t want to be obvious, so I waited until a couple of others drifted away and then I disappeared. How did the rest of your day go?”

  “Just like we planned. I met her for dinner and then we caught the early show. They’re not bad, you know. It was a variety show, lots of costumes and dances copied from some of the Broadway shows, but still entertaining. And I mentioned the shrine to her. She’s definitely interested in that. I told her I’d see what I could do and let her know tomorrow.”

  “Well, I’ve got some good news. The old lady is going to suggest she fly home from Juneau. If she does, the problem will be solved.” He grinned, his teeth gleaming in the darkness.

  “If she doesn’t?”

  “Well, too bad for her.” His smile was hard.

  She nodded. “I called and arranged the car rental from a pay phone on shore, so that’s done with no way to trace it to the ship.”

  “Tomorrow we’ll work out the logistics.” He finished his drink. “Let’s get out of here, I’m feeling lucky tonight. How about a visit to the casino?”

  * * *

  “Good morning. This is the Captain speaking. The sun has broken through the clouds and it looks like a smooth day sailing up the inside passage. You will see at several points we will be close enough to shore to see wildlife through binoculars, so keep your eyes open. Meanwhile, those of you on the starboard side may enjoy the antics of our escort. We have picked up a school of porpoises. They have been with us for a while and don’t mind showing off for you. And no, they are not employed by Call of the Seas for your entertainment. Have a nice day and I’ll look forward to meeting you at the captain’s cocktail party this evening before dinner.”

  “Which side is starboard?” Millie asked, swiveling her head.

  “There, did you see it?” Claire pointed out the window near her. “There they are. Look at them.”

  “Oh, goodness, how many are there? Let me get my camera, maybe I can get a picture.” Millie grabbe
d her camera from her canvas tote bag and got out of her chair to crowd closer to the window.

  Even Ruth twisted around, ignoring her coffee for a moment to see the porpoises gamboling in the sea, keeping pace with the ship.

  “Oh, that was fun. I hope we see more and whales too.” Millie returned to her breakfast only casting her eyes toward the porpoises occasionally.

  “We’re taking a whale watching trip out of Ketchikan. They promise we’ll see whales and other wildlife too,” their table companion, who had introduced herself as Heidi from Phoenix, said.

  Her husband, Bob, explained they booked the excursion to be sure they saw whales, not willing to leave the sightings to chance. “I mean what’s the first thing everyone will ask us? Did we see any whales? No way we’re going to admit we didn’t. We’re going to see whales and we’re going to capture it on tape.”

  He nodded, clearly pleased with their strategy, while Heidi laughed. “We don’t have whales in Phoenix, you know.” Her eyes sparkled with merriment. “I noticed you keep your camera with you; that’s a good idea. After breakfast I think I’ll go back to the cabin and get mine and my binoculars. You never know when whales might appear.”

  Then finishing their breakfast Heidi and Bob excused themselves. “Don’t forget to meet me in the lounge at ten. We’re going to be brilliant at Trivia, I just know it,” Heidi reminded them as she left.

  “They’re a fun couple. Can you imagine how hot it must be in Phoenix now? If I lived there I’d probably want to go to Alaska for vacation too,” Ruth commented. “So Claire, where is Lucy this morning, another sleep in?”

  Claire shrugged. “Actually, I envy her ability to do that. I wake up about seven and no matter how tired I am, I eventually get up. But you know she keeps a different schedule. She doesn’t have to get up and get to work at a certain time. When she’s writing she does it when she wants. I know she must have come in late last night, but I didn’t even hear her.”