when they both got back from the trips, they could do something together on the ship.
â§
A spectacular tropical garden inhabited by butterflies from around the world spread out before Charlotte. Sights and smells overwhelmed her senses. Color bursts of fluttering wings that settled on delicate blossoms then lifted off to find another resting place provided a kaleidoscopic atmosphere. The heady essence of orchids, birds of paradise, and other exotic flowers created a perfume unparalleled, even by the most expensive names in fragrance. Godâs blending was perfect. Charlotte wished they could bottle it and sell it. She would choose it as her signature perfume.
While she enjoyed the lavishness of the setting, she forgot to feel lonely. Everyone else on the excursion had one or more partners to share it with, so riding on the bus across the island, she felt alone. When she boarded the return bus, the loneliness fell on her again like a wet blanket, making the hot air hard to breathe. She didnât even want to think about what the cruise would be like if Philip were with her. She would not go there. But sharing this with her daughter, or her own best friend back home, would have made the day even better.
When they reached the submarine, Charlotte hung back, letting the groups be seated together. Sheâd just take whatever place was left. After sinking onto the thinly padded seat covered with plastic upholstery, she felt as if she were taking part in some science fiction book or movie. She always liked reading Jules Verne when she was younger, and this submarine felt like something out of one of his books.
âWeâll leave in just a few minutes,â said the perky young man who would serve as their guide. He held a clipboard on which he had ticked off the name of each person who boarded. âWe have one more passenger who is running a little late.â
Charlotte had counted everyone on the bus over to the gardens and on the way over here from there. Maybe it went back to the times she served as a room mother and accompanied field trips. Counting children kept them from the catastrophe of leaving one behind. Everyone had been on the second bus. She looked around and counted the people in the sub again. They were all here. She started once again, in case she miscounted. Before she finished, a man in navy shorts and a white polo shirt with thin navy stripes across his muscular chest climbed down the ladder and slipped into the seat beside her.
âHello, Charlotte. Surprised to see me?â
Surprised didnât even describe this feeling that coursed through her. Happy. . .unsettled. . .she could think of a lot of words that better explained the shiver that skittered down her spine.
âCaptâGareth, are you taking time off again today?â Of course he was, or he wouldnât be here beside her. So much for her decision not to spend time with him again.
â§
âYes.â What else could he add to that?
The guide closed the hatch, and the sub pulled away from the dock, slowly sinking below the surface of the water. The young man started his spiel. Gareth had heard it all before. Personally, he preferred floating on top of the waves in a larger craft to being held captive below the surface in this thing, but the chance to spend more time with Charlotte made the trip worth it.
He watched expressions chase themselves across her face. It was like watching a movie, and he recognized each of her feelings. Something bothered her, and he wanted to find out what. He felt a strong desire to fix it for her. Maybe it had something to do with Chelle. She hadnât seemed very happy at dinner last night. Had something happened after they left the dining room? Something that kept the two women from attending the show? Gareth had gone to the lighting booth in the theater, hoping to catch a glimpse of Charlotte, but he couldnât see her sitting anywhere in the large room. He wanted to watch
â§
A spectacular tropical garden inhabited by butterflies from around the world spread out before Charlotte. Sights and smells overwhelmed her senses. Color bursts of fluttering wings that settled on delicate blossoms then lifted off to find another resting place provided a kaleidoscopic atmosphere. The heady essence of orchids, birds of paradise, and other exotic flowers created a perfume unparalleled, even by the most expensive names in fragrance. Godâs blending was perfect. Charlotte wished they could bottle it and sell it. She would choose it as her signature perfume.
While she enjoyed the lavishness of the setting, she forgot to feel lonely. Everyone else on the excursion had one or more partners to share it with, so riding on the bus across the island, she felt alone. When she boarded the return bus, the loneliness fell on her again like a wet blanket, making the hot air hard to breathe. She didnât even want to think about what the cruise would be like if Philip were with her. She would not go there. But sharing this with her daughter, or her own best friend back home, would have made the day even better.
When they reached the submarine, Charlotte hung back, letting the groups be seated together. Sheâd just take whatever place was left. After sinking onto the thinly padded seat covered with plastic upholstery, she felt as if she were taking part in some science fiction book or movie. She always liked reading Jules Verne when she was younger, and this submarine felt like something out of one of his books.
âWeâll leave in just a few minutes,â said the perky young man who would serve as their guide. He held a clipboard on which he had ticked off the name of each person who boarded. âWe have one more passenger who is running a little late.â
Charlotte had counted everyone on the bus over to the gardens and on the way over here from there. Maybe it went back to the times she served as a room mother and accompanied field trips. Counting children kept them from the catastrophe of leaving one behind. Everyone had been on the second bus. She looked around and counted the people in the sub again. They were all here. She started once again, in case she miscounted. Before she finished, a man in navy shorts and a white polo shirt with thin navy stripes across his muscular chest climbed down the ladder and slipped into the seat beside her.
âHello, Charlotte. Surprised to see me?â
Surprised didnât even describe this feeling that coursed through her. Happy. . .unsettled. . .she could think of a lot of words that better explained the shiver that skittered down her spine.
âCaptâGareth, are you taking time off again today?â Of course he was, or he wouldnât be here beside her. So much for her decision not to spend time with him again.
â§
âYes.â What else could he add to that?
The guide closed the hatch, and the sub pulled away from the dock, slowly sinking below the surface of the water. The young man started his spiel. Gareth had heard it all before. Personally, he preferred floating on top of the waves in a larger craft to being held captive below the surface in this thing, but the chance to spend more time with Charlotte made the trip worth it.
He watched expressions chase themselves across her face. It was like watching a movie, and he recognized each of her feelings. Something bothered her, and he wanted to find out what. He felt a strong desire to fix it for her. Maybe it had something to do with Chelle. She hadnât seemed very happy at dinner last night. Had something happened after they left the dining room? Something that kept the two women from attending the show? Gareth had gone to the lighting booth in the theater, hoping to catch a glimpse of Charlotte, but he couldnât see her sitting anywhere in the large room. He wanted to watch
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