“Ladies, I think this trip is going to be packed with fun, sun, and maybe a little romance.” Frankie smiled.
“Oh, right. Romance,” Nina said wryly. “I almost forgot.”
Frankie snickered. “I know what you mean. I was so involved looking at all the activities on and off the ship that I lost track of the purpose of this cruise.”
Frankie changed the subject. “Did you see the staterooms? One is almost the same size as my apartment. I may remain a stowaway.” She raised her eyebrows in a mischievous way.
Amy chimed in. “Let me see if I have this straight. Nina is going shopping, and I’m going to learn how to cook. Frankie is going to figure out how to remain onboard, while Rachael runs away with the bosun. Splendid.” The women were roaring with laughter.
Frankie was the first to speak. “I’m glad we’re doing this. If nothing else, we’ll have a glorious adventure, eat great food—”
Nina interrupted with, “And duty-free perfume.” That phrase had become their running joke.
Frankie started again. “I’ll send you guys an e-mail, but there are a few things to do beforehand. There’s online check-in two weeks before. You need your passport and another form of ID. You’ll print your luggage tags ahead of time as well.” Frankie tried to keep a straight face when she added, “Remember, no firearms, sharp objects, candles, incense, or pepper spray.”
“I guess that means no whips either, Rachael,” Nina teased.
Rachael immediately defended herself. “I am not that kind of girl.”
“Oh, I’ve seen you crack the whip when you were with Greg,” Frankie said, waiting for a response.
“Yes, in a cowboy kind of way.” Rachael laughed. “Believe me, if I could have beaten him with one, I would have.”
“That’s probably why your father opted for getting you a divorce lawyer. It was cheaper than bailing you out of jail.”
At that point, Amy was laughing so hard she was clutching her stomach. Nina tossed her head back and guffawed. Frankie snorted. Not appreciating the joke, Rachael put her hands on her hips in defiance.
If one were to describe the four women, it would go something like this: Nina was strong, likable, but often serious. Amy was sweet, smart, but a little naïve. Frankie was outgoing, quick-witted, and compassionate. Rachael was a bit of a drama queen. She could be kind but was often oblivious to other people’s feelings. It was an odd combination, but they appreciated the camaraderie they had fostered in high school. Each had an appreciation for the other.
“Take it easy, Rach,” Nina advised. “We’re just kidding. Jeez, girl, chill.”
“You’re always picking on me,” Rachael blurted.
Frankie knew that this was going to happen sooner or later. Better now before they set sail. “Oh, Rachael. We love you. You just make it so easy for us.” Frankie smiled into the camera.
“That’s right. You’re an easy target,” Nina added. “That simply means you are a very interesting individual.”
Nice save, Frankie said to herself, and changed the subject back to the cruise. “We should plan on getting to the pier around eleven. We’ll drop our bags at the curb, then go inside to register and get our keycards and go through a security check, like we do at the airport. Depending on the readiness of the ship, we may be able to board right away. Pack a small carry-on, like a tote bag, with whatever you think you’ll need before we get our luggage. It may be a couple of hours before they bring it to the staterooms. We can tour the ship or get lunch at one of the restaurants. There’s a deli, Italian, Asian, burger joint, steak house.”
Amy put up her hand. “Stop! You’re making me hungry.”
“Deli?” Nina asked. “I could go for a really good lox and bagel. They don’t seem to be able to make a good bagel out here. They blame the water,” she joked.
Frankie smiled. “I don’t know what kind of water they use on a cruise ship, so don’t get too excited.”
“I remember when you used to ship H&H bagels to me when I was in grad school at MIT.” Amy grinned. “I could swear they were still warm when I got them. My roommates would go crazy.”
“I would pick up two dozen and take them to FedEx. The guy who worked there always got a kick out of it. He could smell them through the box. Now H&H delivers all over the country.”
“They do?” Nina’s eyes widened.
“Yep. Didn’t you know that?”
“I do now. Wow. This could change my life,” Nina joked.
“OK, ladies. Are we all set? Any questions?” Frankie asked.
“I’m good, I think,” Amy answered. “Thanks so much for doing this. I am really excited. Finally, a holiday I am not going to dread.”
“It will be a nice change of scenery,” Nina added. “I’ll miss Winston, but he’ll have company. One of the assistants from the show is going to stay here with her dog. She has a black Lab, and he loves to play with Winston.”
“That’s great. I have someone from the animal hospital coming by twice a day for Blinky and Hop-Along.”
“Marco’s brother, Giovanni, is going to take care of Bandit,” Frankie said.
“Rachael, do you have any pets?” Amy asked.
“Not likely. I have a kid and an ex. That’s more than enough to deal with. Ryan is going to stay with his father the entire week. I’m sure there will be some calamity before, during, or after. Greg’s new wife isn’t one of Ryan’s favorites.”
“And my mom’s new boyfriend isn’t one of mine.” Amy laughed.
“Isn’t that always the case?” Rachael mused.
“I’m still in touch with Tina, Dennis’s daughter. She’s ten now. And she hates her father.” Frankie smirked. “I guess that makes two of us.”
“How long did you guys date?” Nina asked, remembering that Frankie and Dennis had dated in high school and again after Dennis’s divorce.
“Too long.” Frankie snickered. “Let’s see, it was between the crazy psychiatrist and the audio engineer. Hmm. Maybe two years. Tina was only five when I first met her, but we bonded over his being a jackass. She said he always smelled funny, as in beer. Even at five years old, she could tell he was a loser.” Frankie smirked. “Boy, I wish I had that kind of radar.”
“You and me both, kiddo.” Nina chortled.
“That makes three of us,” Amy added.
They all looked at Rachael. “What? I think I have good radar.”
Her comment sent everyone over the top in hysterics. “Yeah, you sure know how to pick ’em. You go through men like I go through a pair of underwear. A fresh one every day.”
Amy had tears rolling down her face as her rosy cheeks got redder and redder.
Rachael put her hands on her hips again. “I catch them, then release them once I discover they’re not right for me.”
“Well, you’ll have an entire ocean to fish from. There will be approximately five hundred fish in the singles cruise dating pool,” Nina joked.
“We just have to watch out for sharks.” Amy giggled.
The women chuckled, then said their good-byes, each clicking the END MEETING button.