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THE
LOVE BOAT BACHELOR
Chapter One
Brent Teague felt
nothing as he stood on the cement landing of the cruise terminal and stared at
the huge ship docked in front of him. No excitement, no sadness. Even the dread
he’d been feeling had lessened into a numb absence of emotion.
A yawning
opening and long, too-narrow ramp slowly sucked a line of laughing passengers into
the boat. Their chatter and raised voices reached Brent’s ears as a droning hum.
Why was he doing this?
Something wet
dropped on his head. He slid his hand over his closely shaved hair then looked at
his moist palm. Great. Rain.
Weren’t cruises
supposed to be all sunshine and smiles the whole way?
Not for him,
apparently. Like the story of his life.
More drops
spattered Brent’s head and face as he squinted at the boat. Just because he’d
made the drive from Spartanburg to Charleston didn’t mean he had to go through
with Roselle’s harebrained scheme.
A ringing sound came
from his pocket.
Brent pulled out
his smartphone and looked at the screen. Speak of the—He halted his unkind
thoughts and took a breath before pressing the phone to his ear. “Hey.”
“You on the
boat?” Roselle’s irritated tone held her assurance that he wasn’t.
He waited. Here
it came.
“Just get on. I
ain’t gonna watch you in no funk anymore.” His educated sister’s impeccable
English gave way to the ghetto-speak of their childhood.
“I’m not in a
funk.” Not exactly. If he didn’t count the squeezing feeling in his chest that
never seemed to go away. “I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to do.”
“You supposed to get on the boat, that’s what
you supposed to do.”
He swiped at the
raindrops that streaked down his forehead and cheeks. “Running away never fixes
anything.”
“Didn’t we just
talk about this?” Roselle’s voice pinched with the rhetorical question. “You
wasted six years on that chick before you finally got a life. You ain’t gonna
waste no more.”
“It’s not like
that. I just … need to figure out what God wants me to do now.”
“You told me you
were sure what He wanted when you started the pastor thing.”
Brent tried to
swallow the lump in his throat. “Yeah. I thought I was.” What if he had been
wrong? He was so sure God had called him to be a pastor, but he had been sure
about other things, too. Namely the woman who had always held his heart.
“Just go on this
cruise until you figure it out. You’ll still get to play pastor and whatever on
board. At least you’ll get away from her. Why she had to come back and stay
here, I’ll never know.”
That mystery
Brent would give his right arm to solve. He’d been happy, had life all figured
out, until Mara came back. Why couldn’t she have returned for the reason he
thought? Why would God bring her into Brent’s life again only to have her marry
someone else and settle in Brent’s hometown?
Brent’s chest
squeezed like every other time those questions plagued him.
“You thinking
about her again now, right?”
He couldn’t lie,
so he didn’t say anything.
“Brenton Teague,
you get on that ship, or I’m coming to put you on it myself.”
Brent could just
see her hallmark stare that always came with that tone. Nobody messed with that
look. “Danny said the chaplain boards with the staff so find whatever special
ramp they got and get on the boat.”
Brent nearly
smiled at the image of her in his mind, hands on tiny hips and her short, puffy
twists of hair bobbing on her head. He wiped more water off his face. “I’m
getting soaked anyway. I guess I could get on board, if only to get out of the
rain.”
“Nicely put.
Have a good trip.”
“Thanks. You—”
Brent stopped talking when the background noise on Roselle’s end cut off. He
looked at his phone.
Call
ended.
She never was
one for good-byes.
Brent sighed and
picked up the wet duffel bag he had set by his feet. Only one living relative,
and it had to be a bossy older sister.
Amusement tugged
at the corner of his mouth as he bypassed the crowded walkway packed with
passengers holding umbrellas over their heads. Bossy as Roselle was, he
suspected he’d still miss her on this trip.
He reached the
smaller ramp at the far end of the ship where a uniformed security guy stood.
Brent bent to pull his ship’s identification card from the pocket of the duffel
bag, thankful that he’d already gone through the pre-registration required of
employee and passengers alike.
“Teague!”
Brent jerked his
head up to see the source of the yell.
“Brent Teague!”
Danny Paulson’s grin mimicked the width of his outstretched arms as he charged
down the ramp toward Brent.
Brent managed an
answering smile of his own as he braced himself for one of his old college
buddy’s enthusiastic, back-slapping hugs.
Sure enough,
Danny grabbed Brent and bruised his back in a few places before releasing him
with a hearty shake.
Brent laughed,
not sure how he managed such a cheerful sound. He looked Danny up and down,
taking in his pal’s new look in the white uniform. “Aside from the cute hat, you
sure haven’t changed.”
Danny chuckled
and patted the extra weight he’d added to his tall frame since college. “The
cute hat and my insulation, you mean.” He jabbed Brent’s bicep below the short
sleeve of his t-shirt. “Some of us don’t have time to sit in the gym all day.”
“Oh yeah. Being
a pastor is a walk in the park, man.” Brent slung his duffel bag over his
shoulder and presented his identification card to the security guard who’d kept
a careful watch on them.
“Hey, don’t
blame me.” Another slap on the back. “I only introduced you to Christ. You did
the rest.”
Brent raised his
eyebrows at Danny as the security guy waved him through. “Or He did.”
“Ha. Yeah. You
got that right.” Danny grabbed Brent’s bag off his shoulder and carried it up
the ramp before Brent could protest.
Or had Brent
become a pastor as his own idea? For the wrong reasons? Brent shook his head at
his internal debate as he followed Danny onto the ship. He just didn’t know
anything anymore.
Brent tried to
get out of his thoughts enough to keep track of the route Danny took to the
cabin and the highlights of the ship he pointed out as they walked the decks at
his fast clip.
“Hey, there.”
Danny nodded to a couple passengers. “Welcome aboard.” He glanced at Brent. “Are
you going to thank me now or later?”
Brent raised an
eyebrow. “For what?”
“For what?”
Danny guffawed. “Getting you a two-week, paid vacation! Man, sometimes I wonder
how we ever became friends.”
Brent stifled a
smile. “I thought you said there wasn’t any salary.”
Danny swept his
free hand in front of him toward the towering ship decks as he walked. “What do
you call free passage on this beautiful cruise ship?” He smiled at another
passenger who glanced at him. “Welcome aboard.”
Barely taking a
breath, Danny swung around and walked backward a few paces while he gave Brent
a fake glare. “I don’t think you realize what I’ve done for you, pal. If our
last chaplain hadn’t eloped with that waitress, I’d have had a hard time
getting you this spot.” He spun to face forward again. “When you fall in love
with doing this, it’ll take some fast talking to get you on permanently.”
“Permanently?”
Brent stopped walking.
Danny glanced
over his shoulder. “Will you keep up?”
Brent caught up
with a few long strides. “I’m not doing this permanently. I’m not even sure
about the two weeks.”
Danny shot Brent
a look as his mouth opened.
“Though I’m very
grateful,” Brent added before Danny could start another tirade. “You’re a good
friend, Danny.”
“Aw, shucks. Now
I’m gonna cry.” Danny’s grin changed to a smooth smile as he greeted more
passengers. “Welcome. Good to see you.”
Brent shook his
head. “This is ridiculous. It’s like walking with you around campus at school.
You still know everybody.”
“Yeah, but I get
paid to do it now. Assistant Cruise Directors are like the official welcoming
committee. I get paid to meet and greet and schmooze all cruise long.”
“So you were
typecast?”
“Funny.” Danny
stopped outside a door and unlocked it. “I also get to boss you around with the
rest of the staff.” Danny smirked as he led the way inside the room.
“Now you tell me.”
“Your cabin,
sir.” Danny looked around the room as if doing a spot check.
“Everything in
order?” Brent teased. Hard to believe Danny was actually managing to cheer him
up. Danny always had that talent. Maybe that’s why Brent had hung out with him
so much after Mara shattered his spirit all those years ago.
“Dude, you are
totally soaked.” Danny glanced at Brent’s wet clothes as he plopped the duffel
bag inside the door. “Why don’t you change and come up to the top deck when you’re
done? Great view from there.”
He’d rather just
stay in the cabin and not have to see anyone. The reminder of Mara wasn’t doing
his mood any good. But he couldn’t disappoint the friend who had always been
there for him. “Sure.”
Danny took off
his black-brimmed hat and ran his fingers through sandy blond hair. “Man, it’s
great to see you. I’m glad Roselle made you do this.”
Brent crossed
his arms over his chest. “She didn’t make me do it. How do you know I didn’t
just jump at the chance myself?”
“Um, I don’t
know …” Danny’s mouth angled in a sardonic smile. “Maybe because I’ve been
begging you to be our ship’s chaplain for two years, and you always turn me
down flat? Does the phrase, ‘Why would I ever want to do that?’ sound familiar?”
“Okay.” Brent
waved him off as he grabbed the strap of his duffel bag. “You’ve made your
point.”
“Roselle’s
right. This will do you good.” Danny’s smile faded as his voice turned serious.
“Believe me. There’s a whole world of possibilities out there, my friend.”
Brent plunked
the duffel bag on the bed and held up a hand. “Before you start jabbering about
fish in the sea, I’d like to get changed. Don’t you have people to greet or
something?”
Danny swung the
hat onto his head with a grin. “Alas, ’tis true. Contrary to popular belief, the
assistant cruise director doesn’t usually accompany staff to their cabins, you
know. Only celebrity passengers.”
Brent pressed
his palm to his heart. “I’m very conscious of the honor, I assure you.”
“Good.” Danny’s
twitching mouth appeared to be barely holding back a laugh. “Oh, you should
change into your uniform. It’s hanging behind the door.”
“Uniform?” Brent’s
eyes drifted to Danny’s hat. “Don’t tell me I have to wear one of those head
toppers.”
“Nope, you’re
not important enough for one. But you do get to wear a white uniform and a
nametag. We want people to know your name. Makes them easier to approach.”
Brent grimaced. “Right.”
“Try to keep the
uniform clean, will you?” Danny saluted with a final grin. “See you up top,
soul brother.”
Danny shut the
door, leaving Brent with another unexpected smile on his face. Danny never
could get the lingo right, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
Brent took the
white uniform down from where it hung on the back of the door. So much for
blending in as a normal passenger on this trip. He wasn’t going to get a break
from pastoring at all if everyone knew him as the chaplain. Danny had promised
Brent wouldn’t have to conduct daily services as some chaplains did, since he
was only onboard for two weeks, but it looked like he wasn’t going to get away
with doing nothing.
The unexpected
but required safety drill that was announced over the ship’s PA system,
interrupted Brent’s trek to the top deck to meet up with Danny. Since this was
his first cruise, he made sure to pay special attention.
As the crowd
dispersed, he found himself on the other side of the ship facing a stunning
ocean view. The rain had let up, allowing a misty spray from the waves to fill
the air, seeping into Brent’s nostrils and touching his lips with salty flavor.
He stopped and
leaned his hands on the outer rail, the only thing that separated him from the
view of the vast sky and open sea. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply,
letting the smells and sounds soak through him. Maybe a cruise wasn’t such a
bad idea after all.
“Don’t you love
that?”
Brent jumped
inwardly at the feminine voice at his side.
A petite,
middle-aged woman with short red hair stared at him, standing only inches away
from his side. “That salty, ocean smell.” She let out a giggle. “I’d pay just
to smell that!” Her voice lifted with nervous enthusiasm. At least she looked
nervous, judging from her trembling fingers that tapped the rail. “So are you in
the singles or couples?”
“Excuse me?”
“For the cruise.
You know. Our groups.” She glanced down at his hand. “You’re not wearing a
ring. Are you single?”
He blinked. Did
she always skip around so fast? “Yes. I’m single.”
“Oh, wow.” She
let out a breath with a smile, still staring up at him. “The brochure didn’t
lie. I thought it was just exaggerating. For advertising, you know? To get more
people to book this cruise. My brother-in-law says it’s hard for cruises to hit
the single set.”
Either he was
more out of it than he thought, or this woman was crazy. He couldn’t glean
anything that made sense from her rapid-fire statements.
“I told him I
wouldn’t be caught dead on a cruise until I got married, since there’s no
point, I told him, but then I saw the ads for this one and all the promises
they made, and I said to myself, Patricia, this is your chance and you’ve got
to go for it, girl—”
“You’ll have to
excuse me, but the cruise director’s expecting me up top.” Technically the assistant
cruise director, but why quibble about semantics? Brent’s attempt to sound
knowledgeable seemed to do the trick.
The woman’s
cheeks turned the color of her hair as her eyes widened. “Oh, my. You’re more
important than I thought. Well, if you’re single, I’ll probably be seeing you
later. My name’s Patricia, and I do look forward to getting to know you much,
much better on this cruise.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Brent gave a short nod as he turned away and headed in the direction he hoped
would take him to the higher deck.
What was the
woman talking about? How did he fit in with the ship’s advertising? If that’s
even what she had meant. He felt like he’d missed most of what she said from
the sheer speed of it. Brent shook his head. Hopefully the other passengers on
this cruise would be a little more normal.
He started to
notice the people he had been too preoccupied to see before. Most of the
passengers he walked by seemed to be couples. All very happy, touchy-feely
couples. Brent looked away from more than one kissing pair of lovers as he picked
up his pace, his gaze falling on the clasped hands of young and old couples he passed,
and the cuddling people who clustered at the rail.
Two women in
tight dresses with simpering smiles waved at him as he walked past.
Another woman
who could’ve been a clone of the other two gave him a similarly flirtatious
smile, and he nearly hit speed-walking pace as he glanced away.
Was it the
uniform?
A loud horn
blared, making Brent jump inwardly again. He’d have to get used to this whole
seafaring thing.
The ship was
moving by the time Brent reached the top deck. The tension faded from his body
as he joined Danny at a quiet spot by the rail to catch the view of the ship’s
progress into the open sea.
“I always like
to take a second to see this.” Danny stared out at the water. “The beginning’s
the best part. Full of possibilities and excitement.” He glanced at Brent. “Feeling
better?”
“What do you
mean?” Brent hoped Danny wouldn’t answer.
“Well, you
looked something like a shell-shocked, drowned rat when I picked you up on
shore, old buddy.”
“And now?” Brent
crossed his arms over his chest, stalling.
“Now? Just
shell-shocked.” Danny grinned.
“If I am, it’s
those passengers you have on this ship. What kind of cruise is this anyway?”
Brent smiled, trying to lighten the mood away from the interrogation he sensed
was on its way. “I hope not all the passengers are so … how shall I put this?
Into romance, I guess. I don’t think I saw one person down below who wasn’t
with somebody or looking for somebody.”
Danny pushed
away from the rail. “Dude, you’re brilliant.”
Brent narrowed
his eyes at Danny’s sarcastic deadpan as his temporary boss started walking
away.
Danny paused and
looked back when Brent didn’t follow. “Wait, you weren’t kidding? You don’t
know?”
Brent rested his
hands on his hips, his stomach starting to churn. Surprises were never good. “Know
what?”
A smile pushed
through Danny’s apparent effort to squelch it. He stopped trying to wipe the
grin off with his hand and chuckled. “You want to come with me to the theater?
I gotta make sure the concert’s ready to go and you’re gonna want to sit down.”
Oh, boy. “No, I
don’t want to sit down.” Brent clenched his jaw. Just what had Roselle and
Danny gotten him into?
“Well, okay.”
Danny scratched the side of his neck, shrugged, then stretched his arms out
wide. “Welcome to The Love Boat.”
Brent stared at
Danny. The laugh had to be coming. The joking grin. The chuckle. Something.
“Really. I’m
serious.” Danny’s smile didn’t waver, but the teasing glint in his eyes that
Brent hoped to see wasn’t there.
“The what boat?”
“The Love Boat.
We’re a romantic cruise. You know, fourteen days of exotic islands and beautiful
sites. We are the romantic getaway
for newlyweds and anniversary packages. We even have an advertising campaign
aimed at singles: ‘Meet your true love on the trip of a lifetime.’” Danny slid
his hands across the air in front of him as if following the words on a banner.
The redhead’s
comment about the brochure being accurate added pressure to the squeezing sensation
in Brent’s chest. “The brochure didn’t happen to have a black guy on it, did
it?”
Danny’s blond
eyebrows pulled together. “How should I know?”
“Never mind. I
suppose you’re going to tell me it’s too late to get off.”
Danny tossed
Brent a grin. “Sorry, pal. I’m counting on you now. And I know how you feel
about keeping commitments.” He spun around and headed away. “First stop, Cozumel,”
he called over his shoulder as if announcing icing on the cake.
Brent ground his
teeth together. He had been set up. Royally set up. Roselle knew he never would
have set a toe on this ship if she told him it was some romantic cruise. The
Love Boat? Even the name made him queasy.
He needed to get
as far away from romance as possible, and here he was, stuck in a hotbed of it
for two weeks. He couldn’t be a chaplain to couples in love and certainly not
to a bunch of single women trying to catch him like a fish on a hook.
Brent might have
been wrong about what God wanted for him and Mara, and he wasn’t sure about his
calling as a pastor either. But one thing Brent knew beyond a shadow of a doubt.
He was done with
romance.
Forever.
Come back tomorrow to read Chapter Two as we visit Cozumel and meet our first special lady.
Shore Excursions for Monday, January 26:
Marji Laine blog:
Fay Lamb:
Interviewed
on Lena
Nelson Dooley’s Blog
Marji Laine:
