First Mates (4 page)

She prayed to the Lord with her whole heart. She prayed for guidance in her friendship with Winston. She prayed for her memories of Jordan to disappear. She also prayed for the safety of her friends and family. She whispered “Amen” before she fell asleep.

The next day when Rainy awakened, she opened her curtain and gazed at the ocean view through her window. Rays of platinum sunlight filled her room with warmth. She still wasn't sure if Winston was the right man for her. She paced and considered her situation, running her fingers through her hair. She plopped into a seat as she made a decision.
I think I need to stay away from Winston for a few days. The last thing I need to do is to get deeply involved with him, only to have him hurt me the way Jordan did.

She lifted the receiver and dialed a number. “Room service? I'd like to order French toast with maple syrup and a double order of coffee.”

She replaced the receiver, still agitated. Maybe the coffee would clear the cobwebs from her brain. She barely tasted the meal, she was so preoccupied with her thoughts about Jordan and Winston. When she was fin
ished, she changed into her bathing suit and packed her beach bag with her reading material.

She locked her cabin and walked the ship until she found a secluded lounge chair on the lower level. She lay down and closed her eyes as visions of Winston Michaels swam through her head. Heavy footsteps pounded on the gangplank, shaking her chair.

“Hi, beautiful.” His gentle tone caressed her ears. Her eyes fluttered open and she surveyed Winston from head to toe. He sported a pair of pale blue swimming trunks and a beige T-shirt emblazoned with “Cozumel” in black letters.

She blinked, trying to clear her foggy brain. “Are you going to the pool?” she asked as she started to smile, before recalling the decision she made earlier. She quickly looked away.

 

Winston scratched his head, baffled. Rainy Jackson was a woman of mystery. If he didn't know better, he would have thought she wasn't happy to see him. “What's wrong?” He sat in an empty chair.

“Nothing,” she spat, toying with the book in her lap. “I just really need to be alone today.”

He hesitated, running his hand over his face. “Oh, okay.” He stood and continued to stare at her tight-lipped expression. “Bye.” He stomped away so fast he almost fell on the wooden deck.

Minutes later, he dove into the swimming pool. He pumped his arms through the water, swimming as hard as he could. He pushed himself until his arms were
aching for rest. He tried to erase everything from his mind as he drove his body to exhaustion.
I can't do this anymore!

He stopped and climbed the steel ladder out of the pool. He gasped huge gulps of air as he grabbed a towel and hobbled to a lawn chair. Once his breathing returned to normal, he toweled the water from his body. The scorching sun matched his hot, angry mood. He signaled a waiter and ordered a large glass of water and a glass of iced tea. He gulped both beverages and ordered two more.

A feminine voice tinkled in the hot humid air. “I'm surprised to find you here alone.” His gaze traveled over the shapely cocoa-brown woman as she sat in the vacant chair beside him. Her black-and-white striped bikini hugged her physique like a second skin. She smiled and fluttered her lashes, her large dark eyes probing into his.

“I'm Carol.” She presented her hand, showing long, red, talon-like nails.

He accepted her hand. “I'm Winston.”

“Winston. That sounds like a nice strong name.” She continued to stare. “And you look like a nice strong man.” She pulled some sunblock out of her large bag. “I saw you swimming all those laps in the pool. You swam like Satan himself was after your soul. I just love it when a man is fast at doing physical things.” She popped the top on her lotion and poured a generous amount into her palm. “So tell me, where's your girlfriend this morning? I was starting to think you two were joined at the hip.”

“Excuse me?”

She giggled as she slowly rubbed lotion over her flat abdomen. “You know, the woman you've been with over the past few days. I've been dying to introduce myself, but she's always with you. I haven't had a chance to speak with you until now. She's not coming anytime soon, is she?” She stopped rubbing the lotion as she gazed around the deck, her dark eyes full of anxiety.

“It was nice meeting you, Carol, but I really need to get going.” Carol's silence was rewarding as he took his exit.

 

Rainy pushed her book aside. “Oh, what have I done?” Winston's hazel eyes had flickered with pain when she made her announcement. A cold knot of guilt settled into her chest, and she was anxious to remove the burden. Her hand flew to her mouth as tears coursed a smooth path down her cheeks.

Lord, help me with this pain.
When her breathing calmed, she signaled a waiter for a glass of ice water and napkins. He placed the large frosty glass on the table. She drank the water and pulled several napkins from the holder. She blew her nose. “I need to find Winston,” she mumbled as she stood.

She hurried to his favorite swimming pool, gasping when she witnessed a beautiful woman chatting with him. Rainy strutted away so fast, she barely noticed the passengers in her path. She returned to her secluded hiding place and reclined on the white deck chair. As
she closed her eyes, the ocean breeze whispered over the ship and she relaxed. Shadows of sadness filled her mind as she drifted away into blessed sleep.

A
s Winston abandoned Carol, he walked on every level of the ship, carefully avoiding Rainy's secluded hiding place. He finally found a secluded spot of his own. The nursery overflowed with energetic children. Several blocked his path as they invited him to a game of hide-and-seek. He plodded through the nursery and entered the empty discotheque. A lone waiter stood behind the counter. “We're not open yet.”

He waved the comment away. “I just want to sit for a minute.”
I know Rainy wouldn't dare come into this place.
The floor was streaked with dark marks and dirty cups, and glasses littered the tables. He sank in a vinyl chair and dropped his head in his hands, closing his eyes. The boat swayed as they made their way to their next destination.

“What's wrong with Rainy?” he muttered. He opened his eyes and enjoyed the cool dark air-conditioned room.

A group of Hispanic teenagers entered the discotheque, chattering in their native tongue. They regarded him with curiosity before they haphazardly moved glasses and cups, seemingly searching for a lost item. He sighed as he relaxed. He finally stood and exited the deserted discotheque. Everything would be just fine between him and Rainy Jackson. It just had to be.

 

Weak sunlight spilled into the room as Rainy awakened the following morning. She blinked, forcing herself out of bed. She was tormented with dreams about Jordan, awakening every hour. She plodded to the bathroom and gazed at her face in the mirror. She looked awful! Her eyes were red and puffy and her throat felt as parched as a desert.

Brushing her teeth, she recalled the itinerary for the day. They were docking in Grand Cayman, one of the most popular islands to visit. She looked forward to seeing this exquisite place in spite of her sadness. She changed into her bathing suit and packed her bag. She groaned as she left her cabin, fatigue settling in her bones. She pictured herself on the beach, napping all day. Her lips curled into an anticipatory smile.

She trudged onto the empty deck. She paced and glanced at her watch. Where was the first ferryboat to Grand Cayman? Minutes later, passengers flooded the deck. She scanned the crowd and was glad she didn't see Winston.

After she boarded the ferryboat, she removed her book from her bag and tried to read. Passengers chat
ted as the motor started. Someone sat beside her. She scooted to give the passenger more room. “Hi, there.” Her heart skipped a beat as she gazed at Winston. His presence was like a spark of light on a dark day. He gave her a sad smile. “You look sleepy.”

“What are you doing here? I didn't see you before I got on the boat.” With shaky hands, she placed the book in her bag and removed her sunglasses. She placed the shades over her eyes.

“I was the last person to get on just before the ferry left. I guess you didn't see me. I really need to speak with you. Can we go someplace for breakfast when we dock?” Pain, raw and fresh, glittered in his hazel eyes, and she couldn't refuse his request. Visions of the beautiful lady at the pool cluttered her mind. Did Winston really want to continue spending time together on the cruise, or was this just an act? Was he already on a quest to find another date for the remainder of the trip?

The ferry stopped and clusters of people disembarked. They were the last patrons to exit the boat. “Please have breakfast with me,” he pleaded.

She sighed, rubbing her back.
I'm so hot and tired!
“Okay.”

Passengers cluttered the sidewalk, gazing at natives hawking their wares. Children clogged the street, selling a wide range of merchandise. Rainy reached into her purse and purchased a cotton scarf from a toothless boy for a few dollars.

They walked in silence for several minutes before they stopped at a restaurant and ordered coffee and
sweet rolls. She poured cream and sugar in her coffee before she sipped the fragrant beverage.

Winston brushed away a stray fly as he fixed his coffee.

Licking her dry lips, she gazed at the rich gooey cinnamon buns. Her heart pounded as he touched her hand. His light caress calmed her frazzled nerves. She relaxed as she gazed into his eyes.

“Rainy, please tell me what's wrong.”

She closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer. She took a deep breath and told him how her apprehensions returned after they spent the wonderful day together in Cozumel. “I had not felt that happy since I'd dated Jordan. Everything seemed to be moving so fast and I just needed some time alone.”

“I see.” He gazed at the table, toying with a napkin.

“I didn't mean to hurt you. I just felt so confused.”

“You shouldn't judge every man you meet just from your experience with Jordan. Not all men would treat you that way, especially a Christian man.”

She sipped her coffee and placed her cup back on the table. “That's what I wanted to talk to you about.”

He continued to give her his attention.

“I wanted to know if you were really a Christian.”

He turned away. “I told you I was a Christian the first night we met. Are you asking me if I was lying to you?” His voice wavered with anger and hurt. The server turned the music louder as he danced to the Jamaican tune while wiping the counter.

She barely glanced at the server as she abandoned
her meal. “So many people in this world profess to be Christians, but then it turns out to be just talk.”

He sighed and ran his hand over his clean-shaven face. “Why are you asking me this now?”

She nervously stirred her coffee. “When I first met Jordan, I could tell that he liked me. When I invited him to my church and told him how I had accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, he said that he had done the same thing.” She paused as she put her spoon aside. “Anyway, we worshipped together every Sunday and he even went to Bible study with me. When we broke up, he said he had done all of that just to please me. He said he'd acted the part of a Christian because he loved me so much and he knew how much I wanted a Christian man in my life.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “You are a beautiful woman and you're intelligent, too. I'm not advocating what Jordan did, but I can understand why someone would go through such measures just to have a woman like you in his life.”

She folded her arms in front of her chest, glaring at him. “But don't you think it's awful? Jordan claimed that he shared my faith and it turned out that it was all a lie.”

He waited a few minutes, seemingly weighing his words. “Yes, what Jordan did to you was pretty awful. One should never profess a strong belief in Christ when it doesn't exist. I'm merely saying that a man will sometimes go through extreme measures when he cares about a woman.”

“Jordan didn't care about me. He only cared about himself. He was a selfish and cruel man.” Saying the words left a bad taste in her mouth. Winston stared, seemingly surprised by her outburst.

“So your boyfriend didn't care about you?” His voice was loaded with curiosity.

“I don't want to talk about it anymore. I don't want to ruin such a beautiful day talking about Jordan.”

They continued to sip coffee and munch on sweet rolls. The server returned to their table and refilled their cups. As she ate her breakfast, she thought about Winston's advice.

He continued when the server left. “Relationships don't always work out. Sometimes you have to lean on God and pray for the strength and guidance to move on.”

She sighed and rubbed her forehead. Did she even want to tell him more details about her relationship with Jordan? She certainly didn't want Winston's pity. God had blessed them with a glorious and beautiful day. The blue ocean sparkled under the bright morning sun, beckoning them to the pristine beaches. “Like I said before, I don't want to talk about my relationship with Jordan. I just want to let you know that it was more serious than just a casual dating relationship. That's all I'm going to say for now.”

“Okay.” He nodded and squeezed her hand.

“Another reason I've been avoiding you is because you don't tell me a lot about yourself. There's so much about you that I don't know. Sometimes I get the impression that you're hiding something from me.”

“What did you want to know?”

“Well, remember when you said that I looked sad sometimes?”

He nodded.

“Well, I think you look sad sometimes, too, and I wanted to know why.”

“I know I promised to tell you more about myself, and I will…soon. I want us to just have some fun on the island today.” He paused, staring at a spot on the table. “I promise I'll tell you when the time is right. This is one of the most difficult times in my life and I'm having a hard time coping with the pain.”

She squeezed his hand, wanting to give him strength. She felt bad about focusing so much on her own pain when he could be hurting just as much. “Did you just end a relationship, too?”

He shook his head. “No, it's nothing like that. I'll tell you about it soon,” he repeated. “It's such a beautiful day that I don't want to ruin it by talking about something so sad.” He looked away, and she thought she saw his hazel eyes glisten with tears. However, it was so quick that she wondered if she imagined it.

“I'm so sorry you're hurting.” Her heart went out to him. “I just wish I could lift our pain and make it disappear.” She sighed. “Only God could perform such acts. Maybe we should pray together. Nothing works as good as prayer when you're hurting.” He nodded and took both of her hands.

His deep voice was calm and soothing as he prayed to their Heavenly Father. He prayed for guidance dur
ing their difficult time. He prayed that they could be lifted from their sorrows, if only for one day. Her soul felt cleansed as she squeezed his hand and said “Amen.”

“Are you ready to have a wonderful day?” she asked as they stood and he left money on the table for the bill. He nodded and grinned as they walked out the door. She spotted the beautiful woman he'd been speaking to the previous day. She was giggling and flirting with an older man. When Rainy stopped walking, Winston gave her a questioning look.

“What's wrong?”

She stepped away from him. “I have something else that was on my mind.” They stood on the sidewalk enshrouded among throngs of people. “I saw you on the deck yesterday talking to that pretty lady.”

He looked puzzled as he gave her his undivided attention. “What pretty lady?” She again wondered if he was just putting on an act.

“You know, that lady on the deck.”

Chuckling, he continued walking down the street. “What's so funny?” She planted her feet, refusing to walk any farther.

“You're funny. That woman was flirting with me. If you had stuck around long enough, you would have seen me leave her after a few minutes of small talk. Her name is Carol, and I think she came on this cruise to find a man.”

“So, this Carol woman was flirting with you?”

He chuckled again. “Of course. Listen, whenever I travel alone I always have at least one woman proposi
tion me for a date. Hey, I'm a good-looking man, so it's something you have to get used to,” he said with a smile. But she couldn't get accustomed to women flirting with Winston. “I'm sure you have the same problem.”

“No, I don't.”

He continued to smile as she gazed at him. “Yes, you do. Haven't you noticed the men ogling you since we've been on this cruise?”

“They have?” She furrowed her forehead as they continued to walk. “No, I guess I haven't noticed.”

“Well, I have. Do you know what I was worried about when you said you needed a break for the day?” They turned a corner. She barely noticed the throngs of people as they passed by. She was in a secluded world with Winston.

“What?”

“Well, I was worried that you would find another companion. I thought you wouldn't want to see me anymore during the entire trip.” He stopped walking and gave her an intense look. She breathed the humid summer air, trying to calm her thudding heart.

“I don't think you realize just how beautiful you are. We've been on this sidewalk for close to fifteen minutes and two men have already taken a second look at you. I am very glad to hear that you were jealous to see me with Carol.”

Her lips curved into a smile. “Why?”

“Well, since you were jealous, it at least shows that you care about me and about our friendship.”

He continued, “And when we dock in Miami, I plan
to continue seeing you, that is, if you have no objections.”

She smiled, gripping the handle of her purse. “I definitely have no objections.”

“Let's just have a good time today, okay?”

She nodded eagerly, looking forward to the day.

A cab escorted them to the beach and she enjoyed the warm sand swishing through her toes as they walked the shoreline. Being with Winston wrapped her with warm wonderful feelings. Feelings she hoped and prayed would develop into something beautiful. She opened her camera and caught Winston's essence on film.

All too soon, evening arrived. He unzipped his backpack, producing two tickets to a sunset buffet. “Do you want to go?” He waved the slips of paper in the air.

“Are you sure we'll be back in time to board the boat?”

Grinning widely, he tilted his head toward the ticket booth. “I've already checked things out while you were laying on the beach. We'll be back in plenty of time to get back on our boat. I've already made all of the arrangements.”

Hours later, they entered the restaurant with several couples. An open bar graced the reception area and mouthwatering Cayman foods were arranged in elaborate crystal bowls. Her stomach growled, reminding her she had not eaten since breakfast. She piled her plate with fresh crabmeat, lobster, rice and potatoes. Luscious fruit-filled desserts topped their meal. Rainy
was about to enjoy her first bite of strawberry pie when Winston placed his hand over hers. “No, don't eat that yet.”