Page 5 of Hearts Aweigh

Emily rose halfway from her seat. A hand restrained her. Althea had slipped alongside, an unusually pensive expression on her usually jolly face. She shook her head. “Let them duke it out on their own.”

Madeleine shifted from one foot to the other. Her dress swayed around her slender legs. She patted the ridges of the tiara atop her head and hummed to herself.

Daisy’s gaze returned to her. “She’s beautiful.”

“Yes.” Her son’s face softened when he looked at his daughter.

“As a baby, she had dark hair. It’s lightened, like strands of sunlight.”

“Do they offer poetry classes on this boat?” Spencer took inventory of his mother. “I don’t recall you being so effusive.”

Daisy ignored him. “Her hair. Her delicate cheekbones. She inherited nothing from the Masterson side of the gene pool. I hope that’s also true of her personality.”

She reached to touch Madeleine’s face, but her granddaughter jumped in surprise. Daisy halted. She fumbled in her pocket for the envelope and then fanned her flushed cheeks. “What brings you here, Spencer?”

“Would you believe I’ve missed you?”

Daisy’s makeshift fan stilled, and her refined mask slipped a fraction. “I wish that were true.”

A shrill laugh sounded from the entrance. A woman in a floor-length sundress and floppy, oversize hat was recording with her phone as she explored the lobby. Children squealed. Mariachi music drifted from a balcony. The joyful melody contrasted with the silent standoff between mother and son.

Emily weighed Daisy’s offspring in the balance and found him wanting. How dare he come aboard their ship and upset the sweetest member of the posse? She’d like to give him the spanking he deserved, but that might embarrass his mother.

The sugary scent of fresh-baked cookies wafted from a nearby table.

A tourist in a rainbow tracksuit and straw fedora jostled Spencer as he headed for the fragrant display of snickerdoodles.

The crowd swelled around them, and a teenager bumped Madeleine’s shoulder.

Spencer caught her in his arms and used his body to protect her from the swarm of people.

“Are you hurt?” He scanned her from head to toe.

“No, sir.” She ducked as another surge of passengers passed.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and turned to Daisy. “Let’s discuss the reason for our reunion when there are fewer distractions. If you give me your number, I’ll call you.”

Daisy resumed her fanning. “I don’t have a phone.”

“You don’t have a … Do you expect me to swallow that?”

Althea sprang from the sofa. “It’s true. She’s the most untechy person I ever met.” After scuttling to her friend’s left side, she put a protective arm around Daisy. “How ’bout I give you my number? We’re always together anyway.”

Althea exchanged phone numbers with him. Emily rose and drew close to Daisy’s starboard side, and Gerry filled the gap behind them. They flanked Daisy like a protective guard.

Her son eyed their cluster with the lift of an eyebrow. “I’ll call you, and we can meet for supper.”

“I’m sorry.” Daisy’s unconcerned face belied the words. “I’m dining with my friends.”

“What about afterward?”

“I have a prior engagement.”

He clenched his jaw. “I’ve traveled all this way to see you. Can’t you reschedule?”

“That’s impossible. I promised my roommate I’d accompany her to bingo.”

“To where?”

“Bingo,” Emily interjected. “You must have heard of it. Those squares with letters and numbers where you try to make a straight line.”

Althea sang, “ B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O .”

He stared at them, mouth open. Daisy reached out and lifted his chin. His teeth snapped shut.

“You may join us if you like,” she said. “We’re meeting in the main lounge at seven.”

“I …” He buttoned his suit coat. “Yes. Thank you. Until seven, then.”

Althea gave him a thumbs-up. “See you then.”

“Yes.” Gerry crossed her arms. “ All of us.”

His face communicated his displeasure, but he strode away without another word, the nanny and little girl rushing to catch up.

Emily mentally deleted him from the prospect list. She liked Abby too much to couple her with a grouch like this one. No man that bad-tempered deserved their quality matchmaking services.

Daisy sagged, and Althea caught her by the arm.

Gerry placed a bracing hand to Daisy’s back. “You aren’t going to swoon, are you?”

Emily fetched her large purse. “I’m not sure how you kept a civil tongue in your head.”

“I’ve had plenty of practice.” Daisy clutched the black envelope she’d received from Magda. “Almost fifty years of marriage to an iceberg taught me restraint. I fear his son’s visit will be neither pleasant nor caring.”

Gerry pointed at the note. “Have you read your mail yet?”

“Hmmm?” Daisy squinted. “Oh! I’d forgotten.” She slipped a French-manicured fingernail under the flap and withdrew a white note card with no picture or writing on the cover. She opened it, read for a second, and gasped.

“What is it?” Emily peered over her friend’s shoulder.

She barely read anything before Daisy crumpled the paper. The petite woman wavered like a flag in the wind.

“Whoa.” Emily caught her around the waist. “I’m supposed to be the unsteady one. Remember?”

Daisy disengaged herself, stepping back with the wadded note behind her. “If y’all will excuse me, it’s been a trying afternoon. I should retire to my cabin for a rest.”

“I’ll come with you.” Althea followed her. “A nap would suit me fine.”

“Go ahead.” Emily waved them away. “We’ll see you later.”

The two left, and a spot of black on the carpet drew Emily’s attention. The envelope. Daisy must have dropped it in her haste. Emily took more time than she liked to crouch and retrieve it. She didn’t want to risk a broken hip. Her balance was still a bit shaky since her last health scare.

A quick examination of the envelope revealed it was empty.

She studied the unaddressed front. No clue as to who sent it or why.

Perhaps she should feel guilty for peeking at the letter’s contents, but Emily was too concerned about Daisy to quibble about the propriety of her actions.

She only regretted not seeing more of the message.

But two important words had caught her eye.

Indiscretion.

Money.