Page 11 of Tiki Hut Tragedy (Cruise Director Millie Mysteries #6)
She broke the surface to catcalls and roars of approval. Millie swam to the edge and hauled herself out of the water.
“Good job, Millie,” Danielle hooted. “What do the judges say?”
All flipped their sheets, giving her tens across the board.
“I swear I didn’t plan that, folks.” She placed a soggy arm around the pint-sized pirate. “This is the real winner.”
Danielle caught up with them, raising both of their hands, signaling a tie.
A couple emerged from the crowd, holding a rubber duck dressed as a pirate. They presented the pint-sized funny flopper with his new friend, “Captain Quacker.”
Danielle congratulated him and presented him with coupons for sweet treats at the specialty coffee shop.
Millie, still dripping wet, waited for the crowd to fade away.
“You did an Olympic-style cartwheel into the water.” Danielle handed her a clean towel. “It was impressive.”
“Thanks. I couldn’t repeat the move again in a million years even if I wanted to.” Millie dabbed at her face. “The contest was great. Falling in? Not so much.” She lifted her hand, giving Danielle a high five. “I love the twist on the belly flop. So did the passengers.”
“Gunpowder Gordon was adorable. I think we should add the contest to our rotation. ”
“Absolutely.” Millie thanked her for hosting and plodded to the stairs. After a quick detour back home to change into dry clothes, she checked in with several of the other activities.
Passing by the Sky Chapel, she noticed the lights were on. Pastor Haakenson, the ship’s new pastor, had only recently arrived, having replaced Pastor Evans, who had retired in the spring.
Millie, thrilled to have the Sunday morning services up and running again, had been one of the first to welcome him. Although friendly, he struck her as somewhat of an introvert. When questioned, he confessed that he was struggling to adjust.
She knew exactly how he felt and had tried encouraging him. It was tough living on board a ship, leaving loved ones behind.
Noticing a flit of movement, she slipped into the sanctuary. Quiet, cool air greeted her. From the doorway, she glimpsed the lights on inside his office .
Millie made her way down the center aisle to his door. A quick check confirmed the pastor was there, seated at his desk with his back to her.
Not wanting to startle him, she cleared her throat.
Pastor Haakenson spun around. “Hello, Millie.”
“Hello, Pastor Haakenson.” She folded her hands. “I saw the lights were on and thought I would stop by to say hi. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Not at all.” He smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I was answering some messages. I would offer you a cup of coffee, but my coffee maker suddenly stopped working.”
“Stopped working?” Millie scooted around the desk for a closer inspection. It was identical to the ones used at the specialty coffee shop.
“Yesterday. The light won’t come on. It makes a gurgling sound, but nothing comes out. ”
“I know someone who can fix it. Sharky Kiveski, our maintenance supervisor. He can fix almost anything.”
“It appears to be fairly new.” Pastor Haakenson rummaged around in the cabinet. “The box is here somewhere. There it is.” He set the coffee machine inside. “I planned to turn in a repair ticket, but if you’re able to cut through the red tape and get it fixed faster, I would greatly appreciate it.”
“I’ll be happy to try to help. The coffee at the buffet is okay, but these fancy machines make a much better cup.” Millie placed it off to the side, noticing his credenza was empty. A box filled with photos and mementos sat on the floor. “You haven’t unpacked yet?”
“No, I…” His voice faded.
Millie tilted her head, studying the pastor’s face. Her heart plummeted when she realized his eyes were red, as if he’d been crying. “Are you okay? ”
“Honestly, I’m still struggling,” he confessed. “I appreciate your words of encouragement, and I’ve been trying hard to adjust, but I’m not sure how much longer I need to give it before…”
The pastor was a nice man. He even prayed with Millie after she found out one of her grandchildren had been involved in a minor accident. He had called her later to check in, showing concern and compassion.
“Packing it in and heading back home?”
“I’m beginning to think I’m not cut out for life on the high seas,” he admitted. “You mentioned it took time for you to feel like you fit in.”
“Close to a year. I can’t tell you what to do because not every situation is the same, but if you want my advice, you need to give it at least six months. Is it missing family or something else, if you don’t mind me asking? ”
He removed a framed photo from the box and handed it to her. “This is my wife, Shirley. She passed away last year.”
Sudden tears burned the back of Millie’s eyes. “And you’re still grieving.”
He nodded. “We were married for thirty years. After her death, the house was so empty. I saw the ad for the pastoral position and figured God was trying to shake things up. I thought I was making the right decision, but now I’m not so sure.”
“It’s a big move,” Millie said softly.
“The biggest I’ve ever made. Sundays are the highlight. I’ve met several of the regulars who attend the Sunday service, but during the rest of the week I sit here by myself, twiddling my thumbs trying to figure out how to fit in.”
Her gaze shifted from Pastor Haakenson’s face to the coffee machine sitting in the box.
“I was in a similar situation after my husband and I divorced. I saw an ad for assistant cruise director. Like you, the pieces seemed to fall into place. I also had a shaky start. Looking back, it was the best decision I ever made.”
A glimmer of hope filled the pastor’s eyes. “Fixing the coffee machine so I can offer visitors a drink would be a start.”
An idea began to form in the back of Millie’s mind—a way to help Pastor Haakenson meet people and make new friends. “We’re going to get you into the swing of things,” she vowed. “Starting right now.”