Page 7 of Waylaid in Whittier (Cruise Director Millie Mysteries #5)
At first glance, Millie thought the Sky Chapel was empty. It had sat empty for weeks now, ever since Pastor Evans’ departure. The chapel’s new pastor had not yet arrived. After several delays, she’d finally heard Pastor Haakenson would join Siren of the Seas when they returned to their home port of Miami.
She missed the Sunday services, missed her heart-to-heart talks with the pastor, a man she considered her friend. Millie had heard good things about his replacement and was eager to meet him, to get back into her Sunday morning routine of worship and teachings.
She started to back out when she heard a sniffle coming from near the front.
Millie tiptoed down the center aisle and spotted Kendra, her shoulders hunched and her head down, tucked away in the corner of the second row and barely visible.
“Kendra?” Millie softly called her name.
Her head shot up, and her shoulders stiffened. She slowly turned.
Millie’s heart plummeted when she noticed the young woman’s eyes were swollen and red. She hurried toward her. “Cat asked me to find you. She’s worried. Did something happen?”
“N-no,” Kendra hiccupped loudly. “I was on my break and thought I would come here because I’m…I’m having a hard time right now.”
Tears burned the back of Millie’s eyes and she could feel her throat clog at the sorrowful look on her face. “Would it be okay if I sat down?”
She nodded.
Millie eased onto the seat. She reached over and grasped her cold hand. “What’s making you sad?”
“I miss my mom, my family. I didn’t know it would be this difficult being away from them.” A lone tear trailed down Kendra’s cheek.
Millie pulled a tissue from her pocket and handed it to her. “Have you talked to them?”
“I-I call when we get in port and have tried using the computers to FaceTime them, but haven’t had any luck getting through.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. If it’s any consolation, I know how you feel.” Millie understood exactly how Kendra felt. She’d gone through similar emotions when she first joined Siren of the Seas and became homesick. One day she was fine. The next, she could barely drag herself out of bed. But as the weeks wore on, she became less lonely and began making friends.
It happened to many of the crewmembers, especially those who were new. The more seasoned employees had become accustomed to being apart from their loved ones. Many of them had parents, wives, girlfriends, even children back home. They took their breaks and spent a few months with their families before returning to start a new contract.
A number of them came from poor countries and communities where good paying jobs or the prospect of getting ahead were slim to none. Working on board cruise ships allowed them to send a sizeable chunk of their earnings home to support their families.
Millie had recently attended a staff meeting where Donovan told them the turnover rate was between 25 and 35 percent. He was asking for ideas and suggestions about how Majestic Cruise Lines could lower the number.
In recent years, the company had made a concerted effort to get the word out—that potential employees could work and live together on their ships.
It wasn’t a new concept, but it was “newer.” What had once been frowned upon was now encouraged. To her, it was a step in the right direction. Although it still didn’t help those who had small children and extended families thousands of miles away.
“The ship’s computers can be temperamental.” Millie had heard more than once from crewmembers that using the internet was difficult at best and impossible at times, especially while at sea. Most preferred to wait until the ship was in port where they could get off and track down local hotspots.
“I-I didn’t mean to take such a long break.” Kendra’s lower lip quivered. “But I don’t think I’m in any shape to be helping passengers,” she whispered.
“Let me give Cat a quick call. I need to let her know I found you.” Millie stepped out of the chapel and called her friend. She told her how Kendra was having a hard time and needed a little longer of a break. “Do you want me to send someone over from my department to help cover at the store?”
“Maribelle just stopped by. She’s going to run the cash register until Kendra gets back. She’s such a sweet young woman. I hope she makes it through this period of adjustment. It can be rough.”
“I think it will help if she’s able to contact her family.” Through the glass door, Millie could see Kendra with her head down again. “I have an idea about how to make her feel a little less homesick.”
“Anything you can do to cheer her up is appreciated. I feel so bad for her.”
“Me too.” Millie promised to keep her in the loop and returned to Kendra’s side. “I have an idea, a way to help you feel a little less homesick.”
Kendra slowly lifted her head. “You do?”
She held out her hand. “Come with me.”
Millie led her out of the chapel, down the stairs, and to the bridge. She swiped her card and opened the door. The usual staff was on duty, including Nic. He did a double take when he saw his wife and Kendra passing through.
She shook her head, giving him the “I’ll fill you in later” look.
Reaching the apartment, she eased the door open.
Scout scampered down the hall to greet them. The pup trampled over Millie’s foot. Curious about their guest, he promptly trotted over to her.
Kendra scooped him up. The pup wiggled and squirmed, his small pink tongue licking her chin.
“He’s adorable.” The young crewmember smiled for the first time since Millie had found her.
“Scout loves attention.” She could see the change in the woman’s demeanor, her expression, and she knew she’d made the right decision in bringing her home.
With snuggles and cuddles out of the way, Kendra and Scout played catch on the balcony while Millie fixed two cups of tea and carried them out.
“Thank you for letting me visit Scout,” Kendra said. “I feel better already.”
“You’re welcome.” Millie perched on the edge of the chair, eyeing the woman over the rim of her cup. “I’m sorry the ship’s computers aren’t cooperating. I brought you here to see Scout, but also for another reason.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Kendra’s face. “Another reason?”
“To use my computer to FaceTime your family.”
Her eyes grew round as saucers. “Y-you want me to use your computer? But I…I don’t. You don’t…”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to.” Millie waited for them to finish their tea and led Kendra back inside.
In no time, she had logged onto the site, entered Kendra’s information, and connected the call. At first, it looked as if her family wasn’t available.
But suddenly the “Starlink clouds” parted and Kendra received a response on the other end. Within seconds, an image of a woman who looked like an older version of Kendra appeared.
“Kendra. It is you. You have gotten the computer to work,” the woman exclaimed.
“Mama!” Kendra patted Millie’s arm. “I’m using the cruise director’s computer. I’m at her home.”
“The cruise director?”
Millie leaned in and waved hello. “It’s nice to meet you, Kendra’s mama. I’ll give you a chance to catch up.”
“Thank you, Millie.” Kendra’s eyes glistened with tears. Not tears of sadness, but of joy and gratitude.
“You’re welcome.” Millie refilled her teacup, and she and Scout slipped out onto the balcony. While she waited, she sent Cat a text letting her know Kendra was speaking with her family and she was almost positive she would be returning to work soon, in much better spirits.
Millie had almost finished her tea when the slider opened. A smiling Kendra appeared. “I’m done using FaceTime.”
She turned, giving the woman her full attention. “Did you have a nice chat?”
“I can’t tell you how much it meant to see my mama’s face, to hear her voice and have her see me.” Kendra blinked rapidly. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea what it meant to see her just now.”
“I think I do. One thing to remember is that we’ve all been where you are, feeling sad and lonely, missing our families back home. It’s only natural.”
“You’re right. Mama said she is happy for me to be here, to make friends and visit places I wouldn’t otherwise get to see.”
“Do it while you’re young.” Millie downed the rest of her tea and stood. “Are you ready to head back to work?”
“I am.” Kendra impulsively hugged Millie, her slender shoulders trembling. “This is the best day I’ve had since I got on board, thanks to you.”
Millie hugged her back. “Why don’t you freshen up in the bathroom and I’ll take you back to the gift shop?”
As soon as Kendra was done, Millie escorted her to Ocean Treasures. She gave Cat a friendly wave and watched as the woman hurried to join her.
Kendra would be okay. Maybe even more than okay with the support of her family back home. Cat would take good care of her, making sure she felt loved, welcomed, and accepted.
Millie glanced at her watch. It was time to give Carlita a call and get the scoop on Elvira.