Claire Gulliver #04 - Cruisin' for a Bruisin' (12 page)

“Oh my God, how tragic.” Claire was stunned, completely caught up in Mrs. Bernbaum’s story.

Mrs. Bernbaum nodded. “It was awful. It had a devastating effect on Skagway, really much of Alaska. Remember that was just at the end of World War I. They had lost many men in the war and there was a major flu outbreak throughout the world. This was just one more tragedy to the world, but it was a huge one for Alaska. Additionally, it was a major environmental disaster. The fuel from the Princess Sophia spread through the Canal. It coated all the victims they eventually retrieved as well as choking off plant and wildlife in the area.

“But, of course, it nearly destroyed Nate and Seth’s lives. Seth couldn’t cope with the disaster, blaming himself, becoming a little more strange and a little more of a recluse as each year passed.”

“Oh dear, how dreadful it must have been for Nate. You wonder how he survived in that hostile environment and with a father not functioning right.” Millie was very distressed.

“He said it was the defining event of his life. His life before he met me. He always had nightmares of his little sister calling to him to save her, and of course he couldn’t. He could never get over the nightmares. Despite the horror of the war, it was his little sister who haunted him right up to the day he died.

“Nate was kind of adopted by the whole town. It’s not a very big town, you know. You’ll see when we get there. I understand it hasn’t changed much or even grown much over the years.

“Various families took turns housing him with them over the winters so he could attend school. Some of the merchants gave him little jobs so he could earn pocket money. But he spent summers with his dad working their mine. They did extract some gold. It was brutally hard work, but they managed to get enough to survive on. When Nate was in high school he attached himself to the man who ran the airport and learned everything anyone was willing to teach him. He became a fearless pilot and skilled mechanic. That’s how he ended up a fighter pilot in the war.

“He was in his thirties when we met and he had never been married. He said he could never become committed to anyone. He was never able to develop a relationship until we met. Then it was like a lightning bolt struck the two of us. Everything changed for both of us.”

Millie filled their tea cups again and they all sipped while they thought about Nate’s story.

“And after the war, didn’t he go back to Alaska? Didn’t he want to show you where he grew up?” Claire asked.

“Of course he did. He went back several times and I was going to go with him, but each time other things came up. And we felt no urgency about it. We thought we had forever, you see...” Her face was so sad it was heartbreaking.

Claire realizing Mrs. Bernbaum was exhausted, surreptitiously glanced at her watch. “Mom, don’t you have a hair appointment? I think you’re going to be late.”

“Goodness, yes. I hate to leave, Mrs. Bernbaum. You’ve intrigued me so with Nate’s story, but I’m afraid I have to run. We’ll see you at the Captain’s Reception tonight, won’t we?”

Mrs. Bernbaum nodded her head and Claire began to gather the tea things to put on the tray on the table. “I’m afraid we’ve tired you out, Mrs. Bernbaum. Perhaps you need to take a nap before getting ready.”

“Thank you dear. Yes I’ll probably have a short lay down. Just leave those, Anita or Jorges will get them later. It was so nice of you to come. I enjoyed the company. I hope I didn’t bore you with my stories, but it does me good to remember.”

“Not at all, it was so interesting. It certainly gives me a whole new perspective on life in Alaska. I’ll probably have to search out some books about the Princess Sophia.” She paused at the door. “See you later, Mrs. Bernbaum. And thanks again for the tea and the story.”

“You look very nice, dear. Is that dress new?”

“No, I got it for the gala I attended in Washington last fall. It’s nice, isn’t it? I found it at Loehman’s, if you’d believe?” Her dress was a rich blue jersey material. The long A-line skirt clung nicely to her hips, the bottom of the full skirt revealing only glimpses of red toenails in her strappy sandals. The bodice had armholes slanted toward her neck, leaving her shoulders bare. The plain neckline was set off by the heavy gold and lapis lazuli Egyptian style necklace she bought to go with it. The matching earrings dangled almost to her shoulders, swaying every time she moved her head and making her feel sexy.

“It suits you. I feel a little dowdy beside you.”

“I don’t know why, your dress is stunning. I didn’t know you had it.”

“It’s from one of the Richman Brothers’ Christmas bashes. I have a closet full. I never get rid of them and every year in spite of my resolve not to, I end up buying something new to wear.” She laughed at her foolishness. “At least it gave me several to choose from for this trip.”

“Well, seeing as we both look so spiffy what do you think about having our picture taken together? If it’s good we can buy copies, and if we don’t like it we’ll just leave it.”

“Oh, what a good idea. Let’s do it.”

Claire and Millie went to stand in the short line for the photographer while Ruth and Lucy milled about with the other passengers, sipping champagne and talking to people they had met during the cruise. Even though this reception was for only half of the passengers, the ones who had the late dinner seating, there was still a crush of bodies in the lounge. Waiters moved through the crowd with trays of canapés and glasses of champagne and never got very far before having to return to the kitchen to replenish their trays.

Finished with the photographer, Millie determinedly pushed her way through the crowd in search of Ruth and Lucy. Claire was right behind her carrying a champagne glass. “There you are. Did you meet the Captain?”

“Yes, he’s charming. And he looks just how you would imagine the captain to look, tall, handsome, competent and in control. If you want to meet him you’d better hurry because it’s almost time for dinner.”

“No, I don’t need to meet him. At this point I doubt he can distinguish one person from another. Did you want to meet him, Claire?”

She shook her head. “Let’s head toward the dining room. I’m hungry.”

The dining room looked very festive. It took a moment for Claire to realize it wasn’t the room which was festive, it was the people in it. Men clad in tuxedos, white dinner jackets and dark suits escorted their ladies, who wore spangles and beads, silks and satins, as well as sparkling jewels in their hair, around their necks and dripping from their arms. And the sound swelled with giggles, muted laughter and voices a little louder than usual, probably as a result of the champagne consumed before dinner. Accompanying the noise were the soft strains of music provided by a quartet of musicians located at the top of the graceful staircase rising from the center of the dining room to the balcony.

Claire looked around at her table mates. All the men wore black tuxedos except Ian who wore a white dinner jacket. Harold, sitting across from her, wore his with a silver cummerbund and despite his warning of yesterday about not liking to dress for dinner, appeared to be in fine spirits. Pearl wore a beautiful dress in a shimmery silver material which clung in all the right places and had a non-existent back. Ruth wore a deep red crepe dress, long and slinky. Lucy’s dress was black, with an off-the-shoulder neck and a short full skirt. Even Mrs. Bernbaum looked exceptionally nice tonight in her light grey dress, which sported the puffy sleeves so popular in the 80’s. However, it was obviously expensively cut and her red pin winked proudly from the shoulder of the dress.

The menu choices were in keeping with the special occasion including selections of filet mignon, lobster, crown rib lamb chops or Cornish game hens. Pedro took their choices with much good natured joshing and then left them to the drinks they had ordered.

“Good evening. I hope you are having a wonderful cruise.” Antonio, the maitre d’, circled their table, beaming with bonhomie. “It is my pleasure tonight to offer you a special appetizer which my good friend, the chef, has prepared only for your table.” He signaled to Pedro. “So tonight you will have a little lobster soufflé to start; it will make your meal even more special.”

Pedro and his assistant carried out plates holding tiny ramekins filled with a perfect soufflé and set one in front of each person. Murmurs of surprise and pleasure spread around the table as they each eyed the golden soufflés puffed up twice the height of the ramekin and topped with a small piece of lobster and a bit of green herb.

“Thank you.”

“How nice.”

“Oh, delicious.”

Antonio bowed stiffly from the waist, smiling at each, but he winked at Lucy and left them to their dinner.

“Well, can you beat that? Why do you suppose we’re getting such special treatment? I don’t see any other tables being served this dish,” Pearl said in amazement.

“Well, it might have something to do with his late night dance partner,” Sean said soberly, nodding his head in Lucy’s direction.

“Lucy, is this for your benefit?”

Lucy looking somewhat like the cat, who had swallowed the canary, merely shrugged in response to Pearl’s question.

“Well, it’s heavenly. I’m impressed the chef was willing to make soufflés when the meal they’re serving is going to require a lot of effort by itself.” Millie’s voice reflected her admiration. She knew how tricky soufflés could be. Delivering ten of them while they were still perfect was almost a miracle.

“I think we shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Lucy, if it’s because of you, just keep doing what you’re doing,” was Ian’s advice.

Later when they had finished the appetizers and were waiting for their next course, Claire said to Mrs. Bernbaum, who was sitting beside her, “You’re looking very nice tonight. You must have had your nap.”

“I did and then Dickie came and gave me a shot of pep.”

“What exactly is that, a shot of pep?”

“Well, it’s a shot of vitamins he’s put together to give me a little energy boost. He calls it a ‘vitamin cocktail.’ I love it. It makes me feel young again.” She smiled at Claire. “Well, maybe not young, but younger.”

“Well, whatever it is, it seems to work. And I saw you and Richard at the photographer’s booth before dinner having your picture taken. What a good idea.”

“He insisted. He said we needed to have one together, while we were dressed up.” She smiled as she glanced his way briefly. “He really is the sweetest boy. We loved his father, of course, but Dickie is just so thoughtful and considerate, and I have to admit his father never was.”

“Mrs. Bernbaum, that brooch must be your favorite piece of jewelry because you wear it often. But tonight it looks like a whole new piece on that dress. Did Nate give it to you?”

She fingered the pin, looking down on it. “I asked Anita to clean it. Sometimes I don’t notice when it has gotten a little grimy. Yes, it was a gift from Nate, and it was a gift from Bernie, too.”

Claire’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

“We were so happy when Nate came back from the war safely. We both knew how lucky we were he survived all those bombing missions. So many didn’t, you know.

“But he didn’t come home immediately, you see. While he was waiting to be shipped home he won this in a poker game.

“He loved to play poker. The men in Skagway thought it their duty to teach him certain basics of life and there was a lot of card playing going on during those long winter months. So he was very good at cards. He told me he got into this big game, seven card stud. Do you play poker, Claire?” Then seeing her nod she went on with her story. “Well, this time there was a huge pot. One guy, who considered himself a card shark, obviously thought he had the winning hand, so he added this brooch to the pot to help entice additional bets. He did have a good hand, full house, queens over sevens, I believe. But Nate took the pot with four threes.

“He said he knew he was lucky when he met me. Then he won that pot, which included a lot of money in addition to this piece. He said it was meant for me. He said it represented the luck I brought him.”

“What is it? A garnet?”

“Oh no, dear. This is the
Heart of Persia
.”

“Wow, it has a name? That sounds expensive.”

“I suppose it is, although I haven’t thought about its value for many years. The ruby was found in Persia in the seventeenth century. It’s a Burmese Ruby, so how it got there is a mystery. It is quite without flaws and very rare. Someone in the French court had it made into this piece. The stone is irregular shaped, somewhat like a heart, hence its name and the other stones are rubies, peridots and diamonds. See, it’s a pin and it also has a clasp so it can be worn on a chain as a pendant. Somehow during the French Revolution, it was liberated from its owner and so the record of ownership is somewhat sketchy. The man, who so foolishly added it to the pot, said he got it from a Russian refugee. How it got to Russia, I don’t know.”

“No wonder you wear it so much. But you said your second husband also gave it to you, how could that be?”