Dead in the Water (Kate Ryan Mysteries Book 10) (13 page)

I cuddled behind her, breathing in the scent of the woman I loved.

Ah, I’m such a sap.

Chapter 12

Friday was here at last. My stomach was in knots. And Hannah was not making it any easier. She must have called my cell ten times. She called the last time just as Maggie and I were leaving.

“Will you stop calling me?” I begged her. I couldn’t believe it when this insane woman started laughing.

“I’m so sorry.”

“You are not,” I said in a hissed whisper. I looked down the hall; Maggie was still in the bedroom. “What do you want? Again…”

“Do you have the ring?”

“Yes. For the tenth time. You’re making me nervous.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t bite my head off,” Hannah said through her laughter. “I just want to make sure. What would happen if you forgot it? You’d be in the middle of Lake Superior.”

“Hannah, I swear…” I heard Maggie coming out of the bedroom. “I have to go.”

“Okay, have fun. Good luck. I’ll see you in a little while. Love you both.”

“What does that mean—a little while? Hannah? Hannah?” I looked at my cellphone. She’d hung up.

“Was that Aunt Hannah?” Maggie asked, struggling with her luggage.

I ran up to her. “Let me take that. Yes, it was Hannah. She said she loved you and hoped we had a good time.”

Maggie followed me down the hall. “Hmm. Why didn’t she call me?”

“I don’t know. I’m just trying not to throw my back out. What did you pack?”

As if on cue, her cell rang.

“Don’t tell me,” I said, waving her off as she laughed.

And in the next instance, there was a knock at the door. “That has to be Matt. They’re watching Chance for the weekend.”

Matt stood in the doorway. “Good morning! Where’s the princess?”

Chance bounded out from the bedroom running around in circles when she saw Matt.

“Hi, princess!” he said, kneeling down; he laughed while Chance lavished him with kisses.

Jerry stepped out into the hallway from their apartment across the way. “I thought I heard Matt’s squeal. Hi, Kate. All ready for your weekend?”

“I think so,” I said, also stepping out into the hallway. I knelt by my canine. “Okay, Chance. You be a good—”

And she was off; she ran into their apartment and jumped up on the couch. “Girl…”

“Don’t look so offended. It’s not that she doesn’t love you. She just loves the way Matt feeds her.”

Matt tried to look innocent; it didn’t work.

“And just what do you feed her?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he said, avoiding eye contact.

“Mattie,” Jerry said in a warning voice.

“Oh, all right. Princess loves pâté.”

I just stared at him in disbelief.

“Pâté,” he said again, as if that made it clearer. “On toast points. She likes it.”

“She eats rocks,” I said, rubbing my forehead.

“Well, then this is infinitely better.” Matt looked past me into my apartment. “Do you have the ring?”

I quickly closed the door. “Yes,” I whispered. “And keep your voice down.”

“This is so exciting,” Jerry said, running across the hall to pull me into a hug. “I’m so happy for you both.”

“Thanks, Jerry. I’d—”

“When are you going to make an honest man out of me?” Matt asked him.

“Not now…” Jerry said, shaking his head.

“Oh, we could have a double wedding,” Matt said eagerly.

I hung my head. “Jerry, please.”

“C’mon, Mattie,” Jerry said, pulling on Matt’s arm. “Have a great weekend, Kate. Congratulations.”

I watched as Jerry pulled Matt into their apartment. “Good grief.”

I locked up the apartment. With the boys watching Chance for the weekend, all was set, and I was sick. I ushered Maggie out the door while she still talked to Hannah on the phone.

“Aunt Hannah sends her love,” Maggie said, slipping the phone into her purse.

“Yes, yes. I love her, too. Let’s go before the ship sails without us.”

“What’s the matter? You’re acting weird.” Maggie added, “er.”

“Hardy har. I just want us to have a good time.”

“We will. Don’t worry. I can’t wait.”

The ride up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was gorgeous. It was a seven-hour drive, but it went surprisingly fast.

“I’ve never been up this far.” Maggie looked out her window as we entered the historic town. “This is it?”

“Well, I hope so. I can’t go any farther north unless we want to go for a swim in Lake Superior.”

Maggie laughed and glanced at her watch. “Well, we certainly have our timing right. We have just enough time to find the dock.”

“Well,” I said, “the dock should be around here somewhere. I’m following the directions. It’ll be hard to miss the ship, I think.”

“There.” Maggie pointed straight ahead. “I wish we had more time. This is beautiful.”

I found a parking area close enough to the dock, and in a few minutes, we were on our way. I was so nervous; I glanced at Maggie every now and then as we made our way to the ship. She smiled with anticipation, looking like a little kid.

“This is going to be fun,” she announced. “Look at the size of it. Much bigger than the Wendella in Chicago.”

It was bigger. Not as big as one of those cruise ships but big enough. As we walked up to the check-in area, there was Simon in all his seaworthy glory.

Maggie laughed, then put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, my God. He’s adorable.”

Simon stood on the deck by the gangplank, wearing a ridiculous uniform, as if he were the captain. Navy blue jacket with white pants and shoes. The red silk handkerchief helplessly flopping out of his breast pocket was all Simon.

“Ahoy!” he called down to us, waving like the Queen Mum. “Don’t bother checking in. I’ve already done that for you. Edward, take their luggage to stateroom number one. Come aboard!”

“This is going to be a fun weekend,” Maggie said through her laughter.

“I truly hope so.”

Maggie stopped and looked at me. “Don’t be a poop.”

“I’m not a poop. I just want this…”

“You think too much. Simon! Ahoy!”

As she pulled me up the gangplank, I knew then my fate was sealed. There was no turning back, no jumping overboard. I would ask Maggie to marry me during this weekend, but God knows when. All at once, I felt giddy; I suppose that was the right word. I suddenly laughed along with Maggie as we walked the plank like two pirates.

Simon raised an eyebrow. “Maggie, if you have to drag her along…”

Maggie, still laughing, kissed him on the cheek. “It’s okay, Simon. Kate’s just being an old poop.”

Simon wagged his finger in my direction. “Now, now. No being a poop. Unless you’re on the poop deck. I still haven’t figured out why they call it that.” He sighed and shook his head. “Well, no matter. Are we all ready for a wonderful weekend? The weather promises to cooperate. Monty will be at the helm.”

“He’s the captain?” I asked.

“For the weekend, yes. This is between you, me, and the poop deck, but—” Simon looked around quickly.

“But what?” I asked, looking around, as well.

“Why are we whispering?” Maggie whispered.

“Because we don’t want the other investors to know the captain is AWOL,” Simon whispered, as well.

“No captain?” I heard the squeak in my voice as Simon winced.

“Shh. For heaven’s sake…” Simon said urgently, then laughed. “It’s all right. Monty knows how to drive this thing. Or run, steer, whatever one does to a ship.”

Simon grabbed my arm. “No, no. You’re staying. Come along. I’ll show you to your room.”

“No captain,” I whispered to Maggie.

Maggie let out a laugh of pure delight—she was nuts. She slipped her hand into the bend of Simon’s arm. “Lead on, MacDuff.”

“You see, Kate? Why can’t you be more open-minded like Maggie?
 
Come along.”

I will admit,
The
Queen
, as Simon called her, was in excellent condition and remodeled, so Simon said, in the fashion of the ocean liners in the forties. The entire deck was constructed of polished wood and brass, and the lounge chairs placed along them were vintage thirties and forties and very comfortable-looking.

“This must have cost a fortune,” I said as we made our way down the stairs to the staterooms.

“A vulgar amount of money, yes,” Simon said, “which is why they have these weekend package excursions for those who like to throw their money around. This way, Monty says they don’t have to charge an exorbitant fee for the everyday folk. So everyone gets to enjoy it. And Monty insists on using his chef all the time, even for the day excursions.”

“I like that,” Maggie said. “Something for everyone.”

“Here we are,” Simon announced. He unlocked the door, then handed me the key. “Paradise awaits.” He stepped back, allowing Maggie to enter first.

As I followed, Simon held my arm. “I put a little welcome basket on the table. Champagne will be delivered right after we set sail. When are you going to pop the question?”

“I don’t know. Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

Simon laughed. “Sorry. I know this is traumatic for you.”

“It’s okay. I’m just nervous. Thanks, Simon,” I said. “I appreciate it.”

“Are you coming?” Maggie called out.

“Oh, dear.” Simon put his hand to his heart. “Oh, she meant…”

“Thanks,” I said quickly. “I can take it from here.”

Simon continued to chuckle. “Enjoy!” he called out to Maggie. “Cocktails on the…” He waved his hand. “I can’t remember the name. Aft, bow, stern… Whatever the front of the ship is called. You’ll find it. Or better yet, I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

The cabin was certainly as luxurious as Simon promised. You’d think a king-sized bed in there would take up most of the room—not so. And on the opposite wall from the door was an enormous window with floor-to-ceiling curtains that could be drawn for privacy.

“Wow,” I said, looking around the cabin.

“No kidding,” Maggie said in awe. “I thought the skybox at Wrigley Field was something…”

I laughed along with her and grabbed her hand. “Let’s check out the bathroom. Matt said it’s to die for.”

I opened the narrow door, thinking the worst, but my eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw the huge walk-in shower. “Holy crap.”

“It’s amazing how they fit all this in here.”

“It’s like the
Titanic
,” I said, running my fingers along the marble top. The vanity was mahogany; I was sure of that.

“Without the ending.” Maggie opened the shower door. “Plenty of room for two.”