The Cruise - Part 3
Last Time:
Nora decided to investigate her vacation options
Bo is having Nora followed in order to keep her safe from Colin
McIver.
*******
Nora has plowed through the pile of cruise pamphlets she got from the Travel Agent. She has definitely decided on the 50's Cruise. She goes back to the Travel Agency to make the plans.
Travel Agency:
Nora is sitting with the Travel Agent.
Travel Agent: Great choice, Ms. Buchanan
Nora: Please (with a smile), call me Nora
Travel Agent: (Extenting her hand) Nice to meet you Nora, I'm
Nancy. Let's get to work and get you booked.
Nora: (A little apprehensive) Great.
Nancy: Are you traveling alone?
Nora: (Laughing) I sure hope so.
Nancy: (Typing into the computer) Fine. Would you like a room
with a window.
Nora: Oh, definitely. I need a window, otherwise I think I would
feel a little too trapped.
Nanacy: Fine, it just costs more?
Nora: Not a problem.
Nancy: It's a 4-day, 3-night cruise. It really has no destination.
It just goes out into the Atlantic and brings you back into port.
Nora: (Thinking to herself, Sounds like my life, "No Destination")
That's fine. From the brochure it sounds like there is plenty
to do on-board.
Nancy: There really is. This is a great cruise. You'll need to
pack evening wear for the formal Captain's dinner. That's usually
the first night on-board. There is also a costume party you will
want to attend.
Nora: Costume, huh (remembering the party she and Bo attended
as Sheriff and Saloon girl, she smiles) Do I need to bring a costume?
Nancy: No, they have a great shop on-board, you can just rent
a costume. You will want to make sure you get your costume early,
the good ones always go fast.
Nora: I'll keep that in mind.
Nancy: (Continuing to type) OK, Nora. You are all booked. You
will be departing in 2 days. The ship leaves port promptly at
8:00 am. Here is your travel package. (Smiling) I sure hope you
have a great time.
Nora: (Still a little apprehensive) So do I. Thank you Nancy for
your time.
Nancy: Oh, you are so very welcome.
Nora: (Rising) Well, I guess this is bon voyage!
Nancy: (Laughing) Have a great trip. (Winking) You never know,
you might meet someone and fall madly in love.
Nora: (Shaking Nancy's hand and looking a little sad) You know,
Nancy, that only happens in the movies. Thank you for all your
help.
Nora no sooner leaves the shop when the bell on the door
jingles again.
Nancy looks up from her desk. A huge grin crosses her lips as
she is caught in the gaze of the man approaching her desk.
Nancy: (Practically drooling) Hellooo (Extending her hand)
Colin: (Flashing her the most intoxicating smile and extending
his hand) Hello, right back. (He holds her hand longer than necessary,
she doesn't object.)
Nancy: How may I help you?
Colin: Well now, I was hoping to go somewhere fun.
Nancy: I can think of a lot of places that fit that bill (Thinking
to herself, My place for one)
Colin: OK, I just noticed a lady leaving and she looked VERY happy.
Can you make ME that happy (flashing his smile again)
Nancy: (Again to herself, Oh Boy, could I!) Well, do you like
cruises?
Colin: A cruise, huh? That's what made that lady so happy?
Nancy: Yep. She seemed to be a fan of the 50's. I booked the perfect
cruise for her.
Colin: (Looking amazed) Wow, what do you know. I love the 50's.
Can you book me on the same cruise? (Still smiling)
Nancy: Would you like to see the pamphlet?
Colin: No. If you say it's a great cruise (leaning in close),
then I'm gonna take your word for it.
Nancy: (Sitting down at her computer) OK, then let's do it...Mister?
Colin: Doctor, Doctor Colin McIver. That's M-c-I-v-e-r.
Nancy: Oh, Doctor? (Thinking to herself, This just keeps getting
better and better) Let me see what I can do for you.
Colin takes a seat.
Colin leaves the Travel Agency with his travel packet in hand. This was all too perfect, he's thinking to himself.
A few minutes later the door jingles again. Nancy can't
believe how busy she has been.
Nancy: (Smiling) How may I help you, sir.
Bo: (Flashing his badge)
Nancy: Oh, Um, Officer. How may I help you, Officer?
Bo: I'd like to talk to you about the gentleman that just left.
Nancy: (Smile fading and thinking, I knew he was too perfect).
The next couple of days are spent getting ready for the
cruise. Nora has given Kay the rest of the week off. Shopping
was never one of her strong suits but she wanted to find a "knock-your-socks-off"
evening gown for the Captain's dinner. She wasn't sure why it
was so important to her, she just needed to feel special--for
herself, if for no one else.
Nora: (Finally beginning to enjoy the idea of a cruise) I think
this is going to be a trip to remember.
The day of departure arrives. Asa and Renee agree to drive Nora to the docks to catch the cruise ship. She would like to have said goodbye to Bo (not sure why she felt the need), but she was never able to get together with him. It almost seemed as if he was avoiding her.
Bo tried to explain to Melanie that he was working on a
case and would need to be out of town for awhile. She wanted to
go with him but he was adament. He needed to do this on his own.
He tried to explain that this case required his full attention
but she wouldn't understand. They had cross words for one another.
Melanie used words like "selfish, obsessed, and boring."
Bo, in turn, threw out words such as "childish, self-centered,
brainless, melonhead, lamebrain, . .." He really got caught
up in the moment and realized when it was too late, that he should
have stopped around "self-centered." Melanie left the
apartment and slammed the door.
Bo: (To himself) Well, that didn't go so well. Or did it?
He left his apartment and there seemed to be a new spring to his
step.
Bo: (To himself, again) I think a vacation is just what I need
(whistling)
Colin arrived at the docks at 6:00 am, just as they started allowing passengers to board. He wanted to already be in his room before Nora arrived. Boy, was she going to be surprised (he thought with a smile) This is just what we need, some time alone.
Nora arrived at 7:00 am, gave Asa and Renee a hug and thanked
them for the ride. Asa gave her an extra long hug and winked when
he told her to have a great time.
Nora: (Looking at Asa a little puzzled) You bet I will. (She leans
in and gives him a kiss on the cheek) You take care of things
here while I'm gone.
Bo was down at the docks standing behind some crates. He
had been there early enough to watch Colin board.
Bo: (To himself) I'm not sure what your game plan is, McIver,
but I'm sure of one thing, you won't touch a hair on Nora's head.
(He was still waiting by the docks when Nora boarded the ship.
A smile crossing his lips. She really was exquisite, he's thinking.)
I'm going to enjoy this assignment.
Bo: (Picking up his bags and walking toward the ship) Let the
games begin.
To be continued . . .
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