A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
Chapter Eight
Isolde woke up after hearing
someone stirring in the cabin. She looked to see Aine silently searching
through her luggage. She heard Isolde and looked up at her, placing a finger
against her lips to keep silent. Isolde nodded and silently dropped herself from
the top bunk. She picked up her trusty leather shoes and a new outfit. She
suddenly noticed Shamus and Flynn passed out in their own beds. She stifled a
giggle with her hand when the two snored simultaneously. Shamus was curled into
a ball on his side. His thumb was in his mouth as if he were a small babe.
Flynn, on the other hand, was sprawled on his stomach. He clutched a pillow in
a death grip.
Aine and Isolde quietly slipped
from the room with their clothes and shoes. As they closed the door, both burst
out into laughter. The two men looked like they could've slept for a hundred
years, and through anything. It took the two women a few moments to stop their
laughter and catch their breath.
"We should get ready,"
Aine said finally. "A stewardess gave me directions last night to the
bathroom."
Isolde nodded and followed Aine
down the corridor. They took a left and on the right side was a door. Aine
opened it. Inside were about ten stalls. In each was a large bathtub and
changing area. On the other side of the room were mirrors and sitting areas
with sinks. Isolde looked around in with awe. The tiles were so shiny that you
could see your reflection. The sitting areas with mirrors and sinks were
furnished with oak. It was breathtaking. Isolde's senses came back when she saw
Aine walk into a stall.
Isolde walked into her own and
closed the wooden door. She placed her belongings on a shelf and turned on the
water to the bathtub. A steady run of steaming water came from the faucet. When
Isolde was dressed and opened the door to exit her stall, a large cloud of
steam left the room with her. She gently sat at one of the mirrored areas. None
of the women there took notice of her. Some had children. Others were by
themselves. Isolde gently brushed her hair until their were no tangles. The
dark locks framed her pale face. Her hair seemed to bring out her gray eyes.
She quickly brushed her teeth and told Aine that she would meet her at
breakfast.
As she made her way down the
corridors, no one was in sight. She was excited to see what the other dining
room looked like, and moreso to see Harold at lunch. Isolde gently opened the
door, surprised that no one was in the room. She shrugged it off and placed her
belongings in the suitcase. She made her way to F-Deck.
She entered the dining room to
see Flynn and Shamus holding their heads in their hands. Instead of the normal
long tables with benches, these were many round ones with cushioned chairs.
There was no buffet this morning, but waiters serving each table. Isolde quickly
walked to her new Irish friends and sat down. The two mumbled hello. Aine
walked over to them with a large smile.
"Top o' the morning to
ye!" she said loudly while sitting next to her husband.
The men groaned and covered their
ears in response.
"That's what you get when
you drink too much!" the fiery woman added fiercely, smacking her own man
upside the head.
He cowered. Isolde barely stifled
a laugh. Suddenly, large plates were placed in front of them. Eggs, sausage,
bacon, hash browns, and more things that Isolde couldn't identify were ready
for her to eat. It could've fed an army, in her opinion. She and the others
began eating. It was nearly eight o'clock. Aine couldn't stop talking about her
family and friends that would be boarding today from Ireland. The group made
their way on deck to greet everyone at about ten 'til noon. As they reached the
crowd, Isolde silently slipped off and hurried her way to the stern.
Harold was wearing average
clothing again. She noticed that he was looking at a pocket watch. He turned to
see Isolde holding her shawl against herself. She stopped in front of him and
smiled. He held a package in one hand and a brown bag in the other. He gently
led them to a set of deck chairs and sat down. After ridding himself of the
baggage, Harold leaned down and kissed Isolde's cheek.
"You're late," he said
with a laugh.
"You should've seen the
crowd I had to pass!" she said defensively.
She looked down to see a sandwich
for each of them. They ate silently for the next few minutes. The area was
empty besides them, for everyone waited for arrivals or was trying to catch a
glimpse of Ireland. After the two were done, Harold wiped off his hands and
brought forth the other package. Isolde looked at him curiously.
"I have a surprise," he
said with excitement. He passed her the brown paper-wrapped parcel. Isolde held
it, looking at it with suspicion. "Open it!" he encouraged.
Isolde pulled on the twine bow.
The brown wrapping fell away to reveal a first class bathing suit. It was made
of deep green cloth. She held it up to see that the trunks went to her knees
and the top was attached and matching. Black buttons and lace edged the
sleeves. Harold watched her unwrap it with a nervous smile. He waited patiently
for her to say something.
"I-it's beautiful," she
stammered, "but I can't swim."