Crew Hates by Deana Birch

Chapter Five

Day Five

Rosa’s granola was my new morning addiction. Robbie, Nick and I ate at our little booth and discussed the day in front of us. Our employers would all have lunch in Saint Raphaël then be back for dinner. It was Robbie’s turn to stay with me on the boat, and Nick would take Rosa into town.

After breakfast, and with everyone gone, I toured the cabins to clean. Cameron and Landry were neat and required very little picking up. They’d even made their own bed. The master suite was also left rather tidy, and just entering it made me nervous. With Rosa in town, it was up to me to switch the towels, and I got in and out without poking my nose where it didn’t belong. Somehow, I was sure Mrs. Phillips would know if I’d lingered in there, as if she could smell it.

But the girls’ cabin demanded my maximum attention and took the most time. They were like clothes-vomiting tornados. I had no idea whose pieces belonged to whom, although Abby seemed to be less conservative than Victoria, so the skimpier things went in the Abby pile.

Cabins tidy, laundry changed and me starving, I made Robbie and me sandwiches then took them up to him onto the bridge deck where he was behind a laptop.

“Let’s eat outside.” He motioned to the deck chairs. “The Phillips aren’t big fans of crumbs in the bridge.”

I settled the tray on a little table and dug into my cheese sandwich. He must have been as famished as I was, because neither one of us spoke until the final crumbs were in our bellies.

“Pretty good gig, huh?” he asked.

“Yeah, but there’s not a lot of downtime for me. I wouldn’t mind going in and seeing France on land.” I made a fake fat lip.

“Don’t count on it. You’re boat bound. Too many towels to fold and drinks to serve.” He winked.

“How fired do you think I would be if I put on my bikini and sunbathed?” I asked.

“One hundred percent fired. And Mrs. Phillips would know. She knows everything. Sometimes I think she’s a witch.”

“I was just thinking that about being in her cabin too long! She really does see everything.” I stretched out in the chair. Five more minutes of sun would do me good. Then I continued, “She was totally watching Abby check out Nick last night at dinner and was not happy about it.”

“Mmm…” Robbie looked away to the port in front of us. It seemed like he had more to add but was censoring himself. I tried a new angle.

“How long have you known Nick?”

“Since high school. He and I were marina rats. We hung out at the ports looking for odd jobs on the boats as a way to get on the water and get paid to sail at the same time. Nick’s uncle is a mechanic, and when we weren’t working for him, we were on some rich family’s yacht.”

“Will you come back next year?”

“I don’t know. It won’t be the same without Nick. He graduates law school next summer and told me he’s done with the boats until he can afford his own.”

“I would think that would be a reason to come back, him not being here to spread his holiday crank.”

Robbie chuckled. “I think he’s just sick of working for rich people.”

I couldn’t help myself to ask one final prying question. “Victoria said he likes women, not girls. What do you think that means?”

“Ahh, that’s his story to tell, not mine. Sorry, Emmie. I like you but I’m not one to talk shit about my friend behind his back. Ding and Dong, yes. But if you want to know more about Nick, you’ll have to go to the source.” He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. “Why? Oh God, you like him. I swear, that man.”

“What? No. He’s horrible. And he hates me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Anyway, like I said, he’s just trying to get through these two weeks and move on.”

Move on? From what? I kept my questions to myself. I didn’t want Robbie to think I was trying to get more information than I should have.

So back down the stairs I traipsed with the lunch tray in hand. I finished the kitchen, leaving it spotless for Rosa, who would be back soon with Nick.

As I placed the towels on the long chairs on the upper deck, I was surprised to see Mrs. Phillips in the water taxi with Nick and Rosa. I made eye contact with Nick, who waved a quick signal with his hand for me to come down.

“The missus has a bit of a light head,” Rosa explained.

Nurse mode immediately kicked in. I scanned her body and wished she hadn’t been wearing her sunglasses. I received most of my information from a patient’s eyes. She stood gingerly, Nick giving her support, and her grasping my outstretched arm.

“Nicholas, Emilia, help me to my cabin.” Her still giving orders was a good sign in my book.

Nick did most of the work. She leaned into him, her body suddenly seeming frail next to his strong frame. I followed them up the stairs then pushed by to open the door. As they took their time with slow steps, I hurried over to the bed, where I propped up the pillows. I stood back as Nick brought her over, unhooked her arm from his shoulder and sat her down gently.

“Can I get you something?” Nick offered, his tone more familiar than employee.

“Emilia will take it from here. Thank you,” she said, dismissing him.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” he pressed.

“I’ll be fine. Go help Rosa with the boxes.” A slight smile to him was enough for him to leave.

I sat down next to her and instinctively took her wrist to check her pulse. It was weak but not worrisome. She removed her sunglasses and folded them on the bedside table. I studied her eyes. They told me she was tired, annoyed and embarrassed.

“Is this the first time you’ve had a dizzy spell?”

“No.”

“It may help to get your blood sugar up. I noticed you’re not a big fan of fruit or carbohydrates. How about a small glass of juice with a cool rag and a bit of rest?” I moved my hand from her wrist to her face as I touched her cheek with the back of my hand then palmed her forehead to confirm that there wasn’t a fever.

“There’s no need to fuss.”

“Mrs. Phillips, I’m only doing the job you hired me for.” I took the pillows from the other side of the bed and placed them under her feet, then slid off her shoes. “Do you have a headache? Would you like an aspirin as well?”

“Yes, please.”

In the bathroom, I found a small washcloth, ran it under cool water, wrang it out then went back to her bedside and placed it on her brow.

I nodded my way out and closed the door as quietly as possible. Trotting down the stairs to fetch the juice, I bumped into Nick, who was on his way up.

“Is she okay?” he asked, wrinkled concern showing on his face.

I gave him a tight smile. “She just needs a little rest.”

He looked down and away as if a better answer was on the stairwell, and I pushed past him.

In the galley, Rosa glanced to me for news.

“Heat and low blood sugar. She’ll be fine.” I dug through the first aid kit for an aspirin.

With the juice and pills in hand, I climbed the stairs and gave a gentle knock on the door before letting myself in and walking back to her side.

She sat up like an obedient patient, drank her juice, swallowed the medicine and lay back down with a little sigh. I tightened the drapes shut.

“I’ll be back in an hour.”

She waved my dismissal, and I trucked back to the kitchen where Robbie, Nick and Rosa were speaking in hushed voices.

“I don’t think it’s her blood sugar, Emmie.” Nick was accusatory, as if he had watched that woman barely eat her breakfast. But there was something else in his tone—worry.

“I’m not a doctor and I haven’t done any blood work on the woman.” I shook my head and put the glass in the sink. “What’s obvious is that she needs a rest, and there’s no point speculating and creating worst-case scenarios.”

My words seem to placate the trio, and I went back to the machine room to continue my laundry duties.

The rest of the family filtered back to the boat, and Rosa began her preparations for dinner. Mr. Phillips drilled both Nick and me for details. He was visibly worried that his rock of a wife had faltered.

“If it’s okay with you, sir, I’ll go check on her and see if she’ll be up for dinner or if she’d rather have something easy in your cabin.”

“Sure… Thanks, Emilia.”

Again I gave a gentle knock but didn’t wait for her to invite me in. Out of habit, I sat down next to her and checked her pulse again. It was stronger than before her rest and a bit of color had returned to her face.

“You’re looking better.” I hoped the warmth in my voice translated to her.

She closed her eyes slowly and let out a long, deliberate breath. I waited for her to speak.

“I should get ready for dinner.” She looked back to me.

“The other option is that I help you change into something comfortable, bring up a snack and you take the night off.”

Her expression read skeptical.

“It’s okay to take a break. Besides, Robbie said we’re headed to Saint Tropez, so I’m sure you’ll want your energy.”

“I’ll have Rosa’s chicken soup, and I’d like to see Landry, please. She can help me change.” She turned her body away from me.

“Of course.” I understood pride and privacy, and I was happy to give her a bit of space.

I found Landry on the bridge deck with Cameron and Mr. Phillips. I stood in silence and waited for one of them to acknowledge me at a break in their conversation.

“What is it, Emilia?” Mr. Phillips finally asked.

My lips twitched to the side before saying, “She’s asking for Landry to help her change.”

Cameron’s eyes got big, and he searched his girlfriend’s face for answers. Landry looked back to me and nodded quickly then gave a small smile to the men before hopping down the stairs.

“Does that mean she’s coming to dinner?” Mr. Phillips asked.

“I don’t believe so, sir. She’s asked for soup in the cabin.” I bowed my head and took as step back.

Cameron and his father exchanged surprised looks, and I thought it best to leave them.

As I went down the stairs, I heard Cameron say, “Dad, she’s never missed dinner.”

Only Rosa was in the galley, and I was relieved to be back on a somewhat equal level.

“How did you know she wanted soup?” I asked, confused by the pot Rosa was already stirring.

When she didn’t give me a verbal answer, I knew Rosa had witnessed previous spells. After all, she was in the Phillips’ house six days a week. I could only imagine how much Mr. Phillips worked, and neither one of the kids lived at home anymore. I nodded my understanding and went to my own cabin to change for cocktail hour and dinner service.

Around the glass table without their matriarch, the crowd was quiet. Nick offered to take Mrs. Phillips her soup, and he must have stayed to make sure she ate it because he didn’t emerge until he had an empty bowl in his hands.

After dinner, Nick and Robbie plotted our move the next day from the bridge, and everyone else retired early, except Abby.

She stretched out on the couch, white wine in hand and trouble in her eyes. She was so obvious that it was shameful. I tried to act busy by wiping down the bar for a third time. The curiosity of where her pathetic plan was headed was too much for me to miss. I knew it was nosy, but I didn’t care. I was bored.

When Nick trotted down the stairs and passed the bar, she stopped him before he could go down one more flight.

“Nick?”

He looked to her but didn’t answer.

“Come and have a drink with me. It’s a bit lonely on this boat.” She pouted.

“Sorry…not allowed.” He shook his head.

“Come on. Emmie won’t tell. Will you, Emmie?” She shot me a look then turned her attention back to him.

Nick sighed. “Sorry. Can’t risk it. Emmie’s a blabbermouth.” Then he continued his original path down to the galley and caught my eye with a little smile before he disappeared.

I scrunched my brow in disagreement, but he was gone.

“Whatever,” Abby said. She slammed the rest of her wine, stood then stumbled up to her cabin. I had the feeling rejection was new to Abby. After all, she was a gorgeous college girl. A different man would have jumped at the chance to have a drink and flirt with her.

After I tidied up, I found Nick at our table having a beer. I sat down opposite him and folded my arms.

“I’m not a blabbermouth.” I propped my hands on my hips.

He lifted his eyebrows, not believing my defense.

I shrugged a little. “Okay, I enjoy conversing.”

He tilted his head to the side.

“I’m curious by nature.”

Nick tucked his chin in and raised his eyebrows a bit more. He was really making me work for it.

“Fine. I’m nosy.” I wiggled my shoulders. It wasn’t a big deal to be curious.

“Ding, Ding, Ding.”

“She was a little obvious.” I was at sea, so I might as well go fishing.

He took a swig of his beer and looked away, still so indifferent. I needed a new tactic.

“Not that I can blame her.”

“Excuse me?”

Ah, he’s biting!

“Well, since we’re co-workers and not allowed to touch and all that.” I rolled my eyes. “And to be clear, I’m not hitting on you.” I stared him down. “But you are seriously good-looking.”

I expected his reaction to be conceited or even a brush off. Instead, he tightened his eyes and looked mad.

“I’m more than just a pretty face,” he scolded.

Dang, that wasn’t the reaction I was expecting. Apparently, I’d hit a nerve.

“Quite frankly, I wouldn’t know. This is the first conversation you’ve allowed me to have with you. Good night, Nicholas.” I knew it was childish, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Nick,” he said as I turned to walk to our cabin.

“I know,” I said without turning back.