’ave many peoples to hire, and we teach each other bery well, do good work, for bery good price. I clean long time back for big houses, but…” a darkness passed over her face. “Dey were, how you say, big drug people.”
“You mean, like a drug cartel?” Megan wondered again just what this girl had seen pre-cruise life.
“Yees, but bery nice to me. But I no stay. Bery young. So I tell them I go work on a ship, and they say okay. I sign papers. Now, I make not so much money. But I know lots things in cleanings, good ideas. I make myself cleaners, no? Lemon juice, bake soda, vinegar, dees all bery good. No hurt de tile.” She shrugged.
Megan felt a mix of surprise and irony. Rosa obviously had imagined her life, and was not able to live it. Megan could hardly envision her life anymore, but had every chance of achieving it.
Looking at Rosa, Megan smiled, feeling a deep respect and appreciation for her. “Rosa, you are a good lady. Como se dice ‘good lady’?”
She smiled. “Megan McCormick.”
Megan laughed, gave her a quick side hug, and headed back to her room feeling a warmth about the sweet girl. Rosa only needed a boost, something to help her catapult from here to America, and her dream. Megan thought about it as she dressed in her pajamas, lying awake for a half hour before she had something of a plan.
CHAPTER SIX
Sweaty from her early morning run, Megan entered the girl’s cabin surprised to see Jillian still there. She had run longer on purpose, sure her roommates would be at breakfast by now. The last thing she wanted was more ridiculous speculation on her and Bryant, especially when there was nothing there, right?
Besides, she had wanted time to think of more important things. After a few days of ruminating and talking with Rosa, she had just about finalized a plan, for Rosa anyway. The other issue—How to Behave as a Courteous Acquaintance—was still a bit hazy. She’d simply kept her distance from That Person, both of them silently respecting an ignore-each-other truce. Although a few times she had seen him look at her with that intense math problem stare, right before she clearly turned away. And, it was true she’d noticed the outline of his chest muscles beneath the flimsy renaissance white shirt for the pirates’ number. But then, what girl wouldn’t? No, she was safe in her self-promise. No men, no worries.
Jillian was tying her sneakers. “Ah, she returns.”
Megan made a face as she grabbed a hand towel. “Gotta question for you—who would I talk to about helping an employee on the cruise line get another job?”
Jillian stopped mid-tying. “Why, are you quitting?”
“No, no—not me. There’s a Latino girl that works here and I think she could make something better of herself, with the right help.”
Jillian continued tying. “Meddling, are we? The real decision-maker is Mrs. Van De Morelle. She’s the king, queen, and House of Commons.”
“But how do I get to her? She’s like this invisible icon.”
Jillian laughed, then laughed again, hurrying to put on earrings. “This is actually a beautiful thing.” She turned to Megan with a triumphant smile. “She and Bryant are pretty close from what I hear. Very mother and adopted son-ish, at least out at sea.”
Megan frowned. “Just exactly why are you looking at me like that, and saying ‘Bryant’ in that tone?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Megs. I’m your dear old pal and college roommate, remember? I’m the one who bailed you out of the Eric Granger date disaster without you having to say a word. One look at your face, I knew exactly what was going on. It’s the same with B-boy. You’re into him.”
“What—into—are you out of your mind?”
“Skip it, I know you like him. And he obviously digs you, despite the horrible wardrobe. So what’s the hold up?” She aggressively brushed her long blonde hair.
Megan was about to deny it again, but stopped at Jillian’s insistent expression and
“You mean, like a drug cartel?” Megan wondered again just what this girl had seen pre-cruise life.
“Yees, but bery nice to me. But I no stay. Bery young. So I tell them I go work on a ship, and they say okay. I sign papers. Now, I make not so much money. But I know lots things in cleanings, good ideas. I make myself cleaners, no? Lemon juice, bake soda, vinegar, dees all bery good. No hurt de tile.” She shrugged.
Megan felt a mix of surprise and irony. Rosa obviously had imagined her life, and was not able to live it. Megan could hardly envision her life anymore, but had every chance of achieving it.
Looking at Rosa, Megan smiled, feeling a deep respect and appreciation for her. “Rosa, you are a good lady. Como se dice ‘good lady’?”
She smiled. “Megan McCormick.”
Megan laughed, gave her a quick side hug, and headed back to her room feeling a warmth about the sweet girl. Rosa only needed a boost, something to help her catapult from here to America, and her dream. Megan thought about it as she dressed in her pajamas, lying awake for a half hour before she had something of a plan.
CHAPTER SIX
Sweaty from her early morning run, Megan entered the girl’s cabin surprised to see Jillian still there. She had run longer on purpose, sure her roommates would be at breakfast by now. The last thing she wanted was more ridiculous speculation on her and Bryant, especially when there was nothing there, right?
Besides, she had wanted time to think of more important things. After a few days of ruminating and talking with Rosa, she had just about finalized a plan, for Rosa anyway. The other issue—How to Behave as a Courteous Acquaintance—was still a bit hazy. She’d simply kept her distance from That Person, both of them silently respecting an ignore-each-other truce. Although a few times she had seen him look at her with that intense math problem stare, right before she clearly turned away. And, it was true she’d noticed the outline of his chest muscles beneath the flimsy renaissance white shirt for the pirates’ number. But then, what girl wouldn’t? No, she was safe in her self-promise. No men, no worries.
Jillian was tying her sneakers. “Ah, she returns.”
Megan made a face as she grabbed a hand towel. “Gotta question for you—who would I talk to about helping an employee on the cruise line get another job?”
Jillian stopped mid-tying. “Why, are you quitting?”
“No, no—not me. There’s a Latino girl that works here and I think she could make something better of herself, with the right help.”
Jillian continued tying. “Meddling, are we? The real decision-maker is Mrs. Van De Morelle. She’s the king, queen, and House of Commons.”
“But how do I get to her? She’s like this invisible icon.”
Jillian laughed, then laughed again, hurrying to put on earrings. “This is actually a beautiful thing.” She turned to Megan with a triumphant smile. “She and Bryant are pretty close from what I hear. Very mother and adopted son-ish, at least out at sea.”
Megan frowned. “Just exactly why are you looking at me like that, and saying ‘Bryant’ in that tone?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Megs. I’m your dear old pal and college roommate, remember? I’m the one who bailed you out of the Eric Granger date disaster without you having to say a word. One look at your face, I knew exactly what was going on. It’s the same with B-boy. You’re into him.”
“What—into—are you out of your mind?”
“Skip it, I know you like him. And he obviously digs you, despite the horrible wardrobe. So what’s the hold up?” She aggressively brushed her long blonde hair.
Megan was about to deny it again, but stopped at Jillian’s insistent expression and
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