The Cruise Companion The Holidays

The Cruise Companion The Holidays

Julie finds a holiday companion on the high seas

By Aoife

This is my contribution to the 2024 Winter Holiday Contest.

A/N Recently, something amusing happened. While browsing my favorite cruise line message board, I came across a post titled ‘Seasoned Cruiser Needed.’ Curious, I read through it, and soon my imagination took off.

This new series features a Sapphic theme and introduces a fresh protagonist, Dr. Julie Anders. The is initially posted in the category, and though future chapters may appear in other categories, they will maintain a strong Sapphic focus. If this style or subject matter isn’t to your taste, I completely understand and appreciate you taking the time to stop by.

All characters, names, and events in this line are purely fictional. Any resemblance to real life is purely coincidental and unintentional. The beginning includes a substantial amount of background and buildup before we get into the more intimate moments, and I hope you find the pacing to your liking.

Big thanks to Nicole and Nelly for their editing and suggestions. Any remaining mistakes are my own. My eyes aren’t quite what they used to be.

~~~

I admired the vast white ship moored at the dockside, which forced us to turn our heads from left to right to capture both ends, and crane our necks to see the tips of the masts. One couldn’t help but wonder how that enormous behemoth could float.

The excitement was palpable as we waited, with other passengers, to checkin to board the supersized pleasure palace, which had been built purely for our entertainment. My heart thumped in my chest, knowing that one of those balconies was ours for the duration of our vacation.

I nodded at the other passengers as we made our way through the queue and the checkin process. It truly wasn’t that long before we eventually got checked in and received our Sail and Sign card.

We prepared to board after a not so traditional cruise photo. With tomorrow being Christmas Eve, they insisted the three of us wear Santa Claus hats using a huge banner of the ship as our backdrop.

As we waited patiently for our boarding time to be called, I recalled how my daughter had invited me to join both her and her girlfriend on the Christmas Cruise. Being seasoned cruisers, we wanted to introduce Lynne to our favorite vacation pass time.

Five Weeks Ago

I sat in my office, watching as the last student of the day left. These were my designated “Office Hours,” a time when professors, such as myself, make themselves available for students to drop by for advice, support, or just to vent about the stresses of college life.

After the last student left, I gazed out of my window, lost in thought. My phone buzzed with a text dragging me from my thoughts. A smile crept across my face. It was my daughter, Maddie.

“Hello, darling!” I answered, feeling that familiar warmth whenever she called. I’m so proud of her. She is wrapping up her Master’s and preparing for her Physician Assistant licensure, currently doing an ER rotation at Children’s Hospital.

“Mom?” She interrupted my daydreaming.

“Yes, baby?”

“Mom, I’m almost twentyfive. I know I’ll always be your baby, but can you stick with Maddie, please?”

I chuckled. “Okay, what’s on your mind?”

“For dinner tonight, there’ll be three of us. I’m bringing a friend over to talk about some Christmas plans, if that’s okay?”

“Of course, baby, I mean Maddie. I’ll be home by six. See you then.” I hung up, feeling a flutter of excitement. It was nice to know she was making time for friends and not just focused on school or time with me.

Maddie’s wasn’t a typical upbringing. She grew up with me balancing school and later with both of us helping my parents as they aged. But tonight, for the first time in a while, it felt like she was stepping into her own life, and that made me so happy.

At eighteen, I was just a naive girl from Abington, Pennsylvania, and I found myself becoming a mother far sooner than I had ever imagined. Alan and I hadn’t planned on that outcome, but life doesn’t always wait for plans.

We thought we could make it work. The proverbial two young people mistaking lust for love. We moved in together, certain that our feelings were strong enough to hold us together. For me, there was never a question about keeping the baby. She was conceived from love.

I kept up with my microbiology studies as best I could, but after a couple of months, the reality hit. The challenges of balancing everything overwhelmed me. The worst was when I realized Alan was not who or what I wanted. Nor was I what he wanted.

We split amicably enough, agreeing that I would raise Madison and he would support me. Eventually, I moved back home to my parents, determined to finish my degree.

By nineteen, I was a single mom. Romance fell off my radar entirely, replaced by quiet evenings spent studying or with a good book or simply decompressing after a long day. But that was fine with me. Maddie, my gorgeous baby girl, became my whole world.

Later, during my master’s program in Cell and Molecular Biology, I met Stacie, a woman who changed everything I thought I knew about love. For the first time, I experienced a really deep connection, something I never felt before, in the only two relationships I had with men. I was alive. It filled me with vitality and energy.

Our connection felt powerful and dynamic, electric even. But no matter how exciting that relationship was Maddie was always my priority. Dating and socializing took a backseat to being a mom. I wasn’t going to burden my parents more than I already had, and I was determined to make them proud of me.

Yes, Maddie was always my number one.

But I digress.

After locking up the department for the evening, I got into my car, tuned into the school radio station, playing classical music, and headed home to Abington. By the time I pulled into the driveway, it was dark, and Maddie’s car was already parked there. She still lived with me, which worked out well since she helped care for my parents, who lived just down the street. My dad had confided in me he planned to leave their house to Maddie one day.

As I walked through the door, I heard quiet laughter and another female voice. It caught me off guard, but didn’t surprise me. I called out loudly, announcing my arrival, hung up my coat, and headed for the kitchen.

Maddie greeted me warmly, stepping out from behind the kitchen island. A younger woman stood pensively, drying her hands by the sink. Maddie leaned in and whispered, “Please understand.” Then, she introduced her friend.

“Mom, I’d like you to meet Lynne Foreman. Lynne, this is my mother, Dr. Julie Anders.”

Lynne’s grip was slightly strong, yet somewhat feminine. Her hair was short, in fact very short, her one side was shaved. I marveled at this. I called it a combover but what do I know? I am just an old woman. She was blonde and a bit stocky.

No, she didn’t look like Maddie’s type. The glint in both their eyes revealed the bond between them.

Lynne smiled as she approached. I beat her to it, offering my hand. “Welcome, Lynne. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Dr. Anders,” she replied.

I quickly interrupted, “Please, call me Julie. I get enough of the formalities on campus. I don’t need them at home.”

Lynne relaxed, smiling. “Julie, then.”

Maddie looked at me. “Mom, we started cooking, so why don’t you change and join us when you’re comfortable?”

“Sounds good. Jeans and a sweatshirt kind of night?” I winked at her, noticing her grin. Heading down the hall, I paused. I turned, asking, “Lynne, you’re not driving tonight, are you?”

Both Maddie and Lynne turned bright red, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Good. Maddie, open a bottle of wine, and use the decanter in the china cabinet.” Then I made my way upstairs to change.

I opted for jeans and a sweatshirt, my version of relaxed attire. I ditched my bra, relishing the freedom, even if my professional side usually kept me more buttonedup.

Returning to the kitchen, I found Lynne already plating dinner. It looked and smelled delicious. A simple pasta with fresh vegetables in a light sauce, and a side salad on the table.

“This is quite the welcoming dinner,” I said, genuinely impressed.

“Please, sit, Julie. I’ll bring your plate over,” Lynne insisted with a smile.

Maddie and I sat down, and I poured us each a glass of wine. Lynne joined us with our plates, and Maddie raised her glass.

“A toast to a nice evening. Dinner with my mother and my friend.”

Something in her tone made me curious, but I clinked our glasses and took my first bite. It was a lovely meal, and for the first time in a long time, I found myself laughing over dinner as Lynne and Maddie shared stories about their budding friendship and past dates, and I caught a new glimmer in Maddie’s eyes. There was a warmth and ease I hadn’t seen in a while.

After dinner, I insisted on handling the dishes, but Lynne quickly volunteered. “I’ll just load them into the dishwasher so we can enjoy our evening,” she said. There was no argument from me.

We settled in the living room. Maddie and Lynne shared the couch, while I took my usual spot in the recliner. There was a brief, awkward silence before I broke it.

“So, on the phone, you mentioned a conversation about holiday plans. What’s the idea?”

Maddie glanced at Lynne, and then reached for her hand. “Mom, I’m off from December 19th through January 3rd before my next rotation starts. Lynne has the same time off.”

Lynne spoke up. “I have some useitorloseit vacation time that needs to be taken by year’s end.”

Maddie continued. “We were thinking about taking a cruise together. Lynne has never been on one and …”

I listened, but my heart sank. Her words seemed to blur as the reality hit me: Maddie might be spending Christmas away. I knew this day would come, but I wasn’t ready for it to arrive quite so soon. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I struggled to hold them back.

“Excuse me, I need the bathroom,” I said abruptly, hurrying upstairs as tears spilled down my cheeks. The thought of spending the holiday alone without Maddie shattered me.

I closed the bathroom door, my sanctuary, and let the tears flow freely. A few minutes later, I heard a gentle knock on the door.

“Mom?” Maddie’s voice sounded soft, but with concern.

I stayed silent, trying to stifle my sobs.

“Mom?” she tried again.

“Give me a moment, baby,” I choked out. “I’ll be down soon.”

“Mom,” she whispered through the door. “I don’t think you heard everything I said.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mom, we want you to come with us. We want to spend the holidays together. The three of us, at sea.”

Her words sank in, and I felt a wave of relief and love wash over me. My baby girl wasn’t leaving me behind; she was inviting me along.

“I’m such a fool,” I mumbled as I unlocked the door to wrap my arms around her, hugging her tightly. “I’ll be downstairs in a minute. Let me clean up.”

Maddie smiled and left me to compose myself. A few minutes later, I joined them, and over more wine we agreed that while Maddie and I had been on several cruises in the past, this time we would look for the best trip possible.

We agreed on an adjoining room or if the price was affordable, we would enjoy a larger twobedroom suite. Either way, we would have a wonderful Christmas. I would start the research and let them know what I found.

With that settled, we enjoyed another glass of wine. It was just before ten o’clock when the girls decided they were turning in and would see me in the morning. I smiled and headed upstairs to my bedroom with my laptop in hand, searching.

~~~

I lay down on my bed, propping myself up against the headboard, and began searching for cruise deals. I started with my favorite noncruise line website, which lets me look at a broader range of options before narrowing things down.

After a few minutes of browsing, I found something interesting. Intrigued, I opened another tab and went directly to the RCCL website. I entered my search parameters, and then I squealed; literally, I squealed. A tenday “Southern Caribbean Holidays and More” cruise from Fort Lauderdale. Hmm, the Explorer of the Seas, we’ve had great times on that ship before.

I reached for my phone but then set it back down, opting to doublecheck the RCCL website. Sure enough, it was there, adjoining oceanview balcony cabins. I clicked on the price, and it wasn’t too bad, considering the cruise spanned two holidays and returned on January 2nd.

Excited, I picked up my phone and sent a text. “Sorry to interrupt, but you have to see this! Hurry!”

Hitting send, I watched as the typing bubbles appeared. “K.”

I chuckled but didn’t reply. Soon, I heard footsteps in the hallway and turned to see both of them coming toward my room in their pajamas.

Maddie walked in, with Lynne close behind. “This had better be good, Mom.”

“Oh, it is. Both of you sit down.”

Maddie, being completely at ease, sat down right next to me, peering at my screen. Lynne sat on the bed near my knees.

“Okay, here’s the deal. We can get two adjoining oceanview balcony cabins at a decent rate with my discount,” I said, glancing at Maddie and showing her the screen.

“That price is a good amount over what we budgeted for,” Maddie admitted, then turned to Lynne. “It’s about four hundred dollars more per person.”

I noticed the uncertainty in Lynne’s expression and stepped in before the conversation got tense.

“I’ll cover the extra cost,” I said. “It’s only fair since I’m joining your trip. No worries.”

They exchanged looks, and it was Lynne who responded first. She nodded. “Okay, we can go, but I’ll pay you back,” she whispered to me.

I turned to Maddie. “What do you think?” She hesitated, still on the fence. So, I sweetened the deal.

“Here’s the offer.” I closed my laptop. “I’ll pay, as my Christmas gift to you. Lynne, you’re a chef at the hospital, right?”

“Yes, but…” she began, but I cut her off.

“You can cook for me a few times over the next three weeks whenever you’re visiting, either before or after the trip. And we’ll call it even. Maddie will tell you, I hate cooking.”

Maddie laughed. “Mom, you’re terrible at cooking. You’re only passable with a microwave or boiling water.”

“See, Lynne?” I said, watching her as she glanced between us. Maddie let out a resigned sigh.

“Deal, let’s do it!” Lynne declared.

“Okay, you two, head downstairs to bed. We’ll finalize everything over breakfast. Lynne, I’ll need your passport number to make the reservation tomorrow.”

Maddie leaned in to kiss my cheek, while Lynne stood up, smiling broadly. Maddie released me from a quick hug, grabbed Lynne’s hand, and the two of them headed downstairs. I stayed up for a bit, reading about the ports and possible excursions.

I was reading about excursions, and I saw pictures of the ship’s Schooner Bar. My memory flashed back to the last cruise we took on Explorer.

I was in the Schooner Bar enjoying a glass of wine, listening to the music being played. Maddie was a few tables away, chatting with a group of kids her age. Suddenly, a second glass of Chardonnay appeared in front of me. I curiously looked at the bartender. He smiled and nodded his head toward a stunninglooking woman with red hair. She had the prettiest smile on her face. Her high cheekbones made her beauty even more pronounced.

I picked up the glass and toasted her in a very subtle gesture. Then, being as brave as I could be, I tilted my head to my left, indicating the seat next to me was free, and I offered it to her. She winked and stood, carrying her white wine over. I turned and watched her walk towards me. She glided across the floor, taking one slow step after the other.

I stood, goodness she was beautiful. Her wavy auburn hair flowed over her shoulders, framing her beauty. Her dress accentuated her figure hugging her bosoms and waist. It flared slightly at her hips.

I gasped as she approached her blue eyes as deep as the color of the Caribbean water. She stopped in front of me. I extended my hand to greet her.

“Thank you for the wine. I am Julie.”

“Erica. It is my pleasure.” I saw her looking over her shoulder. “I saw you and your daughter earlier today in the solarium.”

I smiled. “Yes. Madison, she is my world.” I turned to look at her. She lifted her head and smiled at me. Then her attention was drawn back to the two girls on either side of her.

“She is sitting with my daughter and her cousin,” Erica said softly.

“Please have a seat, or would you like to find a more comfortable chair other than a bar stool?”

Erica smiled. “What if we took a stroll outside, maybe up top?”

I smiled wide. “Hmm, yes, the fresh air will be good for me while enjoying some adult conversation.”

“I will tell the girls,” Erica whispered in my ear.

I picked up my clutch. I watched as she whispered to the two girls and then to Maddie. Maddie looked toward me, smiling widely. When she nodded, I mouthed to her that I loved her. Erica turned and walked towards the elevator, exiting the Schooner Bar.

Erica and I made our way from the aft elevators and outside, walking around the miniature golf course and then around the back of the ship. The sky twinkled with the stars. There was a soft glow of the ship’s lights behind us. I turned as I heard the laughter of children behind us and took Erica by the hand, walking her up the stairs one more deck.

I moved to let go of her hand as we started our slow walk around the upper deck, but she held a bit tighter. She broke the silence, commenting how beautiful it was at night in the middle of the ocean.

I turned to face her and stopped against the rail. “This will sound cheeky but not as beautiful as your eyes are.” I paused.

“The percentage of true redheads with blue eyes is so minimal it’s ridiculous.” I lowered my head and then raised it quickly. “Sorry, the microbiology geek in me comes out at the weirdest times.”

Erica moved her free hand to my cheek and smiled. “No more of a geek than me. I am an IT geek who codes for a living. Stuck working around a bunch of men engrossed in making games where women strip for them.”

She curled her nose. We each giggled slightly. She lowered her hand and her wine toasted me. “To two geeks?” We touched glasses and took a sip.

I was nervous, but Erica helped me relax when she asked. “So, I am curious. Was it accidental or purposeful when you were at the “Friends of Dorothy.” gathering yesterday?”

I blushed, feeling my face burn, knowing it was redder than ever. “Madison and I cruise every now and then. It’s my guilt from when I raised her. We didn’t have much until I obtained tenure.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” She grinned. “I was there purposefully.” She whispered.

“As was I.” I leaned forward and lightly slid my lips across hers. My nose touched hers ever so carefully.

I pulled back. “You are more beautiful out here than in there. Maybe it’s the atmosphere and the romantic evening, but you Erica are extremely beautiful.”

Erica pressed her lips to mine, softly kissing me. My lips parted, this was going to happen! I pressed my open lips against hers, running my tongue across her lower lip enjoying the feeling of her mouth opening. Tentatively, I kissed her deeper. Our tongues were careful but confident.

I felt her hand on my waist. “I have a twobedroom suite. Can you come with me?”

“But Maddie …” I felt her lips kissing me. Her free hand on the small of my back pulled me closer. “Erin and Nikki will watch her. I promise.”

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