Never Say Never Read Free

young, one a little older. While he watched them, the older one looked straight into his eyes. The bright eyes that stared back at him were a wonderful contrast to all that dark hair blowing in the wind. When their gaze connected, a jolt shook him, causing him to want to get to know her better. He had to know where that jolt came from.
    Quickly, Gareth turned and walked to the office of his apartment on the deck right below the bridge. He picked up the phone and punched in his purser’s cell number.
    â€œYes, Captain. What can I do for you?”
    Gareth didn’t know if he would ever get used to all these electronic gadgets. It still startled him when someone knew who he was before he identified himself.
    â€œDoug, I just noticed two women in line to come aboard.” Gareth wondered if he was crazy to do this. It was a real departure from his usual behavior on a voyage. “They looked as if they might be mother and daughter. The younger one is tall with long dark hair. The older one looks like her, but is petite and her hair is shorter.”
    â€œI see them on the screen,” Doug Baxter answered. “They are going through security right now.”
    â€œFind out who they are and send them an invitation to dine at the captain’s table in the later seating at dinner tonight.” Gareth hung up before he had a chance to hear Doug’s affirmative answer—or the questions he knew his friend would ask.
    â§
    After Charlotte and Chelle moved into the ship, a crew-member directed them to the elevators. “Go up to deck five. You can get information on what’s happening today, and they will tell you how soon you may go to your staterooms.”
    When they stepped off the elevator, another cruise employee pointed them toward the side of what looked like a balcony around the center of the ship. Charlotte moved to the railing and looked up at similar balconies on four more decks. A man who introduced himself as the purser gave out folders of information as he explained what would happen on board. Then they were urged to go to their staterooms. A member of the crew showed them on their map just how to get to their cabin.
    Charlotte had saved money on the cruise by booking rooms on one of the lower decks. She and Chelle were directed down a hall toward a different elevator. When the elevator reached deck three, they got off in a sort of lobby.
    â€œMom, look at these mirrors.” Chelle pointed to several slabs of the shiny glass on the wall near the elevators and beside the open stairway. The mirrored tiles were attached in a pattern.
    Charlotte studied them a minute before she realized what they were. “It’s a world map. Each of the mirrors is one of the continents.”
    Chelle stopped and cocked her head to look at them again. “You’re right, Mom. That’s pretty cool.”
    They read the signs on the corridors that ran down each side of the ship to find which would lead to their cabin. Soon they reached their door, and both of them tried their key cards to make sure they worked. Chelle took a couple of times to get the hang of how to do it just right.
    Charlotte was glad to see all their luggage had reached their room. First, she and Chelle checked out their cabin. To the right of the door, a nice-sized closet would hold their hanging clothes and keep their luggage out of the way.
    â€œMom, look at this tiny bathroom.” Chelle had opened the door opposite the closet.
    Charlotte glanced in. “It’s not so small. We probably could both be in here at the same time, if we need to be.”
    â€œYeah, especially if one of us is in the shower.” Chelle pulled the curtain across the opening. “I like the way it curves. And look at the showerhead. It’s on a wand.”
    â€œGood. In most places, the shower nozzle is too high for me. I can take that one down and use it as a hand shower.” Charlotte stepped back into the cabin.
    Chelle