Jake leaned back in his chair. “That’s the fun part.”
“You have a bizarre idea of fun.”
This was better than a room filled with first graders, Jake thought. He got to test out ideas on the ladies. Tomorrow he was going to see what they thought of his dancing Brussels sprouts.
Mrs. Fitz poked the egglike thing with her finger. “Is this a bedroom toy? Is this for those people who spray themselves with whipped cream?”
Mrs. Dugan looked up horrified. “Land sakes, Lena. You’re such a pervert. Where do you get these ideas?”
“Well, it don’t seem right for breakfast,” Mrs. Fitz complained. “At seven o’clock in the morning I don’t have the energy to chase my food around.”
Miss Gaspich glanced at her watch. “It’s not seven o’clock. It’s nine-thirty. It’s Saturday.”
“It don’t matter. It’s still too early.”
Mrs. Dugan looked disdainfully at Mrs. Fitz. “If you got to bed at a reasonable time, you’d be able to get up in the morning. I think it’s disgraceful, a woman your age staying out to all hours with that man.”
Mrs. Fitz narrowed her eyes at Mrs. Dugan. “What do you mean a woman my age? I’m not so old. Besides, I’m getting younger now that I have a beau. Haven’t had this much fun in twenty years.”
Miss Gaspich looked happily pensive as she stirred her tea. “I think I’m in love,” she said.
Mrs. Fitz shook her head. “It’s the quiet ones that fool you. Three dates, and she’s goony-eyed.”
“Isn’t this something,” Miss Gaspich said. “Just like the Love Boat where everyone falls in love. Lena and Harry, me and Bill, Berry and Jake-”
“Berry and Jake are not in love,” Berry said.
Jake raised his eyebrows.
Mrs. Fitz looked disgusted. “Of course you’re in love. Any ninny could see you’re in love.”
Berry narrowed her eyes and busied herself with her green egg. She held it firmly in her hand and tried to stab it with her fork. “I’m not in love, and Jake certainly isn’t in love,” she said.
Jake looked at her with amused curiosity. “How do you know I’m not in love?”
“It takes a long time to fall in love. We hardly know each other.”
Mrs. Dugan sniffled and stared at her fingernails.
“Oh, dear,” Miss Gaspich said, “I think one of us missed the Love Boat.”
Mrs. Fitz put her arm around Mrs. Dugan’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, Sarah, Jake’ll find a man for you.”
Mrs. Dugan stiffened her spine. “I don’t need Jake to find me a man. If I wanted a man I’d find one myself. It doesn’t bother me that I’m the only one here without a boyfriend. Doesn’t bother me at all. I found a man the first time around and I can find one now… if I want.”
“Sarah was married to a wonderful man,” Mrs. Fitz said. “And she has a son and two grandchildren.”
“You’re a big blabbermouth,” Mrs. Dugan said to Mrs. Fitz.
“That’s amazing!” Berry said. “I had no idea.”
“She don’t talk about it much because her husband was so sick for so long, and it was hard on the family.”
“It was only hard in a financial way,” Mrs. Dugan said. “It was hard to make ends meet, but we always managed to find a way.”
“What is your son doing now?” Berry asked. “Does he live in Seattle?”
“He’s in South Carolina.”
“He took up with a floozy,” Mrs. Fitz said.
“And I won’t set foot in that floozy’s house,” Mrs. Dugan said. “My son’s first wife took a job in Florida after the divorce. She’s a nurse at a hospital there. I get nice cards from my granddaughters, but I don’t get to see them much being that they’re so far away. Sometimes I get invitations, but I know everyone is scraping by, and I don’t want to be a burden.”
“One of Sarah’s granddaughters is enrolled in the University of Miami,” Mrs. Fitz said. “She’s going into medicine like her mama.”
“I’m real proud of her,” Mrs. Dugan said.
Jake folded his hands behind his head and tipped back in his chair, looking totally pleased with himself. In fact, Berry thought, he looked downright triumphant.
Everyone jumped when the doorbell rang.
“My word,” Mrs. Fitz said, “that’s the first time someone’s come to the door since we moved in here.”
Jake smiled and stood. “Probably just the paper boy collecting.”
The four women watched while Jake opened the front door wide to reveal a young man from a courier service. Jake took an envelope from the messenger and waved it at Mrs. Dugan. “It’s for you.”
Mrs. Dugan covered her mouth with her hand. “Someone’s died.”
Jake placed the envelope on the table. “I don’t think so. The return address is from a travel agency.”
Mrs. Dugan still looked worried when she opened it. She scanned the letter, and her eyes opened wide. “I don’t understand this. This must be one of those advertising gimmicks.”
Mrs. Fitz snatched the letter from Mrs. Dugan. “Lord, we’re all sitting here dying of curiosity.” Her lips moved while she read. “Sarah, you’ve won a trip on a cruise ship!”
Berry pressed her lips together and scowled at Jake. “Cruise ship?”
Jake smiled innocently. “Looks like the Love Boat’s going to sail for Mrs. Dugan, after all.”
Mrs. Fitz continued reading. “It says here this travel agency is running a senior citizens’ singles cruise, and your name was drawn to get a free ticket. All expenses paid. This is real, Sarah. I know about these cruises. They’re wonderful. Dottie Silverstein went on one last year.”
Mrs. Dugan fidgeted with her teacup. “I don’t know. I’ll have to think about this. A singles cruise. Goodness.”
“You better make up your mind fast. This boat sails tomorrow,” Mrs. Fitz told her.
Mrs. Dugan looked at the color brochure that accompanied the letter. “The boat does look pretty. I’ve never been on a big boat before.”
Mrs. Fitz slapped her leg. “Ain’t this something? You live long enough and you get to do just about everything.”
Mrs. Dugan stood at her seat. “I’ll do it!” She placed her hand over her heart. “I have to tell you, I’m scared to death.”
Berry looked at the brochure and mentally reviewed Mrs. Dugan’s wardrobe. She would need evening clothes, a bathing suit, a couple of casual outfits-none of which was hanging in her closet. The women had been getting by with a bare minimum for years. Their clothes consisted of a few practical dresses and well-worn sweaters.
“I’m going to get another cup of coffee,” Berry mumbled.
She took her cup into the kitchen and quietly emptied the sugar bowl she’d been using as a piggy bank. She’d been saving money for a Jeep, but this was an important emergency. She suspected Jake was behind this free ticket and that his motives weren’t entirely honorable, but it didn’t matter right now. Mrs. Dugan had an opportunity to do something special. Berry counted the money lying on the counter. Almost three hundred dollars. It wasn’t a huge amount, but Mrs. Dugan would be able to buy a few pretty things with it.
Berry handed the money over to Mrs. Dugan. “I hereby bestow upon you a paltry sum of money for the purpose of decking yourself out in grand style for this romantic cruise.” Berry turned to Mrs. Fitz and Miss Gaspich. “Ladies, you’re excused from pizza making for the day. I expect you to chaperone Mrs. Dugan on her rounds of the stores. Don’t let her pick up any cute young salesmen. She has to save herself for this cruise.”
Mrs. Dugan blushed and smiled. “Well, I might pick up one or two just for practice.”
Berry felt the laughter bubbling in her throat. Was this stuffy Mrs. Dugan talking?
Mrs. Dugan hugged Berry. “I know this is Jeep money, and I promise I’ll pay it all back. I’ll work twice as hard when I come back.”
The tears were hot behind Berry’s eyes. Mrs. Dugan was suddenly so much younger and happier. It was as if she was a sponge-all dry and shriveled one minute, and then suddenly swelling into radiant plumpness with the promise of a romantic adventure. Why hadn’t she seen this? Why hadn’t she realized Mrs. Dugan simply needed to have some fun? The answer took her breath away. She’d been so busy depriving herself of fun that she’d accepted Mrs. Dugan’s stern stoicism as natural.