“Well, Ann, what are we going to do with the rest of this one?” I ask while the elevator announces each passing floor.
“Like I said back in the room, Chester,” Ann replies. “I think we need to start with some lunch.” Her steel-grey eyes count each passing floor by the blinking lights above the elevator’s door. “After that, I really can’t say. We slept way later than we expected, so there’s no way I want to be on the pool deck right now.”
I pat her on the back one time before saying: “Now, I think you’re right about that. I can’t see that being comfortable right now.” I notice a cruise schedule on the back wall for the first time. My sandals click on the tile floor as I turn to face it.
“What do you see, my love?” Ann says over her shoulder and shuffles toward the door. “We’ve only got about five more floors.”
My cellphone is in my hand; I say to Ann, “Oh, I just found a schedule for all the events onboard the ship today. Maybe we can find something interesting while we eat?” I show her the picture on my phone.
“Yeah, let ‘s have a look, but we must find somewhere to eat first. I cannot believe we slept past breakfast this morning. I’m starving.”
Before I can answer, the elevator announces our arrival at the Kingston Atrium. The reflective metal doors slide into the black walls of the elevator. Ann and I take a step back from the sun-washed deck.
My eyes adjust first to the laminate hardwood floors. The brownish-gray stain reminds me of my uncle’s deck. That thing sat out back of his house for fifty years without the hint of a repair. Though, this cruise ship deck is much nicer. In fact, everything on this boat is nicer than anything in Ann and I’s experience. I am beyond grateful that she won this cruise from her employer.
Then, I spot the concierge desk on the far side. Naturally stained wood benches around Palm Tree planters dot the floor between me and the desk. “Hey,” I say, grabbing Ann’s arm. “Look: maybe we could ask the stuff what they would recommend on the event list?”
Ann shakes her head with a point toward the Avenue of Restaurants. “Nope. We have to get lunch before I can do anything else, Chester.” Ann says with a march across the deck. “Besides, you have the list, and we have all day. Whatever we do now is up to us. This is our honeymoon, so we can do whatever we want, when we want. Right now, I want lunch.”
“Gotcha, find a lunch spot.” I say, before a couple of quicker steps to catch up to her. “That’s a great plan. What did you have in mind?”
She cuts her eyes in my direction. “I don’t even know what they have, Chester,” she says. “We’ll find something though.”
At last, the Avenue of Restaurants stretches out of sight down the deck. Every imaginable option lines both sides of a walkway. Ann passes the first options without hesitation. I guess they do look a little formal, but they have folks waiting outside. Still, after all the formality of our wedding, I can’t imagine that Ann has any interest in these.
I holler at Ann about the next few, after I recognize a flag for a port of call. She waves away my questions and says, “These are all for places we’re going to visit, so let’s wait until we get there.” I can see her point, but the food looks amazing. Ann gets farther away from me while I stop to look.
The theme of places changes again to more exotic options. I’d be willing to try some of these based on the dishes I see, but I can imagine that they are too adventurous right now. Ann must be on the hunt for something more familiar. Besides, I’d probably embarrass myself trying to order something.
As I laugh at that thought, Ann throws her hands over her head. “I don’t know, Chester.” Ann says as she spins on her heels. “There’s too many choices. Plus, I’ve never heard of half of these things. But, it all looks so good.”
After I catch up to her, I give Ann a hug. “That’s okay, dear,” I say while scratching my head. “It’s like you said: We have all week to try things.” I start to ask about what she’s in the mood for. After all, I have to think that we can find whatever we can imagine. The idea that Ann wants something familiar sticks with me though.
So, I scan the immediate options first and see a breakfast place. I say, “There,” as my finger reflexes into a point like a well-trained retriever.
Ann exclaims, “You’re a genius! We may have slept past our breakfast time, but we are still at the start of our day, so why not start with breakfast?”
“Yeah, why not,” I reassure her. “Like you said: Whatever we do is on us now, so we can eat breakfast at noon if we want to.”
“Now, you’re getting it.” A smirk accompanies her words. “And, the place looks like that diner in our hometown. You know that one that always closes before we get off work? Either one of my hospice patients takes a turn, or you get put on a cabinet project that’s overdue.”
I grab her hand with a nod. “It looks like a wonderful option, Ann, so let’s give it a shot. It’ll be our first decision on our terms.”
“I like it,” she says. “Let’s go see what they’ve got.”
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