The seagulls called the ship out to sea. The S.S. Majesty answered with three blasts of its horn. It was the ship‘s final call, urging the passengers to board before she packed up.
From the ship’s, Alice searched the crowd for John. “He will not come. I knew it.”
As she was about to give up and leave the cruise, she spotted John getting out of a cab. He paid the cab driver and grabbed his luggage.
She ran down the gangplank and called out to him, “I’m over here.”
He saw her and lugged his suitcases toward the ship.
“Hurry,” she said.
She wrapped her arms around and gave him one of her best kisses. “I didn’t think you’d be able to get away. But you did.”
“There was no way I was about to miss going away with you.”
She laughed, her anxiety slipping away. She glanced at his luggage. “You have everything?”
“I don’t need much.”
“You got your passport?”
“Passport?”
“Yes,” she said.
“I don’t have a passport.”
“You don’t have a passport? Get out of here. You have a passport.”
“I don’t.”
Alice looked at John with amazement. Alice pushed him away from her. “I’m leaving. I thought you were coming with me.”
“I am.”
“But you don’t have a passport.”
“We can go to Canada.”
“You need a passport to get into Canada.”
“Mexico?”
“Got to have a passport.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shook her head. “I’m leaving.”
Alice turned and boarded the ship. On the deck, she watched John slip away into the crowd.
A tall handsome man with the deep blue eyes sidled up to her. “I have a passport.”
She looked up at him. For approximately ten seconds, she was ready to swoon, then she came back to reality and stiffened her back. “You’re not my type.”
“What do you mean I’m not your type? Just what type do you think I am?”
“A man.”