The Way He Moves. Marcia King-Gamble

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      IN THE EMBARKATION AREA, VIP passengers were being escorted on board. Serena d’Andrea, accompanied by her best friend, Pia Fischer, stepped off the ramp and onto the cruise ship Alexandra’s Dream. Although Serena was no stranger to the good life, she gaped at the opulent lobby with its elaborate chandeliers and winding staircases leading to an upper deck.

      She certainly hadn’t been expecting the interior of the luxury vessel to look like a five-star hotel. Her friend Pia seemed equally awed. She used the pamphlet handed to her by the embarkation staff to fan her face.

      “Oh, my,” Pia gushed, speaking in English instead of their native Spanish. “Oh, my.”

      “Awesome, as the Americans would say.”

      Pia nodded her blonde head. “To die for, awesome.”

      An attractive, brunette crewmember, outfitted in a navy blazer and white slacks, scrutinized their boarding passes before handing them back.

      “Welcome aboard, Dr. Fischer and Ms. d’Andrea,” the woman said, her dazzling smile washing over them. “You are in one of our penthouse suites. Let me introduce you to your attendant, who will escort you to Zeus Deck.”

      “My pleasure, ladies.” A woman dressed in a black taffeta dress and frilly white apron, stepped forward.

      “Gracias,” Serena answered, catching herself and quickly switching to English. She was no longer in Argentina and should stick to the language most commonly spoken.

      Pia seemed to be making the transition to English much more easily. “I am so looking forward to these next fourteen days,” she said. “I plan on catching up on my reading and relaxing every chance I get.”

      “What about dancing?” Serena reminded her. “Isn’t that why we signed up for this charter? We came aboard to perfect our rhythm steps and take instructions from professional dancers.”

      Pia flung an arm around Serena’s shoulders.

      “Of course we’ll dance every chance we get. I’m just glad to be away from patients and their issues. After a while you get burned out.”

      Serena nodded her understanding. She knew exactly what Pia meant. Emotionally she was exhausted and had been for the last six months.

      The two were as opposite as two people could be. Pia, a well respected psychiatrist, was petite and blonde with a chic pixie haircut and a vivacious personality that inspired instant trust. She and Serena, the more reserved of the two, had been best friends since nursery school. Serena was tall, with thick, dark wavy hair and wide violet eyes.

      The doors of an elevator opened and the maid waved them in. The glass elevator whizzed them up several floors before stopping on ten.

      “Zeus Deck,” the attendant announced, pointing to a discreet gilt plaque on the wall when they got off. After a short walk down a plush carpeted hallway, the maid used a card key to open double doors leading into spacious living accommodations.

      As they entered, Serena noted the walls of the suite were painted olive, contrasting nicely with the honey-colored furniture. A chocolate leather love seat and matching chair made for comfortable seating. Outside on a wooden deck were teak lounge chairs and a hot tub that might easily seat eight. A small garden with convincing fake flowers had a fountain guarded by a statue of Aphrodite.

      The maid pointed to an area they hadn’t entered yet.

      “Your bedroom, ladies.”

      The room held twin beds and a gigantic console with a television, VCR and DVD player. A huge picture window let in sunlight and glimpses of blue water, as well as the mansions on the Fort Lauderdale waterfront.

      Pia, as enthusiastic as ever, kicked off her high heels and plopped onto one of the beds.

      “I might just get used to this,” she enthused. “I can’t wait to get out of this clothing. When will our luggage arrive?”

      “Your bags are already here, madam.”

      The attendant threw open the double doors of the closet to show them where their luggage was stashed. “I can get the butler to help you unpack,” she offered.

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