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KIERNAN
DECEMBER 23
Jana had enlisted my help in getting the final Christmas decorations set up, including hauling out the massive tree that was stored in the underbelly of the ship.
I was surprised that the tree hadn’t been set up when we first boarded, but Jana told me that Rowan and Andrew saved it for the week of. They gave each guest and crew member a custom ornament to hang on the tree and everyone had a hand in decorating it.
I loved the idea, as I did being a part of their group.
There was holiday music playing in the lounge. Lights were strung up on every surface.
The ship had never looked more festive.
But I didn’t fully appreciate it. Because every day closer to Christmas meant I’d only have a week left with Charlie.
Grabbing the glittery star, I stepped up on the ladder and placed it at the top of the seven-foot tree. With the lights and ribbons and once the ornaments were on, it would be a showstopper. There were piles of presents stacked up and ready to be laid at the base of the tree.
Except the gift I’d bought for Charlie. That was hidden in our cabin.
We’d gone back to Providenciales yesterday, so guests could go shopping. I’d picked up a few items for my mum and Korry, as well as my gift for Charlie.
A dream catcher made of blue sea glass and tied with sailing rope.
Charlie’s sleep had improved but there were still nights when he was restless. I knew the gift wasn’t going to alleviate insomnia, but I figured he’d appreciate the thought behind it, the glass reminding me of the color of his eyes and the ocean he loved. And he could take it with him when he traveled. The fact was, I wanted to leave a little part of me with him.
I wished I didn’t have to leave at all.
Shaking off my mood, I got the star firmly in place. Then I stepped down and placed all the gifts under the tree.
I still couldn’t believe I was getting paid for this gig. I’d taken to working with the deck crew every day to alleviate my guilt about not being much use in my protective capacity. And now I could add ‘yachtie’ and ‘decorator’ to my resume.
The only thing I had left to put up was the mistletoe. I went through the boxes of decorations that were left, but I didn’t see it anywhere.
“Christmas crisis, Jana. I can’t locate the mistletoe.”
“No way! It has to be in there somewhere.”
Jana finished up her preparations at the bar and helped me search through the remaining boxes.
No mistletoe.
“There’s another two boxes downstairs with New Year’s and Valentine’s day stuff. Maybe it ended up in there?”
“I’ll go look.”
After an hour of sorting more boxes, still no luck. I headed back upstairs to deliver the bad news.
“I’d call into my provisions contact in BVI but they’re closed until December 27. What are we going to do?” Jana sighed.
“Is there a crisis I need to handle?” Andrew asked as he stepped into the room. “Wow, this place looks amazing!”
“It does, thanks to Kiernan, but we’re missing something important. We can’t find the mistletoe,” Jana explained. “We’ve looked in all the décor boxes. And with our provisions contact on vacation, I can’t get hold of any.”
“Ah, well, I may be able to help you with that,” Andrew replied with a rueful smile. “Give me a moment.”
He made for the stairs.
I looked at Jana and she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, as bemused as I was.
