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Heck, where had the time gone?
It seemed like only yesterday she was starting college and had her whole life ahead of her. She'd blinked and was twenty-seven, still single, still struggling financially, and her family considered her an old spinster because all of her cousins had been married by the age of twenty-four.
She really needed a drink now.
Exiting the elevator on the top deck, Frankie walked over to the sliding glass doors that led to the outdoors, and as they swished open, she let out a relieved sigh.
She'd feared that, with her luck, the doors would be locked.
The ship was still docked, but most passengers had yet to arrive or were holed up in their cabins because no one was there.
Not ready to give up yet, Frankie headed to what looked like a bar, given the barstools and tables. It wasn't closed, but it didn't seem like anyone was tending it.
Still, she walked until she was at the counter and almost fainted when a robotic metal head popped up and smiled at her. "Good afternoon, mistress. It is my pleasure to serve you. What would you like?"
Her hand resting on her racing heart, she let out a breath. "You scared me. You shouldn't pop up like that and startle people."
She'd seen a robot serving cappuccinos in a coffee shop in Seattle, but there had been a big sign outside warning customers before they got inside that their barista would be a robot.
Also, the robot in the coffee shop looked like it had been modeled after something other than C-3PO fromStar Wars, just with more arms.
The robot frowned, which looked very odd on his metallic face. "My apologies, mistress. I will do better in the future. What can I serve you?"
"A mojito, please."
"With pleasure. Would you like the passion fruit mojito, the mango, or the classic?"
"Classic, please."
"Coming right up."
The robot swiveled on its axis, and its long robotic arms reached for the required ingredients. All four of them.
Watching him prepare the drink with all the flair she would have expected from an experienced bartender was fascinating.
Was it ahim, though?
The voice was male, and the face its creators had givenitwas male, too, but it had four arms, so'they'might be more appropriate.
"Here you go, mistress." One of his four hands placed a napkin on the bar counter while another put the drink on top. "Would you like something to snack on with your drink?"
"Sure. What do you have?"
"We have peanuts, pretzels, and assorted nuts."
"Can I have all three? I'm a little hungry."
"Of course, mistress." He swiveled his robotic torso again, and three of his four arms filled small containers from the dispensers.
"Do you have a name?" Frankie blurted out.
The robot grinned. "I do. It's Bob."
She stifled the giggles that were about to escape her mouth.
Was that a joke?
"Nice to meet you, Bob. I'm Frankie. Can I ask you something?"
