Love and Fire

Love
and Fire

Pink
. 
Tammy Smith stared at the mannequins and frowned.  The afternoon sun caused a
glare against the glass, but nothing would take away the nauseating sight of
the pink display.  M. Norton’s was her favorite department store, but today she
would forgo a visit.  Pink was once a favorite color for her, but since Gleason
decided to run away from home and go live with his girlfriend who almost
always
wore pink, she decided black was a better look for her.  Besides it was
slimming.

Valentine’s
Day was just around the corner, and every store had pink, red, and white
displays demonstrating how a man could show his love.  Candy and teddy bears
wouldn’t cut it this year for Tammy. 

Thirty
years!
She thought ruefully for the thousandth time.  She
had never considered in the fifteen years that he had been a professor that he
would run off with a student!  The man was fifty for crying out loud!  A boring
Literature professor!  What on earth would a graduate student, on the brink of
starting real life, half his age, have in common with him? 
Sex
.  Her
mind answered. 

Tammy
sighed and continued down the sidewalk.  He had been gone for five months, and
it didn’t look like he was coming back.  He and his concubine had set up house
in a tiny apartment.  Oh the tongues had been wagging!  Mostly in sympathy for
her, but juicy gossip is never far from the lips of small town residents. 

Gleason
Smith had shacked up with a kid, leaving his wife and tidy 2,000 square foot
home behind.  Tammy had prided herself on how well kept the house was.  She
even took care of the massive front and back yard.  It was the least she could
do, or so she had always told herself, since he worked so hard, and she was
afforded the luxury of not working.  She hadn’t worked in five years.  Now what
was she supposed to do?  Their mutual friends had been attentive for the first
month, but once the second month of his absence began, their visits and phone
calls waned.  Tammy knew that the married woman looked at her situation like an
enigma.  Perhaps they thought it was contagious, forcing a quarantine on her. 

Tammy
squared her shoulders and marched with purpose.  Who needed them?  Certainly
not her!  She was going to find a job first, and figure out the rest later!

Later
found Tammy under blankets with wadded tissues all around her.  No one was
hiring?  She didn’t want to be picky, but flipping burgers was not going to be
a forte at her age.  Forty eight was practically shaking hands with the dreaded
fifty!

Tammy
let out a shuddered sigh as her cell phone began vibrating next to her.  She
pick it up and looked at the photo ID announcing the caller. 
Demetria. 
Tammy’s
daughter Demetria was twenty seven and owned a highly successful travel
agency.  She didn’t understand heartache; she didn’t understand laying in the
bed under blankets feeling like the world was over.  Demetria had been blessed
with easy teen age years.  She had met her husband during her senior year of
high school, and they had been together ever since. 

Tammy
sighed again and answered the call.  Ignoring her wouldn’t do any good. 
Demetria would just wait thirty minutes and call again. 

“Hello?”

“Mom? 
What are you doing?”

Fabrication
also wasn’t an option.  Demetria could see through her every time. 

“I’m
lying in bed.”

Tammy
could practically see her rolling her eyes.  “For goodness sake, Mom, it’s only
seven o’clock!”

“I’m
just not having a good day today.” 

“Look,
I know this has been hard, but you need to snap out of it.” 

Tammy
tried to keep the edge from her voice.  “That’s a little easier said than
done.  We’ve been over this.”  

“Did
you go job hunting?”

“Yes,
no one is hiring.” 

Demetria
sighed.  “Is Dad still sending the check every week?”

“Every
Friday, right on time.”

“You
know that money won’t last.  Especially if he knocks her up.”

“Do
you have to speak so crudely?” 

“Sorry,
but it’s true.  I find it disgusting, but it is possible.”  She paused before
continuing.  “What about your art?  You could teach classes.” 

Tammy
hadn’t touched a paint brush, or so much as picked up a drawing pencil since
Gleason left.  It seemed farfetched.  “I don’t know.” 

“Orange
doesn’t offer anything like that.” 

Tammy
looked across her bedroom to the double closet.  One side of the accordion
doors still held a few boxes of Gleason’s things.  She had dutifully stacked
them neatly in case…there wouldn’t be an “in case”.  He wasn’t coming back. 
“I’ll think about it.” 

“Good. 
I’m going to give you an opportunity to think, or not think, it’s entirely up
to you.” 

“What
are you talking about?” 

“I’m
sending you on a cruise!” 

Tammy
laughed out loud.  Demetria was not one to play practical jokes, but there had
to be a first time for everything.  “A
cruise
?  You’ve lost your mind!” 

“No,
I haven’t.  You need to get out of that little town with its memories and nosey
people.  Fresh air will do you good. 
Plus
, it’s a singles cruise.  Go
have a fling and I guarantee you’ll feel better.” 

“What
exactly do you know about a fling, Demetria?  You’ve been married to Ryan since
you were nineteen!  He was your only serious boyfriend!” 

The
impatience bled through the phone like water.  “I’m not ignorant, Mom!  I’ve
booked tons of singles cruises for many people in varying situations, and
believe you me, the more sordid the situation, the more they want to talk!” 

Tammy
glanced at the closet again.  “I don’t think so.” 

“Too
late.  I’ve already booked it.  You wouldn’t want your daughter to be out fifteen
hundred dollars would you?” 

“No,
but…”

“Of
course you wouldn’t.  Melissa will take care of new makeup for you, and help
with a wardrobe.  So get ready to go shopping, Mom.  You fly into Miami on
February 9
^th
and you leave port on the 10
^th
.” 

“That’s
four days from now!” 

“Yes,
so I suggest you get ready.  You won’t be back to Miami until the morning of
the seventeenth.” 

Tammy
stared wide eyed at her phone.  Her daughter had dropped a bomb shell, and
hadn’t bothered to even say goodbye. 

“Now,
Mom, please try to have a good time!”  Demetria hugged Tammy a third time. 
Tammy marveled at how much her daughter actually looked like her.  Auburn hair,
hazel eyes, and a tall lean frame.  The only thing she inherited from Gleason
was a slightly more rounded shape to her eyes, and straight hair as opposed to
wavy.  Melissa on the other hand was the spitting image of her father.  “Your
troubles will be here waiting for you when you return.  No need screwing up a
perfectly good chance for some romance.” 

Tammy
rolled her eyes and picked up her carry on.  When she had pulled it from the back
of the hallway closet it occurred to her that she hadn’t used it, or any of the
luggage for that matter, since Gleason had taken her on a surprise trip to the
Catskills for their twentieth anniversary.  That was back when they were still
in love.  “I’m not going to find romance.  Romance doesn’t happen to someone my
age.  I just want sunshine and some good shopping.” 

“Oh
that reminds me, I put a little surprise in your purse!”  Demetria winked and
began backing away.  “I love you. Mom!  Don’t call!  Just have a good time!” 

Tammy
waved and blew her a kiss.  With a sigh, she turned to the line for the
security check.  Butterflies were already in her stomach.  A small smile played
on her lips. 
Maybe I should have a little fun and romance!  Either way, I’m
going on an adventure! 

Demetria
was a very good travel agent.  Tammy’s hotel for the one night stay in Miami
was less than a block from the port of departure.  Tammy was too keyed up to sleep
and began checking her luggage and purse to make sure she didn’t need to
purchase any last minute items.  She found the small green envelope near the
bottom of her purse and remembered Demetria’s parting words about a present. 
Tammy situated herself in the middle of the bed, folding her legs in her
favorite Indian style position.  The envelope was barely sealed and felt a
little hard.  Inside was a pre-paid American Express card and two words
scrawled in Demetria’s familiar hand; Mad Money. 

Tammy
was shocked when she called the eight hundred number and found that there was a
thousand dollars loaded on the card.  Tammy smiled at her daughter’s
generosity.  When she and Melissa had come to help Tammy pack she had asked if
she had any shopping money.  Tammy had shrugged and said she really could only
afford to bring four hundred from the savings, and in reality couldn’t afford
that since she had needed to shop for clothes for the trip.  Demetria’s
expressionless face had stared at her for a moment before she continued on with
the conversation.  Dear sweet Demetria had spent a fortune to try and mend her
mother’s broken heart.  Tammy smiled and sent up a prayer of thanks for her
daughter. 

The
taxi deposited Tammy near her check in point to board the ship.  The ship was
far larger than she had originally imagined.  The sparkling white cruise ship
had at least twelve decks and the line of people to board was already
extensive.  Tammy had thought the 11 am boarding time was a bit late, and she
purposefully checked out of her hotel room at ten so she could be one of the
first in line.  Apparently many passengers had the same idea. 

By
the time she showed her ID and had her name crossed off the list, she was
nauseous from listening to the chirpings of the three young women ahead of
her.  All three were in their early to mid-twenties and had the combined IQ of
a dimwit.  Tammy had never heard such nonsensical and vulgar talk from young
women in all her life.  It didn’t help that one of them resembled Gleason’s
concubine.

Trying
to put all thoughts of a negative nature aside, Tammy entered the magical world
of the cruise ship.  To her eyes just the first deck looked like an immaculate
little city.  A dual curved staircase, wide enough for at least five people to
walk side by side, extended upward to the next level.  Plush carpet was under
her feet, a deep gold with reddish hues.  The level she was on had an endless
array of shops, kiosks, and people.  It was nearly over whelming.  A large man
in a typical white cruise ship uniform greeted her wandering eyes with a
smile. 

“Welcome
to the Singles Party Cruise!” He handed her a piece of paper; the itinerary for
the cruise.  “Do you need assistance finding your cabin?” 

Tammy
tried to not wince visibly at the name.  “Yes, please.”  She handed him her
ticket. 

“Oh,
very nice!  You picked a good level!”

Tammy
blushed slightly.  “Actually this trip is a gift from my daughter.” 

“Well,
she
did a good job then.”  He turned and gestured up the left side of
the staircase.  “You can take the elevator or use the staircase.”  He glanced
at her bulging suitcase on wheels, and at her carry on and purse hanging from
her shoulder.  “I would suggest the elevator.  You are on level C.  Your view
is guaranteed to take your breath away!” he winked at her.  To some this
oversized man would seem pretentious, but Tammy welcomed his jovial manner. 
“Once you come off of the elevator, use the one across from us here, take a
left and follow the hallway to your room.  No need to turn left or right.” 

“Thank
you.”  Tammy said taking her ticket from him.  She stepped away and headed for
the elevator.  A couple of young men were waiting with her.  She turned her
head and saw the man greet a couple of awe struck women that couldn’t have been
more than thirty.  She hoped at least some of the passengers were her age.  The
pickings would be slim for “
romance
” if all of the men were twenty years
her junior.  She remembered the movie
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
and
almost laughed out loud. 

True
to his word, Tammy had no problem finding her cabin.  She swiped her “do it all
card”.  The card gave her access to her room, food, drinks, whatever she
needed.  She wasn’t sure how it all worked, but Demetria had assured her that
she would receive a notification on her phone if she was reaching her limit. 
Plus she had her “mad money” card that Demetria had gifted her. 

When
the door swung open, Tammy stepped inside her room.  She dropped her bags and
stared open mouthed.  The room was far bigger than she expected.  A full size
bed was centered on the right wall, and a couch centered on the wall opposite,
flanked by two end tables and lamps.  She closed the door and walked further
into the room.  A desk and chest of drawers occupied the half wall that
connected to the right.  A full bathroom was to the left of the door.  Large
mirrors beside the bathroom slid open to reveal a decent sized closet.  The
best part was the view.  Sliding glass doors opened onto into her own small
balcony.  She would have access to the view without ever having to leave her
room.