“Fancy meeting you here,” Mandy said to Derek when she walked into the gym the next morning. Giddiness washed over her.

“Are you following me? I was here first,” he joked.

They talked for a few minutes and then worked out. Mandy wasn’t surprised when they each finished their routines at the same time. She grabbed a water bottle.

He held the glass door open for her and they exited the spa area. “I thought I’d try that thing you do on the walking deck.”

“You want me to beat you at shuffleboard?”

“I was thinking about doing the relaxing thing in the chairs. I’m starting to get the hang of it.” He winked at her.

“Want some company while you relax?” she asked hopefully.

“Only if it’s with you.”

They found a quiet spot on the deck and chatted and laughed together for an hour. He told her more about his job in New York, and she shared different travel experiences and information about her roommates. Their time together passed too quickly, and Mandy hurried to get ready for the day so she could see him at breakfast.

At breakfast Derek looked through the itinerary for the day. After discussing some of their options, Derek said, “Look, Grams, they have a dancing class after lunch. Mandy, have you been to them before? Are they good?” Derek was being proactive in coming to classes with Grams and spending more time with her.

“I’ve attended a few times,” she said, not admitting that it was usually during her time off hours as her previous companions weren’t big dancers. “The instruction covers all levels of dancing and they make it fun.”

“How about it, Grams?” he asked.

“You know I always love dancing with you, Derek,” Grams said. “And afterwards there is another trivia game and Betty wants to join us for that.”

“Sounds great,” Derek said.

They spent the morning swimming and watching an old movie on the jumbo screen overlooking the pool. Mandy wrapped up in a towel in her lounge chair.

“This is one of my favorite movies,” Alice said, sitting between Derek and Mandy.

Somewhere in the middle Derek wandered off. Mandy didn’t wonder where he went for long. He reappeared carrying trays of fries and three soft serve ice creams. He handed them to her and Alice.

“How sweet of you, dear. Thank you,” Alice said, then laughed. “I see that your choice of dessert is refined, as ever.”

“What can I say? It’s good ice cream. You can’t get the good soft serve just anywhere.” He wiggled his eyebrows and settled into his lounge chair and began eating.

“I’m surprised you only brought one for yourself,” Alice said.

“Grams, I couldn’t carry more. It’s bad form to make me admit that I already ate one while I waited for the fries.” He laughed.

“Wait,” Mandy said, leaning forward so she could look at Derek. “Are you telling me you prefer the ice cream on the top deck to desserts in say, a fancy French restaurant?”

“What can I say? I like what I like.”

“And what’s your average per day that you’ve had on the cruise?” Grams asked.

“Four or five—but they’re small.”

Grams turned to Mandy. “One year for his birthday he wanted a soft serve ice cream machine so he could make his own ice cream. We thought if he ate too much all at once maybe he wouldn’t eat it after that.”

“It backfired though,” Derek said.“I just like it more now.”

Mandy laughed as she pictured Derek as a very mature little boy wanting more ice cream. He was full of surprises.

* * *

There weren’t enough guys for everyone to have a partner during their afternoon dance class, so Mandy sat out and watched Derek and Alice dance together. It was a great way for them to bond. Mandy took a few pictures of them and pulled out her sketchbook to capture the moment.

Halfway through the dance lesson Derek came over to her. “Grams wants to know if you want a turn. I told her I’d come ask you.”

“I love dancing with you,” she admitted. “But I took your advice and I’m drawing just for fun.” She showed Derek her drawing of him and Alice dancing. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

“She’ll love it. You’re not left out?” He studied her.

She blushed at his thoughtfulness. “I always love capturing my subjects live. I’ll finish the drawing. Rain check on dancing?”

“I’ll hold you to it.” He winked at her before rejoining Alice on the dance floor.

* * *

Mandy’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Derek at their spot on deck four. She took the seat next to him. The last two days Derek had loosened up. He joined Mandy and Alice at all their meals and almost all of their activities, including the comedy club, the shows, and even a cooking class.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Shh. You’re interrupting my concentrated relaxing.” He made a face and then resumed his stoic pose.

Mandy laughed. “I would never have thought it possible.”

“You should try it. Don’t pull out your work and just enjoy the view. Let the sound of the waves calm you.”

She pushed his arm playfully. “Don’t mock me.”

“I’m not. It’s like I can breathe for the first time this week. It’s…it’s amazing.”

“It sounds like you’ve discovered new oceans,” she said, referring back to her quote from the beginning of the cruise.

He took her hand, holding it and caressing the back of her knuckles with his thumb. “I suppose I have.”

“Do I have your permission to finish the drawing of you and Alice? I want to give it to her tonight at dinner,” she said.

Derek’s eyes took her in. “You’re very thoughtful to Grams. I know she’ll appreciate it.”

“Thanks.” Mandy finished up the drawing and during her two-hour break she bought two matching frames from the photo souvenir shop and framed the two pictures she’d drawn for Alice—one with her and Betty talking and the other with her and Derek dancing.

At dinner Mandy present the wrapped presents to Alice. “I know we still have a couple of days on the cruise but I wanted you to have these now.”

Alice caressed the pictures and held them close. She gave Mandy a watery smile and squeezed her hand. “You are such a dear. Thank you, Mandy.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Mandy saw Derek nodding approvingly.