Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 52
by SIPort

From the moment they exited the plane, Eve felt she and the girls were in another world. There was a limo waiting for them at the plane, which took them to the cruise ship. Eve thought she knew what it was like to be on a cruise. After all, she and TC had taken a couple of them over the years.

But, those ships were nothing like this ship.

It was so elegant. As soon as they gave their names, they were ushered right thru, past the lines of people. When the door opened to her room, she turned to the porter and told him,

” I’m sorry. But, there must be a mistake. This room is…”

” The Queen Elizabeth Suite. Your daughters are in the Queen Mary Suite.”

” I see. And you are?”

” Robert, M’am. I’m the butler for the Suites.”

” So, your duties are..”

” To see to your every whim.”

” I see. Well, I guess I’ll be fine. You should go see to some other customers.”

” Doctor Russell, my job is exclusively the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary Suites.”

” That’s it?”

” That’s the sum of things.”

” Oh, Robert, I..”

” Mom! Mom! Did you see these rooms! They are PHAT! Unreal.”, Simone yelled as she ran through the door.

” Mom, it really is something. So, your room is like ours?”, Whitney asked.

” It would appear so.”, Eve replied. “ Girls, this is Robert. He’s our..”

” I’d prefer butler, M’am.”

” Our butler.”

“ Just for us?”, Simone asked.

” He works for the Queen Mary and Elizabeth Suites.”

” Wow.”, Whitney replied.

” Mom, I was looking at the information on the ship, and well, I think we’re underdressed.”, Simone told Eve.

“ I know you might think we’re bucking for clothes, but Simone’s right, Mom. We need to go shopping.”

Eve groaned and looked at Robert. “ I’m assuming there’s a clothing shop on board.”

” Several. All of high quality.”

‘ And high price’, Eve thought to herself. “ Ok, girls, let me get settled in, and we’ll go pick a few outfits out. Don’t get into any trouble. Just go to your room for now.”

” Ok.”, they both replied and left.

” Doctor Russell, I thought that I should inform you. Whatever you wish for is possible on this cruise. You don’t have to worry about the bill for the dresshop or any other expenses. Mr. Crane has taken care of everything.”

” Thank you, Robert. I’ll call if we need anything.”

” Certainly.”

Robert left, and Eve looked around her suite. She had to pinch herself. She was standing in the Queen Elizabeth Suite on the Queen Mary 2. Her suite was two floors. WHO has two floors in a room on a cruise ship? Well, she guessed she did, and the girls. The downstairs living room had furniture that was probably more expensive than hers at home. The entire room reeked luxury. Eve stepped outside, onto her own private balcony. On a cruise ship, and she gets a private balcony? She had to laugh. Going upstairs, the bedroom was just as luxurious.  Bed, wonderful sitting area. The master bathroom had every amenity, including a spa tub and shower. Eve sat on the bed. She knew that Julian had gone overboard, but she knew his heart was in the right place.

If Julian wanted to spoil her and the girls, then who was she to argue with it? There were worse things than letting someone who had more money than God spent some on you. This cruise would be about just relaxing and having fun.

And, what was more fun than shopping with her daughters when there’s an unlimited budget?

Eve left her suite and knocked on the girls’.

” Girls?”

” Mom, isn’t this great?”, Simone asked.

Eve laughed. “ Impressive, isn’t it?”

Eve and the girls found their way to the first shop of the ship. Whitney and Simone dove into the racks, picking out many things.  A woman came up to Eve. “ Doctor Russell, my name is Audrey. I’m the manager of all three of our boutiques. Robert called me and told me you were coming. I just wanted you to know that all our staffs are at your disposal.”

” Go on, Simone.” Eve nodded at Whitney to do the same.

Eve sat down as her daughters modeled their outfits. Even though they had completely different styles, the outfits suited them completely.  After the girls were finished, they came out to Eve.

” So, Mom, which one did you like on me? Which one can I get?”, Simone asked.

“ You and your sister can get whatever you like.”

Whitney made a funny face. “ Mom, um, do you understand what you said?”

” Yes, Whitney. I do. You and Simone can get whatever you like.”

” Whitney, you heard the woman!” Simone gave her outfits to the saleswoman, and went back shopping. Whitney did the same.

By the end of their time in the store, Whitney and Simone had enough outfits to fill a steamer trunk.

” I’m going to have to get you some new luggage.”

“ We can take care of that, Doctor Russell.”, the saleswoman offered.

” I’m sure you can.” Eve signed for the clothes. “ You’ll make sure these get back to my daughters’ suite?”

” Absolutely, M’am.”

Eve looked at the girls. “ Well, you two are taken care of, now let’s get to the next shop for me.”

Whitney and Simone gave each other a high five and left with their mother.

Eve, Whitney and Simone made their way to their assigned table. There were already four people sitting there. The men got up as the women approached, and helped each of them with their seats.

” Well, thank you. It’s nice to know that there are gentlemen in the world.”

” M’am, if we didn’t, my wife would have skinned us alive. How do you do, I’m John Jacks. This is my wife, Lady Jane, and our sons, Jerry and Jax.”

” Jax? His name is Jax Jacks? How , um, interesting.”, Simone replied.

” You never mind her. Sometimes she forgets her manners. I’m Eve Russell, and these are my daughters Whitney and Simone.”

” Hi.”, Whitney and Simone replied.

” Well, I think I’ve seen both you beautiful ladies. On your deck.”, Jax replied.

” You’re on our floor?”, Whitney asked.

” We’re in the Balmoral and Sandringham Duplexes.”

“ Oh, at the other end of the deck.”, Simone said.

” Yes. So, Eve, what are three beautiful women doing traveling by themselves?”, Jerry asked.

Eve blushed. “ Thank you for the compliment, Jerry, is it? My daughters and I, well, we need this vacation for healing purposes.”

Whitney and Simone looked down at their empty plates. Jerry was immediately contrite. “ I’m sorry if I…”

” No. You did nothing to offend. Things are just a little delicate right now, if you will give us that leeway.”

” Of course.”

” So, what are you all doing here?”

” Well, twice a year, I force us all to do family vacations. If I didn’t, I don’t  know if we’d ever be in the same place at one time.”, Jane replied.

” Your accent is?”, Whitney asked.

” Australia. But, Lady Jane and I live in Alaska.”

” Alaska?”, Whitney asked.

” Yes.”

” That’s so different. Is it as beautiful as they say it is?”, Simone asked.

“ Absolutely.”, Jane replied.

” And where do you live Jerry and Jax?”, Eve asked.

” I’m based in London right now.”, Jax offered. “ Jerry’s based out of a suitcase. He’s a nomad.”

” So, you don’t like being in one place for very long, Jerry?”, Eve asked.

” Never had a reason to stay in one place for long, Eve.” The way Jerry looked at her, made Eve blush.

Whitney wanted to rescue her mother. “ So, Mr. Jacks, what do you do?”

” My sons and I own many businesses. I got my big break in Alaskan oil. From there, we’ve bought and sold many companies. Jax here, is our specialist in corporate takeovers.”

” So, you takeover companies and throw hard working people out into the street.”, Simone commented.

” If you say so.”

” You against corporations Simone?”

” I don’t like seeing hardworking people thrown to the wolves.”

” I love a challenge.”, Jax replied, looking at Whitney with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. It was her time to blush.