“It does, but in between the rain it's really fabulous and not dreary at all. I think the city has an unfair reputation for dreariness. Don't you?”
“I've never been there.”
“Well, take it from someone who's spent many pleasant hours walking the city's streets and lakesides. It's really a lovely place.” Mischief touched Meryl's eyes. “More than that, it's fun—Seattle has terrific clubs and there's always something to do. In fact, I like it so much I'm thinking of staying on a while.”
Another passenger stepped through a door behind them, and warm air whooshed out.
“Oh my, that feels good. Would you like to go inside and get something hot to drink? I could certainly use some warming up.”
“I'd like that,” Mattie said, puzzling over why this high-born would want to spend time with her. Following Meryl inside, she expected someone to step up and put an end to the association. They walked into the dining hall, and Mattie took a seat across from her new “friend.”
Meryl sucked the last of the life out of her cigarette, then crushed it out in an ashtray. Drumming red nails on the table, she said, “I'm sure that even at this hour we don't have to get our own drinks. You'd think they'd have—”
Before she could finish the sentence, a waiter appeared. “May I get you something, madame?” he asked with a quick bow. He smiled slightly, which tipped his small mustache sideways.
Mattie stifled a giggle. She felt giddy and had to admit to liking the special attention. Since boarding, she'd felt invisible. Meryl's presence made all the difference, which reminded her she really had no idea who this woman was.
“I'd like a cup of very black, very hot coffee, please,” Meryl said. She looked at Mattie. “How about you? It's my treat.”
“Coffee's fine.”
With a small bob, the waiter hurried away.
Meryl leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “That bed of mine is so hard I'm feeling absolutely stiff. After this I'm ordering a bubble bath.”
“You can do that?”
“Why certainly. All you have to do is ask. Where have you been? On these ships the staff is here to take care of our every need.”
Really? Mattie thought. Not my needs. Maybe I ought to try it though. A bubble bath would feel wonderful. Even as she considered the possibility, she pictured the likely response to a native's request, and her courage wilted.
“I noticed you a few days ago,” Meryl said. “There aren't many young passengers. I've been meaning to introduce myself, but I just never seemed to have time. Bridge and shuffleboard are always demanding my attention.” She chuckled.
Her voice reminded Mattie of the ring of Jessie's fine china. She and Alex had been invited for lunch many times, and when Jessie left the room Alex would tap his plate with his silverware. She smiled at the memory, then said, “I've never played bridge or shuffleboard.” She glanced out the window and admitted, “I've been keeping to myself.”
“For heaven's sake, why? Life is short. Especially these days, we need to live every moment. Never waste precious time, I always say.” Meryl leaned forward. “I'll teach you bridge and shuffleboard.”
The waiter returned with their coffee. Meryl tipped him generously. “Please keep that coming, will you?”
“Certainly, madame,” the man said and left.
Meryl leveled intelligent eyes on Mattie. “So, what is it you're up to?”
“Up to?”
“Why are you on this ship? It's not exactly the best time to be sailing in the Pacific.”
Reminded of the Japanese threat, Mattie's gaze traveled back to the windows and the waves beyond. “I'm moving to Seattle.”
“And what do you plan to do there?”
“I'm not sure. I figured I'd get a job—maybe at the shipyards. I hear they're hiring.”
“Recruiting, I'd say. You can't turn on a radio or read a magazine or newspaper without seeing ads about our ‘duty’ to our country.”
“I don't care about the war effort. I just need a job.”
Meryl leaned her elbows on the table and raised penciled eyebrows. “Is this your first time away from home?”
“Yes,” Mattie said, embarrassed to admit her lack of world experience to this obviously well-traveled, knowledgeable woman.
“Don't let it bother you. You'll get into the swing of things. Actually, I only left home a little over a year ago. I've been wandering about exploring the world. Eventually I'll get married and settle down, but until then I want to see absolutely everything!”
“All by yourself?”
“Oh, yes. I wouldn't have it any other way. Family would only intrude on my plans.”
“Where are you from?”
“San Francisco. My younger brother, who's absolutely annoying, still lives there with my mother and father, who are very unhappy with me at the moment.”
“Why?” Mattie asked.
“They're insistent that everyone live the life that's expected. They had mine mapped out—they'd even chosen just the right man for me.” She dipped a silver spoon into sugar, sifted it into her coffee, and stirred. “Well, I wasn't having any of that. So I set out to make my own way. And I've had a lot of fun.”
“Where have you been traveling?”
She set her spoon down demurely on the saucer. “I'm just returning from Alaska. My family has friends there, in Anchorage. Before that I was in Fiji. What a glorious place, although a bit primitive.” She sipped her coffee. “I've been to Montana, where I stayed on a ranch. In Wyoming I watched a geyser shoot straight up into the air—very exhilarating.” She lifted heavy curls off her shoulder and resettled them.
