The Love Boat

Synopsis

After divorcing her cheating husband, Becky Benson decides to take a two-week cruise to get her mind off her trouble.  But when she boards her cruise, she is disillusioned by all the couples on board who are in love.  That is, until she meets a gentleman who is looking for love who shares the same things as her.  Has Becky finally met her true love? Or has her ill-fated marriage disillusioned her view on love?

Chapter 1

Becky was glad to be divorced from her cheating husband.  She couldn’t believe Tim was one to betray her?  For two years they seemed like a happy couple.  The sex was…well, it wasn’t great…but it wasn’t exactly non-existent.  Which was why the affair was such a shock to her.  Her friends husbands who cheated all claimed the sex was non-existent, but with Tim, it wasn’t. 

But when Becky confronted Tim after learning from Mimi, her co-worker, that they were seeing each other; Tim couldn’t deny their fling.  Now, after a amicable divorce, that produced no children, Tim and Mimi were now happily married and pregnant with their first child.  Becky had to admit to herself, that the news of Tim having a child with Mimi, hit her hard—that should’ve been her!  But it wasn’t!

When Becky was at her lowest, her best friend, Laurie, suggested she move on by going on a cruise.  And after some reluctance from Becky, she finally gave in and allowed Laurie book her a cruise.  Becky asked Laurie to go with her as she did not want to go alone, but Laurie admitted she was too busy with her husband, Jim, and the twins, Lane and Ryder. 

So Becky would embark on this journey alone.  For the first time in her life—it was just her.  No parents or a man.  Becky was married straight out of high school, going from living with her parents to living with her new husband.  It was strange being on her own with no one to look out for?  Although it should have gave Becky some relief, Becky wasn’t relieved.

Becky hoped the cruise would give her that!

Chapter 2

Becky woke up and made herself a quick breakfast of coffee and toast before grabbing her luggage to put it in her Jeep Wrangler.  After calling family and friends to let them know she was taking off on her cruise, and they all wished her well, Becky hopped into her Jeep and drove off for the Sky Harbor Airlines in Phoenix that would take her to Miami to board the boat for her cruise.

After a long 2-hour flight from Phoenix to Miami, Becky’s finally boarded the boat, where the cruise director, Lanie Thomas, directed her to her room on the Promenade Deck.  As she was checking into her room, she didn’t notice the guy watching her.

A few minutes later, the ship’s captain, Terrell Gibbons, came by to give her a copy of the ship’s activities and programs.  Becky thanked the captain for his assistance and he left.  Becky was beginning to feel lonely being alone on this huge ship.

After sitting alone in her room for a few hours, Becky decided it was time to be brave and go out on her own.  She took a look at the program that Capt. Gibbons had gave her and decided upon a dinner and a show.

While having dinner, Becky couldn’t help but notice all the happy couples on board and began to feel sad.  She wondered if she should just leave and head back to her room, when a tall, dark and good-looking guy asked to sit at her table.

Chapter 3

Becky gave the man her okay to sit at her table and the two enjoyed the show.  The first was a comedian and then the ship’s dancing team came out to do a dance.

The dinner, a steak and lobster fest, was the best she had ever had, considering her ex-husband was a master chef, and his specialty was steak and lobster.  During dinner, the man introduced himself as Derek Thompson.  He told her he was business analyst for a firm on Wall Street. 

After Derek told her about himself, Becky told him she was a marketing consultant at a advertising agency.  They finished their dinner and Derek suggested they take a walk on the deck.  Becky enjoyed the breeze from the cool night air as she and Derek walked on deck.  She was starting to feel sad as happy couples passed them by. 

Becky ended their time and headed back to her cabin, leaving Derek bewildered.  But he got a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach about Becky and decided he better keep an eye on her.  What he saw outside her cabin gave him cause to wonder what Becky felt for him as Becky brought in a strange box that was placed outside her box.

Inside the box, Becky found a note that read, “You gave us your blessing, now you want him back!”  It was signed, Mimi. 

Becky was confused by the note from Mimi and gave her a call, to which Mimi swore up and down she never sent the package to her cabin.  

After getting off the phone with Mimi, Becky wondered who sent it if Mimi didn’t.  It was all too weird to get a package from your ex-husband’s wife and she claims she never sent it?  What was going on?