Ch. 5 – Mazatlan
After my trip to Donna Ygnacia's I returned to the ship and slept well. When we got to Mazatlan the next morning I woke up, called Dea for a wakeup blowjob, showered, dressed and ate a quick breakfast. After a quick cigar and perusal of my e-mail I caught a taxi to the local country club for a round of golf.
I was paired with a young couple from North Carolina and a banker from Phoenix. We decided to play a ten dollars a hole skins game. The wife won the first skin for thirty dollars, but I won the next for eighty. The banker won a small one for ten and I took the last for sixty. Being the gracious winner (and I hadn't revealed my four handicap to my partners) I bought a round of drinks in the clubhouse after we were done.
Over drinks I noticed that there was considerable tension between the marrieds, his ego couldn't take that she had golfed better than him. His digs, while to some may have seemed funny, betrayed a serious insecurity to me. At one point in the conversation our eyes met and I could see the pain and anger in her face.
We all shared a cab back to the ship and made arrangements to meet at the supper club for dinner later that night. After a nap and tumble with Dea, I dressed up in a nice, white linen suit. I had a private cocktail on my deck, straight bourbon and a Monte Cristo.
When dinnertime came I went up, past the statue of David and was immediately seated after slipping the hostess some green. I gave her the names of my guests and asked that they be seated on arrival.
I ordered another bourbon and waited. Steve and Alicia came soon but the banker never did show up. Before they even sat down I could tell they had been fighting.
"Nice to see you both," I said by way of greeting.
"Hi, Joe." She replied. He merely nodded.
"Having a good cruise?" I asked.
"It's great," she said, not very convincingly.
"It sucks," he said. Alicia looked very guarded and uncomfortable, as if a storm was brewing in her spouse.
"Why is that?"
"Everything's overpriced. The room is a closet. The staff are for shit."
Boy, had this guy 'missed the boat' (pun intended). If staffers on this cruise line didn't treat you right, it was you and not they to blame.
"Sorry you aren't having a good time. I've sailed with this line for years and have had nothing but great experiences."
"Well, they always have their hand out so you must grease a lot of palms."
I just smiled. "Shall we order?"
Steve slammed down three scotches before our food arrived, then drank a bottle and a half of wine. He was barely conscious by the time the cheese-and-fruit cart arrived.
As her husband abused his liver, Alicia became increasingly embarrassed. She picked at her food and nursed one glass of white wine. When the check came I grabbed it. Alicia thanked me, but Steve became agitated.
"I can pay my own way!" he yelled. Every head in the room turned and conversation stopped. I merely smiled and slid the check toward him. He threw down his ship's account card and glared at me like he had won something.
After the server took care of things, Steve jumped up and grabbed Alicia's hand. "Let's go," he said.
"No, Steve. I'm not done with my dessert."
"We're going now!"
"No!" The staff started moving toward us, wanting to restore order.
"Fine, you little bitch! Have it your way!" With that he stormed away, hitting two tables and a waitress on the way out.
Alicia couldn't decide whether to be ashamed or angry, but tears worked for her in either case. I moved over next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Joe. He can be such an asshole sometimes."
"If you don't mind me asking, what is his problem?"
"He's about to be fired from his job. And I just got a big promotion at mine."
"And his big macho self can't handle it?"
"Yup. And he wants a divorce because I haven't given him children."
"What a crock! Have you guys been tested?"
"He won't. He's sure it's me. I went to my doctor and all my plumbing's in order."
I suggested we leave and go down to the cigar bar. I took her hand and led her to the elevator and we went down. I ordered a bottle of cognac and lit a cigar. She took out a pack of Marlboros and followed suit.
For the next two hours we sipped cognac, smoked, and she poured out her heart. She was miserable and her husband was the cause. She was sure he was cheating on her and blamed her for everything that was wrong in his life.
During the course of the conversation, I inched closer to her. I would tell a joke and, while she laughed, touch her arm or leg. I met no resistance.
Finally, I asked the big question. "Why do you stay with him?"
"I don't know sometimes. We've been together fifteen years, since high school. He's the only guy I've ever been with."
I was sure that would change. Tonight.
