It's been a while since I submitted a story. I would like to thank my editor Patient Lee for convincing me to try again.
*****
I saw her the first time as a lonely figure on the bench overlooking the harbor. She was staring at a big luxury cruiser.
The Symphonia was leaving in a couple of days' time for a voyage to Italy, and that would be my last part of my trip before flying home to Amsterdam.
I was drawn to her by her classic beauty. She was a small girl . From local colored or Cape Malay decent. Beautiful, light chocolate features. Big brown eyes staring into the distance.
She had full lips with a sad smile. Wearing a short summer dress, I could make out her her beautiful, toned legs. Looking smooth with that same exotic, chocolate colour that makes it look like a healthy tan.
I could see that her breasts were big for her small frame. Not overly so. Just right.
I kept on staring at her from behind my sunglasses sitting at a waterfront bar, slowly sipping my beer.
My name is Johan Van Der Oost. A Dutch national. The English, and, even worse, the Americans always battle with the pronunciation of my name, so I have been called John van Der Ost for most of my travels.
I just turned forty, and my divorce to my school sweetheart became final a few months ago . I was more than a bit depressed thinking of my beautiful wife that had enough of my career choice .
I deal in diamonds and I normally travel for more than two hundred days a year. This didn't allow me time to work as hard on the relationship as I should.
I didn't pick up the tell-tale signs of her affair . Only when I came home from one of my travels and found an empty apartment and the divorce papers did I start thinking of how withdrawn she was.
Thinking of the nights she came home, and she went straight for the shower before she came to my home office to greet me.
She started keeping her cellphone close to her at all times.
She started asking me when my next trip was. Almost looked relieved when I left.
I only thought about it when I saw the papers.
She didn't ask for much, and I didn't fight it. I knew at the first meeting with the lawyers that it was over.I never asked her, but I found out from mutual friends that she was seen with the same guy at local pubs.
It hurt especially as I have always been faithful but thinking about it now I feel no hate and no remorse. I want her to find happiness, and if it's with somebody else, so be it.
It was my first time in South Africa, and I did the normal tourist route. Game Parks, Sun City, World cup Stadiums, Apartheid museum, wine routes, and then I went to Cape Town.I went with the tour group up Table Mountain in the morning, but decided to ditch the group for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
I saw the lady stand up, and with a last look at the harbor, turn around to walk away.She walked past my table, and I gave her my best smile. She looked at me with a frown and kept walking.
I followed her with my eyes, and just before the corner she looked back, smiling.
That made my day, and even if I never saw her again, she would be in my mind forever.
The next few days were uneventful as I spent most of my time at the waterfront, hoping to see her again.
The Sinfonia was huge. Nine passenger decks with a capacity of fifteen hundred passengers. With 750 crew members, service was exceptional. The ship had numerous bars, restaurants, swimming pools and other entertainments.
The write ups that I had seen were quite exceptional. After two days of the nineteen day trip I was totally relaxed, and I even started working on a tan.
Since my divorce, I didn't spend much time thinking of women, but this whole experience was making me horny. The scantily clad woman on the pool deck was not helping much.
If it was not for my loose swimming trunks, it could have been very embarrassing.
"Good day sir. Can I offer you anything to drink?"
The first thing I saw was her legs. She was dressed in a waiter uniform that consisted of sneakers, short pants and a buttoned blouse.
Her legs were beautifully toned with a healthy brown colour. The blouse was very conservative, but I could see her full boobs straining against the buttons. As I was looking up into the sun, I could only see her perfect teeth and full lips.
There was something familiar about her. She moved out of the sun, and I could see her clear eyes.Then it hit me.
"It's you! " I stammered.
She frowned down at me, morethan a little bit confused.
"Sorry sir?" she answered.
"I saw you a few days ago. You were staring at the cruiser. You are beautiful, and I can't get you out of my mind." I felt like a fool after my verbal diarrhea.
She just stared at me with a confused look, but then her face lit up with a beautiful smile.
"You were sitting at the table, and you smiled at me when I walked past. I felt you staring after me. A bit rude don't you think?"
She said it with a smile, and I couldn't help but smile back.
"Now, how about that drink?"
She was suddenly very businesslike.
I ordered a beer and watched her walking away. She glanced back, smiling at me.
She returned with the beer and again she was very businesslike.
"Will that be all, sir?"
I thought about it, looking into her beautiful face, thinking that I want a lot more, but not to drink.
"What do you do on a boat?" I thought to myself. " Ask for a number?"
I felt very foolish staring at this vision, wanting to say so much but not being able to speak.
I just shook my head and watched her walk away.
I knew I was drinking too much, but I kept calling her back, asking for another beer, wanting her close to me. I could feel my hard-on getting even worse whenever she came close.
I started losing my awkwardness as I drank more beer, and even chatted a bit, trying to get her to open up . I was getting nowhere.
I saw her changing shifts and hoped that she would come by to say bye or something .
No such luck. Not even a glance as she walked through the door marked staff only.
I was not too stable when I stood up to gather my things. I tried to walk straight, and I don't think I did a good job at it.
I made it to my suite, battling with the card key.
"Can I help you with that?"
I turned to see my fantasy standing next to me. I handed her the card without a word. Not trusting myself not to slur.
She opened the door, standing aside to let me enter.
She had a wonderful scent. Her perfume smelled like her. Something exotic.
I stumbled walking past her, pushing my arms out, trying to grab something to break my fall.
I did grab a handful of boob. She looked at my hand holding her boob and then up at me again.
"I am sorry," I stammered.
Blushing, I removed my hand and again felt like a fool . She handed me the card and walked down the passage.
"You fool!" I screamed at myself, hitting my forehead a few times. I looked up at her smiling and shaking her head. She waved and disappeared around the corner.
I stumbled onto my bed and passed out.
It was dark when I woke up. I had no idea what time it was. I looked at my watch.
"Two o clock!"
I stumbled up, feeling very groggy. I climbed into the shower, opening the water full blast. Standing under the spray my memory returned, and I again slapped myself against the head.
I felt a bit better and very hungry after the shower.
I missed dinner, but they served snacks in the cigar bar. I pulled on some slacks and a T shirt with flip flops. Not thinking that I would bump into too many people this time of the morning.
I ordered a cup of tea from the tired-looking barman and climbed into the array of bread, cold meats and cheeses. It was the best meal of my life.
I was not feeling tired at all, so Ibought a cigar and went up to the swimming deck. It was deserted, and I sat down, staring over the ocean and enjoying my cigar.
"You feeling better?"
I jumped up when I heard her voice.
"Hi," I said, looking into her beautiful, smiling eyes.
"I don't know where to start apologizing," I again stammered like a teenager.
"I think you should start by apologizing for feeling me up," she answered with a grin.
"Oh yes, that will be a good start." I laughed back.
"Renae," she said extending her hand.
"Johan," I answered, taking her hand in mine.
I suddenly felt comfortable around her, and I soon realized that she was not just a beautiful girl. She was witty, intelligent and very knowledgeable about various subjects.
We chatted while the light started changing as the sun rose. I was fascinated by her, and I never felt such an attraction towards a woman.
She grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, the youngest daughter of a schoolteacher mom and a working class father. She grew up in post-apartheid South Africa, so she didn't experience the racial abuse that her parents had experienced .
Her life was already planned for her by her very conservative parents. She was enrolling into the University of Cape Town to study law.
She had six months before the start of her classes.
She had always dreamed of seeing the world. She loved her city and country, but she had to see what else was out there.
But alas, that would only be a dream. Even when she got her degree she would have to spend years paying off study loans.
Even after that it will be expected from her to marry and raise kids.
This trip was decided the day I saw her for the first time. She saw an advert for temporary staff and went to the harbor to have a look. She applied and was accepted the next day.