What Happens on the Cruise

9. It's All Right

Tim dumped his collection of tourist trap mementos on the bedside table as Austin headed for the restroom. After a moment's thought, he put the box of condoms and tube of lube into the drawer.

"Oh, that's so much better," Austin sighed, emerging from the bathroom.

"They're getting really ridiculous with the religious texts in drawers," Tim commented.

"Yeah? Like what?" Austin asked.

"I've not only got the standard Berean Bible, but a book of Mormon, and in the other drawer there's a Quran."

"Oh, wow! Dan and I just had a Bible in our room. I've always wanted to read the Quran," Austin commented, opening the drawer and pulling out the holy book, before flopping down on Tim's bed.

Tim raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you, like, some kind of Baptist?"

"Yup." Austin opened the Quran, turning through the first few pages, then flipping to the back and rifling through them.

"Looking to see if the Muslims actually leave money like the Christians are rumored to do?" Tim asked.

"No. Just seeing if there were any maps or stuff like that." Austin returned to the front of the book. "Why do you say 'the Christians' like you aren't one?"

Tim was silent.

Austin looked up. "Tim?"

Tim sat down. "I, uh, don't think I am anymore."

Austin sat up, setting the Quran aside. "Why? What happened?"

Tim shrugged. "Nothing happened. That's the problem. I just don't... It just doesn't make any sense."

Austin nodded. "You don't ever feel God moving in your life?"

"Not really. It looks random to me. It's like how you see faces in clouds? It just seems like we see coincidences and go, 'Oh, hey, there's God!'"

"Okay. I can see that," Austin said.

"You're not going to try to re-convert me or something, are you?"

Austin shook his head. "Your faith -- or lack thereof -- is personal. I would never presume to interfere with that. Just so long as you respect my choice to have faith."

"I'm not one of those evangelical atheists, I promise."

Austin snorted. "Evangelical atheists. I like that."

"So are you thinking lunch next?"

"Sure. Let me touch up my foundation first."

"I still don't know why you didn't press charges," Tim said.

"It's not worth doing."

"Why won't you tell me what happened?"

"Tim..." Austin said, his aggravation and Georgia accent turning it into two syllables.

Tim raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll drop it."

"Thank you."

"Should we see if the other guys want to join us?"

"Absolutely," Austin said as he dug a bottle of foundation out of his theater bag. "Be right back."

***

The remaining days passed quickly, with them all enjoying the Caribbean sun and sea. And if once in a while Austin took Tim's hand, or Tim reached out and brushed Austin's hair back from his face, or the two smiled at each other for no reason at all, no one commented on it.

Austin caught most of their concerts and they made three of his shows.

A new song showed up in Austin's music notebook.

Austin's bruises faded from purple to green to yellow.

And suddenly they were sitting around the table after their last concert. Tomorrow they would be arriving back in Port Canaveral.

"Aw, man. I love you guys," Austin said, shaking his head at their antics. "It's been such a blast hanging out with all y'all."

"Same," Chris said. "And I'm not nearly so worried about Matt leaving us. We met you at just the right time."

"Amen to that," Rob said.

"Excuse me," a crew member interrupted. "Is one of you Adam Rupp?"

"That's me," the beatboxer said.

"We have a phone call for you on the ship's satphone. Will you come with me, please?"

Adam bolted from his chair. "What is it? Is it Ericha?"

"I don't know, sir. If you'll come with me..."

"Right. Lead the way."

The other five men watched as he hurried off following the crew member.

"I hope everything's okay," Austin said worriedly.

"It wouldn't be your parents or Tristin, or they'd've asked for both of you," Rob said to Chris.

Matt turned to a passing server. "Excuse me, is it possible we could get a pot of coffee?"

"Sure thing, sir," she answered.

"I'm thinking we may want to sober up a bit," Matt explained.

***

They were on the second pot when Adam returned, his face pale and his eyes red and puffy. Chris stood and led his brother to a seat. They all sat silently, waiting for the beatboxer to compose himself.

"Can you tell us?" Rob finally asked.

Adam nodded, swiping a hand across his eyes. "M-mom and dad took Ericha to the emergency room."

"Is she okay?" Tim and Matt asked as Rob murmured, "Oh, no," and Austin asked, "What happened?"

"It's a miscarriage," Adam answered. "She's okay, but the baby..." He ran his sleeve across his eyes again. Austin pulled out the bandana he kept in his back pocket and handed it across.

"Oh, man, I'm so sorry," Rob said. "I didn't even know she was expecting."

The other men shook their heads.

"We didn't... We hadn't told many people," Adam answered. "After the first one... we just... didn't want to make a big deal until we were sure..."

"So this is her second?" Matt asked, very gently.

"Third," Adam answered, then broke down in tears.

"Chris," Tim said.

Chris looked at Tim and nodded. "Yeah. You're right." And he bowed his head. The other men followed suit. "Dear God," Chris prayed, "we're here lifting up my brother -- our brother -- Adam and his beloved wife..."

Austin bowed his head and sat as Chris offered up a heartfelt prayer, then slipped out as the four men wrapped Adam up in hugs.