Floating by

Chapter 12: Vegemite?

It was only 10am and Kayla was already done with her third minor activity, marine life watching. She loved every moment of it. Watching all the sea creatures move around and learning fun little facts about each one. It was her dream to do something marine related and that morning just cemented her dreams even more.

Now she was on her way to meet Margaret at their spot.

As she walked out onto the deck she stopped and looked at Margaret, sitting in her wheelchair. She had a far away look as she waited for her young friend.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you that staring is rude?" Margaret said suddenly without looking over at Kayla, giving Kayla a bit of a fright.

"My mother is never home anyway." Kayla mumbles to herself as she walks over, but Margaret still picks up on it and chooses to ask about it later.
"How'd you know it was me?" Kayla asks as she sits down next to the older lady.

"I heard your obnoxious thinking from a mile away." Margaret says sarcastically.

Kayla just feigns a gasp and places a hand against her heart, pretending to be wounded.

"Oh you drama queen. I just saw you through the glass reflection." Margaret says while pointing to the glass that lines the small deck, protecting them from falling off of it.

"Oh...I totally knew that!" Kayla says, trying to redeem herself.

"Sure. Sure. Whatever you say. Here." Margaret hands Kayla a breakfast roll.

"How long has that been there? I didn't even know you were holding anything." Kayla trails off confused.

"Wow, you really need to be more observant." Margaret shakes her head while unwrapping her own roll.

Kayla just sticks out her tongue at Margaret and unwraps her sandwich.
As she peels open the wrapper she notices that it's an English muffin bun, filled with a sunny side up egg, a slice of ham with cheddar cheese melted onto it, two strips of bacon and some kind of dark spread on the bottom bun.

"This looks great Mar! But what's that at the bottom?"

"Why don't you take a bite and see if you know what it is first?" Margaret takes a bite of her own sandwich and looks at Kayla expectantly.

"This would be a great setup for poisoning me." Kayla jokes as she takes a tentative bite.

She can taste the muffin, the egg, the meats, the cheese and this bitter, salty flavor. It goes great with the cheese and she notices that it's got a bit of a meaty taste to it too. She doesn't think she's had anything quite like it.

"What is it?" Kayla asks once she's swallowed her first bite.

"Do you like it?"

"It's growing on me."

"It's Vegemite."

"Vegemite? Like the stuff from Australia?" Kayla's face is scrunched up in confusion.

"Yeap!" Margaret takes another bite of her sandwich and Kayla just stares at her even more confused.

"Why? How? When? What?"

"I lived in Australia for a few years back in the 80's and Vegemite was just something I took with me when I left."

"Wow. You have to tell me about that one day." Kayla says in awe and taking a bite of her sandwich.

They sit in silence for a bit, enjoying their sandwiches and each other's company.

"You know, we dock at Cobh next week." Margaret breaks the silence.

"Yeah?" Kayla turns sideways to look at Margaret.

"I'm getting off at Cobh." Margaret says expressionless

"We all get off at Cobh for a day trip." Kayla says matter of factly.

"No." Margaret turns to look at Kayla. "I get off at Cobh. I'm not coming back onto the cruise. It's my end point." She says sadly.

"N-no! But-but this cruise ends in Copenhagen. You can't get off Mar. you just can't." Kayla says finally understanding but not wanting to believe it. A single tear escapes her glistening eyes, opening the flood gates.

"Oh you silly, silly girl." Margaret lightly says as she wraps her arm around Kayla's shoulder, pulling her closer and letting Kayla rest her head on her shoulder. Just this once. "I was always meant to disembark at Cobh. I never planned on making any acquaintances or even meeting a stubborn 17 year old girl. But I did. And I'm glad I did. I may not be joining you for the rest of this cruise, but it doesn't mean we won't see each other again. I still have to go back to Florida and I know I can't stop you from finding me." She says with a slight chuckle and soothingly rubbing circles on Kayla's shoulders.

"You have to promise me that when we dock at Cobh, you and I will spend the day exploring it before we both have to leave and you'll tell me where you stay in Florida. Or so help me, I will track you down Ms Margaret Joan Wells. Kayla says seriously lifting her head and looking into Margaret's eyes.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. But I have a request too." Margaret says with a slight twinkle in her eyes.

Kayla cocks her head slightly, questioning Margaret.

"You have to give that boy a chance. Open your heart a little. I know you've been hurt badly and it's going to take a while before you're ever ready again, but don't keep that heart closed forever. There are people out there who want and are trying to show you real love. Just promise me you won't turn them away." She says sincerely.

"I....I think it's already happening Mar, and it scares me. So much. I don't know what to do." Kayla says quietly looking down at the people splashing around in the pool.

"What's already happening?"

"Zach is...I don't know. Every time I see him I get nervous, my heart starts beating faster, I feel myself blushing a lot more and I get this feeling in my belly. It's like an eruption or something." Kayla explains, lifting her head back up to look at Margaret.

"And?" Margaret prompts

"And...and I kinda like it." Kayla admits, more to herself than to Margaret.

"Now that's, what it should always feel like." Margaret says, smirking at Kayla.

"What do I do?" Kayla says slightly distressed.

"Ask him out." Margaret states simply.

"Ask him out? Just like that?"

"Yes. Preferably before I have to disembark."

"So soon!?"

"I expect to see him on our little Cobh outing."

"I am seeing him today."

"Good. Ask him then. Now let's talk about this softball game you won."

And the subject was changed just like that. But Kayla knew she had to do what Margaret told her or she'd never hear the end of it. So that afternoon, Kayla had a plan.