Chapter 12: Stolen Hearts

Ruby was standing on the deck of the ship. She turned around and saw a stranger standing behind her. He had curly brown hair and warm, golden eyes, set against a warm, golden tan. He looked as attractive as a movie star, but he looked warm and approachable as well. Ruby immediately felt drawn to him.

“Care for a cup of coffee?” the stranger said in a deep, charming voice. Ruby was not sure about how to react, but then she decided to enjoy her trip and to start taking chances. “Alright. I accept,” she responded.

The man led her below deck to a restaurant area. It all looked as if it was on land. She could not believe that she was actually on the water.

They sat down and the waiter approached. “Could you please bring some of your best coffee for the lady and myself? the stranger said. When the waiter left, Ruby sat as if transfixed. “Oh where are my manners?” the handsome stranger exclaimed. He extended his right hand. “My name is Ferrel and might I know yours?” he asked politely.

“I am Ruby, from Canada,” Ruby responded. She wondered why she had mentioned her place of origin.

“Oh how delightful. I love Canada. I myself am from Spain, but I love to travel,” Ferrel explained. Ruby wondered why his name was so unusual.

“Oh I guess you’re wondering where my name comes from? Other people always ask me that. Well, my grandfather named me after a famous painting that he had once owned. There was a certain person in the painting who supposedly resembled me,” he explained, as if he had read Ruby’s thoughts.

“Oh that’s rather interesting,” Ruby commented.

“And what does your name mean, apart from the obvious?” He asked.

“Oh we never really discussed it. I suppose my mom just loved rubies,” Ruby laughed. She was feeling rather at ease with this guy. He was handsome and also had a mature attitude which made her feel safe.

“I am ahead of you with something though,” Ferrel said after their coffee had arrived.

“Oh, ahead with what?” Ruby asked with interest.

“I know that you sing, so I already did know your name.”

“Oh, okay then. Did you see me on stage at the theatre?” Ruby asked.

"No, I saw and heard you sing at a fashion show and then I happened to run into you here,” Ferrel said with a big, confident smile. His voice was deep and strong; like that of an opera singer.

Ruby was not sure what to do with his confession. Was this perhaps her first stalker? Or was he just an avid admirer? Was he perhaps also a singer? “Oh don’t worry, I’m not a stalker. I booked this trip a long time ago,” Ferrel said and laughed at her facial expression.

Ruby wondered whether he had the ability to read her mind. It was sounding as if he was psychic.

“Okay, that makes perfect sense, of course,” Ruby agreed. “So this is purely coincidental. Great! How long will you be on the ship?” she asked.

“I might get off at the next port, Dover in England, but I can also extend my trip if nobody needs me urgently for business affairs there,” he explained.

They spoke until dinner time. Ruby could not believe that she had relaxed so easily. She said goodbye and went to practice with her new band members for the following night’s show.

Ruby enjoyed the show, because the atmosphere was warm and intimate. The small theatre on the ship was warm and very glamourous, with maroon velvet drapery and gold rails along the steps leading up to the stage, from the floor area.

Ruby slept late the following morning, because she had practiced until late with the band on the previous evening. “Ruby, there’s a gift with a letter for you here,” Maxim said, when he ran into her on the deck, where she was searching for her new friend, Ferrel.

"Thank you Maxim," she said when she took the brightly wrapped box from him.

Back in her cabin, Ruby unwrapped the box quickly and noticed that it contained Swiss chocolates. She then opened the envelope, and the note inside read:

"Thank you for a very refreshing and inspiring afternoon." It was signed as simply, ‘Ferrel’. Ruby was wondering where he was, because she had really enjoyed chatting with him. He had seemed so sincere. Ruby then searched for him around the ship, but she had to give up after about half an hour, because she had a voice training session coming up.

"So, who was the mysterious package from?" Revel, one of the band members asked.

"Oh, it’s a guy I met on the ship yesterday. I think he disembarked at the port in Dover though, because he did mention that he might get off there."

"Well, that happens a lot, when one meets people on a ship: here today, gone tomorrow, but cheer up. You're still going to meet many more interesting people here," Revel concluded with a pat on Ruby’s shoulder. "I have to go and search for someone myself now. See you later," he said before strolling away.

After about two months on the ship Ruby began to receive a small box of chocolates after every night's performance. The chocolates inside the box were in the shape of roses and they were individually wrapped in red foil paper. After the third time, she began to wonder about the identity of the sender. It could not be Ferrel, because he had sent different chocolates and she had given up on the idea of seeing him again. According to her estimation, too much time had passed since she had last seen him, so she would be foolish to expect him to just suddenly show up again, out of the blue.

"I have no idea about who the sender of the chocolates is," Ruby confided in Lilah, the other female vocalist of the band.

"I would say: Enjoy it while it lasts. Perhaps he is too shy to reveal his identity."

"You mean he perhaps has a problem with his self-esteem?" Lilah asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he's really not so good looking!" Lilah laughed heartily.

They were sitting at the bar after the night's performance and chatted on about the past day’s events.

"Don't look now, but I think we have found the answer to our questions," Lilah said suddenly.