Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

all ages when you wore your Santa outfits, he was hoping that you’d want to spread that love as often as possible during the cruise by wearing these outfits.” Dudley pointed to the rack. “As often as possible,” he repeated. His voice rose. “Morning, noon, and night.”
    The smiles vanished. Bobby Grimes, the rolypoly guy from Montana, who looked as though he should have been the cheeriest of all, said, “I thought this was supposed to be a free trip, thanking us for all the work we already did. Some thanks. When I work as Santa Claus, I get paid Santa Claus wages. This is a rip-off. What you call a breach of contract.”
    The troublemaker of the group has just identified himself, Dudley thought. I wouldn’t put it past him to make a ship-to-shore call to one of those lawyers who advertise on TV. “Did you fall? Or almost fall? Maybe you suffered psychological damage when someone gave you a dirty look. We’ll sue for you. You deserve it.”
    Some of the others were nodding and agreeing with Grimes.
    â€œI’ve been wearing a Santa costume since Halloween,” one of them griped. “I’m sick of it. I wanted to sit in a deck chair in a pair of shorts, not spend all day in a hot, scratchy suit.”
    â€œNo good deed goes unpunished,” anotherSanta chimed in. “I was a volunteer Santa. I didn’t get a nickel for traipsing around lugging a heavy sack over my shoulders.”
    Ted Cannon felt sorry for Dudley, but the last thing he wanted to do was wear the costume every night at dinner. In the two holiday seasons since Joan died, the Santa appearances were painful reminders that she was gone. She had always accompanied him to the nursing homes and hospitals, and afterward they’d go out for dinner together. Joan had laughingly insisted on paying for dinner those nights, he remembered. She’d said that Santa deserved a good meal after squeezing down so many chimneys.
    â€œI agree with Bobby,” Nick Tracy from Georgia drawled. “I’ll wear the suit tonight and the last night, and that’s it.”
    Ted saw the look of desperation on Dudley’s face and decided to help out. “Come on,” he urged the others. “We’re enjoying a free trip. What’s the big deal about putting the suits on for an hour or two a day?” He pointed to them. “They’re even lightweight.”
    Dudley wanted to kiss him.
    â€œBut look at those beards,” Rudy Miller from Albany, New York, pointed out. “We’re supposed to eat with them on? Are we on a liquid diet?”
    â€œYou can take them off while you eat,” Dudleypromised. “What we really want to do is let people take pictures with you.”
    Ted Cannon walked over to the clothes rack and began to check the sizes of the outfits. “These look as if they’re cut pretty big,” he commented. “I guess I’m a long.” He removed one hanger, folded the contents over his arm, then took a beard, stocking cap, and sandals from the boxes next to the rack.
    â€œI like wearing a Santa suit,” Pete Nelson from Philadelphia piped up. “I was always a bit shy, but wearing the suit made it easier to talk to people. My therapist said it was like being an actor. He said that many actors are really very shy when they’re not playing a part.”
    â€œHe sounds brilliant,” Grimes snapped. “Who cares whether actors are shy? Most of them are overpaid jerks.”
    â€œI resent that,” Nelson said. “I’m just trying to share what my therapist is teaching me.”
    â€œWell, most therapists are overpaid jerks as well,” Grimes countered.
    Nelson frowned. “I really don’t think you’re cut out to be a Santa.”
    â€œYou’re right. This was my last season.”
    Maybe next year he should play Scrooge, Dudley thought. We’re off to a great start. Why did I ever think up