“Who cares?” said Jessica. “One more down, five to go, right Bel?”
“Bell?” asked Bellamy.
“Can we go to that island where they make glass trinkets? I want some glass trinkets,” said Vanessa.
“I don’t think they have islands here. We’re pretty far from Hawaii and other tropical places right now,” said Bellamy.
“He’s right,” said Deb.
“Sweetie, you wouldn’t mind if I took a little nap, would you?” asked Alanna, curling up into a little ball and putting her head on Bellamy’s lap. A moment later she was snoring softly. Bellamy played with her hair absentmindedly the way someone might pet a cat.
“I hope the guy driving this boat sings the Hamburger Helper song,” said Deb. “Remember that song, from when we were little kids and the Hamburger Helper glove guy was in a boat just like this? Does anyone know what I’m talking about? I wonder if our guy will sing it.” Then she broke into song: “Oh Mama Mia, For your Fam-i-lee-a…”
“Bellamy, I’m not hungry yet,” said Klassie. “Could they loop around and drop me at the hotel so I can look at that book in the lobby?”
“What book?” asked Vanessa.
“I forget what you call it. It’s full of puzzles that look like little charts.”
“A Sudoku puzzle book?” asked Bellamy. “You want to leave this tour of the Grand Canal to do puzzles?”
“No, I guess not,” said Klassie.
“I hope not. I just sent Tamika home, but if you don’t want to be here I could probably still catch her before her plane leaves.”
“Geez Louise. Sorry,” said Klassie. She double knotted the ratty shoelaces in her combat boots with an aggressive yank. One lone tear slipped down her cheek. We all sat there silently bobbing along.
“Is that anything important?” asked Jessica as we approached the Rialto Bridge.
“Just some bridge,” muttered Bellamy.
“I love ferrets,” said Deb.
“Here we are,” said Bellamy as our Gondola veered off into a small canal. He poked Alanna’s shoulder and she sat up looking unrumpled and perfectly composed.
“I feel a hundred percent myself again,” she declared, stretching exaggeratedly until her stomach was exposed and she had knocked the rings on her hand against Deb’s head. “Sorry I was a crab earlier,” she added quietly just for Bellamy’s sake, looking at him from beneath her long lashes.
“It’s okay. You’re never a crab,” he said, giving her a little kiss on the forehead. He blushed over the thrill of it. I could practically see his heart pounding right out of his chest. His face was all glowy and cloyingly adoring. I could tell he was going to pick her, no matter what any of the other girls did. “Okay, ladies,” he said, trying to get back down to business. “It’s just down the street from here.”
We got out and followed him down a winding passage to a small arch. It was so quaint and beautiful that I suddenly felt overwhelmed with loneliness. I wished I was with Pete. Or Betsy. Or Rachel. Or my mom and dad. Anyone would do. Anyone who knew me and loved me. But not these people. I hated to admit it to myself, but these people seemed like idiots. I actually thought for a moment I might start crying, but I pulled myself together when the distraction of a cameraman tripping on some cobblestones reminded me that this was all being filmed.
Beyond the arch was a tiny courtyard with a festively set table. There were flowers, pretty glasses, white napkins. It looked like we were at someone’s wedding. There were place cards with each of our names. I took a seat between Vanessa and Alanna, while Bellamy sat at the head of the table. Alanna scooted her chair over even a little closer to Bellamy. On the other said were Deb, Jessica, and Klassie. I wasn’t thrilled to be across from Jessica; her table manners were appalling.
“To six lovely ladies,” said Bellamy, rising from his chair and toasting us with a glass of champagne.
“Where?” joked Jessica. “I don’t see any lovely ladies here!”
We all toasted. Once Bellamy sat back down, Alanna reached over to him and brushed something imaginary off his arm.
“Was there something on my arm?” he asked.
“Not actually,” she said giggling. She leaned in for a kiss and the two of them made out for a full minute. Meanwhile a waiter brought a tray of pickled yellow and red peppers and cheeses to us.
“What are those slimy strips?” asked Klassie. “Is that spicy fish?”
“I’ll try some,” said Vanessa.
“I’ll have some too,” I said, recognizing they were peppers.