Those two days went by too quickly and before they knew it they were on their way back to pick up the passengers. Rebecca was sorry to leave Sanfransico, she knew that when they arrived back in L.A. Sandro's ex girlfriend would be joining the ship and she was beginning to get worried about it. Sandro noticed the change in her. "What's wrong"? "Is it that obvious"? "I think I know you well enough to know that you're worried about something".
"It's just that tomorrow, Diane joins the ship and I can't help but worry". "I've told you that there is nothing to worry about". "It's you that I love and she is just a very small part of my past". "I keep telling myself the same thing, but I can't help it". "I don't want to lose you". "You're not going to lose me" he said pulling her closer to him". "I don't want you to think like that". "Diane means nothing to me and it was a long time ago when she did". Sandro spent quite some time trying to convince her and in the end he convinced her the best way he knew how. In the morning, when the ship arrived in L.A. Sandro said "Why don't you go down to your cabin and bring up all of your things, instead of having half here and half there". "That's a good idea; I'll go down right now". "Hold on"! Why don't you wait until I've finished my shift and then I'll help you"? "Okay, I'm just going to get off and pick up some bits and pieces and phone my mum." I'll meet you up here at 12.00". Rebecca phoned Sadie's cabin after Sandro had gone to work and they met near the gang way.
"You don't look very happy"? "Oh, I am". "It's just that Diane starts today and I'm a little bit worried". "Listen, don't worry". "I asked Paulo if he knew her and he told me that you have nothing to worry about". "The problem is if you are worrying now, what are you going to be like when you meet her"? "I know your right; it's just that I can't help it". "Why don't we go and do some shopping to take your mind off of things" "Ok, let's go"! The girls went to the shops to buy some things. When they returned to the ship she saw Sandro talking to a pretty dark haired girl in the reservations hall. "Is that her"? "I think so". "Why don't you go and join them"?
"I think I'll just do that"! As she wandered over, she noticed that the girl was standing very close to Sandro. "Hi there" she said putting her arm around Sandro and giving him a kiss. "Hi yourself" he responded kissing her back. Pulling away from each other, she said "Aren't you going to introduce us? "Ah yes, Rebecca this is Diane" "Diane this is Rebecca". "Hi, Welcome on board". Thanks, said Diane hardly looking at her. Turning to Sandro she said "Aren't you going to show me to my cabin"? "No, I'm going to help Rebecca move into my cabin, so I haven't got time".
"I'm sure you'll be able to find your own way to your cabin" he said as he turned and led Rebecca out of the reservations hall. "I told you" she said pulling her hand out of his. She still likes you; I knew I had a right to be worried". "There's nothing to be worried about". "She is part of my past, but you are my present and my future". "Yes I know, but... No buts, let's go and move the rest of your things". "Okay" she said not been able to keep away the idea that something awful was going to happen. "I didn't like the fact that she was stood so close to you". "Don't worry, the next time she stands near me, I'll move enough away, so that she can't touch me". "I know I sound jealous, it's just that there is something about her that I don't like! "I love you and I'll repeat it over and over again until you get it into your head that there is only one girl for me and that is you"! Said Sandro pulling her closer to him and giving her a long kiss .They went back to Rebecca's cabin to pick up the rest of her things and took them up to his cabin. They spent the rest of the afternoon in their cabin and before they knew it was time for boat drill. That night the shops weren't very busy and they managed to get cleaned up and closed before midnight.
Rebecca ran up to the cabin, Sandro was finishing at 12.00 so she waited for him and then they both went down to the crew bar for a drink. They met up with Sadie and Paolo, Tomasso and Karen. Sandro went to the bar to get them a drink and then he returned to the table and sat down. All of a sudden they heard a loud noise as if something had exploded. Sandro and the other officers jumped up and ran out the door, Rebecca, Karen and Sadie all got up and followed them out. There were people running all over the crew decks and the girls could smell the scent of smoke. "Oh my God"! "What's happening?" said Rebecca to Sadie. In that precise moment the captain came over the loud speaker and told everyone to go to their emergency stations. Rebecca and Sadie ran to their old cabins to get there life jackets and then they ran up to their emergency stations, where they had to help the passengers go to their emergency areas. Rebecca was at her emergency station when Sandro passed, he stopped quickly. "What's going on"? "Listen, I haven't got time to explain everything, but you must stay with your emergency station and when I can I'll come and get you". "Please be careful"! He pulled her quickly to him and gave her a quick desperate kiss and then ran off with the other officers. The majority of the passengers were calm until they started smelling smoke. Rebecca told them all to keep calm and that if they were in danger the captain would have already got them to go to their boat stations.
Sadie was in the same emergency station as Rebecca and was trying to calm down an elderly lady, but the lady was getting more and more hyper with every minute. Rebecca walked over and tried to help calm the passenger down, but the lady started screaming and crying and saying that she wanted to go to her boat station. Rebecca and Sadie grabbed hold of her and the next thing Rebecca knew was that the elderly lady was holding her chest as if she was in pain. "Are you alright" asked Rebecca worriedly? "I can't breathe" gasped the lady in a breathless voice. Rebecca and Sadie got the passenger to lie down and then she ran to one of the nurses who was in her boat station. "Mindy come quick"! "I think one of the passengers is having a stroke".
Mindy ran over with Rebecca to the elderly lady and started to examine her. "Rebecca go and phone the bridge"! "Get them to send the doctor immediately"! Rebecca ran to the phone near the bar and phoned the bridge she told them it was an emergency and to send the doctor immediatly.When Rebecca returned to where the lady was she saw that Mindy and another crew member where trying to calm the her down and give her oxygen at the same time. "Is there anything I can do"? "Go and get some blankets and some water". Rebecca ran to the other side of the lounge where some of the crew members were distributing them. "Is everything okay over there"? Asked Danny, one of the casino staff. "No one of the passengers is having a stroke" answered Rebecca. "Look, I've done a first aid course if you need any help". "Go and see if Mindy needs your help" she said as she grabbed the things she needed and ran back to Mindy. The situation looked as if things were under control; the doctor had arrived and was giving the lady an injection. Some of the passengers had come over to see what was happening. The doctor said, "Rebecca get these people to go and sit down there is too many people around here". Rebecca asked the passengers to sit down and told them that everything was under control.
After some time the doctor came over to Rebecca and said "Listen, I can't take her down to the infirmary"."We'll have to keep her here". "I need to go into the starlight bar because there is another passenger who needs my help". "Do you think you can stay with her and keep an eye on her"? "Sure no problem, but is she alright"? "Yes, I've given her something to calm her down, it wasn't a stroke but her blood pressure went too high, she needs to be kept calm, if you need me page me" explained the doctor as he and Mindy left the lounge. Rebecca stayed with the elderly lady .Sadie came over, "Is she going to be alright"? "Yes I think so". "The doctor said that she didn't have a stroke, but she has problem with her blood pressure" At that moment the captain came on the loud speaker to tell the quests what had happened. There had been an explosion in the engine room and the ship was without power, but the fire had been put out and they had already been in contact with the coast guard. Some of the passengers started to cry and the staff went around trying to calm everyone down. The captain told everyone that unfortunately they couldn't go back to there cabins, but blankets and food and drink would be passed around the ship. All the passengers were really worried but the staff did a good job to calm them down. One of the entertainers's who worked on board decided to try and take everyone's mind off the best he could by telling jokes. The passengers seemed a little bit calmer. Paulo came into the lounge after a couple of hours to speak personally to the passengers. He explained that they were waiting for help from the coast guard and the fact that they weren't that far from land meant that help would arrive soon.
Some of the passengers were nasty but the majority understood the situation. Paulo walked over to Sadie and spoke to her quickly and then left the lounge. Sadie walked over to Rebecca and said "Paulo asked me to tell you not to worry; as soon as Sandro can he'll come and find you". "Oh, I'm so relieved; I was really worried about him". "Well, at least you know that he's alright". The two girls hugged each other with relief". "Excuse me, but could you please tell me what happened"? The girls turned around and saw that the elderly lady had woken up."You need to keep calm," explained Rebecca gently. "Your blood pressure went too high." "I remember feeling strange and then everything turned black". "You passed out" explained Rebecca kneeling down beside her. "Are you travelling with someone or is there someone I can get to stay with you"? "No, I'm travelling on my own". "I decided to come on this trip to relax". "You see I've had some health problems lately and my doctor advised me to go on holiday to relax!" "Well, you picked the right ship, but unfortunately the wrong time"! Said Rebecca jokingly.
"I couldn't have picked the worst time" said the lady smiling weakly. "By the way my name's Rebecca". "Oh! That's a very pretty name" replied the lady. "My name's Hilda". "Well Hilda, I wish we could have met in other circumstances". "You can say that again" she replied. "My husband Harold always said that when you are in a difficult situation you always meet the best people". "Well, I think your husband is a very wise man". "My Harold was a great man, but unfortunately he died five years ago". Oh I'm so sorry" said Rebecca."You must miss him? "Yes, I do and you see we didn't have any children, so I'm on my own". I love to travel; it helps take away the loneliness". "Well, enough about me, tell me about you"! "Well, there isn't a lot to tell" said Rebecca smiling. "I've been on the ship for about a month now and I really love it"! While they were talking Sandro walked into the lounge and walked over to where she was. Rebecca was so pleased to see him that she couldn't stop smiling. Hi she said. "Sandro I want you to meet Hilda"! "Hello Hilda, I hope you are feeling better he said smiling at her. Hilda looked at Rebecca and Sandro and couldn't help but notice the way the two of them were looking at each other. "If you'll excuse me for a minute, I'll be right back". "No problem," said Hilda as she watched the two of them walk away. Sandro pulled her into the office behind the bar and threw his arms around her. "God I was so worried". "Are you okay"? "Yes, I'm fine". "I can only stay for a moment, but I wanted to make sure you were alright". "I'm fine." "I feel a lot better now that I've finally seen you". "Listen when the coast guard arrives, we will take off all those passengers who are injured". "Then we will have to wait until the Golden Moon arrives".
"It should be here in the morning". "Try to keep your chin up, I know it's hard at the moment, but I also know that you're a very strong person". "I'm fine" said Rebecca. "The passengers are being really brave and most of them are being helpful". Sandro's beeper went off and he said "I have to go". "I'll try to pass again later; don't forget that I love you". With that he pulled her to him and gave her a big kiss and then left quickly. Rebecca could feel tears well up in her eyes and she had to control herself not to cry. When she had finally pulled herself together, she walked back to where Hilda was. "What a nice young man" said Hilda with a twinkle in her eye?
"I think he is more than just a friend to you". Rebecca laughed and she could feel herself blushing. They spoke for ages, Hilda seemed like her grandmother and Rebecca found herself telling her all about herself. They spoke and spoke for ages and then the doctor returned to tell Rebecca and Hilda that the coast guard had arrived and that they would be taking Hilda off immediately. Rebecca was really sorry to see her go. They exchanged addresses and telephone numbers and then the doctor took her away in a wheel chair.