Yeah. Dar let her head rest against the soft surface. It will be fun, bid or no bid.

“THANK YOU.” KERRY smiled at the guide who had led them to their rooms as he bowed out and let the door close after him. She looked around curiously, giving the room an approving nod as she took in the light, airy décor and the crisply clean linen. The room had one large bed in it, a dresser flanked by a tall console that contained a television, and a small refrigerator.

One wall was glass, covered by drapes which were drawn halfway, exposing a view that sparkled with color. Kerry put her bag down on the bed and walked over, to draw back the fabric and peer out. “Ooo.”

A dark lake stretched in front of the hotel, the lights of the building winking fuzzily on its surface. Boats, likewise covered in lights, were crossing the small body of water, and across the way, the glowing, light bulb-chased pattern of Main Street. Beyond that the silvery spires of Cinderella’s castle reached skyward. Kerry pressed her nose against the glass, watching the cheerful sparkle of light. Across the water to the other side she could see a glimmer of torchlight on an island in the center of the water, and she could see other torches lining the far shore.

She was so busy looking, she didn’t hear the connecting door between her room and the next open, and was startled when a warm presence materialized at her back. Kerry looked up and saw pale blue eyes watching her in the reflection of the glass, and she smiled, meeting them. “Oh, hi. You spooked me.”

“Mmm.” Dar turned her gaze to the outside. “Well, well, the old castle’s looking pretty good.”

Kerry exhaled. “I have to plan a trip up here, it looks like so much fun.”

She paused. “Hey, we’ve got a couple of hours. You want to go over there?”

“Oh no.” Dar chuckled, shaking her head. “I’ve got reports to study.”

Oh well, good try. “I guess I should do that too.” Kerry smiled. “It’s probably crowded and noisy, and we’ve got an early start tomorrow, right?”

Dar nodded. “Exactly.”

Hmm, let’s just try one more tack. “Besides, you’re supposed to be taking it easy. Better if you just hang out here and relax,” Kerry told her innocently.

“You don’t want to overstrain yourself.”

A dark brow edged up. Kerry moved back into the room and opened her bag. “I’m going to call the valet for this suit. Want me to have them get yours, too?” Dar folded her arms and gazed out at the glowing spires. “You know, on second thought, it might be better to take a look around.”

Twinkling green eyes regarded her back. “No, it’s late, Dar, and you’ve Tropical Storm 167

had a really long day.”

The taller woman swung around and eyed her. “Late?” She snorted softly. “It’s barely prime time, Kerry. I think it would be a good idea to at least check the park out. But if you’re not up to it, you can stay here.”

Somehow, Kerry was able to keep a grin off her face. “No, I can manage…if you think it’s important.”

Dar gave her a nod and headed back towards her room. “I do. Besides, it’s nice weather out there for a change, might as well take advantage of it.”

She disappeared into her own room with a decisive closing of the door.

Kerry polished her nails on her shirt, then chuckled. “Watch out, Pluto, here I come.”

THE HOTEL CONCIERGE cheerfully provided two tickets, and they ambled through the lobby, passing throngs of people laughing and relaxing.

The lobby held several bars and casual restaurants, and Kerry suddenly remembered that she’d forgotten to eat dinner. Well, I’m sure there’ll at least be popcorn over there. She sighed and followed Dar’s tall form across the carpet, and up to the monorail station.

It was crowded with people heading to and from different parts of Disney World, and the murmur of voices rose to a din. “Whoa.” Kerry edged back against a low railing, peering down the track and looking for the train.

“It is crowded.” She glanced at the people around them, and sighed.

Dar glanced around from her more comfortable six-foot-plus height, then put a hand on Kerry’s shoulder as she stepped past the barrier and leaned close to the neatly dressed and smiling attendant. “Excuse me.”

The man turned. “Yes, ma’am?” His smile grew a bit wider as he looked at Dar. “What can I do for you?”

“Pilot car?” Dar returned the smile. “My friend here’s never been.”

The man stood on his tiptoes and peered past them. “Sure.” He stepped back and motioned them forward. “Always glad to help a first-timer.” He grinned at Kerry as they walked past into a small, enclosed area near the control booth. “There you go, ladies. Have a great time.”

Kerry looked around at their conspicuous isolation. “Dar?”

“Hmm?” The taller woman looked down, but was saved from further questioning by the arrival of the monorail. It hissed quietly into the station with an electronic whine and pulled to a stop with its nose about six feet from where they were standing.

The attendant popped open the driver’s door and motioned to them, and Dar put a hand on Kerry’s back, gently shoving her forward. “Go on.”

In mild disbelief, Kerry entered the pilot’s cabin and smiled at the young man seated there. The roughly triangular space had padded benches along the Plexiglas front nose, and she slipped into one as Dar relaxed on the other.

“Isn’t this different.” She peered ahead at the track.

“Hi, folks. Welcome to Monorail Purple,” the driver cheerfully greeted them. “Next stop is the Magic Kingdom.” He looked to one side as the door slammed shut, then he put the train in motion, pulling out from the hotel along the tracks. “You folks come far?”


168 Melissa Good Kerry watched the approaching lights in fascination. “No, we’re from Miami.”

“Oh, fellow Floridians. That’s great. My family is from West Palm Beach.

We just moved up here last year,” he chattered happily. “Isn’t the weather great? It’s perfect for walking around the parks.”

“You ever get tired of going around in circles all day?” Dar asked, her face half in shadow, and her arms crossed over her chest.

“Oh no.” The boy shook his head. “It’s different every day. Sometimes we go around one way, sometimes the other, and they also rotate us on the other line. If you’re qualified on the mono, you can get parking tram runs in the morning. They’re fun.”

Dar and Kerry exchanged glances. “So, it’s like a ranking, right?” Kerry asked, as the monorail started to slow, preparing to enter the station at the Magic Kingdom. “Are the monorail drivers on top?”

He giggled. “Oh no, that would be the lake pilots…who drive the launches.” He stopped the train and pressed a button, opening the door for them. “Wow, it’s been great talking to you. Hope you come back soon to Monorail Purple.”

Dar stood and gave him a brief grin. “Thanks, have a nice, um…” She rotated her finger in a circle. “…ride.”

Kerry slipped past her and ducked outside the door, waiting for her boss to follow her and catch up before she laughed softly. “Omigod, what do they put in the coffee here?”

“They’re all like that,” Dar assured her. “I think it’s corporate policy.

Though your notion of drugs in the water fountains has also occurred to me.”

She followed Kerry down the long sloping ramp, then through the electronic turnstiles which took their tickets and spat them back out.

“Souvenirs.” Kerry held hers up and tucked it in her pocket. She took a deep breath and started forward, under the train station and towards the glimmering lights of Main Street.

Her smile half hidden in the darkness, Dar entered the park behind her younger companion. In front of them was a town square, with the train station at the front, two large buildings on either side which had signs indicating they were the fire station and City Hall, and the long street of shops heading down on the far side. They crossed the cobblestones, and turned down the main street, and Dar took in a breath as the castle rose before them, brilliant with light. On either side of them, old-fashioned store facades heralded shops of all kinds, and Dar stopped short at one. “Hey.”

“Wh—” Kerry watched her duck into a doorway and she followed. She was struck in the face with a strong blast of air flavored with taffy and chocolate. “Oh boy.” She ducked around a scurrying attendant and spotted her boss, leaning against the glass partition and watching a machine pull long strings of fragrant taffy out, over and over again. A case of chocolates caught her eye, though, and she detoured, finding herself in front of a neatly stacked display of assorted squares. “Fudge.”

Dar’s voice sounded just behind her. “Is that a conclusion or a curse?”

“Yes,” Kerry sighed. “I love fudge.” She smiled at the attendant, who gave her a perky grin. “Could I get a piece of the chocolate, please?”


Tropical Storm 169

“Only chocolate?” her boss teased. “They have peanut butter there, too.”

“Nope, I’m a purist.” Kerry took her purchase and passed the girl the payment. “Thanks.”

The girl addressed Dar. “Anything for you, ma’am?”

Dar studied her choices. “A half dozen of those,” she pointed at the peanut butter cups, “a bag of the chocolate-covered cherries, and some toffee.”

Kerry tried not to follow suit. She folded her arms across her chest and balled her fists, one hand grasping the bag of fudge. “Boy, you’re a wild thing in one of these places, huh?”

“Don’t worry.” Dar tucked her packets away. “I’ll share.” She sauntered toward the door, dodging a few running children along the way.

Kerry sighed. “I was afraid she’d say that,” she murmured, but shook her head and followed as they returned to the street and walked along it. The air was filled with the smell of cotton candy and popcorn, mixed with pine and the warm scent of the tarmac under their feet. “Nice night.”

Dar didn’t answer for a few steps, as she looked around them. “Yeah,”

she said. “You hungry?”

“A little,” Kerry demurred. “I forgot to grab dinner.”

“Me, too.” The taller woman picked up her pace and headed for the tall, well-lit castle in the center of the park. “C’mon.”

“Okay. Hey,” Kerry pointed, “there’s a hot dog stand over there.”

Dar snorted softly. “No Pluto Pups and no Astro Burgers, okay? Those are my rules here. C’mon.” She led Kerry across the square at the end of Main Street and right up into the castle, where she abruptly turned into a small alcove, almost causing Kerry to crash into her. In front of them was a small stand, with a perky dressed woman in Medieval garb.

“Hi there, folks. Welcome to Cinderella’s Banqueting Hall. Would you like to have dinner tonight?” The woman greeted them. “We’ve got a table available just for you!”

“Two.” Dar informed her, with a smile, as Kerry tugged on her sleeve.

“Hmm?”

“There’s a restaurant here?” the blonde woman whispered.

Dar grinned. “Mmm-hmm. I hope you like prime rib.”

“Prime rib?” Kerry followed her as they made their way to an elevator and got out at the second floor. “But this is Dis…” She stopped, surprised. The second floor contained a wide, open dining space surrounded by tall windows. Sturdy wooden tables with pewter plates and cups were placed on two different levels, and quite a number of diners were already seated around the room. “Oh. Cool.”

The hostess led them to a small table near the windows, which was lit by a candle and already set. “Your waiter will be right with you,” she told them.

“Have a great dinner.”

Kerry took a moment to look around them as she opened her napkin and laid it neatly across her lap. “This is adorable,” she murmured. “It’s got really nice, um…”

“Ambiance?” Dar gave her a wry grin.

“Atmosphere,” Kerry asserted. “Have you eaten here before? I guess you have.”


170 Melissa Good Dar held off answering as a waiter came over, removing a pad from his apron and preparing to write.

“Evening, folks. What can I get you?”

Kerry glanced at the menu. “Hmm, wow. Okay, I’ll take the prime rib, I guess.” She deliberately bypassed the chicken from a sense of occasion. “With the potatoes, and some punch, please.”

“Same.” Dar leaned back and studied her. “Not everyone knows this place is here. It beats the fast food stuff they mostly sell. There’s also a good chicken and fish place near Liberty Square, but I was in the mood for beef tonight.”