Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Time passed quickly after that, the afternoon a blur of cleaning, prepping the boat, unloading provisions, and welcoming each new crew member as they came on board. My stews were the first to arrive, Leah and Bernard, both young and eager and, of course, attractive. I wondered if that was a stipulation for the show — to be hot. Leah was a pale, voluptuous, and perky blonde from Alabama with the kind of smile that dazzled like diamonds, and Bernard was a chiseled, cheeky Brit with warm brown skin and charisma in spades.
Palmer was the bosun, a biracial god-like creature from South Florida with short, black, curly hair and a physique so lean I was surprised to witness him lifting heavy provision boxes full of wine like they were nothing.
The second deckhand I met was Cameron, a Scottish dreamboat with dark ginger hair and freckles like constellations from his cheeks to his calves.
And finally, as I was inspecting where all the silverware and dishes were stored on the boat, our last crew member came aboard: a deck stew named Gisella.
“Hi!” I greeted as she made her way through the main salon, her wide brown eyes taking in the scenery.
She was gorgeous, the kind of beauty you saw on magazines and television screens. Her long, rich brown hair was pin straight and shining like silk, her skin a tawny brown, and she was petite — maybe five foot three with a lean, athletic build.
“Hola,” she greeted in return, smile gleaming. “I’m Gisella,” she said, and as we shook hands, I noted the lilt in her accent, a dead giveaway that she was Spanish.
“Ember,” I said. “I’m the chief stew.”
“I’m a deck stew!” she exclaimed. “I think I’m working mostly with the deck team for this season, but if you ever need help on the interior, I’m your girl.”
“Be careful what you offer. I might be calling you down to laundry.”
“Laundry is my meditation,” she said with a wink. “Where are you from?”
“Fort Lauderdale. You?”
“Barcelona.”
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to Barcelona,” I exclaimed, squeezing her arm. “It seems so beautiful.”
“Even more so than you can imagine. Y la comida…” Gisella made a chef’s kiss gesture with her fingers pinched together. “Uf, es para morirse. When you come, I’ll take you on a tasting tour.”
“I love that we’ve only known each other two minutes and we’re already planning dates.”
“Ah, but don’t get too excited. I don’t put out until at least the third one,” she said, wrinkling her nose with the jest.
I loved my new roommate already.
“Where should I…?”
She gestured to her luggage, and I clapped my hands together. “Oh! You’ll be with me, actually, if you don’t mind? I thought it would be best to let my stews room together so they can bitch about me in private.”
“And what if I want to bitch about you?”
“Save it for crew night out,” I said, and we shared a smile as I helped her get her luggage downstairs to the crew mess. Once I showed her to our room, I excused myself, giving her space to settle in.
And like Gisella had said, work did feel meditative, the flow of things making it so I almost forgot I was on the same ship with my ex.
Until Captain Gary’s voice crackled over my radio.
“All crew, all crew, this is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard. Meet me in the main salon in ten minutes for our first team meeting.”
POST-PRODUCTION CONFESSIONAL
CLOSE QUARTERS
SEASON 4
BERNARD EVANS: SECOND STEWARD
PRODUCER
What was your first impression of your chief stew?
BERNARD
Oh, I liked Ember straight away. I mean, she’s fit, right? Fit and fun. Nothing better than those qualities in your boss. She set the tone right away that she wasn’t going to be on our ass as long as we did our jobs. I had a feeling she’d be fun to party with, too. And I was spot on with that, wasn’t I?
PRODUCER
Were you okay with how she structured things?
BERNARD
I loved that Ember didn’t feel the need to immediately assign the second and third stew positions. She gave Leah and me the chance to show her our specialties before those roles were given. And since I knew I’d be an absolute knockout in service, I wasn’t worried. That second stew role was mine.
PRODUCER
And what about the relationship between Ember and Finn?
Bernard laughs heartily.
BERNARD
You’re trying to get me in trouble.
PRODUCER
I just mean that it’s an important relationship, no? Chief stew and chef… they work pretty closely together.
BERNARD
I’ll say.
Bernard smirks, arches eyebrow as he takes a drink of water.
PRODUCER
Care to elaborate on that?
BERNARD
There was something… electric between those two from the moment we all stepped foot on the boat. They got in each other’s face, pushed each other’s buttons. There were few nights we didn’t hear them screaming at each other. But by the middle of the season, they had a rhythm. They crushed it as a team.