“There you go. Be sure and tell her what you ate,” Trevor said.
She nodded and went into the exam room. Had her temperature taken and blood pressure measured by the nurse. Got a blood test. And then, when the doctor appeared, told him what she’d eaten. Good Lord, had she really consumed that much?
“I think we can rule out food poisoning,” the doctor said. “You have no fever, no stomach cramps, no diarrhea. No more nausea, right?”
She shook her head.
“And you’re not dehydrated.”
“But I ate shrimp.”
The doctor nodded. “I understand. But you ate quite a few other things as well. I suspect they didn’t play well together.”
“So I’m okay?”
“You’re good to go,” he assured her. “Go home, drink some ginger ale and get some rest. Happy New Year.”
Relieved New Year.
No, more like Embarrassing New Year, she thought as she rejoined Trevor.
“Everything okay?” he asked, standing up.
She nodded. Then sighed. “My sister’s right. I am a squirrel.”
“Everybody loves squirrels,” he said easily. “They’re cute.”
“I’m really sorry I dragged you out. Gosh, what a pain in the neck I am.”
“Do you hear me complaining?”
“Not yet.”
“Not ever,” he promised. He slung an arm around her and started guiding her out of the emergency room.
“It could have been food poisoning,” she ventured. How did you know unless you went to the doctor?
“It could have,” he said diplomatically. “From now on I’m going to keep a close eye on what you eat.”
“Kind of hard to do when I live up in Seattle.”
“So move to Portland. You can work anywhere, right?”
Hmm. She could.
“If I did...” she began.
“Let’s leave the ifs out of it. Say you will.”
“Only if you promise to cure me of hypochondria.”
“That will require a lot of time on the couch,” he said, and pulled her to him for a kiss.
New Beginnings
There had been some bumps in the road, but Rudy had been true to his word and helped Catherine win over everyone. On seeing how happy they were together, William had given his stamp of approval, and so had Lila.
Catherine’s hair had grown back in, curlier than ever. In addition to her new curls she’d also gotten a lot more gray, but Rudy said her gray hairs made her look wise.
Come September, the two of them were celebrating another all-clear report from her oncologist with an Alaskan cruise. Denise and Charlie were joining them. Athena was going along also. Lila, too, had decided she wanted to come and Rudy had booked the owner’s suite for the four of them.
Seeing its floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony nearly took Catherine’s breath away. “Oh, Rudy,” she said. “You shouldn’t have.”
“Sure he should have,” said Lila. “Thanks, Rudy. This is great.”
“This is only the beginning of great,” he promised.
He proved it that night when, at dinner, he produced a diamond ring for Catherine. “You will marry me, won’t you?”
“Of course I will,” she said, and kissed him.
Word spread quickly to the neighboring tables and soon a regular parade of fellow cruisers was stopping by their table to congratulate them and admire Catherine’s ring.
“By the way,” Athena said once the parade ended, “I have something for both of you. It’s not from me, though.” She handed the gift bag she’d brought into the dining room to Catherine.
“What on earth?” Catherine pulled out a large gold box with a cupid embossed on it. “Chocolates.” She took the attached gift envelope and opened it, then read aloud. “‘Everything’s better with chocolate. Love, Trevor and Sophie.’”
“It sure is,” said Lila. “Let’s open ’em.”
Catherine passed over the treat and smiled at Rudy. “I don’t see how my life could get any better.”
“Same here,” he said.
Later that night, when she went to bed she found more than a chocolate on her pillow. Rudy had left her a charm—a sterling-silver heart. She picked up the little piece of ship’s stationery where he’d scrawled a note. Looking forward to another wonderful cruise, and a wonderful life together.
And it would be.
* * *
Dear Reader,
When this story was first completed people (including myself and my husband) were taking cruises, seeing the world and having a wonderful time. They were going to concerts and plays and school functions and the last thing anyone was thinking about was stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
COVID-19 changed all that. As I’m writing you this letter no one is going anywhere. I sincerely hope that by the time this book gets to you the bad times will be behind us, that people will be happily