off and forgetting the people you’ve loved. I certainly can’t forget my mother.”
“I didn’t say you should.” Denise’s tone of voice bordered on scolding. “But do you honestly think those who have crossed over before us are insulted if we enjoy our lives? They’re on to other things themselves, not placing bets with each other to see whose family can stay miserable the longest. Life goes on and we have to, as well.”
In a way it did, and Catherine felt suddenly guilty for being on a cruise, enjoying herself. Enjoying visiting with a handsome man.
“All right, let me ask you this,” Denise said, settling in for a good debate. “Did your mother love you?”
Athena’s brows lowered and her mouth dipped down at the corners. “Of course she did.”
“And she loved your father?”
“Absolutely. And he loved her.”
“Goes without saying,” Rudy murmured.
“Did it make her happy when your life wasn’t going well?”
“Of course not,” Athena replied in disgust.
“Did she enjoy making your father miserable?”
Athena looked ready to beat Denise with a dinner plate. “No!”
“Then why would she want to see either of you miserable now?” Athena didn’t have anything to say to that and Denise continued. “No one wants that for the people they love. I know my husband didn’t want that for me, and I sure don’t want that for my daughter. I’ve already told her when I’m gone I expect her to have a wake—invite all my friends and family to tell funny stories about me and drink and laugh. And I expect my daughter to take some of the money I plan to leave her and buy a fancy car and take a road trip with one of her girlfriends. I’ll be smiling down on her the whole time, bugging the angels to sweep aside the rain clouds and give her sunny skies the whole way.”
“Well said,” Rudy approved. He raised his wineglass. “Here’s to sunny skies ahead for all of us.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Catherine said, and raised her glass, as well.
“Me, too,” said Denise.
“And me,” said Sophie, and her sister smiled politely and lifted her glass, as well.
Athena struck Catherine as the kind of woman who didn’t like to lose an argument. She wasn’t smiling when she raised her glass and she said nothing.
In the hopes of ensuring she and Denise didn’t go another round, Catherine said, “I must confess, I am looking forward to this cruise.”
“Good,” said Denise. “Bill would have been happy to see you fitting in something nice before...”
Catherine cleared her throat loudly and gave her friend a pointed look. “Before anything could come up to stop you,” Denise amended.
“You have to do something nice for yourself once in a while,” Sophie added, looking at her sister. “Even if other people let you down.”
Sierra bit her lower lip and nodded. She pushed away her dessert plate, leaving her cake untouched. Who had let her down? What was her story?
“Yes, you should,” agreed Denise. “A cruise is one of the nicest things you can do.”
“You sure meet great people,” Sophie said, looking at Rudy. “And you never know, I’ve heard of people finding their soul mates on a cruise.”
“I’ve heard of people getting taken in by con artists,” put in Athena, which made Sophie blink in surprise. “You never know about strangers.”
“Well, I like to think the best of people,” Sophie said.
“A good philosophy,” Rudy agreed, and she beamed at him.
Denise pointed out the dining room window. “Look, everyone. We’re moving.”
Sure enough, the lights of the city were slipping by. They were on their way.
“Oh, my,” Sophie said weakly.
* * *
It had been a big, delicious dinner. Too much of a big, delicious dinner, and Sophie was feeling uncomfortably full. Now, with the boat moving, she was suddenly feeling more than full. She was beginning to feel queasy.
“I think I’m getting seasick,” she announced.
“You can’t get seasick,” her sister assured her. “There are no waves on a river.”
“I don’t know,” Sophie said uncertainly. She was sure she was getting sick.
“You’re imagining things,” Sierra told her.
Sophie shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“You were fine until Denise said we’re moving,” Sierra whispered. “It’s all in your head.”
Not all of it. Some of it was in her stomach.
“Rudy, what’s the best thing for seasickness? Is it too late to take Dramamine?” Sophie asked him.
“It’s best to take it ahead of time,” he said. “Maybe all you need is some fresh air.”
The good doctor didn’t offer to accompany her to the upper