“You guys go ahead and play. I’ll see if I can find some food,” Sierra offered, and slipped out of the room.
The ice was working. The painkiller would be soon, as well. She suddenly didn’t feel quite so bad. “Sounds good,” she said, unwrapping her candy bar. So did the prospect of playing cards with Trevor.
* * *
“Shall we enjoy a light lunch in the lounge?” Rudy suggested as the group made their way back down the hall.
“Yes, let’s. I’m ready to relax,” Catherine said, and the others fell in with them.
They’d just made their way to the casual dining area when she spotted Sierra coming toward them. “Did you get your sister all settled?” Catherine asked her.
“Yes, Trevor’s with her and they’re about to start a card game. I’m going to bring them some food a little later.”
“Maybe you’d like to join us for lunch,” Catherine offered.
“That would be nice actually. I think right now I’d be a third wheel back in our room.”
“It’s a shame your husband couldn’t join you,” Catherine said as they got into the food line. “It’s nice to be able to make these memories together.” Sierra’s face dropped. Oh, dear. Clearly that was a sore subject. “My husband and I had talked about taking a cruise after he retired,” she hurried on, rushing past the awkward moment.
“You didn’t get to?” Sierra prompted.
Catherine shook her head. “He died before we could.” She sighed. “I’m afraid we never did much of anything exciting. We were too busy when the kids were younger. You know, work, sporting events, school projects. Even after they moved out there was always something—caring for our aging parents, a surgery or two.” She shrugged. “It seemed like time for us always got put on the back burner. We’d just gotten passports and were starting to make plans when he died.”
“That’s awful,” Sierra said.
“It was,” Catherine said. “I was looking forward to doing things together.”
“So were my wife and I,” put in Rudy.
Catherine had been so busy talking with Sierra she’d momentarily forgotten he was next to her, hearing all about her less than stellar life. She could feel a warmth stealing over her face.
“How did your wife die?” Sierra asked. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
“I don’t. Melanoma. I wish I’d caught it. She was a California girl, spent lots of time in the sun. I’d sent her to a dermatologist for regular skin checks, but then one year...” He shook his head. “By the time we caught it, it was too late.”
Now his daughter jumped into the conversation. “You can’t blame yourself, Daddy. You were a wonderful husband. My mother meant everything to him.”
“Lucky her,” Sierra said wistfully. Then, to Rudy, “I hope you’ll find someone else wonderful one day.”
Athena didn’t look happy at the idea of that. “I think Daddy knows there’ll never be anyone like my mother.”
She was looking at Catherine when she said it. It was hard not to take the hint.
That was okay, though. Catherine wasn’t looking. But if she was, Rudy would be perfect.
They got their food and settled in the little dining area at the bow of the ship. Rudy managed to position himself and Catherine a few seats away from Athena.
“My daughter means well,” he said to Catherine in a low voice.
“Of course she does. She’s a good daughter.” Catherine wondered if her own daughter would look out for her as scrupulously.
He shook his head, looked a little embarrassed. “Sometimes she thinks she’s my mother.”
“I think it’s sweet that she’s watching out for you.”
“I guess I can’t blame her. She’s afraid I’ll do something stupid. But I’ve got to say, booking this cruise was one of my smarter ideas. It sure beats sitting home, looking at four walls and being lonely.”
“Yes, it does,” Catherine agreed. Bill may not have been the most perfect man in the world but he’d been her man. She missed eating dinner in front of the TV together, watching a mystery or lying side by side in bed at night, each of them with a book. Missed those good-night kisses. Missed having someone in the house with her. Sometimes it felt like she was rattling around in a giant mausoleum.
“I don’t think anyone should have to be alone if they don’t want to be,” Rudy said emphatically.
“I agree,” Catherine said, then saw the hopeful expression on his face. “But sometimes circumstances prevent you from doing what you really want.”