They certainly hadn’t last Christmas, and they wouldn’t be this one, either. “They do,” she said, and left it at that.
Back on the ship she shed her coat and made her way to the lounge, where Rudy had already gotten drinks for them. It felt good to simply sit and look out the window at the houses perched along the bank of the Rhine.
“It’s so pretty over here,” she said. “I almost feel like I’m in a fairy tale.” It felt like one—charming Christmas markets with festive lights and decorations everywhere, their beautiful ship. A handsome prince.
Guarded by a dragon.
“I never tire of coming to Europe,” Rudy said.
“What’s your favorite country?” Catherine asked him.
“Hard to pick. They all have their own special flavor.”
“Where all have you been?” she asked.
“Oh, let’s see. I’ve seen Italy, cruised the Mediterranean.”
“You and Mom did that for your thirtieth anniversary,” put in Athena.
“We did. It’s a very romantic country. But then, so is France. Ever been to France, Catherine?”
Only in my dreams. “I’d like to go someday. I’d also like to take one of those cruises down to Mexico. I’ve never been.” There were so many places she’d never been.
“That’s a good one,” he said.
“Maybe I’ll have to try that next,” she said.
Once she was done with chemo she’d treat herself to a cruise, she decided, and felt pleased with herself for thinking so positively. How could you not think positive when you were living a fairy tale?
“How about you, Athena?” Catherine asked, determined to draw her into the conversation.
She shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” her father chided. “How about that trip to London?”
Her face brightened. “That was special. Daddy had a patient who owned a second house just outside of London. He let us have it for a week and Mom and Daddy took me there for my twenty-first birthday.” She looked at her father, adoration in her eyes.
“We used to go to Hawaii a lot when she was growing up. She’s done a fair bit of traveling since.”
“After my divorce,” Athena said with a scowl, “I don’t care if I ever see Paris again.”
“Maybe someday you’ll see it with someone wonderful and that will take the bad taste out of your mouth,” Catherine suggested.
“Maybe,” Athena said with a shrug. Then added, “I would like to visit Greece.”
“So would I,” Catherine said. So many places she still wanted to see, so many things she wanted to do. Was she going to get a chance to do them?
“Let’s toast to more adventures in the future,” Rudy said, and raised his glass mug to her.
“To more adventures,” she said, and she, too, raised hers.
“To adventure,” Athena said a little less enthusiastically.
Catherine found herself feeling sorry for the woman. Apparently, all had not gone as planned in her life.
But then, things often didn’t go as planned, and if there was one thing Catherine was coming to realize it was that you had to make new plans. There was no point in sitting around moping over what hadn’t gone right, no point wishing things could be different. She couldn’t bring back her husband, she couldn’t reraise her children. Life was what it was and you had to grab on to those good moments and enjoy them while you could.
“You know,” she said, “I think I’ll go sample some of those cookies. Would you two like me to bring you back some?”
“Sure,” Rudy said happily.
Cookies and hot chocolate and a pretty view from aboard a river cruise ship, and a nice man to enjoy it with—this was a good moment.
* * *
“The Lindt chocolate museum isn’t far from where we’re docked,” Sierra said as she and Sophie and Trevor rode back to the ship. “I was really hoping to see it. How’s your ankle holding up?”
Sierra had actually been having a good time and Sophie was willing to do anything to keep that happy vibe going, even though she was beginning to worry about her ankle.
“I can handle another hour on it. Trevor, do you want to check out your competition’s home base?”
“Sure,” he said. “Anyway, I’m sure you two will have more bags you’ll need help carrying.”
The Lindt store attached to the museum was a veritable chocolate treasure chest, and they did, indeed, make more purchases. Sierra bought some chocolate for Mark, and Sophie bought some chocolate truffles for Trevor as a thank-you for his chivalry. She also took pictures for Instagram and some selfies of the three