said, and settled into another chair. She’d brought her purse along just in case she felt tempted by something she saw, and she put that on the chair next to her.
“That was some meal, wasn’t it?” he said.
“Amazing.” Like the rest of the trip so far.
She wondered what the kids were doing. Did they miss her? She hadn’t had an email or text from either of them. Not that she expected one from William. Once he’d married he’d delegated the family chats to his wife. Although he’d been quick enough to ask for money when he needed it, Catherine thought with a frown. And Lila. It would have been nice to at least get a text asking if she’d arrived in Amsterdam in one piece.
But really, if the plane had crashed it would have been in the news, so texting to ask, “Are you all right?” would have been a little silly. Still...
Denise was right. Catherine’s kids were twits.
“You okay, Catherine?”
She recalled her wandering thoughts. “Hmm?”
“You okay?” Trevor repeated, looking at her in concern.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said. “But I think I need a repeat of that fancy drink I had the night before.”
“You got it,” he said, and called over a waiter.
Five minutes later Catherine had her drink and was thanking Trevor for picking up the tab.
He waved away her thanks. “Gotta keep the ladies happy.”
“I think you’re doing a good job of that,” she said.
“I could do better,” he said, his easy smile looking a little less easy.
She followed his gaze to where the glass ornaments were laid out. Sophie had joined Rudy and Athena and was chatting happily.
“Don’t give up,” Catherine advised. “Sometimes it takes a while for things to sort themselves out.”
“You’re a wise woman, Catherine.”
“Not really,” she demurred.
“Yeah, you are. By the way, feel free to run interference for me,” he cracked.
“I’ll try my best.” Distracting Rudy from Sophie—tough job, but someone had to do it. Ha ha.
The others drifted over and found seats, Rudy taking one next to Catherine and Athena flanking his other side. Sierra and Denise both sat down, leaving the chair next to Trevor free.
“I have chocolate,” Trevor said to Sophie, patting the seat, and she dropped onto it.
“I couldn’t eat another thing,” she said. Then, as he pulled the bar from his shirt pocket, she added, “Maybe just one bite.”
“Anyone want to try the Catherine special, ladies?” he offered. “I’m buying.”
Sierra shook her head and murmured a “No, thanks.” She was such a subdued version of the woman who had joined them the first day of the cruise. Did it have something to do with the husband who hadn’t been able to join her?
Her sister seemed to be trying to balance the social scales with smiles and enthusiasm. “It looks fabulous. What was it called?” she asked Catherine.
“A Winter Wonderland,” Catherine said.
Trevor summoned the waiter back. “One of these for the rest of the ladies.”
“You don’t have to,” Athena protested.
“I know. I want to.”
“That’s really nice of you,” Catherine said to him.
“Nah. It’s really selfish. I like feeling like a big man.”
Generous, humble, fun-loving—Trevor was a gift from Santa, for sure. Catherine hoped Sophie woke up to that before the cruise ended and it was too late.
The demonstration began, the glassblower talking about glassblowing in general and his region of Germany specifically. He inspired many oohs and aahs as he blew an elegant, long-stemmed candleholder.
Catherine had been one of those doing the oohing and aahing, and when he was done, he asked her name.
“Catherine,” she said.
“The Great,” Trevor added, lifting his glass to her.
“Would you like this, Catherine the Great?” asked the glassblower.
“Oh, yes,” she said.
“Well, then, you may have it,” he said. “My assistant will box it up for you.”
“Lucky you,” Sophie said to her.
“I’ve never won anything,” she confessed. Here was another lovely memory to add to the ones she was collecting.
“Don’t let Lila see it,” Denise cautioned. “She’ll expect to get it for Christmas.”
The mention of Lila and Christmas in the same sentence dulled the shine of the moment. Catherine wouldn’t be with her daughter at Christmas. She wouldn’t be with either of her children.
If only this cruise went through December 25. She could stay busy seeing sights and drinking fancy cocktails. But it didn’t. In fact, the cruises stopped by then so crew members could be with their families.
Who needed family togetherness, anyway? Not her. She had...a glass candlestick.
* * *
Face facts, Sophie told herself. Rudy was not interested in being with a younger woman and