advice. Someone actually wanted to hear what she had to say.
“I don’t know about that,” she said. “I’m sorry you’re going through this.”
“I shouldn’t have dumped it on you,” Sierra said with a sniff. “Good grief, you hardly know me.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I don’t usually barf my troubles all over people I’ve just met,” Sierra said, embarrassed. “It’s just that...I feel like I’ve been punched.” She dabbed at another tear and blew her nose.
Catherine handed over another tissue. “It’s okay.”
Sierra caught back a sob. “He’s breaking my heart.”
Catherine laid a hand over hers. “I know how it feels to be heartbroken. I felt that way when my husband died.”
“Sounds like you had a great marriage.”
“We had a good marriage. We always managed to work out our differences.” Not that they had that many left after almost forty years together. They’d grown accustomed to each other’s flaws and idiosyncrasies and settled into a comfortable cohabitation. Bill had always been there for her. Always there, period. “It’s so much easier to go through hard times when you have someone by your side,” she said sadly. “I wish I had him now.”
Sierra turned her back on her own unhappiness and looked at Catherine with concern. “Are you going through something hard right now?”
Catherine wished she’d kept her big mouth shut. “Just a little health challenge.”
“Why am I thinking it’s not little?”
“I’ll get through it.”
“I hope you do.”
“And you’ll get through what you’re dealing with, too, I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so. Thanks for listening. Again, I’m really sorry about boring you with my problems.”
“I didn’t mind,” Catherine assured her.
Sierra nodded, blew her nose one last time, then said, “I guess I’ll get back to the room and see if my sister’s feeling better.”
“I hope she’ll feel well enough to go on the castle tour. And you, too.”
Sierra shook her head. “Not sure I’m in the mood anymore.”
“It’s a shame to let tomorrow rob you of today’s joys,” Catherine said. Now there was a pearl of wisdom she needed to hang on to.
Sierra sighed. “I think it already has. Thanks again. For being there.”
“Anytime you want to talk,” Catherine said.
Sierra left just as Rudy approached the table, his daughter following behind like a sheep dog. Or rather, a rottweiler.
“May we join you?” he asked Catherine.
“Of course,” she said. It was difficult to include Athena in her smile, but she managed.
Athena gave her a small one in return.
“Great,” he said. “I think I need an omelet,” he added, and went off to stand in line at the omelet station.
Athena chose yogurt and some fruit and was back at the table while her father was still waiting in line to put in his order. “I imagine you’ll be spending the morning in Heidelberg with your friend,” she said casually. “She must be feeling neglected.”
Yes, with her two admirers, Denise was feeling terribly neglected. Arnold had bought her an ornament the night before and both men had plied her with drinks. Both had made sure she was going on the castle tour.
“I suspect Charlie and Arnold are going to demand a lot of her attention,” Catherine said.
Athena looked far from happy with that answer.
Now was the perfect time for a talk. “Athena, I suspect you’re worried that I might have designs on your father.”
Athena didn’t bother to deny it. “Don’t you?” she challenged.
“I have to admit, I’ve been lonely since my husband died, and I’m very much enjoying your father’s company. I’d like to be able to call him a friend, but I have no plans for getting involved romantically. I have some health issues I’m dealing with.”
Athena almost looked contrite. “Nothing serious, I hope.”
“I had uterine cancer. It was pretty advanced. After Christmas I’ll be starting chemo.”
For the second time that morning Catherine saw a woman’s face go pale. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m coping with it.”
“I...” Athena stared down at her yogurt.
“I understand you not wanting to share your father with another woman. Your mother sounds like she was someone very special.”
“It’s not just that. Daddy is...” Athena hesitated, and Catherine could tell she was searching for the right words. “Vulnerable. Watching my mother die, not being able to save her and him a doctor—it about killed him.”
“It had to be hard for you, too,” Catherine ventured.
Athena bit her lip, nodded. Both women sat in silence a moment, then Athena continued, “He was lost after Mom died. It made him easy prey.”
Was that how Athena thought Catherine saw her father?