Cabin Fever. Mary Leo
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the light and headed for her own cabin, tired but feeling content.
As she walked by a bank of windows and gazed up at the crescent moon, she had to smile at the romance of it all. It was childish to think a piece of inexpensive jewelry could change a person’s life, but with all her heart she wished and hoped it was true, not only for the passenger who would find the pendant, but for her, as well.
CHAPTER ONE
THE ONLY REASON Becky Montgomery had agreed to this Caribbean Christmas cruise aboard Alexandra’s Dream, with her late husband’s family was because of Laura, her fifteen-year-old niece. The girl knew her way around Becky like no one else, especially when it came to dealing with Becky’s mother-in-law, Estelle, the matriarch of the family.
“You don’t even have to see her,” Laura had said with that assuring voice of hers. “You know how much she hates the sun. She’ll probably stay in her cabin all day sleeping, or annoying the staff telling them how to run things. Besides, I need you and the kids to keep me sane. Between my mom nagging me all day and Grandma reciting the proper rules of etiquette over and over again I might end up hurling myself overboard. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience, would you?”
“If I go, I may have to hurl myself with you,” Becky had told her. There was no doubt in her mind that she would be going on any cruise with Estelle Montgomery. The mere thought of being trapped on a ship with the woman had given her instant heartburn.
“Then we can save each other once we hit the water. Please, Aunt Becky. You have to come. I’m your favorite niece and I’m begging you.”
“You’re my only niece.”
“That may all end soon if you don’t come on this cruise.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m desperate.”
“You’re fifteen. All fifteen-year-olds are desperate.”
“Yes, but I’ve got Estelle and Kim for my role models. My desperation is on another level.”
That was the precise moment when Becky’s resistance had tumbled and she had agreed. She always was a sucker for an underdog and she really felt for Laura.
However, now that the departure date had actually arrived, Becky was having second thoughts. The suitcases were packed, the shore excursions were purchased, and Becky had secured a neighbor to come in and water the plants, feed Brad and Angelina, Sarah’s lovebirds, play with Lance Armstrong, Connor’s tabby cat, and walk John Wayne, the family bulldog. Now Becky wasn’t so sure this whole thing was such a smart idea. She was so nervous about the adventure that the Mickey Mouse pancakes she’d made for her kids for breakfast had given her the dry heaves, and the headache she’d been trying to ignore since waking was now about to blow her eyes out of their sockets.
Still, the fact remained, she had made an agreement with Laura and it was too late to back out…or was it?
Wouldn’t a simple phone call to Estelle solve all her problems? She could merely say she was really sorry, but she and the kids couldn’t make it this year…or next year, or ever.
Becky sat down at the table with her favorite mug filled to the brim with hot tea and a bowl of dry Cocoa Puffs cereal, her favorite breakfast treat, and seriously pondered the idea as she watched her seven-year-old daughter Sarah gently eat around Mickey’s ears. She liked to save them for last.
“I think this whole thing is dumb,” Becky’s ten-year-old son, Connor, announced. He hadn’t touched his food.
“You think everything is dumb,” Sarah countered.
“Yeah, including you,” he shot back.
“Please, kids. Let’s try to be nice to each other while Mickey’s at the table.” Becky liked to discipline with whatever aid she had at hand. Usually she used the various pets as negotiating tools, but for some reason they weren’t in the room.
“Mom,” Connor reasoned, rolling his eyes. “These are pancakes.”
“It doesn’t matter. They represent Mickey, and while he’s a guest at our table, there’s no arguing.”
“Whatever,” Connor said, stabbing the pancake with his fork.
Becky stared at her young son. Laura had convinced her to agree to the cruise, but there was another reason that it might not be a good idea in the end: Connor. She hoped the trip would bring him out of his shell. Ever since his dad had died almost two years ago, Connor had slipped further and further into his own world, and now he hardly spoke or ate. And when he did converse, he was usually sarcastic or contrary. She’d tried everything she could think of to get him to come around, but nothing seemed to work for long. He seemed more distant with each passing day.
Becky watched as Connor made little circles with his fork in the syrup, not really eating, his mind obviously somewhere other than the present.
“Connor, two more bites, and finish your milk, then you can leave the table,” Becky said, knowing he just wanted to get back to his room.
Without saying a word, he did as he was told, then picked up his dish, placed it in the sink and left the room.
“Don’t worry, Mom.” Sarah patted Becky on the back. “Mickey understands why Connor’s so sad and he’s not mad at him for not liking the pancakes.”
Becky’s eyes watered as she hugged her sweet little girl.
“THE PURPOSE OF A CRUISE is to relax, especially a Caribbean cruise,” Lacey Garnett told Becky. “Take in the sights. Float on a breeze. Enjoy yourself.”
“Easy for you to say. You don’t have a mother-in-law like Estelle Montgomery,” Becky snapped.
The two women were standing in front of their shop, Frock U, a trendy boutique in Hillcrest, the uptown district of San Diego. Lacey turned the lock in the door and they stepped inside.
“She’s technically not your mother-in-law anymore. She’s simply your kids’ grandmother.”
“I know, you’re right, and I do want to keep that relationship strong.”
“Good. Then sit back and enjoy the perks.”
Becky flipped on the lights and the little shop came to life with color and bling. The women knew all about fashion trends and were constantly on the lookout for the next big craze.
“But I’ve hardly spoken to Estelle in two years, other than those phone calls every other week so my kids can keep in touch with their grandmother,” Becky said, putting her purse down behind the counter. She started to fold some T-shirts. “It’s just that she’s so controlling. Last week I received a detailed outline on the appropriate attire for each formal dinner and event on the ship. Not for my kids, but for me!”
“She’s just being helpful.”
Becky stopped folding and glued her fist to her hip. “No, she’s not. Helpful is what baggers do at grocery stores. Helpful is when you open a map in the middle of New York City and someone steps up to point out the way. Telling me what to wear on a cruise ship suggests that I don’t have a clue even though she knows I co-own a fashion boutique!” Becky’s arms were flailing now.
“I think you’re reading too much into this. Maybe she’s changed, but because you never really talk to her, you can’t see it. I still think she was simply trying to be helpful.” Lacey joined in the folding.
“Impossible. Her spots go all the way down to the bone.”
Lacey walked closer to Becky. “Hey, shouldn’t you be home right now, packing all those outfits for all those dinners and events or something? Doesn’t your plane leave in, like, three hours?”
“I’m not going.” Becky walked over and picked up the retro rotary phone behind the desk and started dialing.
Lacey