Excerpt: Smooth Sailing

One

Edie Montgomery followed the nurse into the emergency treatment area. “Sylvie, oh my God. What happened?” She rushed to the gurney where her best friend sat partially reclined.

“Edie, before I answer that, promise me you will go on the cruise without me.”

“But—"

“No. Ouch, dammit.” Pain creased Sylvia’s face. “Promise.”

“Okay, okay. Now tell me what happened.” Edie tossed her purse and coat onto the chair and stared at her friend.

“Gall bladder attack. It has to come out. I’m so sorry. I was looking forward to the cruise, too. But you still have to go.”

“Don’t worry about that now. Have you called Michael?”

“My son is in Japan on business. My brother and his wife will be here later.” Sylvia pressed her fingertips between her breasts. “Sonofabitch, that hurts. I thought I was having a heart attack.”

“I’m sure we can cancel, under the circumstances. Allie can book us on a later cruise, even if we have to pay an additional fee to make the changes.”

“Edie Montgomery, if your skinny ass isn’t on the ship when it sails day after tomorrow, I’m coming after you—stitches or not.”

Edie shook her head. “Why would I want to go on a cruise alone?”
Sylvia grimaced, then flashed a tight smile. “Because maybe—just maybe—you won’t finish the cruise alone. Know what I mean?”

“Uh-huh. And who says I’m looking for anyone?”

“Well, you should be. Oooh, dammit. Where the hell is that damn doctor with the pain shot he promised?”

A nurse swept back the curtain. “That damn doctor is with another emergency patient. This damn nurse has your pain shot. Now, stop yowling.”

Sylvia and Edie both burst into laughter.

“Leave it to me to come into the ER when Laura’s on duty.” Sylvia rolled her eyes toward the nurse. “Just give me the-- Ouch. You did that on purpose.”

“Yes, I did.” Laura disposed of the syringe. “Wish I could take the next ten days off and go on that cruise with you, Edie.”

“I’m going to see if I can cancel,” Edie rummaged in her purse for her cell phone.

Sylvia motioned with her chin toward Edie, speaking to Laura. “Can you give her something to knock some sense into her?”

A young doctor in jeans and white lab coat strode into the room. “Mrs. Mueller, with the injection I ordered, you should feel much better now. I’ve schedule surgery for tomorrow morning at ten. I’ll get you upstairs soon.” With that he turned and left.

Edie grinned at Sylvia. “Well, he’s going to get you upstairs soon, so…”

“I should be so lucky. Wow, what was in that shot? The room is spinning.”

“She’ll be out in ten minutes,” Laura said to Edie. “I’ll be back.”

Edie moved closer to the gurney, patting Sylvia’s hand. “Sylvie, you’re going to be okay.”

Sylvia opened one eye. “Hell, yes, I’m going to be okay. It’s you I’m worried about.”

“Me?”

“Promish me you’ll go on the cruish,” Sylvia slurred.

Edie chuckled. “I’ll see.”

Sylvia’s eyelids drooped, and her mouth slackened. An orderly came in and unlocked the gurney to deliver Sylvia to her room.

Once Sylvia was settled and sleeping comfortably, Edie left the hospital. How could she go on the cruise now? Surely no one would expect her to go alone. Edie Montgomery never went anywhere alone. Edie Montgomery never went anywhere. Standing outside the hospital, she flipped open her phone and pressed ‘6’.

“Time of Your Life Travel. This is Allyson.”

“Allie, it’s mom.”

“Hi, Mom. Getting excited?”

“Not exactly. Honey, Sylvie’s in the hospital, and she’s having surgery tomorrow.”

“Oh, no. Is it serious? Of course it’s serious. It’s surgery. But, Mom, Sylvia was going with you.”

Edie smiled at the way her eldest daughter answered her own question. Allie was one of those people who could carry on an entire conversation with herself. “That’s why I’m calling. Do you think you can cancel and put us on a different cruise in a couple of months?”

“I don’t think I can. At this late date, there’s no refund. Is there someone else who can go with you? Well, I suppose it’s a little late to ask someone.”

“Maybe I should call Brooke.”

“She’s at a conference in New York until Wednesday. And you know she barely has time to pee, much less take ten days off to explore the Alaskan wilderness. Though I suppose she could work from the ship via phone and email, if she wanted to.”

“No, you’re right. Brooke’s always busy.” Edie never quite knew where to find her youngest daughter. Brooke had skipped a grade, graduated from high school a year earlier than others her age, ran through college to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees in four years, and burst into the world of high-powered business like a heat-seeking missile. She spent more time in the air, traveling from one continent to another, than in her office.

“Maybe Aunt Marie could go along,” Allie suggested, then added, “Oh, but, she’s phobic about water.”

Edie lifted her face and stared at her reflection in the shaded glass window. She’d aged well. At fifty-six, she looked—well—fifty. What the hell is so great about looking fifty? What did other widows her age do with their vacation time?
She could scarcely believe her own voice. “I’m going by myself.”

“You’re…huh? Great. Why not? Well, it’s mostly couples and families on those cruises, but… Why not? It’s not like you were going with a…a…date.”

“Do you think you can change my flight so I can be here in the morning for Sylvie’s surgery? It’s at ten.”

“That I can do. Hold on, Mom. I’m pulling up flights on the computer. I can get you on…um…a three o’clock flight routed through Denver. You’ll get to Seattle late, but you can rest the next day on the ship. I can still drive you to the airport.”

“Thanks, honey. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

On her way home, Edie stopped at a fast food restaurant for a salad. She’d already cleared out the refrigerator in anticipation of her trip.