Cabin Fever

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 usualLeo, Mary is the author of 'Cabin Fever' with ISBN 9780373389681 and ISBN 037338968X.