Caribbean Cruising Read Free

again. I was truly glad for her.
    Our eyes were the same shade of green, our hair the same light blond. Strawberry blond, Mom always said, because when the sun hit it just right a hint of red glimmered along the strands. Mom's hair was cropped short and curled around her face. I wore mine straight, past my shoulders. It had a lot of body, but very little curl.
    When first meeting us people usually thought that Mom was my older sister. She was very young when she married my dad. She had me a year later. It was kinda cool having such a hip Mom.
    Walter was a bit older and very distinguished looking—dark hair with silvery wisps at his temples. Gray eyes. Every time I saw him, he was wearing a jacket or a blazer, like he always expected to meet someone important. Or maybe it was simply that he was important.
    "Hey, kiddo," Walter said as I neared.
    He was always calling me kiddo. At first I thought it was because he never could remember my name.
    But then I came to realize that it was his way of showing affection.
    "Hey," I said. And it occurred to me that he might want me to start calling him Dad after tonight. I wasn't certain I'd feel comfortable doing that. I liked Walter, but I didn't really see him as my dad. I saw him as Mom's husband.
    "Is your cabin satisfactory?" he asked.
    I knew Walter wasn't asking simply to make small talk. If I wasn't happy, he'd do something about it. I couldn't imagine having as much influence as Walter did.
    I nodded. "It's perfect. Thanks."
    "Do you have any questions about the cruise, getting around, what to expect?" he asked.
    "No, sir. I think I'm cool with everything. I studied all the brochures you gave Mom, so I know what I want to do." I wasn't going to tell Walter or Mom that I also wanted to do some things that weren't in the brochures.
    mhtml:file://C:\Program Files\eMule\Incoming\+ Hawthorne, Rachel - Caribbean Cruising....
    4/6/2009
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    "She's probably already created a checklist of everything she plans to do," Mom said with a loving smile. "Lindsay is a great believer in lists."
    I was also a great believer in not sharing every list with my Mom. I loved her to death, but it's a fact of life that there are some things parents are better off not knowing. I figured she'd freak if she knew that I planned to have my own version of a honeymoon during this cruise.
    "All righty, then, I'm going to leave you ladies to make yourselves more beautiful." Walter leaned over and kissed Mom on the cheek.
    "Although I don't see how that's a possibility."
    I fought not to roll my eyes. As sweet as he was, sometimes Walter got a little corny, although I'm sure Mom saw him as being romantic. Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind having a guy tell me that I was beautiful.
    "Have fun," Walter said.
    "We will," Mom assured him.
    As soon as Walter had disappeared amidst the throng of people, Mom hooked her arm through mine and marched me down the hall, like we were rejects from The Wizard of Oz.
    "Are you sure your cabin's all right?" Mom asked.
    "It's terrific, Mom."
    "Are you going to be okay staying by yourself?"
    "A little late to worry about that, isn't it?" I teased.
    She laughed. "A mom always worries. I'm just sorry that Julie can't stay past tonight."
    "Yeah, she's totally bummed now that she's had a chance to see a little of the ship. But I'll make friends.
    I'll be fine."
    "Walter and I have a two-bedroom suite. You could stay in the other bedroom—"
    "No way!" I cut her off. The last place I wanted to be was where Mom and good old Walter could keep an eye on me. As soon as my obligations regarding the wedding were over, I planned to hit my to do list with determination until every item on it was checked off.
    "I love my cabin," I assured her. "I've been on my own forever. I love it."
    "I know, but this is a little different. You'll be going places you haven't gone to before—"
    "I'll find someone to hang around with. A lot of the activities are planned. I can hang out with a