Aboard the Wishing Star Read Online Free PDF

took one step inside then jumped back into Kara. "Quick, turn on the light."
    Kara flicked the switch. "Oh, look, swans."
    Their cabin steward had made swans out of white towels. One sat on each bed beside a chocolate mint.
    Viv sunk onto her bed. "I thought it was a snake."
    "The curved head does resemble a snake." Kara smiled. Vivian was afraid of snakes.
    "I can't believe I let a towel frighten me."
    "I won't tell." Kara turned around. "Help me out of this dress. I'll send it to the ship's dry cleaner tomorrow."
    "Okay." Viv unzipped the dress.
    The dry cleaning fees were higher here but Viv had planned to wear that dress one night. Kara had been careful with her money to have enough for some extras on this trip.
    After liquidating her husband's subcontracting business and paying his creditors, Kara had barely enough to pay her monthly bills. He'd cashed in his life insurance to pay off part of his business debts and left her with nothing except their house and mortgage.
    But now she had her head above water again.
    She couldn't remember when she'd last splurged on anything fun. She was long overdue. When was the last time she bought a new dress?
    "What do you want to do tomorrow?" Viv asked.
    "Lounge in the sun, sip a frosty drink."
    "Sounds good." Viv stepped into the bathroom.
    Kara changed into the shorts and tee shirt she'd worn at the airport. She flipped through the TV programs while waiting for Viv to come out. The ship had a shopping channel, a weather channel, an excursion channel, and a movie channel playing Jaws . Then she remembered she never called Daryl back. She walked to the safe and took out her phone.
    Turning it on she saw four calls and five texts from him. She dialed his number.
    "Kara," he answered on the first ring. "It's about time you called me."
    "What's wrong?"
    "I've been worried about you."
    "I'm fine. The uh, ship's reception isn't very good."
    "Did you get my flowers?"
    "Oh." Her heart sunk. "Yes. Thank you."
    Of course they weren't from Nate. What was she thinking?
    "Kara?"
    "Yes?"
    "Thought I'd lost you." He sounded relieved.
    "I can still hear you."
    "Did they find your luggage?"
    "Not yet."
    "Go shopping. I'll wire you money."
    "Thank you, but I'm fine. I bought a few things tonight."
    "I'll treat you."
    "No, Daryl."
    "Listen to me. Take the money."
    But she didn't want to listen to him trying to push her into something she didn't want. "Daryl, can you hear me? We're losing the connection. I will talk to you later. Bye."
    "Kara? Damn it."
    She heard the frustration in his voice. Turning off the phone gave her such relief.
    Why was he so pushy?
    Just because he'd advised her in the months since her husband died didn't mean she had to follow all his advice about money. Though she was grateful he'd helped her straighten out the mess Neil had left her with, which was an accountant's nightmare, there were days when she wished he didn't know any of her personal business and other days when she felt guilty for even thinking that after how supportive he'd been.
    She locked the phone up in the safe just before Viv came out of the bathroom. "Were you talking to someone? Oh, I don't believe it. Jaws is playing?"
    "I've been flipping channels." Kara switched off the TV. "Someone must have a morbid sense of humor."
    "Yeah. Twisted."
    Kara took her turn in the bathroom. When she came out, Vivian's snores greeted her.
    She's such a heavy sleeper she'd sleep through a fire alarm. ... No, don't think about fires or sharks. This cruise is supposed to be fun.
    She flipped through the TV channels, finding nothing to catch her interest. The phone call had left her feeling agitated instead of sleepy so she decided to stretch her legs. She slipped the map into the pocket of her shorts and left the room, heading for the pool deck.
    She entered the open middle deck where the outdoor pool stood empty and climbed the steps to the upper deck, wondering how the sea would look at night. The damp rail against her hand