Chris tells me he’ll handle our luggage, so I’m able to focus on Shannon, holding her hand and trying to keep her breathing steadily as she breaks out in a cold sweat. Her mother is fluttering around us, clearly unsure what to do, but I don’t give a damn about her right now.
I have to make sure Shannon is okay because seeing her freak out like this pisses me off. This is all her mother’s doing, and unless I’m completely off the mark, she caused her daughter so much anxiety, she had a physical reaction to the stress.
“I think she’s okay now,” I say, taking a wet cloth someone brought us and pressing it against the back of her neck. She turned white as a ghost, but now that she’s lying down, her color is slowly coming back.
“I’m sorry for all the trouble,” Shannon tells me quietly.
I smile. “You’re not any trouble.”
“Perhaps the stress of the holidays, yes?” the cruise director suggests in her slightly accented English. “Has this happened before?”
“No.” Shannon shakes her head. “I’ve never had a reaction like this, not even when my father died.”
“Sometimes, things hit us in ways we do not understand. Yoga helps me with this, but I know it’s not for everyone.”
“Usually I run,” Shannon admits. “But between final exams at the school where I work and then the cruise, I haven’t worked out at all.”
“Well, you’ll be okay.” The cruise director pats her shoulder.
Someone brings us a bottle of water, and Shannon takes a few sips.
Chris and Aubrey are pacing like expectant parents, and Samantha hovers, watching intently but not saying a word. It takes about thirty minutes for Shannon’s color to return and for her to stop shaking, and at that point, she looks flustered and uncomfortable at being the center of attention.
“This is so embarrassing,” Shannon whispers, closing her eyes.
“Honey, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It happens. A lot more than you think.”
“Yes, but right there in front of the boat and everyone.”
“We just want you to be okay,” Aubrey says softly, reaching for her hand.
“I’m better now. Really.”
“Shannon.” Samantha’s shaky voice makes Shannon look up and she finally sits, taking the cloth off her neck and giving me a grateful look before turning to Aubrey and ignoring her mother altogether.
“You’re going to miss your flight,” she says.
“I already took care of it,” Chris cuts in. “Don’t worry about it. We’re on a flight tomorrow.”
“Oh, no. You’ve been so anxious to get home…” Shannon looks horrified.
“My son is fine. I’ve been a bit of a nervous Nelly, but he’s with family who adore him and are spoiling him rotten. He’ll be fine one more day.” Aubrey smiles comfortingly.
“But will you?”
Aubrey chuckles. “Now that I know you’re okay? Absolutely.”
“We have to go,” Shannon says abruptly, trying to stand up.
I slide my arm around her waist. “Easy. Your body was trying to tell you you’re overdoing it. Just sit a little longer.”
Shannon looks like she’s going to protest but then nods.
“We’re going to give you all a little privacy,” Aubrey says, leaning into Chris. “We’ll be outside if you need us.”
“Thank you.” Shannon squeezes her hand.
Samantha sinks onto the couch on one side of Shannon while I sit on the other.
