At that, Skip glanced down at Kelsey’s bent head. “You are better now, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Kelsey said quickly. “Thanks again.” She downed the last of the water and looked up to see her mother scrutinizing her.

“Something’s wrong,” Mrs. Tanner said flatly.

“No, Mom, it’s just a little headache,” Kelsey brushed it off. “I’m feeling much—”

“It was the dream again,” Mom said, and Kelsey looked away, almost guiltily. “Oh, Kelsey, you haven’t had it for such a long time now, I just—”

“It’s all this,” Kelsey’s voice tightened. “The boat and all this water—you know how much I hate water, but you made me come anyway—” With a sharp intake of breath she folded her arms across her chest, trying to stop the violent shaking inside her.

“Well…if you’re sure you’re okay then,” Skip said slowly, taking a step back. “I’d better get below. We’ll be docking in a few minutes. See you on the island, huh?” He grinned and waved, vanishing into the crowds, but Kelsey closed her eyes and sighed.

“Kelsey” Mom said quietly. “Honey, I’m sorry. I thought it’d be good for you to have a vacation. Make new friends. I…guess I thought…” her voice sank to a whisper and trembled, “maybe you could forget…”

She trailed off, but Kelsey’s mind raced on. Forget? How in the world would she ever be able to forget? When every sight of water reminded her? When the same nightmare kept coming back? When every time she looked in a mirror, the reminder was always there: her father’s black eyes snapping back at her, her father’s black hair, wavy and wild…his nose…his chin…his olive complexion…how could she ever forget when he wouldn’t let her?

“Honey,” Mom’s hand settled lightly on Kelsey’s head. “If you really hate it that much, you can call Jenny, and—”

“It’s okay,” Kelsey mumbled. “Come on—we’d better find our suitcases.” As they joined the line near the exit, she even tried to laugh. “Well, at least Eric’s kids have never met me, so I still have a chance of impressing somebody. What are their names again?”

Mom counted them off. “Let’s see…there’s Beth…the boys are Justin…and Neale. Eric said this vacation was really Beth’s idea, that they see each other so seldom, she wanted to get everybody together again.”

Kelsey mulled this over. “That’s nice. She sounds sweet”

“Eric sure loves her—and Justin—he talks all the time about Justin’s honors at school.”

“What about Neale?”

Mom hesitated, a slight frown creasing her brow. “You know, I’m not really sure. Eric hardly ever talks about Neale. I might be wrong, but I sense something there. A holding back, maybe. I get the feeling he doesn’t know Neale as well as the others.”

“Maybe Neale’s the problem child,” Kelsey shrugged.

“Maybe,” Mom mused. “Neale’s the oldest, so it was probably hardest on him when their mother died. Whoops! Hang on, honey, I think we’re going out!”

Kelsey braced herself for the stampede as they were sucked through the doors and down the gangplank. The first thing she saw was the pier, swarming with people and shops. The next thing she saw was Eric, fighting his way toward them.