Chapter 3

The next morning, I woke up with a fever of 102.2°F.

Mom came in to get me for breakfast. The moment she touched my forehead, her expression changed.

"You're burning up."

There was a doctor on board.

He took my temperature, checked my throat, and gave me some medicine.

"Looks like you got a little chilled last night. Get plenty of rest."

Dad handed me a glass of water.

"You heard the doctor. Stay in bed and get some rest."

I nodded, took the medicine, and fell asleep again.

When I woke up, the cabin felt stuffy, and my throat felt like I'd swallowed razor blades.

I put on a mask and stepped outside for some air.

As soon as I reached the hallway, I saw Julian coming downstairs with a gift bag in his hand.

There were two wrapped boxes beside my parents, and even Charles and Laura had people carrying gifts out onto the deck.

It took me a few seconds to remember.

Today was Anna's birthday.

I'd bought her a gift too.

A vintage watch.

We'd gone shopping together last month, and she'd stood outside the store window staring at it for a long time.

She liked it, so I'd remembered.

I went back to my cabin and opened my suitcase.

The gift box was tucked beneath my clothes.

I took it out and stared at it for a long moment. Then I shoved it back into the suitcase.

I didn't want to give it to her anymore.

I had just closed the suitcase when I heard footsteps outside.

Keith was walking toward me from the other end of the hallway, carrying a can of peaches.

The yacht had everything.

Fresh fruit, desserts, snacks. The Sterling family had even brought their own chef.

But canned peaches were the kind of ordinary grocery-store food no one would've thought to stock.

The moment I saw the can, I knew Keith must have bought it before we boarded.

Whenever I had a fever as a kid, I lost my appetite.

I wouldn't eat soup or anything else. The only thing I could manage was a few bites of canned peaches.

Keith used to tease me about it when we were kids.

"Everyone else wants soup when they're sick. You have to have something sweet."

Later, whenever I got sick, he'd always buy me canned peaches without me even asking.

My heart had gone cold the night before.

But seeing that can in his hand made it soften despite myself.

So he'd bought it before the trip because he was worried I might get sick.

Keith saw me too.

"What are you doing out here? Didn't the doctor tell you to stay in bed?"

"It was stuffy in there."

My throat hurt, so my voice came out soft.

"Don't stay out too long. And make sure you take your medicine on time."

With that, he headed downstairs.

But he didn't give me the peaches.

By noon, my throat hurt so badly I could barely swallow water.

I lay in bed staring at my chat with Keith.

After hesitating for a long time, I was just about to ask where he'd put the peaches when I suddenly heard people singing outside.

"Happy birthday to you..."

I walked to the doorway and looked down.

A table downstairs had been set up for the birthday celebration.

Anna sat in the middle, surrounded by everyone.

And right in front of her was the can of peaches I'd thought was meant for me.

Anna's eyes turned red.

"You remembered?"

Keith was sitting beside her.

"You told me about it in college, remember?

"You said when you were little, your family didn't have much. But every year on your birthday, your mom would buy you a can of peaches.

"Later, when you could afford anything you wanted, you could never quite find that same taste again."

So the peaches had never been for me.

Then everyone started giving Anna her gifts.

Julian gave her a camera.

Laura pushed a gift box toward her.

"You'll be going to more formal events from now on. This will come in handy."

Mom handed over her gift too.

Dad smiled.

"I heard that project of yours is going really well. You're clearly good at what you do."

Charles nodded.

"She's capable. If she'd had a few more advantages growing up, there's no telling how far she might go."

Everyone gathered around Anna, smiling.

I stood at the top of the stairs in my mask, feeling completely out of place.

Mom was the first to notice me.

"Natalie, why are you out of bed again? Don't come down.

"It's Anna's birthday. Don't give her your cold."

I turned around and went back to my cabin.

A message from Vivian was waiting for me.

Vivian: [I'm already on my way. I'll be there in an hour.]

One more hour.

Then I could leave.