The understanding in her voice made Mary’s throat tight. “When I was a civilian working for the Army, yes, that’s true. But I lucked out with my new position. I’m always made to feel like part of the team.”
“It shouldn’t have to be that way, but it is. I spent thirty years in corporate law before my husband died, and my health forced me to step back. In that dog-eat-dog world, I always had to be perfect just to be considered adequate.” Diane’s expression turned wry. “The wheelchair only made it worse. Suddenly, people questioned my competence in ways they never had before, as if arthritis had somehow affected my brain rather than just my joints.”
“Exactly,” Mary said, grateful to talk to someone who understood. “That’s how I used to feel. Now, I’m lucky to have the job I do.”
“That little voice that tells us that we’re not enough is a liar,” Diane said firmly. “Though I understand why it’s there. The world treats us differently, and we internalize those messages whether we want to or not.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a man, tall and lean with dark hair just starting to gray at the temples and warm brown eyes that crinkled at the corners when he smiled. He carried two glasses of champagne and handed one to Diane with obvious affection, bending to kiss her cheek.
“Aunt Diane, you promised you’d pace yourself with the champagne. The trip has barely started,” he said.
“Don’t fuss, Colin. I’m celebrating.” Diane accepted the glass with a fond smile, then turned to Mary. “This is my nephew, Colin Morrison, my late sister’s son. He’s been kind enough to accompany me on this adventure, though I suspect he’s mostly here to make sure I don’t get into too much trouble.”
“Someone has to keep an eye on you,” Colin said with a wink. He turned to Mary with an easy smile. “May I offer you champagne?” He reached one hand out to shake while holding a champagne flute in his other.
“Mary Smithwick,” she said, shaking his hand. Up close, Colin had a kind face and an easy manner that put her immediately at ease. “I’d love a glass, but you don’t need to?—”
“Nonsense. The way I’ll eat on this trip, I need to get in every step possible.” He leaned down and whispered in a playful, conspiratorial tone. “Although the steps involved in getting a beautiful woman a drink will hardly compensate for the calories in our meal this evening!”
She laughed, admiring the twinkling in his blue eyes. He handed her the drink and then returned quickly with his own. “Your aunt and I have been comparing accessibility notes.”
“A favorite topic.” Colin’s eyes danced with humor. “Fair warning, though… if you encourage her, she’ll talk your ear off about universal design principles. She’s become quite the advocate.”
“Because someone needs to be.” Diane arched a brow. “And because I have the time, money, and lack of patience for nonsense, that makes me effective at it.”
The three of them talked for several more minutes, and Mary found herself genuinely enjoying their company. Colin was witty and well-traveled, with stories about his work in international finance that were surprisingly entertaining. He clearly adored his aunt, anticipating her needs without being overbearing, and the affection between them was obvious and warm.
“We should plan to have tea together tomorrow,” Diane suggested as the reception began to wind down. “Most of the passengers will be doing the walking tour of Charlottetown, and I suspect you will enjoy it immensely. But afterward, perhaps when you are ready for a break, we might meet. There’s supposed to be a lovely historic tea room near the waterfront with excellent accessibility.”
“That sounds perfect,” Mary agreed. “I’ve been looking forward to exploring, but at my own pace rather than keeping up with a group tour.”
“Exactly. Colin may abandon us for the more strenuous excursion, as he should. But you and I can have a civilized afternoon and compare notes on our respective adventures later.”
They exchanged cabin and phone numbers and made plans to meet in the morning. Then Diane and Colin headed off to dinner while Mary took a moment for herself. The sun was setting now, painting the harbor in shades of pink and gold, and Mary felt a deep sense of contentment settle over her.
This was good. This was exactly what she needed. Distance from Montana, from work, from the careful dance she and Bert had been doing for months. Time to think and breathe and remember who she was beyond her role at LSIMT.
Mary made her way to the dining room for dinner, where she was seated at a table with three other solo travelers. The conversation was pleasant if not particularly memorable, the food was excellent, and by the time she returned to her stateroom, she was tired and ready for bed.
The evening routine took longer, since the bathroom was smaller than hers at home, but Mary was practiced at adapting to new spaces. She transferred to the shower bench, grateful for the well-positioned grab bars and handheld showerhead. The water pressure was good, the temperature perfect, and by the time she was clean and dry, she felt relaxed in a way she hadn’t in months.
She rolled over to the bed, then transferred onto the mattress. Placing her legs onto the mattress, she used her hands to heft her butt backward. Settling against the pillows with her phone in hand, she was finally able to do what she’d been wanting to do all evening.
She texted Bert. Made it safely. The ship is beautiful, and I’ve already made a friend. Diane is a widow from Halifax, also in a wheelchair. We’re planning to explore Charlottetown tomorrow while everyone else does the walking tour.
The response came almost immediately, as if Bert had been waiting for her message. Glad you made it safely. Friend already? That didn’t take long. I hope it’s everything you want it to be.
Mary smiled at her phone, imagining Bert in his house across the street from her empty home, probably sitting on his couch with a beer, definitely worrying about her more than he’d ever admit. She dialed his number, wanting to hear his voice.
He answered immediately. “Hey!”
“I thought I’d call instead of text.”
“No complaints here. I love hearing your voice.”
Her breathing hitched just hearing his acknowledgment. Clearing her throat, she said, “The accessibility is excellent. Someone actually thought through the design rather than just meeting minimum requirements. My stateroom is perfect.”
“Good. That’s good. I was hoping it would look like the photos you showed me from their website.”