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It seems to help, and Mama manages to fall asleep.

I don’t. I’m so worried something’s going to happen to her, I watch over her like a hawk.

She coughs during the night, waking at moments in pain.

By morning, she’s so much worse. She can’t even get out of bed.

No amount of steam and tea can help her, though she still assures me she’ll be fine.

This is a nightmare. The whole plan has gone to hell and my mother needs help. There’s no way she’s going to survive the three-week journey. And I don’t know what to do. The closest port is hours away. Maybe even a day.

I don’t even know if we have that long.

At lunchtime, I try to convince her to go out onto the deck and get some fresh air, but Mama declines.

“I’m a little hungry. Maybe I can eat a bread roll and some cheese,” she says weakly.

“Okay. I’ll go get it for you.”

I rush down to the kitchen and grab a roll from the stack Roberta baked this morning, then I get a plate and pile on a few slices of cheese.

I head back to the cabin quickly. It would be great if Mama does eat this.

Pushing the door open with the tip of my shoe, I walk inside the cabin, and I drop the plate when I find my mother sprawled out on the floor.

Chapter

Forty-Two

Allegra

Irush to my mother’s side, adrenaline taking over.

“Mama. Mama.” I shake her arm.

There’s no response, and she looks like she’s not breathing.

I check. She’s not.

God. She’s not breathing!

I feel her neck for a pulse.

Nothing.

Nothing but cold clammy skin. My world flips upside down and inside out.

“Mama, please. Please wake up. Please.”

Panic assails me, but I try to think.

I need help.

I run out back to the corridor, looking around frantically for anyone around.

“Please help me!” I cry.

I run right out onto the deck, where I spot Roberta at the far end. “Roberta! It’s my mother. She’s collapsed. Please help me.”