Three days before we were set to leave, I logged into the cruise line portal to double-check the check-in documents.
That’s when I saw the names had changed.
My children’s names were gone.
In their place were Noah Carter, Emma Carter, and Sophie Carter — Melissa’s children.
I thought it had to be a technical error. I called the cruise line immediately. After twenty minutes on hold, a representative confirmed that an authorized caller had updated the passenger list two days earlier using the booking verification details, added three minors, removed Owen and Lily, and requested revised boarding documents be emailed to Deborah’s address, which had been listed as a backup contact.
My hands actually went cold.
I drove straight to my father’s house with the printed confirmation in my lap.
Deborah opened the door looking almost amused, like she had been expecting me.
Before I could say a word, she folded her arms and said, “Let’s not make this ugly. Melissa’s children deserve this more than yours do. They’ve had far less.”
Then Melissa stepped into the hallway behind her, holding my kids’ cruise packets in one hand.
