Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth (web ebook reader .TXT) 📕

numb, as he was talking to me in this voice . . . this voice, it was so controlled, so evil. I had never seen him this way before. He pulled me from the sofa and threw me on the floor. Then he kicked me in my side. He said if I told anyone, he’d kill me and that he had no reservations about doing it now since both of us were going to die eventually. He’d kill me and then just take his own life. He let me know that I would go through with the wedding and I would do everything else he told me too. The final kick left me in a ball on the floor. He walked out as if we had discussed the weather.”

“Did you ever think about going to the police?”

Tamyra shifted on the lounge chair. “No, all I thought about was getting as far away from him as possible, where he’d have no idea where I was. I went straight to my apartment, listed all of my furniture on craigslist, and had a lot of things sold by that evening. I took the rest to a storage facility, dropped my car off at the airport for my sister to pick up, and called my parents to tell them I just needed some time away. I had an old college professor who I knew had a place in Puerto Vallarta, called him from a pay phone, and he said I could spend six weeks there to do whatever I needed. I tossed my phone and got one of those prepay phones, where no one could get my number, and called my mom when I got there just so she would know I was safe. And until this morning I thought I was.”

Winnie sat up in her chair. “What do you mean, until this morning?”

Tamyra sat up too, her hands starting to shake slightly. “He called me. On the phone that my mother doesn’t even have the number to. He found it. And if he found that, he’ll find me.”

She watched that sassy little swing come into Winnie’s shoulders. “So what have you decided?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you’ve run away for almost seven weeks. In those seven weeks what decisions have you made for your life?”

“I don’t have a life, Winnie. I have a death sentence no matter how it comes. In all honesty, if he did kill me, it would just end the misery faster.”

Winnie pursed her lips. “You’d better thank God almighty I didn’t just slap you. Truth is, you need to be slapped. People are living longer with HIV now than they ever have. But you’ve got to have a will to live. And as far as I’m concerned, the only thing dying around here is that piggy they’re going to cook for my dinner. Now, you have one of two choices: you can cower the rest of your life out in fear, or you can face Mr. Fancy Pants head-on and get your life back.”

Tamyra felt herself shrinking into her shell again. What had come alive over the last two days was about to go back into hiding. “You don’t know him, Winnie.”

Winnie must have seen it because she quickly leaned in closer to her and put her hands on top of Tamyra’s. They were quivering. “You, Tamyra Larsen, have been called to live. You have not been called to die. And the only way you will ever live is to get out of the shadows. You did it with me, but there’s a lot more to do.”

Tamyra dropped her head. “I’ve done all I can do.”

“You’ve done all you’re willing to do. You haven’t done all you can do. Now look at me.”

Tamyra kept staring at the cream leather of her chair. It looked so smooth. No cracks. No age.

“Look at me,” Winnie said louder.

Tamyra raised her gaze.

“Do you trust me?”

She nodded.

“Then hear me. It is time to face your fears. You can’t continue to hide, baby girl. And you’re not going to die. We’ll do it together. Nothing until you’re ready, okay? I promise. Nothing until you’re ready.”

“Promise?”

“Promise. So come here.” Winnie held out her arms and Tamyra slipped from her chair and crawled into them. They felt as comforting as her mother’s. “You did real good, honey. You did real good.” Winnie’s whispers ran through Tamyra’s ears.

Even though fear had swarmed through her again like a hive of angry bees, she still knew that what she had done was a huge step. That alone had lifted something. And being here in Winnie’s arms had healed something. Maybe there was healing in these waters after all.

10

Monday evening . . .

Riley was having déjà vu. This marked the third time today that she had stood in the entrance of a restaurant waiting on Laine. Her bets were on being stood up again and spending the evening with Winnie and Tamyra, which would be far more enjoyable, she was certain. The peaceful music from the Steinway settled her nerves. She looked out over the breathtaking marina, the sun descending in the sky, and she couldn’t help but breathe a prayer of thankfulness that she had made it through the day. Truth be told, she had gotten a lot of work done and had enjoyed her Laine-free afternoon.

“Magnifique!” Winnie announced as she entered the front of the restaurant. Her lime green denim outfit sparkled like the sun on water. Riley watched her carefully scan the restaurant.

Tamyra was right behind her, her long, lean body covered in a simple black dress. “Hello, Riley.”

“Good evening, ladies. I’m glad you could join us.” She looked at Winnie oddly. “Are you looking for someone, Winnie?”

Winnie turned her head back around quickly. “Me . . . um . . . no, I’m not looking for a soul. Just you. I guess you’ve figured out by now Laine doesn’t like eating alone,” she announced.

“Well, I was eating with her,” Riley informed her.

“I don’t think she’s crazy about you, Riley, for whatever reason.”

Tamyra