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

Riley stood there dumbfounded.

“It’s not about you, Riley. This lady isn’t happy, and she’s simply trying to get through the week. Anyway, I think she just wants a warm body at the table that doesn’t remind her of her ‘stuff.’ Apparently, you remind her of her stuff and I don’t.”

“Am I interrupting something, ladies?” Laine asked as she approached their circle of three.

Riley felt her head start to pound.

“Not a thing, sugar. We were just talking about what a lovely evening we’re all going to have. Weren’t we, ladies?”

Riley and Tamyra nodded obediently. Winnie took matters into her own hands and told the hostess they were ready to be seated. They were led to a beautiful table in the back of the room next to the glass-enclosed wine cellar that carried the most celebrated vintages French and California wineries had to offer. Winnie’s rhinestone-covered outfit lit their way.

“I swear that woman must carry a BeDazzler in her pocket,” Laine whispered.

Tamyra stifled her laughter.

“How is this, ladies?” the hostess asked.

Winnie gave her a pat. “It’s fine, sugar. Just fine.”

The women all stood at their chairs awkwardly.

“Sit, girls.”

They all sat like schoolchildren under their principal’s watchful eye.

Laine picked up her menu as she spoke. “Are you sure I didn’t interrupt something?”

Riley picked up her menu and stuck it in front of her face. “No, we were just talking about all we’ve discovered today. Apparently, Miss Winnie here is a perceptive one.”

“She doesn’t miss a thing,” Tamyra added.

Riley looked up as Tamyra raised her eyebrows at Winnie.

Laine ordered almost as extravagantly as she had their first evening together, and between Winnie and Tamyra’s tales of their “day of beauty,” Riley needed to contribute little. By the time Laine paid the check, Riley had watched her fill up at least five pages of notes. She was pretty certain Winnie would have her own complete story line in Laine’s next book. Truth be told, if Laine wanted her book to write itself, she could have walked around and recorded Winnie for seven days.

Winnie stood to leave, and Riley and the other women followed suit.

“I’m looking forward to our dolphin experience tomorrow,” Laine said.

“Oh, about that,” Tamyra said, “I’m not really into swimming.”

“You’ll love it,” Laine assured her. Her smile was gracious and her voice irritatingly tender.

Riley wanted to slap her.

The fear was evident on Tamyra’s face. “I don’t know.”

Laine walked over and put her arm around Tamyra. “Trust me. It will be the experience of a lifetime. Now, you ladies go get some rest and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” She hugged them both before they left.

She turned to Riley as they disappeared up the hall. “I won’t need you for that tomorrow, Riley.” The old Laine was back.

Riley was grateful to not have to spend the afternoon with her, but the way Laine said it made Riley’s entire body bristle, though she refused to let it come through her words. “No problem. That’s fine. We’ve got your appointment all set up. Do you need me to meet you for breakfast or schedule anything else for you?”

“I’d like you to meet me at Mosaic for breakfast at nine. And if you could bring with you all of the answers to the questions I had yesterday, then I can make some final notes and we can begin our tour of the rest of the facility after our dolphin adventure.” With that, she turned to go. There was no good night. There was no arm around the shoulder. There was no hug. There was only the backside of one Laine Fulton, who needed a swift kick in the . . . When Riley knew Laine couldn’t see her, she stuck out her tongue. She had grown so much since she’d been here.

11

Tuesday morning . . .

“Hey, Daddy.”

“Hey, angel girl. You missing your girl?”

Riley leaned against the railing and let the breeze wash over her face. “Like crazy.”

He chuckled that deep laugh she loved. “She’s doing good. You know your mother; she’ll have every part of that child dolled up by the time she gets back to you.”

“You driving?”

“Yeah, headed down to the office.”

“I knew I could catch you up this early. You’re the only person I can call at the crack of dawn and find up and at ’em.”

“Well, you know, the sun don’t shine on the same dog’s tail all the time.”

She laughed. “Still afraid the sun is going to quit shining on you? You’ve been doing this for almost forty years.”

“Never know when they’re going to want some new blood.”

“Strom Thurmond was still a senator when he was in his nineties. You’re only sixty-seven.”

“Strom Thurmond was old as dirt and the sun quit shining on him quite a few years before he realized. Can’t say I want to be that old guy either.”

“Well, I think you’ve got a lot of sunshine days.”

“My girls are what bring out the sun.”

Riley rubbed her toes on top of her other foot. “Thanks for taking care of my angel girl.”

“You take care of my angel girl.”

She felt the burning start in her eyes. “Love you.”

“See you soon, okay?”

“What? You’re going to actually take a vacation?”

“Been thinking about it. Don’t underestimate the old geezer. I still surprise your mama every now and then.”

“I can’t wait.”

She hung up the phone and stared out into the first burst of morning. She prayed for a grace to match her day. With Laine Fulton as a part of it, she decided to pray that prayer twice.

When she walked into Gabby’s room, Ted was fast asleep on his rocky throne. She placed some lettuce inside his cage. “How you doing, Teddy? Missing our girl?”

Ted was motionless, his eyes closed.

“I know. Me too.” She nudged him with her finger to make sure he was at least alive. His eyes popped open. “Good boy, Teddy.”

His stubby legs moved slightly on his perch.

“Your princess will be back soon, I promise. Until then you’re stuck with me.”

He got his footing and closed his eyes again.

She