“That’s my point. You have a promising career. A promising future.”
A future without Price? No thank you. I gazed at my sister-in-law. She looked so much like him, with her dark hair and expressive eyes. She even had the same fiery spirit and determination, which she was exhibiting now. Michelle had decided I needed a tropical escape with her. A girl’s trip to some remote island in the South Pacific.
I wasn’t buying into it.
“You can’t wallow around forever,” she continued.
“I can’t seem to pull myself out of this, Chelle.” No truer words. How was I supposed to get over the love of my life?
She touched my forearm, no doubt trying to offer comfort but failing. “I miss him too. We all do. I understand.”
She thought she understood. But she didn’t. She was his little sister, not his soulmate. Not the woman who was supposed to bear his children—those beautiful phantom babies I’d never meet. Not the woman he should have grown old with—laughing together on a park bench, feeding pigeons, watching children play.
My lover had been snatched from me by the jaws of hell, and no one got it. No one understood.
Michelle gazed around my kitchen. “When was the last time you cleaned? Ate a decent meal?”
Dirty dishes towered high in the sink, and the remainder of my Chinese takeout from two nights ago littered the table. I hadn’t been able to choke much of it down.
I didn’t answer.
“Look,” Michelle said. “We’re getting out of here. I’m calling a cleaning service to fumigate this place, and I’m taking you to lunch. Where you will eat. Then we’re going shopping.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she shushed me.
“No arguments. You need clothes. Island wear.” Then she dug into her purse and pulled out some papers. “Here are our e-tickets and itinerary. We leave first thing tomorrow.”
* * *
After a turbulent flight, a ferry ride that nearly had me retching—“You’re not seasick,” Michelle had said. “It’s just nerves.”—and a bumpy, bouncy excursion ride over roads made of actual rocks, we finally arrived at a small beachfront villa on the South Pacific island of Leiloa.
The cabbie unloaded our luggage. Michelle paid him and muttered something I didn’t understand.
Once the driver was on his way, she turned to me. “So what do you think?”
“I think I have to pee.” The bumps and bounces to get here had taken their toll.
“For God’s sake, Kate. Look around you. It’s beautiful here. The beach is straight ahead, and I hear the sunsets are amazing. This is paradise. Embrace it.”
The only thing I wanted to embrace was dead and buried. I picked up my suitcase and carry-on. “Let’s go inside.”
Michelle shook her head and sighed. “Fine.” She produced a keycard and unlocked the door. “This place is supposed to be great. Four bedrooms, full kitchen. Pool and hot tub.”
“What do we need with four bedrooms?” I queried.
“Just go with it for once. Okay, Kate?”
Michelle had been a good sport, putting up with my pessimistic attitude. The least I could do was try to enjoy this trip she’d arranged. She’d obviously gone to a lot of effort. Everything had been first class all the way. It was likely costing an arm and a leg. At least I could afford it. “You win. Let’s go with it.”
The villa was beautiful and decorated in a plush modern style. The kitchen was equipped with a gourmet stove, marble countertops, and a huge stainless steel refrigerator.
Michelle opened it and pulled out a bottle of Moët. “Some bubbles to toast the beginning of our three weeks in paradise.”
I wasn’t in a partying mood quite yet. “No thank you.”
“Hey. Remember? You’re going to go with it.” She unwrapped the cork and pulled it out with a pop.
“You’re right. I said that.” Trying to do my part, I searched the cupboards until I found some champagne flutes. Michelle filled them and handed one to me.