Page 51 of Stuck in Paradise with You

As the reality sinks in, I lose my professional composure and sink onto the edge of the bed behind me.

I’m stuck here, in paradise, with a superstorm heading my way. WithLuke.

Joe crosses the room to me and I sense his awkwardness as he places a hand on the top of my head. Sense it andfeelit. Because this is a bizarre way to comfort someone for anyone who isn’t a clergyman.

‘What if… I go to Tortola and stay in a hotel near the airport? Maybe we can keep trying?’ I suggest, knowing this is an unlikely plan, but it would get me off this island and away from Luke.

Finally, his holiness removes his hand from my head, then in another peculiar move, bends to his hunkers in front of me.Am I acting like an eight-year-old child?Joe’s certainly making me think so.

‘If you’re worried about the hurricane, Carrie, try not to be. You’ll be safer here than in Tortola, I assure you. We have an abundance of hurricane provisions. Troy will be in the bunker with us and he’ll rustle up some great food. We have generators and appliances down there. It’s geared up to be a safe room for many eventualities.’

I exhale slowly, nodding. ‘Thank you.’

This whole mess isn’t Joe’s fault. It’s also crazy that he needs a panic room but now that he’s said it, he’s probably a significant ransom risk.

‘I’ll leave you to unpack.’ He makes to leave the room. I can’t wait to be grumpy alone, in my pajamas. ‘Oh, Troy will cook breakfast in the morning at the usual time but some of us will be heading out early to Virgin Gorda, so you might not see us.’

‘Another island?’ I ask, coming to stand.

He nods. ‘Most of the staff are from Virgin Gorda and their families live on the island. We’ll head out first thing, before the sea gets too choppy, so we can help secure their properties and bring their families here if they want to weather the storm with us, so to speak. We’ll be back as soon as we can get the job done to prepare Charithonia.’

There’s a sadness about him that I haven’t seen before. For all his eccentricity, I can see what Ella sees. Joe is a compassionate man.

Suddenly, the sound of the ocean and the light of the moon in the dark sky beyond my pod seem less beautiful and more ominous. ‘It’s going to be bad, isn’t it?’ I ask.

Joe twists his lips with, I think, a heavy heart. ‘It looks that way. I’ll leave you to it. Ask the staff if you’d like anything cooking up for supper.’

‘Thank you.’ He steps out of my pod, into the night, and I call, ‘Joe? Could I come with you tomorrow, to Virgin Gorda? I’d like to help, if I can.’

‘The more hands, the better. Troy will make a quick bite for us at dawn and we’ll set off after sunrise.’

‘Goodnight, Joe.’

‘Sweet dreams, Carrie.’

I close the door behind him and press my forehead to the wood.

The Atlantic is out to get me.

I’m starting to see this storm as a metaphor – it’s going to hit. It’s going to be a direct hit and it’s going to alter life as I know it.

There’s a dull ache in my chest, beneath my breastbone, and it definitely feels like fear. Iamafraid.

I just don’t know if it’s the hurricane or my proximity to Luke that’s most terrifying.

Where does he get off messing with my head and my heart?

Turning, I press my back against the door and slide down until my butt hits the floor. On top of everything else, I now have three important calls to make and a fur baby to let down, again.

23

LUKE

She cut me out to protect herself.

I’m walking along the beach, cool sand falling between my toes and soft under my feet. There are lights on in the resort – in Carrie’s pod too, though I know she must be gone by now – and security briefly cast a torch light in my direction when I came down here, but my path is mostly illuminated by the blue light of the moon.

I broke her heart?

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