“Amy, don’t make me come over there,” she threatened with a laugh. “I saw you with that man yesterday, and just now out there. What’s that about?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “He keeps inviting me, but when I’m with him I sense he is unavailable. I’m not sure what’s going on there. He seems to be messed up.”
“Which brings me to my point,” Claire interjected. “You don’t even know these people. The plane made an emergency landing, and right away you two are trying to hook up with strangers.”
“All friends were once strangers,” Willow pointed out. “You just have to take that leap sometime.”
“Well, I hope it works out for the both of you,” Claire said. “I’m off to bed.”
“At least we agree on that. It has been a long day,” Willow said.
“Me too,” Amy added and slipped out of her sandals.
Before long they were all curled up on the king sized bed, and the billowy softness of the spread was enough to transport them easily into the land of dreams.
***
When they woke the next morning, they could hear the hustling and bustling taking place outside their door. Claire got up and peeked into the hallway. “What’s going on?” she asked a woman she recognized from the plane.
“The weather has cleared. The captain has asked us to return to the airstrip. We will be leaving in an hour or so.”
“Thanks,” Claire said. “Mom! Amy! We gotta go!” she said as she walked over to the bed and yanked the covers off them.
“What? Go where?” Willow asked, sleep still clinging to her eyes. “I’m not ready to leave.”
“The weather has cleared, and the captain has given us instructions to get back to the airstrip.”
“So soon?” Willow asked, obviously disappointed.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m sure you will meet him again,” she said.
One hour later, the passengers were boarding the plane to St. Lucia. Only Willow and Amy sported long faces as they thought of the men they were leaving behind.
The flight to St. Lucia was turbulence-free, and Willow stared out the window the entire time. Amy buried herself in her tablet, and Claire, like she wanted, was left alone to the tortures of her own mind.
“I told him where we were headed,” Willow said after a long while.
“You think he will follow you?” Claire asked. She knew her mother was lonely after spending so many years without a single date. Claire had pried her from her work to take her out sometimes, so in truth, she shouldn’t be blocking a relationship. But she didn’t think a relationship could develop after meeting a man, any man, while stuck on an island overnight.
“That wouldn’t be the worst thing,” Willow said.
“No, it wouldn’t,” Claire said. “But I wouldn’t count on it.”
“Why must you be so negative?” Willow grouched. “Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean everyone else has to be!” she snapped. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” she sighed and wiped her hand down her face. “I’m just…”
“You’re right,” Claire sighed. “I am in no position to decide for anyone who is best for them. Look what my own choice produced.”
“Claire, I didn’t mean…” Willow started apologizing.
“It’s alright, Mom,” she said sadly. “There’s no need to apologize.”
The silence was deafening for the remainder of the journey, the only sound coming from the cockpit when the pilot announced their descent. No one knew exactly what to say to the others, and when they arrived at The Body Hotel in Castries, the tension was so thick it could be cut.
Claire and Trent had made reservations in the honeymoon suite, so Willow and Amy had taken the rooms next to it. Claire had the room at the end, and thus the luxury of a balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
She wheeled her luggage inside and let it fall on the ground. The room was amazing and still held all they had reserved for two. She touched the sign that read ‘Congratulations to the bride and groom!’ She sighed and tossed it in the trash.
Everything in the room was designed for the two of them, and her chest tightened as her mind was prompted to remember the man who had so recently broken her heart. She thought about the times they had spent together. The memories escaped her as the tears trickled down her face. She quickly brushed them aside and went out on the balcony. It was a beautiful afternoon, and she got lost in the waves as they rolled over each other on their way to the shore. They became one again until they were replaced by the others. And the cycle continued. As she stood there, she wondered if her life was a cycle like the rolling waves.
Was she expected to just move on? When would she? The pain inside her was becoming intolerable as the days passed and the memories haunted her. She sighed, stepped back inside, and started unpacking her things.
“Knock, knock,” came a voice outside the door.