With each wave that roared beneath them, Tamyra seemed to let go of another piece of the tormenting fear that had held her. With each powerful wave, another bar on Tamyra’s prison door was broken. Until finally, a primal scream burst forth from her lips, and tears began to rush from her eyes. And with every surge of water beneath them, a fresh surge came from inside of Tamyra. All Riley, Winnie, and Laine could do was watch her. Not one of them spoke. There was something holy and cleansing and profound about this moment, and to speak would lessen it, cheapen it. And they knew it. So they simply rode each wave with her—those that were physical, those that were emotional, and those that were spiritual. And Tamyra’s hands never came down from their outstretched place until their inner tubes made it back to where they started.
Riley slipped from the tube and passed it to Winnie and Laine. “Take her again if she wants to go. I’ll see y’all at dinner. I made reservations for six thirty at Nobu. The show starts at eight.”
Laine reached out and grabbed Riley before she could exit the water. She mouthed a silent thank-you. Riley left them in the waters of Tamyra’s baptism.
* * *
Tamyra wasn’t sure when it happened. Maybe it was when the fear became so suffocating that it was breathe or die. Maybe it was when the wave lifted her up and raised her body and it felt as if heaven lifted her up and raised her soul. But somewhere in the middle of a wave pool at a resort in the Atlantic Ocean, this simple Southern girl believed. She believed that healing, real healing, was possible. Whether she died tomorrow from AIDS or was healed miraculously, the greater healing had occurred. Her soul would never be the same. Old Roy had been right after all. And now she believed it.
* * *
Riley didn’t have time to dry her curls. But she had a good hour for them to dry on their own before she met Max and his guests for lunch. She flung her wet bathing suit into her bag, exited the locker room, and made her way to her office. Mia met her as she walked through the door. “I’m glad you’re back. You’re not going to believe—”
But the voice behind her cut Mia’s sentence short. “Riley, there you are.”
Riley turned quickly, stunned to see Max staring at her. “Max, hey.” She walked to him and gave him a hug.
He returned it warmly. “Mia said you had been sidetracked with Laine, but she has handled everything beautifully for us. I’m just sorry you couldn’t be here at our arrival. I wanted your face to be the first face they saw. But we have pushed up lunch, and I want you to join us. Meet us at Mosaic in fifteen minutes.”
Riley tried to refrain from revealing her complete shock and rising horror. “Sure, yes. I’ll see you there in fifteen minutes. And I’m sorry too that I wasn’t here.”
He looked over her shoulder. “Well, you’ve got a great team. Mia here made sure everything came off without a hitch.”
Riley turned. Mia’s face was beaming. She turned back to Max, grateful for Mia’s diligence. “I’m sure she did. She has been an amazing asset to this team.”
“See you in fifteen.”
“Sure, yes. Fifteen.”
Max headed to the door and then turned back. “You look wonderful, Riley, honestly, but your hair?”
She had forgotten her hair was still soaking wet. “Long story.”
He smiled, shook his head, and then the door swung silently closed behind him.
Riley turned back to Mia. “What happened? When did their plans change?”
“A fax came through right after you left. I tried calling you, but you said you couldn’t be contacted, and you didn’t answer.”
Riley fumbled frantically through her bag and pulled her phone from it. Sure enough, there was one missed call from the office. She leaned against the counter, the emotions feeling as if they might overwhelm her. “So everything was perfect?”
“Yes. It went off without a hitch? I think that is what Max said.” She laughed. “You Americans and your sayings. Anyway, I just told them that you had a Laine emergency only you could handle, but that we had everything all ready for them. Christian came over and our teams escorted each VIP personally, and not a glitch was found.” Mia walked over and placed her hand on Riley’s shoulder. “No worries, Riley. I’ve got your back.”
Riley hugged her. “Thank you. I honestly can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been here.” She released Mia.
“Well, we don’t have to worry about that. I was. And it was all perfect. I’ve rescheduled the luncheon, so you go dazzle them and all will be fine.”
Riley ran her hands through her hair. She rushed into her office and jerked open the top drawer, her hand scouring for a hair band. Mia held one out to her from the other side of the desk. Riley looked up and let out a large sigh, the tightness in her neck released. “That’s what I was looking for. Thank you.”
Mia gave her a few minutes so she could freshen her makeup and pull her hair back, and in ten minutes she was ready to go. She walked out to the front of the offices. “So you’ve got everything here.”
Mia nodded from behind the desk. “Yes, finalizing things for tonight. Got a large group of guests out this morning. So we’re all good.”
“And Christian helped?” Riley tried to hide her smile.
“He was glad to.”
She nodded. “Okay, then. Thank you again.” She ran her hands across her navy cotton twill dress and stuck her master key and lip gloss in one pocket and her phone in the other. She breathed in deeply and thanked God as she exhaled that Mia and Christian had just
