Riley looked up. “I can hardly take an ibuprofen. So if you gave me something for my headache, that and the alcohol probably explains why I can’t remember anything.”
Mia’s face registered her apology before she even spoke. “Oh, Riley, I would have never given you that pill if I thought you were going to drink.”
“I don’t even know why I would want a drink. I haven’t wanted one for two years.”
“You just said it had been so stressful. And that Laine had ruined the morning and then with the guests arriving early and maybe with the pressure of Christian . . .”
“Christian? Did you talk to him?”
She cocked her head again. Pity registered. “Yeah, he was pretty upset about it all. I walked back here to the office with him so he could at least have someone to talk to. He had so enjoyed your time together. He just never dreamed . . .”
Riley walked to the door of her office. “I never would have dreamed either. But it’s done.” Her resolve was settled. “Now I get to clean out my office.”
Mia walked to her office door and leaned against it as Riley walked around her desk and opened the top drawer.
“I guess they’ll put you in here,” Riley said, not looking up.
“Well, Max has asked me to step in until they decide what they want to do. I think my being here yesterday morning just kind of . . .”
Riley looked up. “. . . let him know you were more than capable. And you are. You’ll do a wonderful job, Mia. A wonderful job.” She gave her a sincere smile and began to pull personal items from her desk.
Mia fidgeted at the door. “Do you need some boxes?”
“Yes, that would be great.”
“I’ll go get you a few and be right back.”
Mia left Riley alone. Riley looked down at the picture of her and Gabby that sat in a seashell frame on the edge of her desk. She picked it up and held her angel girl in her hands. She was so grateful she hadn’t been here. The mere thought of her being there with Riley in that state made tears rush to the surface again. Her little girl had been through so much. And if she couldn’t even remember what had happened, what would she have done if Gabby had been there? She could have put her little girl’s life at risk, and there was nothing that would be more horrific than something happening to her and it being Riley’s fault. She couldn’t even trust herself. How in God’s name could she let her daughter be with a woman who could lose such control that she didn’t even remember the night or remember drinking? The thought petrified her.
She set the frame down and noticed a manila folder on top of her desk. She opened it and recognized immediately the termination letter in front of her. A card was inside and she opened it.
I want to see you sometime today. We need to talk about what has transpired here. Sign this today and have it faxed to me. I should be back in the office by midafternoon. I’m extremely disappointed, Riley. But please know I love you. Max.
“Ms. Sinclair, a couple is wanting to see you.” Clint, a beautiful Bahamian man, and the one in charge of all hurricane preparations, stood in Riley’s doorway. “They decided to ride out the hurricane, and now that the weather is getting rough, they’re getting scared. But the airport is shut down for good. So they want to see you.”
Riley walked into the lobby. Mia was nowhere to be found. And Riley still had a responsibility to make sure all the guests were safe. She looked down at the termination letter that requested she leave immediately. And she would. Immediately after she took care of her guests. “Where are they?”
“They’re in room 626.”
She walked to the doorway and he stepped back. “Walk with me and let’s go over all the preparations.” As soon as the doors opened, the reality of what awaited outside swept over her like a tsunami. She pressed her petite frame against the driving wind and walked out into The Cove. Everything in the expansive open breezeways had either been removed or bolted down. Benches and cushions had been stored. Candles and sconces had been put away and all that remained were the gorgeous floors, the bronzed artwork, the magnificent ocean, and prayer. “Everything shut down at Cain?”
“Yes, ma’am. The outdoor casino is closed up, the chairs are all put away, and the bungalows are locked up tight.”
Wind whipped through the open corridors and rain was able to reach them like a mist, yet they both knew it was only a taste of what was to come. “The other pools too?”
“Yes, ma’am, all pools are taken care of.”
“Has someone checked all the roofs?”
“Yes, maintenance did that the first of the week.”
“All the signage has been secured? garbage cans?”
“Yes, ma’am. All taken care of.”
“And all the remaining guests have directions to The Cove meeting rooms and the time they need to be there?”
“Yes, everyone has been given their instructions multiple times.”
The wind whipped at the skirt of her dress and she pressed it down with her hands, grateful she had pulled her hair back. “When did this storm pick up this much speed?”
“It just got over the open water, Ms. Sinclair, and seems like it took off. Took off straight for us.”
“Well, we’ve got our work cut out for us, then, don’t we. Because quite a few of our guests were still planning on leaving today. Food is on hand?”
“Yes, we have food ready.” They walked into the foyer of The Cove. Gerard was standing at the concierge desk.
“I’m going to close these doors here in the next hour or so,” he reported to Riley as she passed through. “Then as soon as we get all of the guests to the
