Page 65 of The Temptation of Roan Island

“Have you been in one before?” I ask Shemaiah.

“Not in a long while.”

The woman behind the counter slides two tickets forward. Shemaiah pockets them inside his jacket. One ticket alone costs what I made in three months as a maid.

“I’m not fond of traveling,” Shemaiah adds as we join the line to board the ship. A set of stairs climbs up to a cabin where an attendant in a blue and silver uniform greets richly dressed passengers as they enter.

It’s well known that the Roans rarely leave their island, but it’s not surprising to me that Shemaiah particularly dislikes traveling. He’s a homebody, much like I am. Yet, he’s making the trek all the way to New Caldon, and he’s doing it for me. Just as I’m doing it for Tobias. That realization expands my heart.

Stepping closer, I take a deep breath and temper my trepidation about this new experience and my shame over the cost. It’ll all be worth it when I find Tobias. I’ll beg and borrow and accept every handout if it means my boy is safe and provided for. No matter how uncomfortable it might make me.

Shemaiah’s hand on my back startles a little gasp out of me.

“Sorry.” He withdraws, stripping me of his touch. He looks down at the two tickets in his hands. “They only had one sleeper car left.”

“Oh.” I glance up at the ship and nod, unwilling to spend too much thought on the possibilities that might hold. “Alright.”

“I assumed you wouldn’t want to wait, but if you⁠—”

I touch his arm. “It’s fine, Maiah.” Our eyes catch and hold.

“We could leave tomorrow instead,” he offers.

I shake my head. “I don’t want to leave tomorrow.”

It’s not just about getting to Tobias as soon as possible. If I’m honest with myself, I want to be close to Shemaiah. I don’t want to be by myself the way I was when I came to New Essik, alone and pregnant. Shemaiah is the only stable ground in my life right now, and I want him nearby. Even if it’s temporary. Even if it’s pretend. Even with what happened last night. Maybe especially because of what happened last night.

“I don’t want to wait until tomorrow either,” he whispers.

Static electricity zips between us, an energy racing from my hand on his arm down to my toes. I glance at the porter collecting our baggage. It’s easier than looking at Shemaiah and trying to interpret his words. He only wants to leave today because of my boy. Because I’m his friend, and he’s invested in helping me solve the mystery of where Tobias is. Because…

His gaze drops to my lips.

I swallow.

His breath fans the tendrils of hair around my face. “Pippa, I⁠—”

A whistle sounds.

“All aboard,” someone yells.

Shemaiah’s smile is uncertain. “Shall we?”

With his hand on the small of my back, he leads me to the staircase. We climb to the top, and Shemaiah shows the man our tickets.

“Mr. Roan.” The cruise director’s eyes go wide as he offers a greedy smile. “It’s a pleasure to have you on board the Starburst.” His eyes turn to me, and he offers a brief bow. “Welcome aboard, Mrs. Roan. I hadn’t heard the happy news. Are we fortunate enough to have you join us on your honeymoon?” A grin breaks out on his face. “I wish I’d known ahead of time!”

I start to correct him, but Shemaiah’s hand squeezes my waist.

“It was a last-minute decision,” Shemaiah says. “Don’t trouble yourself.”

“Well, if there’s anything you need, please just let us know.” He motions another man over, and tells him to show us to our room. “You can watch the liftoff from the observation deck. And I’ll be sure to have the staff reserve you a private table for dinner.”

“Thank you.” Shemaiah leads me into the ship with the palm of his hand on my back.

The interior is even more lavish than I imagined. The floor of the main lobby is decorated with a mosaic of white tile, dotted with gray and gold starbursts. Workers in variations of gray and silver, blue, white and gold livery bustle around the room, leading other patrons dressed in their finest daywear toward a wide staircase that draws my eye up and up. Above us, there’s a massive stained glass window made to look like the night sky shining with stars. My breath catches. There are four floors of balconies lined with golden metal railings.

“What do you think, Mrs. Roan?” Shemaiah says in my ear.