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“We won’t.”
“Let’s just have fun tomorrow. Let’s not go anywhere near a casino.”
He pressed his lips to the soft hollow behind her ear. “We’ll explore an uninhabited island, swim in secluded lagoons, look for pirate treasure…”
“Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Choices,” he groaned. “And have the girls wake up and find you gone?” He smiled into the dark. “Hardest damned choice I’ve made in years.”
Stormy was beginningto believe she had nothing but bad luck. Now that she wanted to avoid them, it seemed to her that every time she looked up or turned around, the Foleys were there. On the excursion to Salt Cay, they had chosen a picnic site next to theirs. Jason and his older brother, Hank, had become constant companions to Liane and Janelle, teaming up to pedalboat, ride inner tubes, and snorkel.
Stormy was elbow to elbow with H.B. on the tender that returned them to the ship, two steps behind the family as they waited for the dining room to open, and one step ahead as they trudged back to the Promenade Deck to watch as the ship set sail for home.
Though the children chattered among themselves, the adult Foleys remained aloof.
Stormy turned to Tyler. “I feel so awkward. What’re we going to do? We can’t wait until morning. We’ll be back in Port Canaveral.”
“The casino will reopen within the hour. We’ll—”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to go back into a casino.”
“You might feel better if you lost a few dollars.”
“I’ll feel better once we get this over with.” She called to Liane and Janelle. “I’m going to take the girls down and get them ready for bed.”
They howled with protest. “It’s too early! All the other kids are getting to stay up ’til after midnight.”
“We have to pack our suitcases,” Stormy insisted. “We have to put them in the hall before we go to sleep. You two have been little angels up to now. Don’t—”
“There’s no such thing as angels,” said Janelle. “Only ghosts.”
“Maybe there’re ghosts on the ship!” said Liane.
“One might come into our cabin and get us while we’re asleep,” Janelle suggested.
Stormy laughed. “Sorry, you two. That won’t work. Only the sandman is coming to visit you.”
“There’s no such thing as a sandman, either,” Janelle informed her. “What gets in your eyes in the morning is from tear ducts cleaning your eyeballs.”
Stormy groaned.
It was morethan an hour before she could rejoin Tyler on the promenade. When she’d left him, all the tables along the windows had been occupied. Now only a few couples remained, the Foleys among them.
“They’ve been arguing,” Tyler said without ado. “I think we ought to get this done.”
Stormy felt her stomach seize up. “Now?”
“Now.” He took her arm, strolling her toward the other couple. When they reached the table, Tyler stopped and pulled out a chair. “Mind if we join you?”
Both Foleys were startled, but Cheryl recovered first, recognizing Tyler as her gambling companion and smiling tentatively.
“It’s not a good time, pal,” Foley said.
Tyler held out the chair for Stormy. She sat. Tyler took the chair next to her.
Foley’s face puffed up. “Listen, buddy, I don’t think you understand. We’re having a private conversation.”
Tyler reached into his pocket and pulled out the charge slips. He spread them out on the table one by one. “Your argument wouldn’t be about these, would it?”
