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I don’t know what he means. Is he asking me about what might have happened with Rhett? “I’m great. Just dirty and ready for a change of clothes.”
He nods. “You’re lucky, Bailey. Not everyone gets left on an island in a storm and lives to tell the tale.”
I hop down from the exam table. “Thanks.”
Gloria is waiting for me out in the hall. “Do you have your room key?”
“It’s in my bag.”
“I’ll come along and make sure it works.”
There’s no reason it wouldn’t, but it seems I’m not going to shake her, even if I want to be alone for a moment.
Walking next to her, it feels obvious that I spent two days banging her boss.
We’re heading up the stairs before she finally spills what’s on her mind. “Are you considering legal action against Blue Sapphire and Dougherty?”
I pause on a step. “Why would I do that?”
She stops a few stairs down from me. “Because of what happened. I was the one who suggested you find a quiet place while I spoke to Rhett.”
Now I get it. Gloria feels responsible for me getting left behind. I resume my journey up the steps. “It’s fine. What was the evacuation like?”
She follows. “Chaotic. The first group went before the storm, but it started raining while we waited for the second trip and some people panicked.”
I try not to smile, imagining Viola dashing around like the sky was falling. “So nobody was checking who was on the boats.”
“It was a little hard with two rounds. By the time I made it back on the second trip, the water was choppy, and people were throwing up on the yacht.”
Eew. I’m glad I missed that part.
Gloria grimaces, like she’s remembering the carnage. “With some sick, some in their rooms, it was hard to take a headcount.”
“I bet.”
“And then we were sailing away. Naturally I knocked on Rhett’s door, but his failure to answer didn’t mean anything.”
“Not until you got to port.”
“Sarah came to me with her concern because she hadn’t seen him and had gone to his room several times. We got the crew to open the door.”
“Did anyone check mine?”
Her lips pinch.
That’s what I thought.
We make it to my floor, and I head down the hall.
Gloria keeps up. “Will you file a suit?” she asks. “I would like Mr. Armstrong to be prepared to handle it.”
I pull the keycard from my bag. Sand sprinkles onto the floor. I guess I have another souvenir from the island, besides the towel I pilfered.
“I’ll speak to Rhett about it myself,” I tell her, no longer wanting to talk to her or pretty much anybody. I guess I’m lucky Rhett got stuck with me, or maybe I’d have been on the island all alone for the rest of my natural life. “Thank you for yourconcern.”
The lock beeps and the door pops open. I give Gloria a nod and step inside, shutting the door firmly.
I lean against it. My room is unchanged. My pajama shorts and top are on the bed, although folded up on the corner. The crew must have come in at some point and made it up.
