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I doubt I can relax anywhere at the moment. Perhaps once we come up with some sort of plan.
I collect my luggage from my shoebox of a cabin. By the time I walk down the corridor to Ronda’s room, Claudette is already inside.
“I’ll be right back,” she singsongs.
How is she not worried after what she sensed about Tiero? Looking at her, you’d never tell anything was amiss.
She’s totally underestimating the danger I’ve put her in.
Twenty dreadful minutes later, I hear a dull shuffling sound coming from the corridor. It’s accompanied by the clanging and rattling of plates and cutlery. I peek through the hole in the door and spot Claudette pushing a room service cart.
How much food did she bring?
I open the door for her and she pushes through.
“I expected you to come back with a tray. How hungry are you?”
“You know I’m not that great at balancing things. Remember how we met? This was much easier.”
And noisier, just inviting attention.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm croissants wafts toward me, and my stomach growls. Perhaps I’m hungry after all.
“The coffee is for me—no caffeine for you. I got you some chamomile tea to help settle your tummy.” She points to the silver teapot, and I take a cup from the cart and fill it.
“There’s also some scrambled eggs and fruit salad. Your stomach should be able to handle that.”
Claudette is so thoughtful. “Thank you. You’re right, it’s best to eat something. I need to think of peanut,” I say, rubbing my belly. I still can’t believe I’m going to be a mother.
Rhia will be beside herself when I tell her. We always planned on being pregnant together, so our kids could be best friends as well. Now, that’s not gonna happen. Maybe for my second?
What am I thinking? There won’t be a second baby. I’m going to be a single mother.
Not if Tiero is waiting out there for you.
My shoulders tighten at the thought. If he is, I must find a way to get away from him. I’ve done it before, I could do it again, right? He mustn’t find out about our daughter—ever.
It’s my biggest worry. I don’t care about what he’d do to me. But our child is going to be utterly defenseless and at the mercy of whomever is looking after her. I want that to be me… and me alone.
I heap some of the scrambled eggs onto a plate and take a croissant. Sitting on the couch, I say, “I’ve been thinking about how to approach this dilemma. I need to know who’s waiting for me on the dock.
“If Tiero is there, he won’t be alone. He always travels with a team, and they should be easy to spot. All his men are big, burly Italians.”
I pause, unsure if I can ask Claudette to stick out her neck for me. But she keeps telling me she wants to help, so here I go.
“Would you go on shore and see if anyone stands out?”
I hold my breath, waiting for her response. Is this asking too much of her?
I needn’t have worried.
“Hmm,” she says with a mouthful of food. “I had the same idea. Once we know who’s waiting for you, we can make more plans.”
A wave of relief washes over me, and I thank my lucky stars to have met Claudette.
I take a bite of my food, but the knot in my stomach refuses to loosen. The scrambled eggs taste bland, and the croissant like sawdust. I can’t seem to shake off the sense of impending doom.
I keep looking at the clock. It’s nine now. Only two hours until I’m meant to meet up with Marni.
