Storm Warning

Mara pressed her forehead against the cooled glass, watching the storm roll across the Caribbean. The lightning fractured the sky into jagged pieces, illuminating the papaya on the bedside table—gift from the hotel staff, now forgotten and overripe. Three days ago, David had walked out of this same room, leaving behind nothing but his expensive fedora and a toxic silence she'd been bearing ever since.

She should feel something. Anger, relief, anything. Instead, she felt hollowed out, like the fruit on the nightstand.

A knock at the door. Room service? She hadn't ordered anything.

She opened it to find Elias, the hotel's general manager, holding a towel and umbrella. "Miss Chen, we need to evacuate to the main building. The storm's worsening than predicted."

His calm unsettled her. "I'm fine here."

"The last guest who said that ended up swimming to the second floor when the storm surge hit." His eyes crinkled with something like kindness. "Please."

Mara found herself moving. Outside, the wind whipped her dress, the bear of a storm nearly upon them. She grabbed David's hat on instinct—the only piece of him she hadn't left behind.

"Good luck charm?" Elias asked, steadying her as they rushed through the courtyard.

"Bad luck, more like."

In the main building's lobby, other guests huddled together. The power died. Lightning flashed again, and in that momentary brilliance, she saw Elias watching her—not with professional concern, but with something raw and terrifyingly hopeful.

"Your husband?" he asked.

"Ex. As of three hours before I checked in."

"Ah." A pause. "That explains why you've been drinking alone every night."

Mara laughed, surprised. "You noticed."

"Hard not to." His hand brushed hers in the darkness. "The storm should pass by dawn."

"And then what?"

"Then maybe we could try papaya that's actually ripe," he said. "And you could tell me why you're still holding onto that hat."

She looked down at David's fedora. The bear of a burden she'd been carrying suddenly felt light. She set it on the lobby desk.

"I think I lost it in the storm."

Elias smiled. In the darkness, his fingers found hers again and stayed.