Hurricanes in Paradise

by Denise Hildreth Jones

  Winnie’s eyes darted to her.

  Max clasped his hands together, still at Riley’s side. “Great. We’ll see you on the dance floor.”

  “Tamyra Larsen, I do not dance.”

  Tamyra wasn’t going to be deterred. “Have you ever tried it? And if you say, ‘I’m Baptist,’ I promise you I will scream. Have you ever once danced?”

  Winnie tugged at the edges of her pink denim jacket. “Once. I danced. Well, okay, five times. Sam always wanted to take dance lessons, and so he finally talked me into five lessons at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio.”

  “And you never danced again?” Tamyra pressed.

  She dropped her head slightly. “No. We never danced again.”

  Laine interrupted. “The question is, did you like it?”

  Winnie gave her that Winnie eye and paused for a moment; then her nose turned up along with the edges of her smile. “I really did. I loved every minute of it.”

  Tamyra’s face showed an almost pity for her new friend. “Then why didn’t you ever go back?”

  “Sam got sick. We couldn’t.”

  Tamyra wrapped her in her arms. “I’m so sorry, Winnie. I’m so sorry.” She let her go and stepped back.

  Riley reached out a hand. “Tonight you will dance, Winnie.”

  “Yes, Riley knows all about dancing,” Laine spouted. “She went to one of those Holy Roller churches when she lived in Charleston. She knows all about dancing. And no telling what else, from what I hear about them.”

  “Keep it up, Laine, and I’ll make you go with me,” Riley quipped from over her shoulder.

  As they left their table, Riley spotted Albert about the same time he spotted Winnie. She looked behind her and saw that Winnie had seen him too. “Why don’t you ask him to join us?”

  Winnie turned sharply to Riley. “Join us?”

  “I bet he’d enjoy it.”

  “You owe him far more than dancing after what you did to him last night,” Laine said.

  Tamyra elbowed her.

  “I don’t mean that. I just mean she owes him . . . coffee . . . shuffleboard . . . whatever people her age do.”

  Winnie stepped away from all of them and made her way to Albert. None of them heard what she said to him, but as they walked out the door, Albert was walking with Winnie. Apparently he was joining them for some dancing.

  Riley took a few steps and felt a strange heaviness wash over her. She grabbed a chair and looked around. Thankfully, no one saw her. This must be a migraine or something, though the throbbing had eased off a bit. She caught Christian’s eye. He walked toward her. “Max has asked us to come up to the nightclub for a minute,” she told him. “It’s not my first choice for how to spend an evening, but I think Winnie needs to dance, and he would like me to be able to say hello to his guests. I might even see if I can get them to play something more up Winnie’s alley.”

  Christian laughed. “Blaming it on Winnie, huh?”

  She smiled. “Yeah, that would sound much better than me being too old for nightclub music. But we won’t be there long.”

  “I’d love to join you.”

  She knew he meant it.

  * * *

  The music was felt from the stairwell as if it pulsated the very ground. Winnie turned when she got to the door. Tamyra pointed her back around.

  “I really don’t think this is for me,” Winnie protested.

  Riley wasn’t sure it was for her either. Not the music, but her body. She had to pull against the railing to even get herself up the stairs, as if her body was washed-out. She tried to act normal as she and Christian walked through the doors of the nightclub. Strobe lights moved to the beat of the music.

  “This isn’t Arthur Murray,” Laine said in Riley’s ear.

  “No, it sure isn’t.”

  “You sure you need to come in here? I’m sure Max would understand if you didn’t think you should.”

  “He asked me already. I’ll be fine. Thanks, though.”

  Mia was already inside talking to Max and the other guests who surrounded his tables. Drinks were flowing all around, and Riley felt as if she were drowning. Her head was fuzzy and heavy, and the whole scene brought back a lot of memories. She hadn’t been to a nightclub in a long time, where drinks flowed freely, bodies collided, and where, when the lights finally came up at the end of the night and people got a look at what they were dancing with, most ran for cover.

  She touched Christian’s arm. “I’ll be right back. I just need to go to the ladies’ room for a minute.”

  “Sure, I’ll be right here.”

  She walked into the ladies’ room and leaned against the sink; turning on the faucet, she dropped her hands beneath its rapid flow. The coolness of it jolted her slightly. She pulled her hands from the water and patted them softly against her face. She blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to get the blood flowing through the fog.

  Mia came through the door and saw Riley standing there, hands pressed against her face. “Riley, are you okay? You don’t look that good.”

  Riley shook her head and reached for a paper towel. “Just feel kind of strange. That headache got me, I guess,” she said as she wiped her hands.

  “Here, I’ve got this extra-strength headache reliever.” She turned the pill in her fingers. “At least I think that’s what it is. Let’s go out and get you something to drink and you can take it.”

  “You know, my head really isn’t hurting that badly anymore. I think I might just need caffeine or something. It’s been a long day. Maybe when I finally sat down, I realized how tired I was.”

  “Well, come on, let’s go get you a Coke.”

  They sidled up next to the bar, and Riley looked at the amber-colored liquids that lined the wall. She stared at them, remembering.

  Mia nudged her, a martini already in front of her. “Riley, he’s asking you what you want to drink.”

  Riley hadn’t even heard the bartender speak to her. “Oh, sorry. Could I have a Dr Pepper please? Just need some caffeine.”

  “Dr Pepper it is.”

  “You sure you don’t want this?” Mia asked, pushing a nondescript white pill in front of her.

  Riley’s head throbbed slightly behind her eyes. “Yeah, sure. I still have a little nagger.” When the bartender set the drink down in front of her, she took the pain reliever capsule and chugged her drink, hoping it would give her the boost of energy she needed.

  “Thank you. You’ve been there every time I’ve needed you this week.”

  Mia patted her on the back. “It’s been a pleasure, Riley. Really, I’m sorry Laine has stressed you out so much this week. That woman is a handful.”

  Riley rubbed her head again and laughed softly. “She’s really a great woman. You just have to get her to let her guard down. I’ve become quite fond of her and you, too. You haven’t really told me any of your story, Mia. How did you get here?”

  Mia shifted on her stool. Her smile tensed. “My mother . . . well, she felt like I should get out and explore the world. She has really high ambitions for me, you know.”

  “Sounds like most mothers.”

  Mia’s laugh sounded forced. “Yeah, sure. Most moms are that way. But I was working in the hospitality industry in Sydney and heard about this opening and thought it might be nice to get away from home for a while. Just couldn’t get away from . . .”

  Either her words trailed off or Riley just couldn’t focus. She blinked her eyes hard.

  “How are you able to come in here tonight with the bar and everything?”

  Riley blinked hard again. Her body was beginning to feel even more out of control. She shook her head. “Man, I just feel weird. You sure that was a headache pill?”

  “Yeah, it has to be. That’s all I carry in my purse.”

  Riley blinked again and looked at Mia. Her vision doubled. She heard her laugh coming as if from across the club. “I feel like I’m drunk and I haven’t had a thing. That will teach me to get more sleep and to not let
myself get so stressed out.” She took another drink of her soda and that was when she heard the music change.

  The DJ’s voice broke through the intense chatter of the club. “And a special request goes out for some of the ladies in the house. We bring you an old classic, not our typical music flavor, but it is from the icon himself, Frank Sinatra.” The first melodic line of “All the Way” began to take over the nightclub. A brief cheer went up. Obviously she wasn’t the only one who enjoyed a change of pace every now and then.

  She looked up and Christian was beside her, hand extended. “Would you dance with me?”

  She looked at Mia. Her face registered something. Something she hadn’t seen on her before. Mia was jealous and in that moment she knew it. But it was just a moment. Mia turned quickly to Riley, flashed her engaging smile, and said, “Go. Go dance.”

  She turned back to Christian. She spoke, but it felt as if her words were slower. Slurred, even. “I’d love to.”

  As they made their way to the dance floor, Riley stumbled slightly.

  “You okay?” Christian asked.

  “Yeah. Fine.” Even as she spoke, it felt as if she were exiting her body. She could see Winnie and Albert already on the dance floor; Tamyra was dancing with Christian’s friend Lance. Max and his wife were on the other side of them, and a few more of the guests and their spouses had taken to the dance floor as well. But Riley knew something was terribly wrong. With all of her might she wanted to pull Christian toward her and tell him something was seriously wrong, that she needed to get home. As they got to the dance floor and he took her in his arms, her body disconnected from her mind. Her hands began to slide their way up his neck and around his back. Every part of her being desired him.

  She wanted to push away from him and run, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. Her mind was crazed, but her body was alive. She began to move seductively.

  Christian took her arms from around his neck and let out an uncomfortable laugh. “Riley, what’s up with you?”

  She pushed her body toward him again, her words now slurred as her hands moved up and down his back. “I just want to be close to you. I just want to dance with you. Can’t I dance with you?” Even as the words came out of her, she felt no ability to stop them.

  He pulled her hands from his back. “Riley, come on. This isn’t like you. What are you doing?”

  She felt a heat rise up inside of her, and this one wasn’t from passion. Her words came out loud. She could tell. Though they didn’t feel like hers. It was as if her mind and her body had been taken over and everything was happening outside of her control.

  “What’s wrong with you?” She could tell by his expression he wasn’t sure what to do with her.

  * * *

  Laine was across the room when she saw Riley head out to the dance floor. She had watched her conversation with Mia at the bar and didn’t know how she had even been able to come in here. She knew Riley thought she had beaten this thing. But the woman she was watching on the dance floor wasn’t Riley. That woman was a drunk. She knew she should have pulled her away from the bar. And now Riley was about to make a fool of herself in front of everyone if Laine didn’t stop her and stop her quick.

  She sidled up beside her and slipped an arm around her. “You know, Christian, my friend here has had a really long day. I think I just need to get her home and let her get some sleep.”

  Riley jerked free from Laine’s hold. “I’m not going anywhere with you!” Her words were biting from her drawn lips. She turned back to Christian and wrapped her arms around him again, pressing her head against his chest. “I want to stay here with Christian.” She sounded like a child. A drunk child.

  Laine grabbed her with a little more force. “I said, we’re going, Riley.”

  Tamyra came up beside her. “You need some help?”

  “Riley, are you drunk?” Christian asked.

  Laine felt as if she herself had been slapped. If Riley had been coherent enough to know what was going on at this moment, Laine knew she would be sick. “Christian, she’s just had a long day. I promise, she is just exhausted.”

  Max finally noticed the commotion and came over. Exactly what Laine had been trying to avoid. “Riley, is something wrong?”

  Riley jerked free from Laine again. “Yes!” The word came out as if it had three syllables. “This woman has driven me crazy all week!” She swung her arm wildly at Laine. “She’s mean and angry and sad.” Riley all but spat her last words.

  Laine tried to refrain from her desire to slap Riley. Slapping a drunk wouldn’t help them. Though she’d feel a lot better.

  Max interrupted her. “Riley, have you been drinking?”

  She let out an arrogant puff. “I don’t drink.” Her slurred words in no way confirmed her declaration.

  Max shook his head. Laine could see the disappointment on his face. “I shouldn’t have let you come in here. This is my fault.” His last words were more of a whisper. “I’m sorry, Ms. Fulton.”

  Riley’s head jerked toward Max. Laine hadn’t seen that much fire in her eyes since she had let her have it the other day. But that time Riley had seemed hurt. Tonight she was like a wild animal. “Don’t apologize to her!”

  Laine watched Max’s face shift to stern and fatherly. “Riley, your behavior is unacceptable. Laine Fulton is our guest and you will give her your respect.”

  Riley let out a drunken puff. “She doesn’t deserve anyone’s respect. She’s an adulterer, you know. Yeah, that’s right. She couldn’t keep her marriage together because she is an adulterer.” Laine felt a slap in her gut and hoped Riley’s words were slurred enough that the others couldn’t quite make out what she was saying.

  “That’s right! Slept with a stranger. A stranger!” Riley stumbled slightly as the last words came out.

  Laine was grateful that Frank’s song was over and the club was now pumped with the sounds of rap.

  Winnie had walked over as Riley finished her last announcement and steadied Riley back on her feet. “What in the world? Riley, what is wrong with you?”

  Riley jerked free from Winnie and stumbled again yet continued her maligning of Laine. “Yeah, that’s why she’s so angry and demanding. Always telling me where I should be and when I should be there.”

  Max stepped up and took her by the arm. Laine saw the hurt on his face. But he was resolved. “Riley, you will have your office packed up by morning and I will expect you on the first flight out after the storm blows over. I’m very disappointed in you.” He spoke his next statement under his breath, but Laine was close enough to hear him. “I’m sorry. I should never have let you come in here.” He dropped her arm.

  Laine took Riley by the arm one more time, and this time Tamyra and Winnie helped her. “We’ll get her back to her condo.”

  “I can have Mia take her back,” Max said, motioning for Mia to come over.

  Laine eyed the woman. “No,” she stated clearly. “We will get her back.”

  “Yes, we want to handle this,” Tamyra said to Max.

  “I’m going to beat your tail, young lady,” Winnie added.

  Max nodded at them and left the dance floor. Christian’s face came into Laine’s view. “I’m really sorry, Christian. This isn’t like her.”

  “I wouldn’t have thought so. But apparently it is.” The hurt on his face was unmistakable.

  Riley jerked beneath her hold, but Laine squeezed harder. She could tell Tamyra had a strong hold on the other side.

  “I’ve got the rear,” Winnie announced. And together they escorted Riley off the dance floor. Bodies closed the gaping hole where they’d been as if nothing had even taken place.

  Laine looked back as the bouncer opened the door for them to exit. Mia was standing by Christian. She raised her cup in a mimicking motion of one who had hit the bottle a little too hard. Laine watched her a moment longer, then turned to take this pitiful creature squirming beneath her grasp back home.

  * * *

  Riley squa
wked her protests as they carried her down the stairs. When they got to the bottom, Winnie came around to the front of Riley and swatted her thigh. “You hush up.”

  Riley stopped squirming and leaned back, her eyes blinking hard at Winnie.

  “I don’t know what in the world has gotten into you, or what you’ve gotten into, but we are not going to carry you through this hotel. You are going to get yourself together and walk through here without looking like a drunk. Now straighten up,” Winnie demanded.

  They watched as Riley tried to stand up straight. Tamyra let go of her side and Riley tottered.

  “Stand up straight now.” Winnie was adamant on how this was all going to take place.

  Riley tried to steady herself again. Laine felt like she could let go.

  “Now, we will be right here with you, but you are going to get to your room like a lady, not a tramp.”

  “She’s the tramp.” Riley pointed at Laine and all but fell over.

  “I’m going to slap her,” Laine announced.

  Winnie stepped into Riley’s space. “Don’t you say another word. Don’t speak. Don’t mumble. Don’t hum. We want nothing. You’ve done enough damage tonight and you will do no more.”

  Laine and Tamyra eyed each other.

  Winnie stepped aside and motioned in front of her. “Now, go.”

  Riley took a faltering first step and Laine reached out and steadied her. She jerked her arm from Laine’s grasp, caught her footing, and stood up straight. And they walked through the casino.

  “You’re good at this, Winnie,” Tamyra said.

  “This is what I do.”

  “Deal with drunk women?” Laine quipped.

  “Deal with desperate people,” Winnie reminded. “This is nothing but a desperate means of avoiding the real issue.”

  She had Tamyra’s curiosity. “What is the real issue?”

  “Fear. It’s always fear.”

  Laine and Tamyra walked beside Riley all the way to her condo, ready to steady her at any moment. When they got there, they led her into her bedroom and lowered her onto the bed. She fell over immediately. “She never should have gone in there tonight,” Laine said.