Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
She and I are seated next to each other.
“Excited about the goat?” I ask.
“Not even slightly.”
Our appetizers are already in front of us—Jamaican patties. They look kind of like small turnovers, and they’re filled with ground beef and spices. They’re savory and delicious. The servers fill up wine and water glasses as chatter ensues among the party.
When the servers arrive with domed dinner plates, I inhale. The curried goat has a sharp and spicy aroma, and I find myself looking forward to trying it.
Just as Tessa’s plate arrives and the server removes the dome, her phone vibrates between us on the table.
“It’s my sister,” she says with a huff. “Why would she be calling me here? She knows—” Then her eyes widen. “Excuse me, please. I should take this.”
“You want me to come with you?” I ask.
She shakes her head as she rises, already putting the phone to her ear. She disappears into the hotel.
Worry gnaws at me, but I take a bite of the curried goat anyway once everyone is served.
It’s…good, actually—the goat has been slow cooked and is incredibly tender. Garlic, onion, and coconut are all apparent in the flavor. It’s similar to beef, but with an added gaminess.
Minutes pass. My plate is half empty, and Tessa hasn’t returned.
Skye, who’s seated on my other side, touches my arm. “Where’s Tessa?”
“She got a phone call from her sister.”
“Eva? That’s strange.” She rises. “I’m going to check this out.”
I finish my curried goat and a glass of Malbec, and they still haven’t returned. I steal a glance at Braden.
He gives me a slight nod.
That’s my cue to go see what’s going on. He’s the host of tonight’s shindig, so he can’t very well leave. Though he’d leave in a minute if Skye were the problem.
Skye and Tessa are nowhere to be found, so I head up to Tessa’s room across the hall from mine.
I knock.
No response.
I knock again. “Tessa? Skye?”
The door opens, just a crack, and Skye stands there. “I need to go talk to Braden. Can you stay with Tessa, please?”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
Skye wipes a tear from her eye. “Tessa’s dad had a heart attack. He’s in the hospital, and it doesn’t look good.”
My heart plummets to my stomach. “Oh my God.”
“We need to get her back home to Boston as soon as we can. So I need Braden to get the jet—”
“Skye, I’m on it.” I grab my phone. “The jet is here, so we should be able to get out right away.”
“The problem is,” Skye says, “if they take Tessa back tonight, will they be able to get back here in time to take to fly us all back tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. I guess you could all leave later in the day. I’ll see if I can find a commercial flight for Tessa, but that will only work if it leaves within the next couple hours. I’ll go with her. Tell Braden to get the driver ready.”
But as I check my airline apps, I find there are no commercial flights available at this time of night to fly from Montego Bay to Boston.
“Damn it.”
“What?” Skye asks.
“Nothing available. We’re going to have to use the jet if we want to get her back as soon as we can.”
Skye nods. “I’ll tell Braden. If we have to leave later tomorrow or stay another day… That’s fine for Braden and me, but what about the others?” She sighs.
“Captain Rogers can get the jet right back in the air as soon as Tessa and I land,” I say.
“What about FAA hours?” she asks. “The flight from Montego Bay to Boston can take up to five hours. The captain will max out.”
“The co-pilot can fly back.”
“Yeah, but both of them will still need a break for twenty-four hours before—”
“Skye, we’ll work it out.” I grab her shoulders. “We have other pilots. We can fly someone down here tomorrow morning, and you’ll get out in time. Please. This won’t be an issue.”
“You’re right, of course. I’m just…” She rubs her temples. “This is just the worst. It’s the last thing Tessa needs right now. She loves her family.”
“I know. Where is she?”
“In the bedroom. She’s…not in a good place, Ben.”
“Which is why I’m flying back with her. She shouldn’t be alone.”
“Are you sure?” Skye asks.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” I say.
Skye leads me out of the sitting area and into the hallway. “Go tell Braden what’s going on, and I’ll stay here and help Tessa get packed. Do you need to pack?”
“All I need is my wallet and my phone,” I say. “But I’ll grab a few things quickly, and then I’ll go see Bray.”
Skye nods again, and I leave, heading into my own suite across the hall.
I travel light anyway, so it doesn’t take me long to grab all my stuff and throw it in my suitcase. Once I’m ready, I leave the suitcase outside my door and go back to the dinner, where I grab Braden and pull him aside.