TODAY, OUR TEAM MEMBER, AUTHOR LORRAINE CAREY, IS SHARING WITH US, CHAPTER 5 OF HER NOVEL, 'NIGHT MISTRESS OF PARADISE PALMS' #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

Chapter 7

There’s a Storm Coming

A warning email flashed across Della’s phone about an impending tropical storm headed to hit Grenada on the 7th from the Caribbean Weather Alert Network. Damn! Not now. I’ve got to have all staff check supplies and inform guests, should they choose to leave or stay. Della looked at the radar maps closely, and it appeared the storm was on a path that was predicted to hit the island. She knew she had to activate her emergency plan and had to hold a meeting ASAP with her staff.

Downings was the first to answer her call. “Yes, Miss Della, I know we have a doozy coming. Best be prepared. There’s not much time. I told you that storm would most likely hit us. I could feel it in my bones. You’ve got to get those guests out of here!”

“I’m doing what I can. We’ve only got three here at this time. I’m dropping everything on today’s list and tending to our preparations here. You know the drill. I’m depending on you.” Della paced back and forth in her office.

Dirk had just entered the office as Downings was leaving. “So, I guess you’ve seen the weather alert too?”

“Yes, I have. I’m praying it will turn.”

“Bloody hell, Della! This is predicted to be a massive hurricane!”

Della looked at Dirk. Her eyes glazed over. “Della, just give me the damn emergency list, and I’ll take care of everything; we need to prepare. I want you to know I’m planning on flying out of here in the next two days. You know my work permit is expiring, and I might as well go now. I promise I’ll help you get everything done before I go.”

Della turned away and looked out the window framed in a tropical print curtain. “You know I don’t want you to go, but I understand. You’ve been like family to me. I know you have family in England. I have enjoyed working with you for the past four years. You’ve been a good friend and the best employee ever.”

“You’ll be fine. Just prepare. I’m going back to the bar now to begin preparations on this list. Please keep watching that radar site.”

Della had a short meeting with the cleaning and maintenance staff. All were informed of their responsibilities and had the right to evacuate should they choose to do so. The Ralstons had to be contacted about the upcoming storm. Just as she posted an update on the resort website, she’d also accepted Jiles McTaggert to fill her bartender spot. He was an expat from Scotland. She shot off an email to him with the necessary paperwork he’d need to fill out before coming to the island.

A call was coming in from Della’s sister, Angie, in Puerto Rico that afternoon to check on her. “I want you to get on that next plane, Sis, and come down here.”

“I appreciate your offer, Angie, but you know I’ll just stay here and hunker down.”

“Hunker down? This storm has hit Grenada, and they’ve had so much damage! It’s now headed to the ABC Islands and is a major hurricane!” Angie’s voice rumbled.

“I know. I was just hoping it would turn.”

“You’d better get ready, sister, cuz you don’t have much time left.”

Silence came from Della. “I’m doing what I can.”

“Promise me you’ll call me tomorrow and let me know you have a ticket outta there!”

Della knew there was no way in hell she’d abandon the place she fought so hard to get and keep up these past four years. Her guests had managed to get flights out, as well as Dirk. She knew Joe Malone had checked out, but she hadn’t seen him nor cared if he made it out or not. Downings was planning on staying with her, and maintenance was boarding up and putting up the hurricane shutters on all the windows. The kitchen staff had cleaned up and prepped as well. Miss Nelly, her trusted cleaning manager, had taken care of things on her end. Most planned to stay at the local shelters should the storm get bad.

Della checked the weather alert and the Cayman National station, which issued several warnings. Hurricane Ivan was scheduled to hit on the 11th of September. She had just two days now to finish her preparations.

Dirk came into the office late that night to bid her goodbye and assure her everything was taken care of on his list. “You’ll be fine, Della. You’re a survivor.”

“Gonna miss you.” Della gave him a strong hug. “Promise me you’ll call me when you get home?”

“Promise. Now I hope all goes through with Jiles, the new bartender you’ve managed to hire. I hear he’s a Scott. Should be a good worker.”

“That’s if we’re all still here in one piece,” Della added.

Dirk couldn’t help but notice Della’s disheveled appearance. She was one who never had a hair out of place. “Now that doesn’t sound like the Della I know. I leave first thing in the morning, so if you need anything tonight, just ring me.”

Della reached for a tissue on her desk as Dirk closed the door. Her mascara had bled down onto her cheeks along with the tears. She headed over to her suite to change and go for a walk on the beach before retiring.

The sun had set as she walked slowly along the beach. All the lounge chairs were put away as well as tables and umbrellas. Looking back to see her inn all boarded up with the hurricane shutters in place gave her the chills. It looked like a ghost inn. The staff had left for home, and some prepared to leave for the local shelters. She took a deep breath and continued her walk. Something had stopped her in her tracks. The sea was starting to stir. The breeze was picking up, but felt warm. As she knelt in the soft sand, she thought of Tessa’s drowning and all the other strange occurrences that happened over the years out by the reef. Maybe this hurricane will cleanse whatever evil is out there? She shuddered and ran her hand over the bumps that suddenly appeared on her arms. She had a visceral feeling about this whole night. The sea was pitch black.

“Is this a premonition? I pray for this island and its people. May God save us!” She picked up her pace, heading back to the inn.

Della had just finished watching the radar site and speaking with the Cayman Police on procedures for all businesses in preparation. Ivan was now 113 miles SE of Grand Cayman. She shut down her computer and tried to get some sleep, but tossed and turned most of the night, knowing tomorrow might change her life forever.

Della woke to the blaring of alarms at 9 a.m. All were to take cover for the storm that was to hit tonight, and it was now a Category 5. Everyone else had gone; it was just her and Downings left. They made sure they had enough supplies to get them through the next few days if need be.

“You sure you don’t want to go to the local shelter?” Della asked him.

“No, Ma’am. I told you, I’d stay with you, it’s the least I can do. You put up with this old man for quite a while. I think you know I could have done you better.”

“You’ve done me right fine, Downings.” Della handed him a bottle of Tortuga Rum. “Now put this in the stash, we’re gonna need this.”

The winds were now picking up stronger as Della and her faithful security guard headed over to the maintenance room. She knew it was a solid room within the interior of the inn. Della made one last run out to her office to grab the short-wave radios. The electricity was now off, and her small generator had finally kicked in.

The wind howled like a demon, and Della could hear the waves crashing on the shore even from the maintenance room. She could hear the clattering of the hurricane shutters as they slammed up against the windows. She was able to get enough power to check the National Weather site before all the lights went out. All she and Downings had now were the lights from their flashlights.

Downings looked at Della with fear in his dark eyes. “God help us, God help us.”

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COMING SOON: On Wednesday, 11th February, we are delighted to welcome guest author, Vanessa Rose, who is sharing Chapter One of her novel, 'As The Fire Dies'.