ChapterFour
The following morning, Rayna Jo watched as the shadows of the sunrise shifted across the ceiling of the elegantly decorated room.
She’d worked hard to make their home beautiful and comfortable, and with the sun shining through the sheers, she knew she had achieved her goal.
She loved sleeping with the doors open on cool nights, listening to the sound of the waves and the rustle of the fabric as it slid against itself, billowing in the breeze.
She rolled onto her back with a frown as she tried to piece together the events that left her feeling muddled. She didn’t remember changing into the nightgown she now wore. Didn’t remember going to bed at all, actually.
She turned toward the door leading into the adjoining bedroom. “Richard? Are you awake?”
She pushed herself upright, and the room spun so much she sat on the edge of the bed until she was steady enough to cross the floor to the double doors.
The bedroom was empty, the bed she’d made the morning after he’d left on his business trip untouched.
But… he’d come home. Hadn’t he? Or had his return been a dream?
Oh, why did her head feel so foggy?
She walked to the balcony doors overlooking the boardwalk, hoping some fresh air and sunshine would clear the cobwebs.
She flung the doors wide, lifting a hand to cover her eyes because of the brightness as she stepped outside.
She always worried when Richard traveled. She couldn’t help it. The world wasn’t nearly as safe as it used to be, and at sixty-five, he wasn’t a young, strong man anymore.
Birds squawked and there was a pelican sitting on the edge of the balcony railing. She stared at the bird, who stared back at her. It blinked but didn’t move or fly away, which she found a bit odd.
Maybe she was still dreaming?
Rayna Jo took a step toward the bird, hand outstretched, and watched as the pelican took flight. She then stared at her hand because it didn’t quite seem to be attached. It… floated and blurred a bit when she moved, like she wasn’t entirely in her body but outside of it.
“Mama? Mama, what are you doing? Come inside,” Devon said.
Footsteps hurried across the floor, and Devon wrapped a throw around her and forcibly turned her toward the open door. “Devon, it’s too hot for that.”
“Mama, you’re in a nightgown in front of the reporters,” Devon said. “Come back inside.”
Reporters? She looked over the balcony and saw people below staring up at them, hands up as they pointed cameras in their direction.
Her daughter pushed her into the bedroom and shut the doors behind them.
“Mama, why did you go out there? You knew we’d be surrounded, just like last night.”
“Last night?”
“When we left the hospital.”
“Did you get hurt?” She searched Devon for signs of an injury but didn’t find any. “Are you all right?”
Devon drew back and gave Rayna Jo an odd look, but then her daughter tightened her hold and steered Rayna Jo to the sitting area.
“I’m okay, Mama.”
“That’s good. The network wouldn’t want you banged and bruised on camera.”
“Um. Yeah. Mama, sit down. I’ll have someone get us some tea.”
“Someone? Who’s here?” Rayna Jo asked.