Chapter 9:Part 3

Bill wasn't usually so inattentive to the weather. He checked the forecast daily, making sure the weather wouldn't interfere with his operations. This morning he swore he had looked at the weather on his computer and they said it would be clear, but as he looked out the window it was anything but clear. Inky black clouds rolled across the sky only a few miles off shore. If luck were with them it would only be a small storm, but it didn't look small, instead it looked threatening and dangerous. Not something he would ever want to be caught out in.



His attention turned back to Amanda. She was lucky. If she'd been caught out in a storm like this, she surely would have perished. He hoped she thought of herself as lucky. The way she looked would improve, but not much. Her voice was still a ragged mess, her vocal chords swollen stiff.



The doctor hadn't given her a great report. Bill hadn't meant to, but he had overheard the doctor speaking with Amanda. She wanted to sing again. The doctor said it was doubtful that she would ever take to the stage after so much trauma.



Bill had come in to hold her hand while she cried. Amanda had finally drifted off to sleep. Now he stared out into the mess outside and wondered if his wife had sense enough to come in out of the rain. He should go and check on her, but he really didn't want to. She had told him that she was a big girl, wise enough to take care of herself.



Damn, Shana could be such a bitch. He hated thinking of her in that way, but it was true. They weren't suited for each other. Trying to make it work would only take them so far, especially since she didn't try on her end. It was all him trying to make a go of it, and her demanding he follow her expensive whims.



Truth be told, he hadn't been happy in their marriage for years but what the hell could he do. He wanted happily ever after. The fiftieth anniversary with all the grandkids and great-grandkids gathered around.



He wanted to be able to say that they had made it. Worked together, through thick and thin to make it work. That in the end, after all had been said and done, he had been successful with his work and family.



Amanda's breathing grew deeper. Bill went to the nurse's station and checked with the hospital staff. Yes they knew a storm was approaching but it wasn't a Hurricane yet. They would take precautions. Yes, the windows were made out of hurricane proof glass. No, the hospital wouldn't flood.



Relief washed over Bill. At least Amanda would be safe, now he needed to find his wife. Shana could be anywhere, most likely she was at her hotel acting wealthy. He hated that attitude. His family had played it so well. Pulling rank, acting the snob, taking advantage of others. In the beginning it had been different with Shana, but then that fateful Christmas when she met his family. After that everything changed.



His wife wasn't the same person he married. She looked similar but her actions were different.



The drive across the island was uneventful. No one had freaked out. Back in DC if a storm like this approached from the sea people would go ape shit. But things ran differently here on the island. They were used to category four hurricanes and massive weather systems.



If he lived out here, he guessed he would be used to the wind and rain, but the thought of waterspouts coming ashore and roofs ripping off of buildings scared the shit out of him.



The atmosphere was different at the One and Only Beach Club. Tourist dashed about, carrying their bags and catching the first available cabs. He guessed a mass exodus would occur, of course only so many people could leave the island before the storm hit.



He made his way to the registration desk and asked to be connected to Shana's room. He refused to show up unannounced. She would read too much into his arriving without notice. Either she would think he was overly concerned, or she would flaunt a guy in his face.



The desk agent smiled and handed the phone over. "Here's the phone sir."



"Shana, could you please come down to the lobby."



"No."



"Please, I would like to speak to you."



"Leave me alone."



"Shana, come down. We need to speak."



"Leave me alone." The phone disconnected, leaving Bill with no choice.



He hated being angry in public. His mother had schooled him well in always acting like he was in control. Throwing a fit, shouting, displaying anything other than a cool, calm and collected demeanor would show low breading and every Rowland was high bred. The Rowland's were cream of the crop. No one could find fault in the public persona. Only after you entered the family were you allowed to view the dark side.



Bill knew where her room was, that wasn't the issue. Now he'd have to meet on her terms in a private room. In public he could guarantee she would reserve most of her anger for another time, in private it would be messy.



For twenty seconds he stood in front of her door, trying desperately to talk himself out of knocking. He didn't want to see his wife, not really. But making sure she was safe was his duty.



Bill knocked, knowing that whatever awaited him would be bad. Shana ripped open the door, her hair a mess, her makeup smudged. He could smell sex on the air wafting out of her room. His heart sunk, he wanted to cry, but Rowland men didn't cry.



With a shake of his head he gritted his teeth and stuffed his feelings. "Shana, you need to leave the island."



A male voice came from the bathroom. "What's going on babe?"



The stomach clenching nausea hit him before he could catch his feelings. The emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Sure, he was ready to be done with his marriage, but he wasn't ready to think of Shana fucking someone else.



"Nothing," Shana called back into the room without opening the door.



"There is a storm about to hit the island. If you board a plane you will make it to the safety of the main land."



Bill watched in horror as a hand pulled Shana back and a young punk with a towel around his waist replaced her in the door. "Listen old man, she's fine. I've got her now."



Any response died on his tongue. How the hell could he respond? If she'd done anything else, even threw a fit and spent a boatload of money on clothes he would have forgiven her. But this was too much. He wanted to point out that the prenuptial she'd signed cut her off of the money if she was caught cheating.



"Randy, back off." Shana pushed the punk out of the way, a challenge shown in her eyes. "Go away. I don't need you here. I will be fine."



Bill nodded his head once and stalked away. How the hell could he respond? He exited the hotel and notice immediately that the wind had picked up. The approaching storm would be a doozie.



Shane was lost to him. If he were truthful, she had been for years. He'd been fooling himself to think he could win her back. The shock of having money was too much for her. His parents had been right. He should have stuck to the girls who knew money, marrying for love only lead to pain and anguish.

Copyright Sara Thacker