“I—”
“It’s my fault,” she said. “I had a feeling something was up when I saw you in the galley with him. I should’ve stepped in earlier. I’m going to have a word with your aunt. If things are still unresolved between her and your uncle, she can have my room, and I’ll bunk with Chef Alexandros. I’d like you to clear your things from the crew quarters and return to your assigned cabin right away.”
“Yes, Captain Bailey.” I would’ve agreed to anything. The last thing I wanted was Alex to get into trouble because of me. In the span of a few minutes, I’d gone from feeling like I’d grown wings overnight, to a sinking, twisted despair.
I entered the lobby, my shoulders sagging, where I was assailed by two different female voices from two different directions.
“Moti!”
“Moti!”
Rachel Auntie reached me first.
“You’re back. Shame on Isabelle for sending you away on your own. I hope you didn’t have too much trouble finding it.”
“Finding what?”
“You know…” Isabelle slipped her arm through the crook of my elbow and gave me a little nudge. “The stuff I asked you to get for me.”
It took a moment to process what the two of them were talking about—the excuse Isabelle used to explain my absence.
“Oh. Yes, of course. I had to look all over for it, but—”
“Well, let’s see it,” Rachel Auntie said. “Let’s see what Isabelle needed so badly for the wedding.”
“It’s uh…” I glanced at Isabelle, but she’d done her part. It was up to me to come up with something. My eyes darted around, looking for something to magically materialize out of thin air. Now Naani, Joseph Uncle, and Fia all stopped what they were doing and stared curiously.
“It’s in here somewhere…” I fumbled in my handbag.
Isabelle grinned. “Come on. Hand it over.”
Bitch. I threw her a venomous look, but she only grinned wider. She was enjoying our role-reversal. I was the one sweating in the hot seat for a change.
“Ah.” My fingers closed around the glass jar the farmer gave me as a thank you for pulling weeds from his field. “Here you go.”
Isabelle looked dumbfounded, but she recovered quickly. “Honey. And not just any honey. A special kind of honey from a special colony of bees found only in Folegandros. They say bathing in this on your wedding day ensures sweetness and bliss in your marriage forever.”
Isabelle was the best bullshitter ever. I couldn’t have been more proud.
Naani, Joseph Uncle, and Fia went back to what they were doing. Rachel Auntie took a sniff of the honey. “Hmmph. Looks like any other type of honey.”
“But it’s not. Thank you, Moti, you’re the best.” Isabelle gave me a hug, but added in my ear, “I need details of exactly what you got up to with Chef Alexandros, or…” She made a slicing gesture across my neck.
“Moti!” Dolly entered the lobby and headed straight for me, arms outstretched. “My darling. My sweet, sweetbeti.” She deposited two big kisses on my cheeks before pulling me into her bosom for a hug.
Well. This is new.
My arms went around her awkwardly. We were never affectionate with each other.
“Did you see?” She beamed around the room. “All these arrived for you.”
Big bouquets of flowers—on the side tables, lining the windows, on the entertainment unit. The lobby was overflowing with them.
“These must be for the wedding,” I said.
“No, they’re—”
“Hold on. My phone’s going crazy.” Now connected to the Wi-Fi, it was pinging with notifications. I scrolled through them.
