“Splash!”he squealed and sat down in the water.
“That’s another set of clothes gone for today, kiddo.”
This morning was for familiarization and errands, and she’d left the bungalow in such a haste that she hadn’t thought to bring Karim’s swimming gear.But as long as he was happy, Libby didn’t mind.She slipped off her flip-flops and dipped her feet in next to him, absorbing the glorious view.The sky was still overcast, but the air and sea breeze were pleasantly warm.Gray clouds gathered over the horizon, making the sea look pale green-blue.A thin line of white-frothing water marked the edge of the surrounding reef that kept the wild ocean at bay and the waters of the lagoon calm.
While Karim played quietly on the beach with shells and stones, Libby quickly took photographs on her phone and shot some beach footage for her channel—though who knew when she’d have time to edit another video.Her patchy sleep last night was already taking its toll.If she were lucky, she could maybe snatch an hour’s rest while Karim napped this afternoon, and if he settled in their new room tonight, she might have a couple hours left in her to do some prep work for herParent and Childarticles.Her morning exploring Avarua—and her potential detour to Atiu—had already given her a lot of content ideas.
And as for her Daniel Jones story…
Writing an anonymous article was her only option.
“Pish!”Karim squealed, scaring away all wildlife within a five-mile radius.“Pish!”
“You’ve seen fish, honey?Where?”Libby put her phone away and, fully back in mom-mode, picked Karim up so they could look over the water together.“Yes, there, I see them.Smart boy!”
All thoughts of Daniel Jones and work were pushed to the side in favor of paddling in the water, and by the time Libby managed to lure Karim back to dry land with talk of sticks and stones they’d find in the grass, it was almost lunchtime.
“We’d better have something to eat,” she said.“You must be getting hungry after all that splashing.Let’s have some of those nice wraps we picked up at the market.”
She took Karim’s wet T-shirt and shorts off and dried him using the skirt of her sundress, then
rummaged in her bag for his change of clothes.They ate lunch on the beach, then she coaxed him into the stroller with a juicy piece of mango she’d bought at a market stall earlier.It was time for his nap, so Libby decided to walk the thirty minutes back to Muri Beach instead of getting the bus.He’d be out like a light by the time they got back toAre Moana.
But only if the gods of sleep were on her side today.
Bysomemiracle,theywere!The walk had done the trick, and Karim was fast asleep.Libby made her way to the bungalow through the backyard and parked him in the stroller outside the back door.It was open, and Cranky Jones was sleeping, all curled up on the couch bed.
Lucky him, having such a lazy day.
Needing to collect her bags, Libby stepped inside.
Cranky stirred.
She stopped.
With a grunt, he scrambled off the bed and stumbled like a drunken man to the bathroom, one hand slapped over his mouth.
The toilet lid slammed, then came the unmistakable sound of retching.Libby ran to him and screeched to a halt in the doorway when she found him on his knees with his head in the toilet.
Oh no!Had he caught Karim’s bug?
Wincing, she fetched him a glass of water.When she returned, the mess and smell had her stalling in the doorway.The mat and towels were screwed up in the corner, toilet paper littered the floor, and it reeked of vomit.
“Looks like you’ve spent a lot of time in here while we’ve been out,” she said.The bathwater was still in the bath, and so were a pair of green cargo pants and a blue shirt—the clothes he’d worn on the flight—along with his…phone?Libby fished it out of the bath, placed it into the sink, then nudged the glass of water at him.“Here.You’d better drink this.”
Hugging the toilet bowl like a life raft, Cranky glanced up with red, glassy eyes.
“Take it,” she said.“You’ve got to keep hydrated.”
He grunted a word that sounded a little like thanks, then shifted to lean against the bath.He took a tentative sip and then another.Beads of sweat had formed on his brow, but he was shivering.
“Have you got a fever?”She didn’t expect a reply.His teeth were chattering too now, and his skin had taken on an unnatural hue.“You’re not looking so great, dude.If you feel like you’re done here, let me help you back to bed.”She wrapped her hands around his wide bicep, though how the hell she’d get this hulk of a man to his feet was anyone’s guess.“Can you crawl?”
He shifted slowly onto his hands and knees, but after a few steps, he fell flat on his face.
“I’ll get some help,” she said.
“No, I’ll do it!”His voice was hoarse and desperate.“I don’t need any help.”
