The Roaming (Book 3): Haven's Promise

by Hegarty, W. J.

  Lancaster raised his eyes from his bottle and grumbled, “I beg your pardon?”

  “Inside. They don’t bite. Here, let me get the door for you.” Walter held the door open. Sounds of laughter and revelry from the partygoers burst forth from the hall.

  The noise was like a wave knocking Lancaster back and yanking him to sobriety. “Are you mad? Close that door, simpleton.” Lancaster slammed the door closed.

  “I just thought you might like to go join them. You sure stare at them enough.”

  “Have you been spying on me?”

  “I see things, but people don’t see me.” Walter made his way down the line of windows—cleaning as he went—with a smile permanently etched upon his face.

  Lancaster straightened himself with a guffaw. “I’ll not be talked down to by the likes of you.”

  “Have it your way.” Walter shrugged. It was clear that Lancaster didn’t want him around, which suited Walter just fine; he didn’t much care for mean people. Walter continued on his way but not before offering a final bit of advice: “There’s always somebody here to talk to, even if it’s not who you think you want to talk to.” For those who took the time to speak with him, Walter had insight. He offered simple solutions to simple problems that most people would overthink or overreact to. Others, like Lancaster, saw him as a pest. What could a man like Walter possibly know?

  Lancaster mumbled and shooed him away. “What do you know about it, anyway?”

  ~~~

  From the hallway outside of Todd’s cabin, he could hear the distinct sounds of a rattling cage coming from inside. He sighed before he deposited Imogen in the hallway, then rushed into his living quarters. Their room was untouched; Imogen’s pet hadn’t escaped again. In fact, it ceased its commotion as soon as it sensed Todd’s presence.

  Todd and Imogen’s home was clean, spotless; not a stray towel or dirty dish was left lying around. A TV and a stereo remote were lined up perfectly beside one another just in reach of a sofa and a matching lounge chair. Their balcony door was locked with extra protection not afforded to other staterooms, and there was a dog kennel in the corner of the living room, covered with a sheet. The beast rattled the cage in spurts as if it was unsure of exactly who was on the other side of the sheet.

  “I told you that thing would be a nuisance. We don’t have the room for it.”

  “I’ll take care of it. Jeez, Todd.”

  “You’ve been saying that for months. I don’t like pets, I never have, and it stinks. How many times do I need to tell you? Get that thing under control or I swear to god I’ll flush it.”

  “I’m sorry, babe. I’ll take care of it. What crawled up your ass tonight?”

  “You’re joking?”

  Imogen pulled the straps down from her dress. She ran her hands down Todd’s chest, then knelt in front of him and began to unbuckle his pants.

  He turned and shooed her away. “I’m not in the mood.”

  “Oh, come on.”

  “No, you embarrassed me tonight with that scene in front of the captain.”

  “I was just playing.”

  “Yeah, well, I have to work with these people. Get it together, would you? Just take care of your mess. We’ll talk in the morning.” Todd waved his arm at the animal crate. “That thing needs discipline, and I don’t have the time. I’m going to watch TV and then go to bed.”

  “Fine.” Imogen pulled her straps back up. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine, babe. I’m just tired, that’s all. Let your pet out for a minute and then come watch TV with me. Tomorrow’s another day.”

  “Tomorrow’s another day,” Imogen repeated as she exhaled heavily.

  ~~~

  Julius knocked on Nisha’s door. He was in a rush to be at Trix’s bar for the party, but he had a minute before the guest of honor arrived. He and Chelsea offered to cover everyone’s shifts for the night so that Trix and the girls could enjoy the festivities properly. It wasn’t every day that a friend returned from the dead. He knocked again, but Nisha didn’t answer. Julius didn’t know her well, but it didn’t take a mind-reader to understand that the woman was in pain. He wanted to help, if only she’d let him.

  “Nisha, I know you’re in there,” he said with no response. “Your friends are upstairs at the bar. They all want to see you. Come on.”

  Again, no response. Maybe she really isn’t in there.

  She told him the last time they spoke that her friend Isabelle was found alive and that when she heard the news, she tried to approach her in Underworld, but it didn’t go so well.

  Maybe Nisha is down below, trying to reach out again, he thought. “If you change your mind, we’ll all be there,” he finally said to the door. He had to go.

  ~~~

  Trix’s was packed beyond capacity for the occasion; the afterparty for the dinner party was a popular destination. Chelsea closed down the pool bar for this; she and Julius would cover the ladies’ shifts tonight so that they could enjoy themselves. The bar was filled wall to wall with friends new and old and well-wishers alike. A resurrection party was a rare occasion. The closest Haven ever came to such a celebration was after the captain successfully rescued his family from St. Lucia. That was in the early days, though. A confusing time when not much was known regarding the crisis. Kayembe was just thankful that his wife and child were safe, and he celebrated accordingly.

  What Miller accomplished as a result of his return trip to Poseidon’s Rest defied belief. That feat uplifted the occupants of the ship, giving everyone a sense that the impossible was still achievable. Talk had spread throughout the vessel and ran the gamut from pure joy to the cynics who felt that Soraya’s return was nothing more than a fluke at best or at worst a staged event meant to inspire hope in the hopeless. However, the vast majority of Haven’s residents took her return at face value. It was seen as a light in the darkness—proof that just maybe their loved ones still lived as well. Anything was possible now, even in the face of a ruined world.

  Partygoers mingled and swapped stories of past loves and missed family; a new sense of hope was spreading through the ship like wildfire. Miller found himself greeted by complete strangers full of joy and congratulations. He and Soraya both were in a constant state of rehashing their story for the masses. Theirs was a tale that would long echo through Haven’s steel halls.

  Cortez and the rest of the excursion team allowed themselves to unwind as well and properly enjoy the evening. For them, this night of celebration was their first official get-together without solemn overtones hanging like a rain cloud since Bull’s injury. Ahole and Genevieve were back to their joyous selves and where they shined: at the center of attention. Ulrich drank from a comically large mug of ale between taking turns hoisting women above his head, one on each bicep. Cortez offered a toast to the newly reunited couple; the bar erupted in cheers.

  Miller stood off to the side of the crowd, leaning on a wall near a decorative plastic palm tree; away from the nexus was where he felt most comfortable in large gatherings. He watched the revelers mingle and saw the smiles of unfamiliar faces welcoming Soraya to her new life aboard Haven, and he caught himself wondering if maybe this was the end of the journey after all. After so much loss, maybe the steep toll paid to reach Haven was really worth it. Rachel would agree; he was sure of it. He smiled to himself as memories of his best friend flooded his mind: from their time in high school together to boot camp and everything else. He missed her dearly, but he knew if she could see him sulking in light of everything that lay before him, she would certainly smack the shit out of him. Standing there, he quietly let Rachel go, but he would never forget her.

  As he watched the crowd, Miller noticed that not everyone at the party was in high spirits; instead of appreciating the things closest to them, some continued to pine after something more, something just out of reach.

  Ames followed Alex around like a puppy dog, much to her chagrin.

  Catherine had had enough. Months of pining after Am
es and she was ready to move on. “Let’s go,” she said to Tate before hurriedly finishing her drink.

  “Really?” He was shocked.

  “Yeah, before I change my mind.” She led him out of the bar but was sure to pass close to Ames on their way. He didn’t notice. He was too busy being ignored by Alex.

  Others, though, always made the best of every situation. Vanessa excused herself to go grab her and Lillian drinks. Lora wasted no time trying to dance with the lone Lillian. Lillian humored the girl, who took advantage of the situation and continually crept closer. When Vanessa returned with drinks in hand, she cut between them and said, “I’ll take it from here.” Lillian wrapped her arms around the back of Vanessa’s neck; they kissed and danced. Lora stormed off; rejection wasn’t something she was used to. Abayomi followed behind, smiling.

  Markus, Samantha, Casandra, and Sam sat at a table near the dance floor, laughing and talking. Ahole was already cutting a rug atop a table. Before the night was over, he would be dancing in his underwear. Genevieve joined him, though her indigo heels made the tabletop an awkward dance floor. Cortez and Trix finally got some time to enjoy an evening out with neither in work mode. They sat at a quiet table, just staring into each other’s eyes and enjoying the relative peace. Rodrigo and Paula enjoyed some time together as well. He finally grew the nerve to ask her out. Soraya’s resurrection party was their first official date.

  Miller took an immediate liking to Alex from their first meeting when they fought off that pack of feral dogs back at Shipwreck Cove. Alex actually dressed up for Soraya’s party; by her standards, it was considered dressing up. She put something on her feet—a pair of cowboy boots she found in stowage—and wore a flowing white button-up shirt over her jean shorts. Miller could barely make out her and Soraya’s conversation, but he caught the gist of it.

  “Oh my God, girl!” Alex was beside herself over Soraya’s natural beauty. “This dress, and those emeralds?”

  Though they had only just met a week prior, theirs was fast becoming one of those relationships where it felt like there was an immediate connection with the other person. Alex went in for a hug; Soraya hugged her back. They both meant it.

  “I know. I want to keep them so bad.” Soraya fingered the massive stone on her necklace.

  “Go for it.”

  “You think?”

  “Why not?” Alex shrugged. “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?”

  Hours passed, and Miller and Soraya excused themselves from the festivities. The nearly constant attention had become suffocating; a breather out under the stars was in order. They leaned against a railing out on the deck, hand in hand, while the party was still in full swing behind large glass windows. Undisturbed, they talked with no concept of time, each taking turns leading the conversation regarding the good and the bad during their time apart.

  For Miller, Soraya’s time at the hotel didn’t sound all that bad except for that incident with the thieves, when Isabelle saved Soraya’s life. For her part, Soraya was fascinated with all that Haven had to offer. She showed a particular interest in this arena Miller had mentioned.

  Miller didn’t want to overwhelm her with how much he truly missed her; it was apparent enough, and desperation wasn’t a good look on anybody. He played it as cool as he was able while still emphasizing that finding her, whatever it took, remained his priority. “If the ship had gotten close enough, I would have left during an excursion to come find you.”

  “You would have left Cortez after all he’s done for you? And Jeremiah and the others?”

  “I would have.”

  “Even Radzinski?” she teased.

  He sighed. “Even Radzinski.”

  Soraya explained in better detail the bond that had formed between her and Isabelle over those long months and how they truly became friends, even if it wasn’t all too apparent from an outsider’s perspective. They trusted each other, and sometimes, that was enough. On some instinctual level, Soraya understood Isabelle. They were both outsiders cast into a situation that was completely out of their control. One of them was a stranger in a strange land through no fault of her own. The other was an intentional outcast trying to cut herself off from the last vestiges of her humanity. They were kindred spirits thrust together in an impossible situation.

  “Isabelle was a good friend. Is a good friend,” Soraya said. “I’m going to go see her after tomorrow’s excursion.”

  “You mean after de-cons,” Miller reminded her with a sigh. He leaned his head back, his eyes to the starry sky. Just the thought of more time in de-cons made him question if being a part of the team was even worth it.

  “Yes, after that.” She gripped his hand tightly.

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing. I just missed you. We had so much time on that island where we could have been together, and I blew it. I sat up nights for months in that hotel thinking it. Now that you found me, I find myself slipping back into that mindset like I am alone again, and it frightens me.”

  “I’ve had the same thoughts. So many times, I wanted to say something while we were on the road and then the island—especially the island—but I didn’t. I put the mission first, and I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

  “Do not be. You did the right thing. These people were the priority.” She looked back through the windows of the bar to Sam and Vanessa and all the others from the long road. They were happy now, but more importantly, they were alive. “This is all because of you,” she said.

  “I didn’t do it alone. I had a little help.” He kissed her on the forehead.

  She hugged him tight. He held her under the moonlight, where they stood in silence. The din from the party inside was as an ambiance solely for their benefit.

  Aiko and Jeremiah joined Miller and Soraya. The women embraced in a long and sincere hug. Pure joy was etched on their faces.

  Soraya leaned down; she put her ear to Aiko’s belly. “I can hear her in there,” she said, wide-eyed. “She wants to come out.”

  Aiko laughed and told her it was good to see her again.

  Miller and Jeremiah shook hands.

  “You did good, Miller.”

  “Thanks, Jerry.”

  Away from the party and with a degree of privacy, the couples reflected on how far they’d come. More importantly, they shared what each of them hoped the promise of a better tomorrow would bring.

  Inside Trix’s bar, the night was winding down. Those who remained bunched some tables together and talked. Ahole regaled them with tales from the Outback. Genevieve’s eyes gave away that most of it was probably bullshit. Miller and the guest of honor excused themselves. It had been a long few days, and both of them were due for some much-needed time alone together.

  ~~~

  Samantha and Casandra said their goodbyes to Soraya and excused themselves from the party to wander the empty nighttime decks. The girls tucked Markus into bed before their stroll; he drank a little too much at the party. It was his and Samantha’s first formal dinner as a couple with their friends, and he let his excitement get the better of him. He’d feel like he blew it in the morning. He didn’t.

  Conversation drifted from life in Pepperbush to the trials and tribulations of their time spent on the road and then the island and now, finally, here in their new home aboard Haven. A chill breeze hung in the air, even this far south. They passed a couple walking arm in arm under the moonlight. At times, this new life they stumbled upon seemed like a living dream. Samantha feared that one day she would wake only to find herself back on the road, living in a constant state of fear.

  In the distance, light flickered on the horizon. Samantha imagined it was civilization back on the mend and returning to its feet. That was what she’d like to think, anyway. In all likelihood, the twinkling lights were probably some poor souls holed up in a tall building finally losing power. Or maybe the flickering lights were something even worse: the flashes from a gun battle. She tried not to dwell on such thou
ghts; they only brought her down. She was going to make the most of this new lease on life one step at a time, and tonight, she would ensure that Casandra had the encouragement she needed to do the same.

  Casandra was always a talker. Samantha had grown used to it. It wasn’t like Samantha was the quiet type, but around someone like Casandra, you had to sneak in your own conversation points where you could; otherwise, she would drone on endlessly. Samantha felt a swell of remorse for her friend; so much loss in such a short time was a heavy burden to bear. If Casandra needed to get it out as a form of therapy, who was Samantha to argue? She would listen for as long as it took for Casandra to feel whole again.

  “First I lost the baby, then Bernie, and for a few weeks there, all I wanted was to curl up and die. But you’ve been a real help. You and Markus,” Casandra said. “And Sam. God, how could I leave out Sam?”

  “We’re here for you, sweetie—all of us. Whatever you need,” Samantha answered in a soothing tone.

  “The dinner was nice. I needed this: a night out,” Casandra said with a smile. “For the first time in a long time, I think I’m going to be okay.”

  ~~~

  The sea was calm; waves gently lapped at the side of the ship far beneath Miller and Soraya’s balcony. Moonlight danced off Soraya’s gems, and their light flickered into the night. She sat on Miller’s lap with her legs dangling off to one side. Soraya unfastened her heels and let them drop to the floor. Her feet ached after standing for so many hours. “It really is beautiful out here,” she said.

  “It is.” Miller kissed her neck. “Tell me about your family.”

  “Oh, Miller. I think of them every day.” She leaned her head against his chest as he held her tight.

  “My papa sells vegetables in the bazaar. His customers love him. They call him the melon man. He draws little faces on the fruits for the children and pretends to talk to them.”

  “He sounds delightful.”

  “He is.”