Wrath of the Sea Queen

by Cynthia Woods

  "How is your back feeling, Uncle Ben?" Her voice sounded a bit steadier. Her tired, brown eyes tried to offer Ben a bit of comfort, but fell short of their usual vitality.

  "Not bad at all, thanks to you. I don't suppose you want to tell me how you did that? Vin says you have a new talent. I would love to hear about it," Ben replied.

  "I don't really understand it yet. Perhaps we can talk about it when I feel better and we have more time."

  "Ok, how about something simpler then?"

  Caeli looked up at him questioningly.

  "How far along are you?" Ben asked.

  She stared at him without responding until a single tear slid down her cheek and a slight smile finally came to her face.

  "You really don't miss much, do you?" Caeli finally answered and wiped the tear off her cheek. However, she could not stop the light sobbing that suddenly overcame her.

  "There now, it's no reason to be sad. This is wonderful news. Why haven't you told Vin? Oh, don't look so worried. You did an admirable job of disguising it, but you know how I love a good puzzle. It was only a matter of time before I figured it out. So then, how far along are you?" Ben smiled at her.

  "I'm not entirely certain. I asked Salma to run the test to confirm it later this week. I was hoping to have a nice surprise for Vin when he flew down on Friday. But, the crash changed that plan, and I have never been so sick or felt so run down. I think there could be something else wrong and it scares me a little," Caeli admitted, knowing Ben would have seen right through any attempt she might make to deny the fact or avoid the topic.

  "You haven't mentioned your concern to Vin, have you?" Ben knew the answer.

  "Not yet, though I think he suspects my condition. Vin can be fairly observant, too, particularly when it involves me. I have tried to tell him a couple of times today, because of everything else happening, but he has been preoccupied and other things keep getting in the way. I am sort of hoping that Salma will be able to help me get over this flu without the need to tell him. I would still like to surprise him if I truly am expecting. I have a great plan for revealing it in a very special way. I do not want him to find out like this if I can avoid it." Caeli finally got her tears under control as they spoke.

  "And if you can't avoid it?"

  "I will tell him if my condition doesn't improve soon. I am going to talk to him later, once we get settled."

  "Well, Lass, it sounds like you know what you need to do, whether it is your ideal setting or not. Sometimes, plans have to be changed. In fact, you can probably get a test in one of the shops downstairs. There must have been ten or fifteen stores in that long hall off the lobby. There is no need to wait for Salma to run a test."

  "I already did that. The results were not entirely as clear as the box promised. That's why I wanted Salma to confirm it."

  "Well, then why are you waiting? Sit Vin down, flash your brilliant smile, and tell him the results. You should not be trying to carry this alone, especially if there could be something wrong. Any half blind fool can see that the man is going out of his mind with worry over you. Once you clear that mystery up for him, you will both feel much better. Then you can figure out the rest of it together; and you make sure that you let him help you. Now, don't give me that look. I know how you are; just like your aunt. You independent types are all the same. You don't always like to admit that you need help, but you can't do everything by yourself. That's why God puts us in pairs." Ben patted her hand and smiled at her as Salma returned to the room.

  "Wise words, Uncle Ben, and exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes we independent types need a gentle reminder. I will talk to Vin as soon as we can be alone. This time I will make a better effort to say what I need to say. Thank you." For the first time in several hours, Caeli's smile was genuine.

  "My, my! Are you two conspiring? Feeling better, Caeli?" Salma asked.

  "Not conspiring; just planning for the future," Ben laughed.

  "Yes, I am feeling a bit better now. Whatever you gave me finally seems to have taken the edge off."

  "Good. That's encouraging," Salma replied with relief.

  "Where is Vin?"

  "He is running another errand. He should be back…"

  "Right now," Vin said as he came through the door finishing Salma's response. He was glad to see Caeli up and she appeared to be feeling better, even if only as a temporary result of the medicine. Vin moved over and kissed her warm cheek, and then stood behind Caeli's chair with his hand supportively on her shoulder. She reached up and covered it with her own, smiling briefly across at Ben.

  "I think we are ready if you are, Vin," Ben said.

  "Good. Salma, could you please put the room keys in an envelope? I would like you and Caeli to go out through the front as if you are going for a walk. Drop the envelope in the night drop, but don't let anyone see you do it. That way, they won't know we have left until tomorrow morning. I will put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on both doors when Ben and I leave. We will take the luggage rack and go out the exit on the far left toward the back of the building. There is a dark blue van with no back windows parked close to the building. Meet us there in fifteen minutes."

  The ladies left the room first. When they reached the lobby, Salma stopped at the coffee pot where she and Caeli both filled large, insulated cups and placed lids on them. Salma put several of the creamer cups and sugar packets in the pocket of her raincoat, along with a few stirring sticks. Though Caeli did not like coffee, she knew Vin did. If they were going to be on the road again, after the long, exhausting day they had already endured, Vin might need something to help keep him awake.

  Salma noticed that Caeli's hand shook as she lifted the coffee cup, though she quickly tried to hide it by holding the cup with both hands. The sign merely cemented Salma's resolve to examine Caeli once they reached the new location. Barraging her with questions right now would not accomplish anything except increasing her stress; heaven knows Caeli did not need that on top of everything else.

  Caeli kept watch as Salma nonchalantly slipped the envelope containing the room keys into the overnight box. She asked Salma to wait for her by the reception desk while she hurried down the hall to one of the restrooms. She was only gone for about five minutes, though Salma could have sworn she saw Caeli leaving the pharmacy across from the restroom. Salma dismissed it, thinking Caeli may have decided to get something to help settle her stomach. She would ask her about it later.

  They made their way out of the lobby without incident. All was going well until they stepped outside the front doors and the forest of camera flashes attacked them in flickering bursts from all sides.

  "Dr. Erickson, what do you think about the protests?"

  "Dr. Erickson, look this way!"

  "Who was your donor, Dr. Erickson?"

  "Dr. Erickson, will you be leaving the conference?"

  Dozens of voices shouted questions at Salma. She stood there, frozen, not knowing how to respond to the mob of photographers and reporters surrounding the front entrance.

  Vin waited five minutes before helping Ben to his feet. He easily provided Ben with a little extra lift in his step. They made it look as if he was pushing the luggage cart and Vin was guiding it from the front. In reality, Ben was merely walking along, using the cart for support, though he didn't really need it. Vin's unseen support was more than sufficient.

  Ben continued to be fascinated by Vin's ability to control the air. Although Vin had tried to explain it many times, Ben could not grasp the nature of being able to do such a thing. It defied his logical understanding.

  They reached the exit and walked down the sidewalk to the waiting van. Ben noticed that the security camera on this side of the building had been conveniently blocked by a leafy tree branch that was jammed in front of it.

  "I will get the luggage loaded into the back. You go ahead and grab a seat." Vin loaded the bags and watched for Caeli and Salma. When they still hadn't arrived by the time he'd finished, Vin began to pace in a w
orried state. Finally, he went up front to talk to Ben, who was sitting inside on the bench seat with the side door open. Vin leaned with his back against the van, hands resting halfway in the front pockets of his blue jeans. The wind lightly played with his dark hair as he kicked the toe of his tennis shoe against the curb repeatedly.

  "Give them a few more minutes. They might be stalling. You are already anxious about Caeli," Ben suggested.

  "Ben, what do you know? I'm sure you have noticed," Vin asked without preamble as he continued to watch the direction from which the ladies should be arriving.

  Ben did not need to ask for clarification. He knew exactly what Vin meant.

  "Yes, I have noticed. All I can tell you with certainty is that she wants to talk to you, privately."

  "That much, I know."

  "She has been trying to talk to you all evening, but between your distractions and her nerves, it obviously hasn't happened yet."

  "Her nerves? Why would she be nervous to tell me about anything? We share everything. What exactly have I missed, Ben?"

  "Even if I did have the answer you seek, it would not be my place to reveal it. Try not to think of her as being nervous about what she has to say, but rather about how she wants to say it," Ben offered an alternate possibility.

  "I understand, but that doesn't make me feel better. In fact, it worries me more. I know she has wanted to talk to me, and I have not been completely available to her for those brief moments when she has actually been well enough to talk. That is going to change. I will make the time."

  "Don't worry. Whatever it is, I have no doubt that you two can handle it."

  About that time, the rain started again, so Vin hopped inside the driver's seat to wait.

  A hand fell on Caeli's shoulder and another on Salma's arm. They were both pulled back inside the lobby. It took a moment for their eyes to readjust to the dimmer lighting after the whirlwind exposure to all the flashbulbs. When they could see again, they found two men standing in front of them. Their backs were turned to the media mob out front as they stood, side by side, effectively blocking the ladies from the mob's view. Salma stood tall, confidently facing the men, while Caeli leaned against a tall, brightly painted, concrete fountain for support. She rested one arm in the third tier collecting bowl conveniently at her elbow level and the other, the hand holding Vin's coffee cup, rested across her midsection.

  Caeli immediately recognized young Private Burks from their recent road trip. She did not know the middle aged, white haired man in matching military attire. Caeli assumed he was another member of Nathan's unit. From his age, the scar on his eyebrow, and his air of authority, she also made the assumption that this was the colonel Nathan had mentioned.

  "Ladies, I'm afraid the press is camped out on your doorstep. We had grounds to arrest the ones who followed you here, but we can't do anything about the rest of the lot unless they break the law."

  "Thank you for the rescue. It's much appreciated. I don't believe we've met." Salma replied to the older man.

  "Oh! Dr. Erickson, this is Colonel Franks, my commanding officer. He showed up a few minutes after I got you settled into your room," Private Burks introduced the man.

  "I see. Well, Colonel, we really are grateful for your help. What do we do now? Are we supposed to be held prisoner in the hotel?" Salma continued, hoping a solution would present itself.

  "No Ma'am. I'm sure they will tire of this soon; probably in another hour or so. And it looks like the rain has started again. If it picks up, most of them are likely to give up and go home." Even as Colonel Franks finished the sentence, the rain outside became a sudden downpour.

  "Well, what do you know?" Private Burks said.

  "I guess our walk is out of the question, too," Salma looked over at Caeli.

  "Well, if you will excuse us, gentlemen. I think we'll stretch our legs inside the hotel instead. Thanks again."

  Salma moved over to help Caeli who looked like she could use a hand.

  "Did you have anything to do with that sudden downpour?"

  "Yes."

  "Amazing. So, is that why you're leaning on this fountain or are you hurting again?" Salma's silent inquiry was supplemented by what she could feel through her own gift as she held onto Caeli.

  "Honestly, both; but can we just get going and talk about it later?"

  Salma agreed, and the ladies turned toward the rear exit that Vin mentioned. They casually strolled away, stopping to admire a few plants and paintings along the way. Salma allowed Caeli time to rest during each of the brief stops. Even the short trip to the lobby seemed to have worn her out. Perhaps it had something to do with the rain shower, too. Either way, Salma was very worried about her niece.

  The back door was secluded and beyond the sight of the two men guarding the lobby doors. Salma and Caeli made their way outside, dashing through the rain, and climbed into the van where their husbands were anxiously waiting. Caeli climbed up front next to Vin and handed him the cup of coffee. He welcomed the warm, caffeine-laden beverage. Salma hopped in the back seat with Ben, who was also grateful for the comforting drink his wife provided.

  "What took you so long?" Vin asked as he put the van in gear and pulled away slowly. He glanced over to note the way Caeli continued to hold her stomach. He prayed that this trip would be quick and successful so she could finally get the help she needed.

  Vin tried not to draw any undue attention to their departure. As Salma explained about the media out front, Vin looked for an exit near the rear of the parking lot. He found a side street that allowed them to avoid all the commotion. Thankfully, he requested a map when he rented the car.

  "Do you think you can navigate for me, pretty lady?" Vin tried to raise Caeli's spirits, but the reference to her new friend did not seem to help much at the moment.

  "Sure. I expect the rain will let up once we get moving. Where are we going?" Caeli answered.

  "Actually, if it's not too much trouble, it would be better for us if the rain continued," he glanced knowingly at her.

  Caeli nodded.

  "We are going to the arena a few miles down the road. That's where the others from the plane crash were taken and where the National Guard has made its headquarters for their storm relief efforts. I would like to talk to Apela if he is still there."

  At the mention of Apela, Caeli gave Vin her own questioning look.

  "I thought we might take him up on that offer, unless you object. Nobody will know we are there. Plus, it is close enough that Salma could attend the conference without the constant harassment of media hounds or unnecessary exposure to the protestors," Vin explained.

  "It's fine with me. Apela seems like a nice man," Caeli responded indifferently.

  "Ben, the Colonel said all those reporters were here because of me. It's hard to imagine. Maybe if they don't see me tomorrow, they will go away," Salma stated hopefully.

  "Not seeing you for a day only forced me to work harder. It certainly didn't discourage me. As a matter of fact, maybe I will find one of those reporters and get a few copies of the photos they took. One can never have too many photos of a pretty doctor lady," Ben also teased with Max's words.

  "Oh, you are very funny. I think you have been hanging around Vin way too much."

  "Hey, I had nothing to do with it. I am totally innocent up here," Vin chimed in response as he laughed at the couple and the additional reference to the enthusiastic, young boy.

  CHAPTER 18

  It took fifteen minutes to reach the arena on the unfamiliar roads due to the weather and the late hour. Unbeknownst to Ben, Vin somehow got hold of a wheelchair, probably from the car rental agency, and placed it in the van. He insisted that Ben would need to let Salma push him around. Salma agreed.

  "Well, I suppose if I have to be pushed around, better to let it be done by a beautiful lady," Ben smiled up at Salma as he took his seat.

  Salma held an umbrella over Ben's head while he got situated. They were going inside to locate Apela. Salm
a also wanted to see if the triage facility was equipped well enough to allow her to get Ben stitched up while they were there. She wasn't going to be satisfied until his wound was properly patched. As Salma began to shut the side door of the van, Caeli opened her door and started to climb out. Vin reached over and took hold of her hand, stopping her halfway.

  "You two go on inside. See if you can find Apela and a quiet place to talk. We will be along in a few minutes," Vin said.

  Salma closed the door the rest of the way, and Caeli moved back into her seat, closing the passenger's door.

  "What was that all about?" Salma asked Ben as she wheeled him through the arena door.

  "It's a personal matter, Love. Sometimes a man needs a few minutes alone with his wife."

  They took a moment to look around and ask a few questions. There was a semblance of order to the proceedings. With only a few people to process from the plane crash, the guardsmen were already gearing up to deal with the damage caused by the recent storms and preparations for the larger storm yet to come.

  Salma spotted Apela in the middle of the arena talking to a group of volunteers who were being registered for the relief efforts. There was no clear way to move through the arena with a wheelchair, so Ben decided to wait off to the left of the door where it was quiet and very few people were milling about. Salma worked her way over and engaged Apela in conversation.

  "Dr. Salma. It's good to see you again. I was worried when I did not see you or Caeli at the check in line. Max was very upset. He thought you got taken away. It took me a good while to convince him otherwise and calm him down. I figured the two of you probably went off with your husbands. Are they here with you?" Apela impulsively reached out and hugged Salma, looking around for Caeli and the guys.

  "Ben is over by the door. We were actually looking for you. Do you have a minute to talk with us privately?" Salma asked in a quieter voice.