Good point. “Fair enough.”

“There is one thing I need to mention and then it’s your choice.” Akin waited for complete attention before continuing. “My R44 has a faulty ELT. It’s your own risk.”

“What’s an ELT?” Duncan asked.

“Emergency Locator Beacon,” Akin said. “I’m due to get it fixed, but my workload means I can’t give up time for a maintenance overhaul.” He spread his hands in surrender. “Your choice. I trust my machine and it’s never failed me. But full disclosure.”

Amelia tugged Duncan’s sleeve. “I’m not so sure—”

“It’s just like riding a rickety bus, Emmy.” Duncan kissed his wife’s cheek. “They never break down but they look God awful.” Looking at Akin, he smiled. “I’m okay with that.”

Akin glanced at me. “You?”

I looped my fingers around my bag’s strap. “I guess.”

“And you?” Akin pointed at Estelle.

She pursed her lips. I fully expected her to refuse. But once again she surprised me.

“Okay.” Turning to grab her handbag from the stash of belongings, she rummaged in the white leather to make sure she had whatever she needed. Dropping to her haunches, she unzipped her suitcase and pulled out a silky nightgown (that made my mouth go dry), a black bikini, a t-shirt, shorts, and mini-skirt. Stuffing them all into her handbag, she stood. “All ready.”

Fine.

If Ms. Preparedness had the forethought to think about waking tomorrow and not having things to wear, I would, too.

Ripping out a pair of khaki pants to work in, a pair of shorts to relax in, a couple of t-shirts, and board-shorts from my backpack, I stuffed them into my messenger bag. It bulged but it would do. My toothbrush and deodorant were already in there—travel compact size.

Without a word, Duncan followed suit. Grabbing his wife’s large tote, he stuffed in a few belongings and children clothes followed by whatever else he needed into his own small backpack.

A few moments later, the rustling and sounds of zippers ceased and we turned to face Akin.

“Ready when you are.”

Akin held out his hand.

Knowing what he wanted, I planted the money into his outstretched palm.

His fingers tightened over the bills before marching to the counter and inserting the money into a locked drawer.

“Let’s go.” Without a backward glance, he strode out the door.

Well, that was the fastest boarding sequence I’ve ever been through.

Duncan caught my eye as we all trudged after our pilot.

Lingering rain splashed onto our shoulders and mud squelched beneath our shoes as we exchanged bungalow for open sky.

The helicopter welcomed us into its belly.

After pre-flight checks and pilot given instructions, we left land for horizon for the second time and left Nadi behind.

Forever.

Chapter Seven

...............................................

E S T E L L E

......

Have you ever tried and failed, leapt and fell, believed and floundered? Defeat comes swift. Tragedy strikes fast. The world is dangerous, monstrous, unthinkable. But the unthinkable is where magic exists. Hidden between unthought thoughts and unspoken verses. Mysterious behind unseen messages.

The unthinkable is where greatness exists.

Be unthinkable. Be untameable. Be unstoppable.

Lyrics: ‘Unthinkable’ Taken from the notepad of E.E.

...

THE WHOP OF rotor blades.

The swoop of gravity.

The soar of flying.

I’d never been in a helicopter before. Even when I was lucky enough to score a job as an air-hostess, I’d never swapped fixed wings for propellers above my head.

I’m in a helicopter.

I’m going to an unknown resort rather than home to my comfy bed.

What the hell am I doing?

My fingers tightened the harness around my middle for the billionth time. The crackle in my headset was foreign and unwelcome. But despite the sway and rock of the machine, and the fear that I’d overstepped some sort of code keeping my life in balance, I was alive.

I was aware of everything.

From the slipperiness of the bench seat beneath me, the whirl of engines, the warmth of strangers wedged beside me to the tingling sensation of unwanted attraction for a man who confused and frustrated me.

E..v..e..r..ything.

Every heartbeat, every swallow, every trepidation of what awaited.

Whereas before, I’d felt nothing. I’d willingly wrapped myself in sameness so I never felt out of place because...why was that? Because I was afraid of change or the consequences of moving on by myself?

My life had changed more than once in the last few years. My family had left me alone (through no fault of their own), Madeline had uploaded something intrinsically private and made it global property, and I’d shed all notion of who I was to do something stupidly spontaneous.

But the rush as we soared away from Viti Levu and disappeared into the inky sky of raindrops and ocean made me thankful that I’d had the courage to leap without evaluating first.

If I’d remained afraid, I’d most likely be sitting in a nondescript hotel room waiting for my flight tomorrow. Instead, I was flying with complete strangers, at the mercy of the occasional wind buffets and cloud-blanketed stars, living more in the moment than I ever had before.

This would be a splendid song.

Half-formed lyrics filled my head, threading around the racket of the helicopter.