Page 13 of Escape To Paradise
“We’ll show you,” Kathleen said.
Kathleen and Zofia led the way while I followed them like an obedient puppy. After a few turns, they led me to a room with a small library and a computer.
“This is the office. You can browse the internet, read a book, and play games. There are board games over there, card games, and other stuff we haven’t really looked into.” Zofia pointed to the nook, which they called the gaming area. A foosball table, a mid-sized pool table, and a giant Connect Four table were present. Several bean bags also lay on the floor, and a 75-inch television set was on the wall. And the room had a very psychedelic carpet.
“This place is cool. It’s already my favorite place besides the kitchen, of course. Is this computer connected to the internet?”
“You can. We’re connected to the internet.” Zofia said. “I’ll probably help Kathleen set up in the kitchen for our lunch. We’ll come back for you.”
I took out my laptop from my luggage, logged in to my messenger, and called Lisa. It was around ten in the morning where I was, and it should be around seven in the morning in Denver. After a few rings, she answered. She was on her phone, so all I could see was her face close to the screen.
“Hey, is that you, Harper? I can’t see your face.” She was moving around.
I forgot to turn on the camera. Once I figured out where the button was, I popped up on the screen as well.
“There you are, Harper!” Lisa beamed with a huge smile on her face. However, her face seemed distorted because of her proximity to the screen.
“Hey, Lisa. How are you and the kids?”
“We’re good. How are you? How’s the Caribbean treating you? Did you get a tan?”
“Not yet. I just took one swim in the swimming pool.”
“What? You’re surrounded by a beautiful ocean and you swim in the pool? Girl, you better jump in the water today! And that’s an order!” Lisa laughs.
I laughed too. “Yeah, ironic right? Yes, there will be swimming, but maybe not tonight.”
“You better get in the water soon!”
“How are the kids?” I changed the topic.
“You realize it's seven a.m. on a weekend here, right?” Lisa started moving to another room. She opened the door to her boys’ room. They were still in bed. “Hey boys, your Aunt Harper wants to talk to you.”
Atticus rubbed his eyes and yawned. With sleepy eyes, he said, “Hey, Aunt Harper. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing good. How about you?”
“I’m sleepy.” Atticus yawned again and seemed like he was going back to sleep.
Lisa moved the camera to show me Beckett, who was sleeping and wrapped up in his blanket.
“When Beckett wakes up, let him know I said hi,” I told Lisa.
“I will. Just enjoy yourself over there. We’ll visit you once we get the chance. Just don’t worry too much about us.” Lisa gave me an air kiss. “It’s back to my morning yoga.”
I waved at Lisa and ended the call.
I quickly checked my email for news from my lawyer. So far, there was nothing.
It was a little jarring to realize that I had left that part of the world to work in a ‘tin can’ in the middle of the Caribbean Ocean. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew it was going to be a much different reality than the one I had left behind. Whether my future was going to be better than the life I had left behind remained to be seen.
***
After an hour, the staff served lunch. Zofia invited me to join them at the mess hall. Captain Yousef was seated at the head of the table, and Paul was on his right. Kathleen had made a family meal style. A large bowl of salad, soup, fried fish, and brown rice were served on the table. It was a very simple meal.
“Welcome, Chef!” Yousef said.
“Hi.” I waved.
