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“Do you know that for certain?” she asks, her frown increasing.
I’m guessing that was her next thought.
“I have a friend who manages one of the largest resorts in Cancun. He told me that everything is sold out right now since no flights are going out. People are stranded right now unless they were able to get one of the few rental cars and get the hell out of here.”
“Yeah, I know. My rental car. They gave away my reservation before my flight landed.”
It does sound like she’s having the vacation from hell. Still, it has nothing to do with me.
“How did you get here if you didn’t get a rental car?”
“A taxi driver was willing to bring me all the way out here. I figured I’d get a lift back into town tomorrow when the rental car company opens back up.”
That won’t be happening.
With every update I hear, the storm is inching closer, and I doubt there is a single car rental on this coastline for at least a couple hundred miles.
“I wouldn’t plan on getting that rental car tomorrow. Nor is that taxi coming back for you. You know that there is a hurricane advisory right now, right? We’re at least going to get the tail end of it, assuming it doesn’t come any closer. And besides, where would you go? No one has vacancies anywhere close.”
I can see the light in her eyes go dim, and she stares up at me.
I’d rather see the distrust in me that I saw earlier than the look of pure hopelessness that I see in them now.
I know I can’t leave her out here to fend for herself, but something tells me that letting her in is going to cost me more than I can afford.
“Ummm… Can…” she starts hesitantly. “Can I stay on your porch tonight? I’ll be gone in the morning. As soon as I can get a lift from someone back to the airport.”
Just then, the wind whips hard enough down the beach that a beach chair that a neighbor further up must have left out, comes whirling out of nowhere and smashes against one of the large palm trees out front of my house.
The woman in front of me shrieks at the sound, wraps her arms around her shoulders, and cowers a little as the wind knocks over her luggage.
She jumps back out of the way so they don’t knock her over.
I can’t leave her out here.
It’s too dangerous.
“Come on,” I say, taking a step out into the wind and picking up both of the pieces of luggage that toppled to the ground.
“Come on, what?” she asks, her voice a little shaky.
“You can’t stay outside.”
I turn around and head back for the house.
“Why not?” she asks, following behind me as I take the steps inside the house with her bags.
“Because if I let you sit out there in this weather, you might not still be there by morning. Your luggage sure as hell won’t be.”
I look over my shoulder to find her still with her arms protectively crossed over one another.
“Close the door and lock the deadbolt,” I instruct, and then start heading for the hall.
She hesitates for only a second but then does as I ask.
I hear the deadbolt engage behind me.
She’s brave or stupid to be willing to stay with a strange man in a house alone, but that’s not really my problem. She’s desperate, and the only intention I have with her is to find her a different place to stay by the end of the day tomorrow.
