giving us problems today. Please proceed to number six. Everything is being offloaded there.”
I nodded my thanks and made my way through the crowd of people, searching for the number six above each belt as I went. Silently fuming about why they would’ve put up a different number on the display screen just minutes ago, I almost missed the other people from my flight clamoring around a carousel on my right.
A relieved sigh escaped me as I joined their ranks with my trolley, waiting patiently for my suitcase to come around. The same cases appeared time and again, until they were all gone and the people around me had dispersed.
Eventually, the belt stopped and the screen above it switched off. I frowned up at it, dread already pooling in my stomach.
“Is there a problem here, miss?”
The same woman from before came to stand beside me, smiling as politely as before. It seemed she was the official dealing with this flight.
I sighed as I turned to face her yet again. “Yes, there’s a problem. You just directed me to this carousel a little while ago. It was supposed to be the one for the flight that came in from Houston, but my baggage never came out.”
She nodded briskly while I spoke, asked for my boarding pass to check the baggage tag on it, barked something into the handheld radio she carried with her, then gave me an apologetic smile when a reply came through.
“I’m so sorry. It seems your luggage has been misplaced. Rest assured that it is our priority to return it to you safely. We will deliver it to your hotel tomorrow. I just need you to sign some forms for me.”
Rage, frustration, annoyance, and immense sadness swelled inside me and battled for dominance. In the end, all that came out was a soft grunt and a half sob.
“Fine. Just tell me where to go.”
Arguing with her wouldn’t get me anywhere. She was only doing her job. It wasn’t her fault my bag was missing, and making a scene wouldn’t make it miraculously get here faster. The only thing I could speed up was how soon I could get out of the airport, and cooperating seemed like the best way to get that done.
What felt like a whole ream of paper later, I was finally on my way out with nothing except for the backpack I’d had with me on the flight. At least I had my toothbrush and some other basic toiletries in there.
Once I got to the resort, I’d have to wash the simple tank top and shorts combo I was wearing. At least it would dry overnight, considering the airy fabric it was made of.
Trying to keep my emotions in check and my spirits up, I reminded myself that I was in freaking Fiji—without Will—but I would have to get used to doing things without him anyway. Being alone had never bothered me before and I was determined to get back to that frame of mind.
When I walked out of the terminal, I focused on the vivid colors and the beautiful scenery instead of the gaping hole beside me where my husband should’ve been. Bustling roads surrounded the airport, but beyond them were mountains covered in lush greenery and palm trees reaching up toward the bright blue sky.
A slight smile was on my lips when I spotted my resort’s counter. Unfortunately, the parking bay behind it was empty. The smile dropped, and once again, I got the distinct feeling that something else was about to go wrong.
“I’m sorry,” the man manning the desk said. “The shuttle service left about fifteen minutes ago. There will be another shuttle, but it is only arriving in time for this evening’s flight.”
I rubbed my hands over my cheeks and brought my palms together underneath my chin. Maybe coming here had been a colossal mistake after all. It was becoming increasingly clear that the universe or fate or whatever just didn’t want me there.
“Is there any other transportation available to the hotel?” I was on the verge of tears again, and he must’ve heard it in my voice because his features suddenly pinched in sympathy. And there’s the pity I don’t want. Half a world away and it’s still fucking there.
“There are taxis going out that way, ma’am, but the line for them is about an hour long.”
He nodded toward a snake of people lining up not far from where we stood. “The next bus leaves in fifteen minutes, but the