Free Laughing Eyes: Bittersweet Familia (3) by Melissa Jane

place.”
    “There is a town not far from here, about three hours east.” I mentioned, two sets of hopeful eyes meeting mine.
    “Then we head there.” Alec announced before running off to gather his equipment and to alert his workers.
    I turned to Aiden who wore a similar confused look. Clearly we were missing something.
    “Why are they all freaking out about a storm?”
     
    ***
     
    “What the fuck is happening?” I had to yell for my voice to be heard over the roar of the rain.
    “It’s seasonal,” Anna yelled back. “This just happens to be ‘the’ season.”
    The dodgy windscreen wipers were doing a lousy job, not that they stood a chance. The wind powered through the jungle sending sheet-like rain pounding against us. We were travelling blind and we stood no chance.
    We were already saturated, our clothes soaked through.  No sooner after alerting the staff to pack up immediately, the winds came howling through; bringing the ominous clouds with them. While we stacked the trucks with equipment, the rain began pelting us, big heavy droplets at first, splattering randomly, then it was every man for himself as the sky fell around us.
    Alec and the others traveled behind at a safe distance to avoid collision but close enough to not lose sight. The windscreen fogged up due to the humidity and as if reading my mind, Anna used her sleeve to clear a circle.
    “Thank you.”
    She gave me a small smile that made me want to plant my lips on hers. On cue, the right hand front wheel dipped down into a pot hole then up and over a mound, the motion causing everyone in the cab to be violently thrown about. Anna’s small hand came to rest on my arm, her knuckles turning white as her grip tightened.
    After what felt like six hours, we finally came to a stop outside a two story weatherboard hotel.
    “This must be us.” I announced, not entirely happy with our new position and in all honesty, I was more than surprised the place was still standing under the power of the storm.
    “On the count of three. One, two, run!” I threw the truck door open and waited for Anna to climb out before slamming it shut. Aiden took care of Luiza as they made tracks to the shelter.
    The others joined us soon after only to receive curious and somewhat hostile expressions from the woman on reception. She stood moodily behind the counter studying us with contemptuous eyes. Her mouth formed a thin line as she caught sight of the muddy puddles at our feet, messing up her aged and worn floor boards.
    “We need a few rooms for the night, please.” I requested in an attempt to move the show forward. Her beady eyes now assessed us all a bit closer.
    “I only have two rooms and there are eight of you.”
    “Ok, four to a room.”
    “Only two beds in each.”
    “We can double up. We will take both, thanks.”
    The woman gave a curt nod before ushering us up the rickety stairs. We all followed diligently behind in single file careful not to touch the loose balustrade. She unlocked two rooms with a key tied on a lanyard around her neck before pushing past us in the tiny corridor.
    “You pay in the morning,” she grunted. I couldn’t help but find the humor in her inhospitable behaviour. I caught Anna’s eyes, her face too sharing the same sentiments.
    “You expect more?” the woman quipped, her annoyance more than obvious.
    “I wouldn’t dream of it,” my chuckle encouraged a sweet laugh from Anna who then turned to face her boss.
    “Luiza and I will obviously stay together. The four of you should take one room and we will share with Aiden and Danny.”
    This clearly didn’t sit well with Alec, who now looked at me with suspicion. In fact they all did.
    “Are you sure?” He asked as if I wasn’t there.
    “Of course, we are all close, it’s fine.”
    Grunting similarly to the receptionist, he took his cue and disappeared into his room, the others following close behind.
    “Well aren’t you just the brazen Miss? Taking on the big