Free Hell in a Handbasket - The Journey by Damara Blackthorne Page B

why I even let this guy get this close to me in
such a short amount of time, yet I had, and now I had to pick up the pieces,
and figure out what I was going to do. How I was going to pick up those pieces
and fix my life, I didn't know. Gram would have called this a “Life Lesson,”
and one thing was for sure, I hated life lessons, they sucked!
    I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. I was making a weird
sobbing, hiccupping sound. I decided it was time to lick my wounds, get out of
this building and try to find a way back to the airport. It was at that moment
that I realized that Ryder had everything I had brought with me. My carry-on
bag with my change of clothes, my purse and laptop, my cellphone, and God help
me, my panties. Talk about being at someone’s mercy. God, I’m an idiot!
    I placed my right hand on the tiled floor beside me, and
pushed myself up. I used my left hand to brace myself against this wall. After
everything that happened today, I was no longer sure of myself. I wasn’t even
sure I could trust that I would be able to get up by myself, let alone walk!
    I took another ragged breath, trying to draw as much oxygen
into my lungs as I possibly could, they complained with the effort. I walked
through the door that lead me back into the main lobby on the first floor, and
blinked heavily as I entered the stark yet professional lobby. It seemed like a
lifetime had passed since I last walked through this room and yet it had barely
been an hour. An hour and my whole life had been shattered into little tiny
pieces, some of which I didn’t think I would ever find or replace.
    I straightened my spine and braced my shoulders, steeling
myself for whatever lay ahead. I headed for the main doors, when I heard my
name called. I turned so rapidly, I’m surprised I didn’t fall over. It was Mrs.
Palmer standing at the information desk.
    “Ms. Bendis, Can I speak to you for a moment?”
    I hesitated, my face a mix of shock, confusion, and
embarrassment.
    “Please, it’ll only take a moment and I think it will be of
help to you.” Her expression was one of sympathy. Great, now I‘ve got people
feeling sorry for me. I started a slow, agonizing walk toward her. I guess she
was impatient. She began walking toward me and reached me long before I was
really ready to face her.
    “Ms. Bendis, I won’t pretend to have any idea about what
has transpired between you and Mr. Madsen. However, I can see that you are
upset, and I am truly sorry for any misunderstandings, and or discomforts that
may have occurred to you, or at your expense.” Her face
showing sincere concern.
    I blankly blinked at her. Misunderstandings? Misunderstandings? Part of me wanted to
scream at her, and yet another part was just too tired and hurt to care
anymore. I blinked again, and she continued talking.
    “It has come to my attention that you are without your
personal items originally brought with you, when you began this journey. From
one woman to another, I am truly sorry…I can’t do anything about getting you
your things back, but I hope you’ll allow me to help you get home.”
    Again, I stood there looking stupid and blinked at her. She
handed me an envelope with my name written in flourished handwriting, almost
like calligraphy. I looked down at her extended hand and blinked again. I
looked back up at her with my blank expression. She gently picked up my hand
and placed the envelope into it.
    “Think of this as a sort of advance on your next book. I
have a feeling that it will be a much more powerful story.” And with that, she
turned on her heel and left me standing there looking stupid.
    I looked down at my hand and the envelope, not knowing if I
should open it or not. I took another deep breath, kicked my pride in the ribs,
and opened the envelope. Inside were boarding instructions for a private flight
home, cash, and another slip of paper. I started to yell at her that she could
tell Mr. Madsen that he could take his private jet