Free Tropical Storm by Stefanie Graham Page A

beach glowed warmly in the fading light. Wet from his sunset swim, he didn’t expect to see anyone on the remote side of the beach. When he saw Storm running toward him, he assumed that she was following him. With the bitter taste of their earlier argument still fresh in his mouth, he grabbed her when she came close enough. To his complete surprise, she started to struggle out of his grasp. She cursed and swore and fought until his voice finally penetrated the haze of terror that trapped her.
    The eyes that finally focused on his were wild with panic.
    “Jesus Christ, Jessica. What the hell is wrong with you?” He demanded.
    She couldn’t speak, could barely breathe, she just shook violently in his arms. He sat her in front of the fire and placed a cup of water in her hand. Her trembling hands spilled most of it until Cairo placed his hands over hers to steady them.
    It was the first time in over six yearshe had willingly touched her.
    As she drank, Storm looked fretfully around the beach. Her eyes were red rimmed with tears. Her already wild mane was windswept and unkempt. Cairo watched her closely waiting for her to collect herself. He couldn’t think of what had put her in such a state. Their argument earlier had upset her, but nothing like this.
    Cairo took the cup out of Storm’s hands. As he waited for her to speak, her lips trembled with suppressed tears. He watched her helplessly. He hadn’t seen her cry in a long time. The last time had been on their wedding night.
    The tragic night and the events that followed seemed a lifetime ago, but the emotions that fuelled the events of the past were fresh. Witnessing Storm’s current distress he wasn’t sure what he should do.
    Storm didn’t wait for him to do anything; she was on her feet and moving in seconds.
    Cairo jumped up to catch her.
    “What’s wrong, Jessica? Let me help.”
    She turned to him and fell into his open arms. “Shane and I got into a fight and he ran away from me.” She sobbed. “Tyrone and I looked everywhere but we can’t find him. What can I do, Cairo? I love him. He’s the most important thing in my life. I can’t lose him.” She cried in his arms.
    Cairo stroked Storm’s hair and crooned encouraging words. He was tender and considerate to her, surprising himself. He was certain that he had forgotten how. Sensing his own vulnerability, he pulled away. From that point, he was all business.
    “Tell me where you last saw him and tell me where you have looked so far.”
    The swiftness of his attitude change startled her. Once he agreed to help her find Shane, he was intent on his mission. Together they searched the beach, then the rocky area just beside the dunes, and then finally they trudged through the thick shrubs and beach grass bordering the beach and the hotel property. Each time they came up empty-handed. Storm was visibly on the edge of despair when Cairo stopped abruptly and turned to her.
    “I think I know where Shane is. It’s the one place we haven’t looked. If I’m right, he’s been there all this time. Come with me.” He said taking her by the hand.
     
    Storm noticed the change in her surroundings instantly. The meticulously groomed landscape near the hotel fell away and was replaced by a rougher and poorer section of the parish. She ran after Cairo as he passed raucous young men and Rastafarians in the street drinking Red Stripe beers, and smoking thickly rolled joints outside of bars nearly shaking the ground with the pounding bass of reggae music. As he passed, no one seemed surprised to see their white faces among so many black ones. Cairo had nothing to fear, he was an honorary yardie , and having grown up in the parish he knew most of the men there by name. A few of the young men, their dreadlocks tied up high on their heads even called out to Cairo, joking about his “foreign girl.” In response, Cairo smiled good-naturedly, and then hurried by, he was on a mission.
    She was still looking nervouslyover