With a bit of typing on a touchscreen and a few beeps, Sam finished downloading Mido’s money onto his identification chip. Jessie stood beside him, watching. I silently commended her for not cringing when she spotted me. She was building courage fast. However, she did keep Mido between us. No complaints.
“Good timing, Captain,” Sam said. “How much do I give our bodyguard?”
“Wait, I’m getting money?”
“Eight days of routine starter wages, plus the usual bonus for surviving curse complications.”
Jessie said, “Is this a joke?”
“No, actually. Enjoy what you’ve earned so far.”
Sam said, “Jessie, lemme give the captain his money real quick. I have to register you to our system.” He aimed the tablet at me and in seconds I had a full digital wallet. “Have fun, Captain. See you in two days.”
I tipped an invisible hat and headed over to my cargo pushers. My favorite Moroccan burger joint was already calling my name, but it’d have to wait a bit.
Jessie almost said goodbye to Dyne but she just waved and stayed quiet. The less suspicion the better. She’d gone about her usual morning routine of showering alone and eating with Mido. He’d asked if she wanted another coffee lesson but she politely declined. Mercifully, he gave no outward indication that he thought anything of it. Her heart had already been feeling heavy from her plan to leave him behind with the rest.
Sam collected her personal information and gave her $487.50 in universal dollars. Jessie went wide-eyed. She’d been expecting nothing.
“You get fifty dollars a day while out to sea and nothing happens. Double that if you’re actually guarding anyone. And 25% of your weekly income as a bonus for surviving curse complications. The bonus isn’t to encourage you to go looking for trouble. It’s more of a thank you for sticking around after all that madness.”
Her stomach twisted with guilt. “Please take the bonus back. I don’t want it.” She desperately needed more than the four hundred to get back home on her own.
“Too bad,” Sam said lightly. “Every paycheck transaction is final. Spend it on Mido if you don’t want it for yourself.” He winked at Mido.
That actually sounded like a good idea. “I can do that.”
Mido said, “I dunno. I don’t like the sound of a beautiful woman spending her money on me. It should be the other way around.”
“Does it have to be?”
“For today? Yes. In the future? We’ll see.” He took hold of her hand. “But I’d be honored if you’d let me treat you for the day.”
That made her want to cry. He was so sweet and handsome, and he treated her like he thought she really was the avatar of a goddess. Her father had cherished and treated her mother just like Mido was with her right now. Her mother had glowed daily, and her father had often woke up with that certain million-dollar smile from a good night’s “rest.” And now today was going to be the last day she ever saw Mido. “Okay.” The least she could do was enjoy the day out of respect for his kindness.
“Thank you.” Mido threaded his fingers between hers and together they disembarked via the stern ladder.
Once Jessie found her footing on the bustling dock, she couldn’t move. There were people everywhere. At least half of them men. All those men potential rapists eager to take her. She took a step back and bumped into Mido. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”
“Why?” He wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulders. He tried to start walking but Jessie put a hand on his chest.
She took a deep breath as her gaze darted everywhere. “There are so many men. Everywhere. I can’t keep track of them all.”
“Then don’t. I’ve gotcha covered.” He kissed the top of her head.
A smile broke through her anxiety but faded. “You don’t understand. I don’t know any of them. I’m familiar with everyone on the ship now, so it’s not so bad. But here?” She gestured to the bustling masses and shook her head. “It’s too much.”
Well here was a blaring error in her escape plan. How was she supposed to get herself home if she couldn’t walk around Revivre with dear Mido?
“Okay,” he said patiently, “so there’s a lot of people around. Any of them paying attention to us?”
People hurried to and fro along the dock, eyes intent on their destination. People gave them passing glances, but just to take in their surroundings. Everyone was busy moving, buying, selling, talking, or loading and unloading ships. “No, but—”
“Before Tethys’s ship, would you have given any of these people a second thought?”
“No,” she said, drooping her shoulders.
“Then try to bring yourself back to those days and just be one of the crowd.”
Jessie took in the the moving crowd again, her gaze snagging on every male she spotted. Her eyes blurred with tears she didn’t want to shed. She understood what Mido was getting at but for some aggravating reason it was so much easier said than done. “I’m still scared. I don’t think I can do this.” She tried to reach for the ladder but Mido pulled her close.
“Shh. Yes you can. Of course you’re going to be scared. So what? What happened to the Jessie that doesn’t want to live ruled by fear?”
The question struck a chord. Tears fell but she wiped them away. “You’re right.” The docks didn’t look any less frightening but she sorely needed to learn to walk among strangers. If she could force herself to calm down with Mido around, then maybe she would gear up the courage to follow through with her escape. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Where to?”
“We’ll go to my favorite place. It’s right on the shore.” He held her close and coaxed her to start walking, his arm still around her.
They strolled northward along the dock, far enough away from the nearest buildings and walls without getting tangled with the dock workers going about their business. Jessie kept Mido’s hand in a death grip as people came and went within arm’s reach, and even brushed up against her on accident. As time passed and all the close encounters resulted in men doing nothing to her, she slowly eased her grip and relaxed her limbs. She couldn’t quite bring herself to look at all the scenery yet, instead of the men, but she’d try that after lunch. This was exhausting enough.
Lunch turned out to be an outdoor seafood restaurant right next to a beach. They sat at a table nearest the ocean, away from the gathering lunch rush. She sat with her back to the modestly-populated shore and the dining patio’s fence. The beach-goers flew kites, enjoyed long walks, and caught waves. All of them were oblivious to curses and meddlesome goddesses, and had at least forgotten the existence of quasi-children for now. They were happy and carefree.
To Jessie’s relief, they had a female server. The Spanish lady took their double lemonade, a shrimp platter order for Mido, and a chicken salad laden with vegetables, nuts and cheese for her, then rattled off the weekly schedule of some local tourist attractions. Out of all the events mentioned, walking around with Mido until she found a good place to say goodbye sounded the most appealing. Mido expressed interest in seeing the soccer match before dinner. Jessie reminded him to give her time to combat her anxiety. He agreed that was fair enough.
The tables started filling up fast by the time the server returned with two sweating glasses of lemonade. None of the fellow patrons paid Jessie and Mido any heed. He helped himself to some lemonade, but not before placing Jessie’s straw in her glass first and pointing it towards her. “And your reward for letting me take you out to lunch.” He kissed her knuckles and flashed a heartbreakingly charming smile.