Silver Linings

time.” Hugh stabbed his fingers through his hair. “That's what this whole thing was all about.”
    Mattie could not bear the expression of chagrin and disappointment in his eyes. She glanced across the street, staring blindly at what appeared to be a small inn. “I'm sorry, Hugh. I really am. But there's no point in trying to pursue this relationship. We both know that.”
    “No, we both sure as hell do not know that.” He clamped a hand around her upper arm and hauled her across the street toward the inn. “We'll talk about it later, though. I've got to see about getting us off this island, and you probably want to do some shopping. You've been wearing those same clothes for a couple of days. And you'll probably want to take a bath, I bet.”
    Momentarily distracted by the mention of clean clothes and a bath, Mattie allowed herself to be led across the narrow street and into the tiny inn lobby. She glanced around with resignation at the nonfunctioning fan over-head, the single worn chair, and the aging copies of Playboy on the small wicker table. There was no one behind the desk.
    “Is this the best Brimstone has to offer? I've got my bank card. I don't mind staking us to something better,” Mattie whispered to Hugh.
    “Sorry, this is it. Brimstone hasn't exactly been discovered by tourists yet. Don't worry, it's clean. I've stayed here a couple of times myself.” Hugh leaned over the counter and hit the bell.
    A few minutes later a thin old man with a leathery face stuck his head around the corner. “What you want?”
    “A room for the night,” Hugh said.
    “Two rooms,” Mattie hissed.
    He ignored her, digging into his wallet for several bills. “The best one you've got.”
    “I know you. Yer name is Monk or Bishop or something, ain't it? You was here once or twice before.” The old man eyed the cash and came forward reluctantly. He was working a wad of chewing tobacco with great energy.
    “Abbott. Hugh Abbott. The lady wants a room with a bath. Got one?”
    “Yep. One. Yer in luck.” The old man made the cash disappear from the countertop. He grinned at Mattie. “Take all the baths you want, ma'am. Be stayin' long?”
    “Just overnight,” Hugh informed him as he reached for the battered-looking register. “We're leaving tomorrow morning on the first flight out of here. Hank Milton still operating out at the strip?”
    “No. Hank went back to the States six months ago. Got a new guy comin' in once a day in the afternoons now. Leaves at eight in the mornings. Goes to Honolulu but he'll stop off anywhere in between if you pay him enough. Name's Grover. You better look him up this afternoon if you wanna be on his milk run. That plane o' his is small and usually goes out full.”
    “What this island needs is more frequent and reliable air charter service,” Hugh said as he scrawled something in the register.
    “That it do.” The old man nodded agreeably. “That it do. We're all startin' to get civilized out here.”
    Hugh smiled with satisfaction as he picked up the key. “Come on, babe,” he said to Mattie, tossing the key into the air and catching it easily. “Let's get you upstairs. You can take your bath while I look up Grover.”
    Mattie eyed the single key in his hand. “What about a second room for yourself?”
    “I'll take care of it later,” he assured her as he hustled her up the stairs.
    “Hugh, I'm serious about this. I do not intend to share a room with you.”
    “I hear you.” He halted at the landing, glanced at the number on the key, and turned to the left. “I won't say I'm not a little hurt, however. After all, you didn't seem to have a problem sharing a room with me last night, did you? But I won't push it.”
    “Thank you,” she said dryly. Then a twinge of guilt overrode her better judgment. She touched his arm and looked up at him. “Hugh, I'm not trying to be difficult about this. I just feel it would be better for both of us if we don't start something. I really don't think I could stand to go through a second time what I went through the last time you and I got involved.”
    “This is different, babe.” He bent down and kissed the tip of her nose as he stuck the key in the lock.
    “You keep saying that, but it's not.”
    “Take your bath,” Hugh said as he pushed open the door. “I'll be back in an hour or so. Besides booking that morning flight, I want to get a shave. We'll have dinner at a little place I know down the street. Great