Stewart came to the family dinner that Monique had put on for Tania and Billy and their spouses that Sunday afternoon. He cracked a lot of jokes that kept everybody laughing. Morgana probably laughed the loudest; that was one of the things she liked about him. Glen was also there with Bev.
They agreed to meet on Monday evening at Elva's Lounge in King’s Plaza. Stewart and Monique dropped Tania and Billy at the airport in the morning.
Morgana and Stewart were at Elva's Lounge. He was drinking a stout and she was having some apple juice.
"I feel some way that you’re no longer wearing my ring. After Saturday night I thought you would have started wearing it again.”
"I haven't seen anything that has happened over the last few days to make me change my mind.”
"What have you told your family as to why you've stopped wearing it?"
When she didn’t answer at once he knew that maybe she was uncomfortable with the question.
"I told them exactly what I told you."
“That you were suspicious that I was having an affair with Bobbette. I don’t see how anybody can break off an engagement on suspicions. If we had been married; you couldn’t divorce me on suspicion that I was having an affair, you would have to prove it. You can’t prove that I slept with Bobbette or any other woman," he told her.
"Now that you’re no longer sleeping with me or her or them, how are you coping?"
"I'm not going to repeat myself. But I’m waiting for you to change your mind. Wasn’t I a good lover? You used to enjoy what I did to your body. It’s you I can’t understand; you used to be so passionate. Let’s go down to my apartment.”
"Go to your apartment, for what? I can stay single for years. It’s you, who are having a problem. You’re now a father.”
"What are you talking about?''
"Miss Imo, your helper, was at the wedding and she was showing me some pictures of Chloe’s baby. She resembles you so much. She has your eyes, nose, everything for you."
"That's rubbish. I never touched any of those little girls. What do you think I am, some cradle robber? It’s us, we should be talking about.”
"Next time Miss Imo comes to look for you, you can let her show you the pictures.”
"She showed me them and it's foolishness you're talking about. Listen, why don’t we go down to Ocho Rios this weekend and enjoy ourselves?”
Morgana took a sip of her new bottle of apple juice. Stewart popped the cork off his new stout and drank some.
"Why would I be going to Ocho Rios with you and we aren’t friends anymore? Maybe some of those girls you’re sleeping with would willingly agree to go with you at the twinkling of an eye, but not I. You know it’s a good thing that we didn’t set a date for marriage. At least I never had any expectations. I now believe that when you engaged me you were only looking a bed partner. If I had married you it would have given you a license to run around with your various women.”
Stewart took some more gulps of his stout.
"I don't know what various women you're talking about. But if I’m not along with you and other women know it, they’re going to start coming on to me. What do I do, especially with you no longer around?"
"You weren't saying no to them even when I was around so don’t come blaming me. I suppose that you don't have to worry, April is back in town. Or didn’t you know?”
"That girl, even if she has returned home, I wouldn't be interested. She and I were only social friends and I’ve told you that several times.”
"I'm really sorry for you then, no girls to sleep with, what are you going to do?”
"If you're so worried about me you wouldn't be putting me through so much things. But I’m going to win you back. How about lunch tomorrow?”
"Oh of course I’ll have lunch with you but do you think I’m worth it? I mean you are going to all this trouble and expense. After all, you don’t know how long it will take?”
"Why don't we go down to Jimmy Chang and hang out with our friends? As to if it’s worth it, remember you’re the best looking woman I’ve ever talked to. It would pain my heart if you left me for another man.”
"No other man could take me away from you, Stewie. I’m not that type of girl to be involved with one guy and then run into the arms of another man. I’m a very loyal person, but everybody has their limits.”
"I understand your baby, let's go to Jimmy Chang," he said and both of them left the sports bar in their separate cars.
***
Linton and Melanie had gone to Doyin’s complex and had dinner there. They had danced in the complex’s dancing hall. Melanie didn’t think she was doing anything wrong since she and Derwin weren’t intimate friends and she knew how Linton had lost his latest girlfriend.
Melanie was enjoying herself. Linton kept her laughing the whole evening and he could really handle himself on the dance floor. When they were on the dance floor, she saw several women looking enviously at her.
Tonight they were at Corners nightclub. Linton seemed to know everybody and they all seemed to know him. Even some of the most glamorous girls in the club were coming over and congratulating her.
“Linton, I didn’t know you were so popular.”
“Most of those people are part of the crew.”
They were sitting at one of the small tables and talking above the beat of the nightclub’s discotheque.
“I hope they’ll be nice to me.”
“I know they’ll be. I can’t think of any reason why they wouldn’t.”
They got up to dance again. They had some more drinks and talked with other persons before leaving the club for their respective houses.
***
Stewart was on the phone with April. He wanted her to go to Bobbette’s wedding with him, but so far she hadn’t agreed.
“I told you about me and her. I haven’t told her anything about us. Remember that I told you that she came to me for advice and I told her to go for it.”
“I don’t think she’ll be all that pleased to see me at her wedding and with you of all persons.”
“I don’t want to turn up there alone.”
“There will be lots of single women there. There always is, at a wedding. Maybe you’ll find a new girlfriend there. You have a fiancé; I think this is the time for you to remind her about her duties.”
Stewart burst out laughing and April joined him.
“When I see you on Wednesday, I’ll tell you,” she told him before they both ended the call.
***
Rick and Celia were home that Tuesday evening.
"Somebody told me that they saw you lunching with a
guy one or two times last week.
“That was Greg Sharpe; he was just out here for a few days. He has returned home now.”
"You mean Greg was out here and didn't even give me a call.”
"Actually, he was out here for only two weeks.”
"Anyway, not to worry, so you're going to work in Ocho Rios and live with your mother in Runaway Bay. When will you be coming up to look for me?”
"As I said before, most weekends I’ll be up here to take care of you. Please understand, I’m only going because of my mother. I’ll still be yours, darling.”
"I know, don't think I don't. I suppose we’ve gone through this already. I certainly won’t do anything to jeopardize our relationship.”
Still, despite Rick's assurances, Celia knew she was taking a chance. Bev was still out there unattached and of course April was back in town, not to mention the host of other girls, who might be out there waiting to swoop down on her man once they heard that she was out of town.
The branch had been formed as the company sought to expand its island wide network and Celia was going down there as claims manager. It was a very responsible position for a twenty-four year old woman, but Celia loved challenges and had been studying for her professional insurance examinations. If her stint was successful and she completed her studies in time then there was a possibility that when she returned to head office it would be in the position of claims manager. This was a very powerful and responsible position to hold in any general insurance company. When it had been put to her, Celia knew that she could accomplish several things with this opportunity and accepted without even consulting Rick.
Celia knew that at some point she would be in a position to give Rick an ultimatum. If he wanted her to return to live with him full time, he had to be prepared to marry her.
Some of her friends had warned her that long distance relationships hardly ever worked in Jamaica. They said that she was taking a big risk that would end up in her losing her man. But Celia was ready to take risks.
Rick was also wondering if she was in some sort of trouble and didn’t want to tell him. He hadn’t heard from that guy, who called himself Teddy but he would find out everything one day.
"So, Rick, you can cook and Miss Terry will look after your clothes for you.”
"I practically lived by myself for four years in America.”
She came and hugged him.
"You know that I still love you, darling.”
"Yeah, I know how you feel about me. I’m not worried or anything; I just wish you the best.”
"Have you bought a suit for Bobbette's wedding?"
"Sure, I'm going to pick it up on Friday evening. So have you got your bridesmaid outfit yet?”
"I’ll be getting it on Thursday."
"Why don't we go to Jimmy Chang and relax. We could meet some of our friends there.”
"Okay, but I'm not going to stay very late though."
***
Bev had just left classes on Wednesday evening and was going towards her car when she heard a man calling to her.
To her surprise it was Rory! Bev rushed into his arms. Rory was wearing black pants and a short sleeve shirt while Bev was dressed in a blue skirt and white blouse. Rory didn’t look like he had put on any weight.
Rory thought that Bev looked even more glamorous than when he last saw her at the beginning of February.
"What are you doing in Jamaica, Rory?" she asked, kissing him, not caring what anybody who saw them said.
"I just came out for a little visit and to see how you’re doing.”
They were standing beside her car now.
"This is quite a surprise. You haven't called me or anything and the latest I heard was that you and Brittany were friends again and that she was pregnant with your baby.”
“It was nothing like that. I’m sure it was Roxanne, who told you about me and Brittany. Nothing like that happened and she isn’t pregnant. She saw me talking to her a few times and is trying to make up a story. The next time you talk to her you can ask if Brittany is the only girl she has seen me talking to.”
"So why didn't you call me? I had to be speculating the whole time.”
"Why don't we go out to Chet's Place where we can talk? I have a car.”
At Chets's place he ordered a beer for himself and a soda for her. They had reached halfway through their drinks when he called over a waiter and ordered a hamburger for himself and a cheese sandwich for her.
"Yes, baby, that's how it went," Rory finished explaining to her.
According to him on the night following his return, men armed with high powered rifles came looking for his older brother, Lance. Not finding him, they had shot up the house. Miraculously Rory, his mother, Cecile, smaller brother, Gawaine and sister, Jeanette, managed to flee the house and had to seek refuge with one of Cecile’s sister, in New Jersey. They ran away, leaving all their documents. It was true that they had returned to the house, but his phones and all his papers had been trashed and they had stolen his laptop computer too.
Bev sat there listening to him not knowing whether to believe him or not.
"Brittany came to give me some support. I heard the rumors so I had to come out here to sort things out with you.”
"So when did you come out? And where are you staying?"
"I’m staying down at my aunt, Sydonne’s house and I’ll be going back next week Friday.”
"So nobody out here knew about what happened to you? Why didn’t you call one of your friends or your aunt before she came up and let them call me?"
She decided not to mention that she had given Strats Grey a message to give him.
"As I told you, I lost all my cell phones and there was where I had all my numbers stored.”
Bev still wasn’t sure if he was telling her the truth.
"So were you trying to contact me?"
“Of course, I tried calling, emailing, texting, but nothing worked.”
“I’m really sorry.”
"I was so devastated by the news about Brittany that I decided that since I wasn’t hearing from you then it must be true.”
"Now you've heard from me, you know that it isn’t true.”
"What can I say? I suppose you’ll have to give me time to get what you’ve just told me.”
"No problem, maybe we can go out this weekend.”
"I don't know what my weekend will look like and I have my final year examinations coming up.”
"Say, I hope you don't have anybody else. I know that you’ll soon be finished with university.”
"You know I’m not that type of girl. I wouldn’t have taken up with somebody else and we’ve not officially broken up or anything."
They both got up to go.
"Now that I have back your number; how about us going to Corners tonight?”
"I would like very much to go, but as I said I have my final year exams coming up. How about tomorrow night?” she suggested.
But Rory was insistent that she go out with him tonight.
"You have until next week Thursday, so I don't see what’s the rush.”
They had moved outside and were talking beside their cars.
"I came in last night. You know when I'm in Jamaica I always like to hit the hot spots as often as I can. Okay, tomorrow night, then,” he said.
He hugged her before letting her go. Both of them went to their respective car and drove off.
***
Glen was lying on his back in a lounge chair on his balcony. He was thinking over his break-up with Leona. He knew it was coming, but really hadn’t been prepared for it. His mother and brother had commented on how glum he looked. He had been to Sally’s wedding with Bev and had danced with her and chatted with her friends and other members of her family. He knew that Leona hadn’t been truthful to him about her relationship with Duncan Sawyers. People had told him that they were lovers and he now believed them. He got up and was sitting on his balcony when his cell phone rang and Bev’s number came up. Glen picked it up and pressed the call button.
“Glen, how are you? I’ve a surprise for you. Rory is out here and we’re going to Corners tomorrow night.”
Glen felt his pulse begin to race. He hoped Rory hadn’t returned to re-claim Bev.
“So you’re friends again?”
“Of course not, he told me that he had to be in hiding as gunmen came looking for Lance. When they didn’t find him, they shot up their house and destroyed his cell phones and stole his laptop. I’ve not asked him if he got my message from Strats and he denied that Brittany was pregnant for him.”
“So when do you plan to ask him if he got your message from Strats?”
“I want to go with him and see what he’s up to. He wanted me to go out with him tonight, but I told him tomorrow.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Of course I do. And Rory could never get me to do anything I didn’t want to do.”
“You can keep me posted,” Glen told her as they both ended the call.
***
Stewart was thinking that his crusade to get Morgana to go to bed with him again was going nowhere. Sometimes he wondered why he was bothering at all. He was no longer sleeping with her, so why not be content with the women, he was sleeping with. He was putting on his shirt when his cell phone rang. It was her on the line.
"How are you, Stewie?"
Stewart didn’t answer at once. It was the first time she had called him by that name in almost a month.
"I'm here, just thinking about you."
"I'm coming down to your apartment to spend an hour or so with you.”
He wondered what was happening. Maybe his luck was changing. He had to check his diary to find out who was coming tonight. He looked in his cell phone diary and realized that it was April’s night. April never normally came until after eleven o’clock so there was no chance of a meeting between the two of them. He didn’t like how April was behaving since she returned, but he had always avoided women meeting up at his apartment as he knew it could lead to trouble.
***
Morgana was dressed in a pair of brown shorts and a body hugging brown blouse. She sat on Stewart’s frond patio. Stewart had to admire her well toned legs. She had a scarf tying her hair, which was blown out. She had on chocolate colored lip gloss and a pair of small earrings. She was wearing a pair of brown leather slippers.
"So what brings you down here, Morgana. You certainly look hot though,” he greeted her with a kiss.
"You're the one who looks fit. It seems as if you’ve been saving up your energy.”
"I go jogging some mornings. But I keep in shape for you, baby.”
Morgana burst out laughing.
"Seriously though, I would really like for us to start seeing each other again. If I’m with a man I have to see that things will be impossible to work out between us before I move on.”
"I like what you're saying. You want something to drink, how about some wine?”
"No wines, I know what your wines can do. I'll drink some orange juice.”
Stewart went inside for their drinks thinking that Morgana was driving him against a wall.
When he returned, she had her legs crossed. He gave her the orange juice while he drank some roots wine to spruce up himself for April.
"I don't want you to believe that it's your body I'm after. That wasn’t the case the first time and it will never be. You know that I’ve always loved you.”
"I've hit upon a brilliant idea. I don't want to know whether you slept with Bobbette or not. I can maintain my single woman status. I’ll be checking up on you and if you can abstain from any sexual contact with women then I might start sleeping with you again.”
"What do you mean by abstaining from sex?"
"Don't sleep with any women. Do you think you can do it, or do I return your ring and go my way?”
"I've been keeping myself that way. It's you who haven’t been checking.”
"I guess I'll have to start now."
"Any night you come here, you'll find me fast asleep like any baby. Maybe you can even throw off the covers and join me.”
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"Of course, why not and and it’s still early. I don't know why you’re punishing yourself so much for. You’re too sexy to go this long without some good loving. Let’s go inside,” he appealed to her.
"You're really tempting, but I must go. I’ll probably call you tomorrow.”
"Aren't you going to give me a good night kiss?”
"No, Stewie, only after you've become a good boy," she said, taking up her car keys.
Stewart watched her go to her car and drive off. She must have noticed the tension in his body. Not to worry, April would be getting it all tonight. He went inside for some more roots wine to spruce himself up some more while he waited on April.
***
Stewart greeted April with a kiss. She was dressed in a jeans skirt and had on a pink blouse.
"You look fabulous, girl."
"It’s you who look great. Oh, what have you been drinking?
She looked at the bottle of wine he had.
“That wine again, I don't want anymore. It got me ready the last time too quickly.”
"It got me ready already," Stewart said, reaching for her again.
"Oh come off that, you know how I am. I like to be put in the mood for love,” she said and moved out of his reach.
She started sniffing and then sneezed twice. She blew her nose and then took out a piece of tissue.
“You know I feel a woman was here before me.”
Stewart laughed and threw out some wine from a different bottle for her.
"Morgana was here. I don't even know what she wanted. Maybe she came to find out if I was entertaining any women down here. She was bantering me about Bobbette. Now she’s saying that if I behave she might start wearing my engagement ring again.”
April took a seat on the couch not yet touching any of the wine.
“She’s lucky I came so late. What’s she talking about putting on back your engagement ring? Listen, I’m not going to share you with her.”
"Like you, I don’t know what she wants from me. I can’t tell the last time we’ve gone out together so I don’t believe a word of what she’s saying.”
"You know what I think. I believe that she has left you already, but through she never caught you and Bobbette, she’s playing you along hoping to catch you with a woman one of these nights to prove her point that you were always being unfaithful to her.”
"Any woman she catches me with, it’s her fault."
April stood up. She looked at Stewart. Stewart could see that her face had hardened.
“Are you saying that if you were still sleeping with her you wouldn’t have any time for me?”
“You know I always have lots of time for you, April.”
"All I tell her is that I hope she doesn't come here while I’m around. If she wants to leave you, why doesn’t she go ahead? Why is she playing this cat and mouse game?”
She sat down closer to Stewart and sipped some of her wine.
"This one tastes different from the last one. Maybe it was one of your homemade wines you gave me," she remarked. “Still, you never know how I felt the other night when we were there just relaxing and she had to call you about foolishness. If and when I meet her I’m going to tell her that she enticed you away from me and got your ring, but I have you back and she isn’t going to get you again.”
"From she and I broke up, it's about twenty meetings, she has held with me.”
"I bet you can't tell when last you've been to bed with her. That was before I came back into your life of course,” she challenged him.
"Since you came back, it’s just you alone. I don’t know who she’s been sleeping with but it’s certainly not me. Maybe it’s your good friend, Brad.”
"Brad again, she doesn't love sex like me, at least that's what you told me. Maybe she has a man and you believe it’s Brad but it isn’t.”
Stewart reached for her again. They started kissing. April disentangled herself from him and went to his component set. She put in a Fioma Flowers’ compact disc and drew him off the couch. As they danced to the slow beat of the music, she said.
"You know I'm not the stay at home type of girl. I like to party and I’m a beach lover and since I’ve returned home I’ve not been anywhere except when we went to Crystals. Anneisha Mc Phail is having a party on Friday night; at least you could take me there.”
"Yeah why not, we could go to the beach on Sunday and how about going down to Ocho Rios next weekend.”
"Now you're talking, if you follow that girl you would become her pri