3 Weeks 'Til Forever (9 page)

Driven
by wildly different – but no less important – needs, they came together several
times.  

There
were no more nightmares that night.

“Looks
like we won’t be needing another room at the hotel after all, huh?” Janey said
dreamily as she turned in Redmond’s arms to receive his kiss.

“Fate
is definitely smiling on a brother these days,” Redmond said as he claimed her
waiting lips.

The
storm outside subsided just as they drifted off for a few hours of much-needed
sleep.

 “
Muk
saha ka toolah
” (Don’t ever leave me Janey), Redmond whispered in her ear.

Janey
didn’t understand a word of what he said, but in her heart she knew that they
were love words – and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Chapter
12: The Past Comes to the Present

True
to his word, Redmond and Janey were on schedule the next morning. They’d risen
early and hiked the five miles back to the little village where they’d been
yesterday.

Janey
thanked her lucky stars that she was a runner and kept in shape. Redmond was
almost a foot taller than she was and of course, much stronger, but he admired
the way she kept pace with him – even in less-than-ideal shoes.

“You’re
a little ole thang, but you’re strong. I can’t believe how you kept up with
me.”

“I’m
a marathon runner, remember. I’m actually training for my first triathlon,” she
explained further.

“Well
I’m duly impressed,” Redmond said as they turned into the mechanic’s shop. He
dropped a kiss on her nose, then went to find the shop owner.

They’d
taken on the actions of newly minted lovers on the hike, walking hand-in-hand,
smiling, teasing each other and talking about everything under the sun.

The
five-mile trek hadn’t seemed long enough. Janey could walk a thousand miles
with this man, she was thinking as she heard the van roar to life, and it still
wouldn’t be long enough.

On
the road again, Redmond declared that the first order of business was to get
some food. Janey couldn’t agree more, as the lovemaking from last night and the
long walk this morning made her feel like her the wall of her stomach was glued
to her back it was so concave.

With
breakfast done, Redmond drove to her final interview subject’s home. It was a
rustic little cabin, not much bigger than the one they’d spent the night in
last night. Leaning against the small porch were all kinds of fishing gear.

After
introducing her to her final subject, a middle-aged gentlemen who was a deep
sea fisherman, Redmond told Janey that he was going to visit a couple of
friends who lived nearby.

She
told him she’d be at least three hours and to take his time.

Janey spent a glorious afternoon with the sometimes cantankerous,
but always funny, gentlemen. He didn’t seem to get much company and once he
warmed up to her, reminded her of her favorite uncle, who was funny without
trying to be.

“Fish make more sense than most people and they can’t talk … and
you can eat’em if you want,” was just one of the lines in his videoed diatribe.
His face was so serious when he said it, which made it all the more funny.

He insisted on feeding Janey, much to her waistline’s chagrin.
Grilled pineapple, beans and grilled tuna was served, along with lukewarm
ginger beer.

Janey preferred her beer cold, but Clayton said he didn’t have a
‘frigidaire’ so she’d just have to, “Drink it like it came naturally. What’s
with you Americans and cold drinks?” he shook his head as he asked.

By now used to his slightly grouchy nature, she sheepishly
accepted the warm beer and thanked him. Not for nothing, but the combination of
foods the islanders put together were a pleasure her palette would forever be
drawn too, even if it was served with a warm beverage.

Letting out a loud burp, Janey apologized profusely for her bad
manners.

“No sense in apologizing for doing what the body needs to relieve
itself,” Clayton winked at her merrily.

Laughing out loud at that piece of common-sense advice, Janey
thought,
I’m lucky we’re leaving Hill Country tomorrow; I’ll be fat as a
country rat if I spend a few more days up here with everybody insisting that I
eat and drink when I visit them
.

At that moment, Redmond pulled up and got out, calling to Janey.

She immediately knew something was wrong.

“That one’s got hell in ‘im today,” he said to Janey about
Redmond.

“Watch yo’ self.”

“Redmond, what’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. Are you finished? We should be getting back if you want
to have some time to rest before going out tonight,” he responded tightly.

“There’s obviously something wrong, so don’t tell me nothing,” she
persisted.

“You gonna have to explain it sooner or later, Reddie. You might
as well tell’er sooner than later. Later almost always makes things worse.”

With those words, Clayton turned and walked towards the back of
his cabin. He had always referred to Redmond as Reddie. Even though Redmond
wasn’t crazy about the nickname, he respected the older gentleman and let him
get away with it.

Janey caught up to Clayton, thanked him for his time, pressed
payment for the interview in his hand and kissed him on the cheek. If she
wasn’t mistaken, he blushed.

It was almost always a surprise to her interviewees when she paid
them for their time. Almost all would have done it for free. And even though
she realized this, she knew that she was profiting from their time, so she felt
it only fair that she pay them.

Redmond waited by her side of the van, waiting to open the door
for her so they could leave.

Approaching him, Janey said, “I’m not going anywhere until you
tell me what’s going on.”

“I saw my so-called wife today,” was all he said.

Stunned, Janey wasn’t sure how her numb legs got into the van.

Chapter
13: A Wife

Redmond pulled up to J-Ron’s house. They’d been friends ever since
he could remember and didn’t get to see each other that often. So when Redmond
was in the area, he did his best to stop by and catch up.

He found him in his back yard playing a loud game of dominoes – as
if there were any other way to play dominoes – with a few other long-time
friends.

This was another reason Redmond always stopped by J-Ron’s place
first – he knew he’d be able to find at least a few of his childhood buddies
there.

After much back slapping and teasing, J-Ron grabbed Redmond a beer
and a chair, and Redmond settled into the game of dominoes with his buddies.

J-Ron and Cedric had been exchanging what he thought were weird
looks all afternoon. His three other friends hadn’t been acting right either.

Finally, unable to ignore it any longer, Redmond slammed down a
domino louder than usual and said, “Alright fellas, what’s up? And don’t tell
me nothing. I’ve known you guys all my life and know when something’s up, so out
with it.”

J-Ron looked at Cedric again. Cedric nodded his head as if to say,
“Go on, tell ‘im.”

“Look man,” Cedric said, “you know you’re my boy and all, but I
don’t like to get up in other people’s business. But I think you should know, I
saw Layla the other day. I started to call you, but I didn’t know if she had
contacted you or what was going on.”

“That’s it; that’s what’s up.”

Redmond’s heart stood still. He wasn’t sure he’d heard J-Ron
right. All he said was, “Are you sure it was her?”

“Man we all grew up together; I’d know her face as good as you.
I’m sorry if you didn’t know. I know how messed up you were when she left.”

“I see,” was all Redmond said.

“Look, I have to go pick my client up; she should be finished with
her interview by now.”

“Is there anything we can do man?” Cedric asked.

“Nah, thanks for asking. I’ll catch y’all later,” Redmond said as
he made his way back to his van.

J-Ron followed him to his vehicle, apologizing again and telling
Redmond to call him if he needed anything.

Redmond drove in a daze. He didn’t even remember making it to the
gas station. He wanted to fill up before he picked Janey up and headed back to
the hotel.

Looking in his wallet for his gas card, Redmond didn’t see the
customer exiting the little country store with the gas pumps out front. He
bumped headlong into her.

“Excus . . .”

Before he could finish the word, he looked down into the face of
his long-lost wife.

“Redmond,” was all Layla said.

Hearing the sound of her voice brought back all the feelings he
once had for her. One of the things he’d loved the most about her was her husky
voice, especially when they made love.

This enraged him.

“Hello wife,” Redmond said, tightly emphasizing the last word.

“Redmond I, …” Layla began.

“Redmond you nothing,” he responded and turned around and walked
away. He knew that if he didn’t get her out of his sight at that very second,
he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

Redmond got in his van and sped to the old fisherman’s cottage,
where he had the encounter with Janey.

It has been a silent drive out of Hill Country to the hotel.

Janey instinctively knew that she wasn’t going to get any
information out of him. This was fine with her because while part of her wanted
to know what had happened between Redmond and his long-lost wife, the other
part didn’t.

It was at this moment that Janey realized she was
in love
.
. . with another woman’s husband.

The tension was so thick in the room when they got back that Janey
told Redmond she was going to check to see if the hotel had an extra room that
had become available.

At this, Redmond grabbed her and cupped her face between his two
large palms. Searching it for any sign of resistance, he lowered his head to
kiss her. The unrestrained need in his kiss touched something deep inside her.

Redmond needed her at that moment like he needed oxygen to
breathe.

Kissing her and holding her tightly to him, he picked her up and
carried her to the nearest bed. Not saying a word, he proceeded to make love to
her.

Burying his head between her breasts, he rested there for a second
before claiming one nipple, then the other one. What started as gentle caresses
became increasingly demanding physical pleas.

Janey gave as good as she got. So afraid of losing him just when
she found him, she tried to show him with her body what she dared not put into
words.

Fiercely whispering her name upon his release, Redmond collapsed
on top of her.

“I’m sorry Janey,” he whispered into her right ear as she lay
under him, “I shouldn’t have taken you like that. Did I hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine,” Janey assured him as he rolled off her.

Turning to him, she said, “Look Redmond, I know I may not be the
ideal person to discuss this with, but if you want to talk, I’ve been told I’m
a really good listener.”

“I already pegged that about you,” he responded.

At that moment, both turned at the unexpected knock on the door.

Wondering who it could be, Redmond went to the door while Janey
scrambled to find a robe to wrap around her.

Still lost in a torment of thoughts, Redmond hadn’t bothered to
ask who it was.

“What the hell are you doing here … and how did you find me?”
Janey heard him say seconds after opening the door.

“I grew up on this island just like you Redmond, so you know it’s
all too easy to find someone when you really want to,” a female voice
responded.

Tying the belt of the short robe tightly around her waist, Janey
headed toward the door just as the owner of the female voice slithered into the
room.

“Well, well, well … what have we here?” Layla said, shooting
daggers at Janey.

“None of your damn business. You gave up the right to question me
about anything I do when you left six years ago,” Redmond responded.

“I’d heard that you were in town on business. I just didn’t know
it was monkey business,” Layla said, her eyes trained on Janey.

Janey looked unflinchingly at Layla. “Redmond I’ll let you handle
this ah … situation. I’m going to hop in the shower,” she said as she turned
and headed towards the bathroom.

“You do know he’s still married to me,” Layla said to her back,
“and that’s not about to change anytime soon!”

Truly not wanting to hear another word out of this woman’s mouth,
Janey turned the shower on full blast and stayed in until the water started to
get cold.

When she exited roughly 15 minutes later, Layla was gone.

Redmond was on the terrace looking out to sea. He had his hands
laced behind his head, which reminded her of the way he looked the morning he
picked her up at her hotel at the start of this trip.

God she loved him!

“So you never divorced her?” Janey said almost to herself as she
interrupted Redmond’s trance.

“Actually, I’m at the tail end of the process.”

“She wants you back Redmond. That’s very clear.”

“I know,” was all he said.

“Oh,” was all Janey could muster.

A million questions were going through her head.

Would Layla try to stop the divorce?

Could she stop the divorce?

What did that mean for their future?

Did they have a future?

Would Redmond realize he was still in love with her?

Would he give his wife another chance?

Going back into the room, Janey turned the TV to CNN to see if she
could catch some international news. She was a ball of nerves and at times like
these, she liked to watch the news.

The political mess that was American politics always made her feel
better because not only did it gave her something else to focus on, it made her
realize there were people in the world way more screwed up than she was.

“What time do you think we should start to get dressed to head to
the restaurant?” Janey asked as Redmond came in from the terrace.

“In about 45 minutes,” he responded. “Look, I need to clear my
head. I’m going for a walk.”

Not waiting for Janey to respond, Redmond grabbed the key to the
room from the nightstand and headed out.

One of the things Janey hated in a relationship was when a man
shut her out. She’d been in relationships where she spent so much time trying
to get her mate to let her “in” that her wants, needs and desires were
forgotten.

It made her feel unloved and she’d vowed never to get involved
with someone like that again.

Putting the finishing touches on her make-up, she heard the key in
the lock and Redmond rushed in.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I’ll be ready in five minutes,” he said.

“Look Redmond, we need to talk. I’m not trying to get all up in
your business, but I think you owe me some kind of insight into what’s going
on.”

“You’re probably right about that,” he said, not commenting any
further.

“You can start by telling me exactly what happened this
afternoon,” she tried again, giving him an opening.

“Do we have to do this now Janey? Look, this is a business trip; I
don’t want personal issues to interfere. Let’s just …”

Suddenly angry, Janey responded, “It wasn’t
business
when
you took me this afternoon.”

“It wasn’t
business
when you
found your way into my bed last night.”

“And
it certainly wasn’t
business
the first night we slept together.”

“So don’t you dare throw
business
into the mix and
patronize me like some chick you’re trying to brush off. You owe me more than
that and you know it,” she said coldly.

Janey purposely didn’t say ‘make love’ because she was suddenly
feeling that that wasn’t what their encounters had been for him at all.

Redmond knew she was right, but he just wasn’t equipped to answer
any questions at that moment.

How could he tell her that standing there in her beautiful
turquoise dress and expensive silver heels that all of his insecurities as a
man had come back with the re-appearance of his wife.

How could he tell her that he loved her but couldn’t even hold on
to a woman who grew up in the poverty he did, so how in the hell was he
supposed to hold on to her?

How could he tell her he had nothing to offer her that she
couldn’t give herself?

How could he tell her that he’d allowed himself to live in a dream
world since meeting her and it had all come crashing down around him as quick
as a hurricane this afternoon?