A Jewel in the Sun (4 page)

CHAPTER
SIX

Thursdays in The Bahamas during the summers were often stifling hot or at times rainy. This time was no different. The sun rose gloriously
and this time its warmth penetrated the walls of the cottage room where
Azolee
slept. The quiet sound of the waves on the shore, the chirps of the summer birds and the occasional bark of a canine were the antithesis of the heaviness that possessed
Azolee
.

Mr. Saunders was expecti
ng her.
She participated in committees, was a part of the local church membership and loved being with her students, but she
often felt so detached
. Sometimes it seemed as if only the wind, the sea, the wild animals understood her. So many nights she would trek out to the beach or on a moon lit night trek to her rock in the forest and there she would talk to the
great spirit
above. She would bare her soul and the great wall of loneliness would be breached and she would be at peace with nature around her.
Sometimes she fell asleep there and always the next day would be rejuvenated and reckoned
herself
strong enough to take on the world.

The chime of her alarm alerted her to the need to ready
herself
to meet with Nana’s lawyer.
Azolee
, red-rimmed and listless went to showered, had a cup of coffee and seven minutes later was on her way into
Rolleville
. She had no recollection of even driving there. The plaza with the assortment of office space bearing the
bold sign Gibson and Saunders Co.
Legal Services beckoned. A short dark, matronly woman ushered her into Mr. Saunders office.

While she waited,
Azolee
studied the office – noting his décor of rich chocolate brown with cream. The wall hangings were all water scenes painted by local Artists. Mr. Saunders was a sixty five year old barris
ter from Britain who had retired to
The Bahamas after losing his family. He was also a friend of Nana.

He began the session with a brief
, but heart-felt
condolence and well wishing. Then he handed
Azolee
a letter that was addressed to her. She took it with a feeling of foreboding. “Before you read this, I am asking you to be understanding, forgiving and know that she loved you profoundly.”

Azolee
read the letter. It was written in an unrecognizable penmanship
. It was dated June 27 1978.

M
y precious baby,

I am in so much pain as I write this letter.
Pain
,
from the ravages of this disease on my body and also because I never allowed you to know
my true identity.
I was the elder
daughter of my father and loved him dearly and was loved by him. He was of the elite class of wealthy land
ownwers
in France. I spent most of my youth partying and carousing until my mother reeling from the shock of it had a heart attack. My father disheartened and disgraced finally asked me to leave.

He loved me but I had made him choose. In his
generosity, he deposited an amount to my account that I had not the heart to touch. In addition, I had given up and wanted to dull the pain. I turn
ed
to alcohol and had affairs.
One such man I had met tried to help me because he loved me but I felt I was beyond redemption. He was killed in a car crash six wee
ks later. I found out soon after,
th
at I was pregnant. I knew great shame
and I didn’t want to see the shame on your face. I kept myself from you and you turned to my house keeper. She loved you so much. You brought her so much joy as she had just lost her daughter still born.
I loved you from a distance, but it was an all consuming love.
I felt that I was unworthy to
blessed
with such a beautiful, golden angel.
I watched you struggled into autonomy and then a fierce independence.

I loved you when you were hurt and I was happy to
carry you. I hurt when you hurt; my
hurt tripled, because I wanted you to know you had kinship, but I felt it would disrupt your success and would have been totally selfish and self-serving.

Honey you were my salvation.
The overwhelming love I felt for you erased every heart caused by
Moi
pere
and washed away every pain. I got will- power from within to live because I was living on borrowed time.
I deserve desolation, but you brought me sunshine
and joy. Every day I willed myself
awake
just
to watch your love
of life and for nature
.

You were such an inspiration.
I was so proud when you got your degree. I hope to be there when you obtain your doctorate.
Moi
chere
, I knew you could do it.

I wanted to give you options, so when the time was right, I purchased some shares in a publishing company. John will notify you. Live my child knowing that although you didn’t know it, I was the mother that pushed you into the
world
,
nurtured you behind the scenes
and later pushed you to spread your wings. Remember my beautiful baby, let the world be your audience and remember still: I LOVE YOU!

Moi
chere
, even though I
am not deserving
, I ask you to forgive your Nana, who’s only sin toward you was in loving you too much. In addition to this great feat, I ask you to also complete the process of forgiveness.

Pa
pa will search for you as I have told John to inform him of your existence. You will never be alone, my
chere
, Nona will watch over you. I will ask the
great spirit
above that this be my only task. I loves you
Azolee

Your
Mother,

Nana

Azolee
had
been
so
engrossed in reading the letter that she did not hear when Mr. Saunders left the room. The pain, th
e agony, the hurt, the betrayal!
It felt as if someone took a double-edged knife and tore open her innards. She wanted to die. She rushed from the room heedless to Mary’s agonized cry and ran down the steps out to the
Suzuki, search for her keys
agitatedly
  and
drove blindly home. Sobs
were racking
her
body. She didn’t see the self drive
vehicle that had just swerved into the parking lot as he left, but a pair of intense
eyes followed her hasty, passionate
exit.

CHAPTER  SEVEN

Gatron
needed some answers and he needed them fast. He had received communications from his investigators that Mr. John S
aunders was key to the mystery and that somehow the there was another mysterious link with the prestigious
Delecroix
family. The
family were
well – known for their designer fabrics using organic
ally made materials. He immediately dispatched an overseas call for initiate an investigation to find out in more detail. After placing the call, he decided to pay Mr. Saunders a visit.

On driving in to the parking lot, he saw
the object of his recent sleepl
es
sn
es
s
in a distraught state.
He had seen her composed, irritated, even angry, but never this agitated. His first instinct was to go after her, but he reigned himself in strongly. He knew he was fighting a
loosing
battle. He could no longer remain objective.
He
was ushered into the room and pointed to a seat. He looked around, analyzing his environment, including the other occupant. He noted the tall slim steely- eyed, silver haired barrister.  He was
standing by the window looking disheveled and sad.

He noted
Gastron’s
presence
preoccupiedly
and shook hands.

After brief introductions, Mr. Saunders nodded as if the timing was right to do what he had to.
He had expected this.
He pulled out some documents and called in his secretary to make copies.
Gastron
was handed a copy and he read. His face neither composure reflected anything, but his eyes took on a more pensive look. He
now
knew who the shareholder was, but the events
surrounding it
remained a mystery.

Wh
y would a wealthy woman leave her shares to the daughter of her house
keeper.
He was mystified. Maybe this was reflective of
Azolee’s
nature. She intertwined herself into a wealthy social
ite’s life, one who was lonely and childless
. He was not easily fooled by angelic faces and sinfully sexy curves that were to die for. Maybe she was unhappy because it was not enough. Whatev
er the case
, he would solve this dilemma once and for all.

He left Mr.
Saunder’s
office
, driving towards
Azolee’s
cottage. The jeep was there,
s
he was not
. By instinct, he walked out to the beach and saw her in the distance
. He couldn’t believe his eyes. She was a water
nypmph
!

CHAPTER
EIGHT

H e watched and watched. It was easily the most alluringly beautiful sight he’d ever seen. She belonged to the water
,
then
she was the water. She swam in slowly sensuous but powerful stokes
using  varying
techniques as if she had a knowledge of water dynamics. For a while she moved like a dolphins and then he saw them – a whole family of them. He tensed, ready to run to her rescue, but something stronger held him back. He saw one of the younger creatures leaped over her head and sent out and squeaky sound, landed in the water, came up on its tail and flapped a fin at her. She followed suit, the other
dolphins  squealing
as if applauding her efforts. He saw her
long sinuous body caressed by the gentle ways,
then
he saw her no more. He wasn’t aware of the shout he gave until
Azolee
and her companions feeling the vibrations surfaced to see the swift panther-like movement as
Gastron
came racing toward her.

Her companions moved away, sensing that their part in comforting her had come to an end.
Gastron
slowed an abrupt stop, “
Azolee
”. He said this almost
relunctantly
, as if it was a commitment of sort.
A prayer.
 
A song.

Azolee
stared at him, the long golden tip of her lashes were wet and red-rimmed. He understood now, she was in pain. She was alone.
This woman knew her niche, her home. She had found her place in the most basic of ways. The creatures had heard her unspoken pain and she went to be comforted.