Rum Punch Regrets (22 page)

Being an architect, and surprised he had not explored this before, Andrew was in heaven. He talked to Abby about the mortar that was used, as well as the volcanic rock from which it was constructed. He was so enthralled he danced up most of the steep hiking spots all day. She was happy to see him so elated. And so sad to know it would end in just a few days.

They were at the top, sitting next to an old cannon and looking over the Caribbean, when Andrew brought up the subject of his imminent departure.

“I know. And you were right when you said we should just enjoy this. So, let’s do that, okay?” She was almost pleading with him to stop talking about it.

“Abby -- ” he was blushing -- “I never thought I could meet someone like you. You’re strong, you’re beautiful, you’re sexy, you’re smart and capable of just about anything.” He took her hand in his, stroking it slowly with his forefinger. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I don’t like thinking that this time next week I won’t be waking up next to you.”

Abby swallowed, hard, to fight the tears that were threatening to spring up. “Well, it’s not next week. So let’s just enjoy this, okay?”

Andrew wasn’t satisfied. “Abby, I’m crazy about you.” He took her face gently in his hands. “I don’t fall like this. And I don’t like thinking it’s just for a week.”

Andrew pulled her closer to him, so they were almost touching, as if to kiss. “I’m thinking you could be that once-in-a-lifetime chance, so I want to give it a shot.”

Before she knew it, Andrew was kissing her passionately. She, in turn, was melting into his arms, her mind spinning, not sure if she should trust this man or run screaming. She wasn’t off and running yet, but she still felt like something was holding her back.

Abby pulled away. “Andrew, I can’t give you an answer. I’m literally at a crossroads in my life. At a time when I should know what I’m doing, or at least at an age when the world thinks I should be settled and making money and getting married . . . I just have baggage right now.” She took his hand. “I’m not saying no, I’m saying I don’t know. Can that be good enough for right now? Please?”

Andrew looked crestfallen. “Because I’m younger?”

“No, of course not.” She was shaking her head from side to side. “It’s me. Me and right now.”

“Is this a case of ‘It’s not you, it’s me’?” Andrew was watching her thoughtfully. “You don’t lie as well as the rest of your family, Abby. I’m okay with you being older, how come you’re freaked out that I’m younger?”

Abby was getting a little anxious.
Why the hell are we talking about this right now?
“Andrew, please, let’s just enjoy today and not go there anymore right now. Okay?” She was officially pleading.

Andrew shook his head. “Abby, I’m leaving soon.” He took her hand again. “I’ll drop it, but I need you to know, I’m willing if you are.”

Abby laughed. “Andrew, this is fun, and it’s a whirlwind, and you’re so ridiculously sexy and amazing. I just can’t say what we do next, at least not right now. Besides, I couldn’t ask you to commit to a long-distance relationship so soon. That’s crazy.”

Andrew snatched his hand away from Abby’s grasp just as his phone signaled an incoming text. “Saved by the bell.”

She watched him as he scanned his phone, reading the incoming text, making a face when he was done with it. “Well, that’s that. My boss wants to meet tomorrow so he can show me a property he’s purchased. Then he needs me to head back to London to get a jump-start on this particular project.”

Abby nodded thoughtfully. “Okay.”

“But this conversation isn’t over.”

Abby nodded. “Fair enough.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “You’re getting red from the sun and I’m sure Ziggy will be looking for his car soon, anyway. Ready?”

It was with an air of sadness that the new couple walked down the hill from the fortress, hand in hand.

#

Abby had pulled in at just the right moment. Maria was sending Ziggy out on errands. “Mon, I need to go! Let me in dat car, girl.” Ziggy was mumbling something about a menu change and needing to pick up some of the guests at Port Zante.

Abby and Andrew walked into the sitting room and found Leigh in there on her computer.

“How was Brimstone?” Leigh asked, more distractedly than really caring.

“Good. Why’s Ziggy muttering something about another menu?”

“Oh, well, the dinner tonight has now become just apps and cocktails tomorrow night for Jack, one of his guys and me. All the details will be finalized then so they can start moving the money.” Leigh was excited. In fact, she was close to jubilant.

“Congrats!” Andrew exclaimed.

“Thank you! It is good news. Once the sale is finalized, I can put more money in Ben’s account, and he can pay off some more on his loans.”

Abby had a nagging question that she needed to ask. “Leigh, why can’t we keep the inn?”

Leigh looked over her glasses at Abby. “Why would you ask that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Seems logical.”

Andrew, in his practiced art of exiting a room quickly, found a way to slip out and disappeared.

Leigh took her glasses off and motioned for Abby to sit down.

“Leigh, I know this place inside and out now. I know what other repairs need to happen, and I also know I can personally tend to ninety percent of them with Ziggy or Buddy’s help. We implement some marketing and promotions and I bet we will be turning folks away!” She smiled at Leigh. “Seriously, I can do this.”

“Really, Abby? Do you think that you of all people could handle this responsibility? It seems to me that you can barely take care of yourself. No savings, no job, no -- ”

“I can’t help that I was laid off, Leigh. As for not being able to take care of myself, let’s look at the fact that I can and have for a long time, you just don’t notice. Mom knew I could, that’s why she let me go to Europe before college.”

“And then you dropped out.”

Abby threw up her hands in mock surrender. “You got me. I took a job and shirked off school. But it was my choice, Leigh. I can’t live the life you want me to have, I have to live my own.” Abby’s eyes were pleading. “You even said yourself you needed to grow up more, not see me as your immature, irresponsible little sister.”

Leigh shook her head and pursed her lips ruefully. “Abby, you told me yourself that you have not saved anything since -- ”

“Since what, Leigh? Since Matt left me for another woman, thus leaving me holding the bag for the whole wedding and the reception?” Again she threw up her hands in mock surrender. “You’re right. It’s time I got over that part of my life and moved on. Hell, at least let me get some distance from it!”

Abby looked pleadingly into her sister’s eyes. “Leigh, I love this place and I love it here. I love these people. I have nothing else to go home to. I’m a third of this inn and I feel like I should get a shot at making a go of it.”

Leigh sat for a half-second before giving her clipped answer. “No.”

Abby shook her head. “I don’t understand, Leigh. Why not?”

“Because I don’t think you can do it.”

Abby stared at the table, the words still echoing in her head as Leigh went on. “You need to go back, Abby. Get to work, rebuild. Finish school. Do something. I don’t know . . . maybe contribute to society?”

“Wow. That’s harsh and uncalled for.”

“Really? You don’t think you taking over an inn is just a little bit crazy? Do you really think you could run a business like this? All by yourself? You’re the perpetual assistant, Abby!” Leigh’s voice had reached an octave of impatience never heard before by humans. “Get it? Now just drop it, quit with the questions and let me work.” As soon as she had vented, she regretted it.

Abby was stunned and had to bite her tongue. She kind of heard, as if in a dream, Leigh’s apology. “Leigh, it’s fine. I know you’re under a lot of pressure. I just wish you could see five feet in front of you and know I’m not out to get you. I’m here to
assist
you.”

Leigh stood up, closing her laptop. Her face was a canvas for apology. “I’m sorry. You of all people did not deserve that. I owe you more than that.”

Abby’s feelings were hurt. She nodded curtly at her sister, excusing herself to go lie down. After that discussion, hot on the heels of her tense afternoon discussion with Andrew, all she could see in her immediate future was a good, long nap.

She entered the pool house, in tears. She looked around to see if Andrew was there to see her so vulnerable. Since she didn’t see him, she sat down on her air mattress and let it all loose. She began to tick down her internal list of loss.

I lost my job, I left my home, now my dad and this Carla woman?
Abby’s thoughts were like a NASCAR race.
Then I find out about Ben, I meet Andrew, and Leigh can only scream at me when she feels like she needs to let off steam that is normally reserved for someone else. I need to take control of this. Of all of this.

It was all piling up on Abby. She had opened her floodgates, and they didn’t want to be closed. All she knew was that if she didn’t stand up for herself in life, then who would?

She was crying so hard it didn’t register at first that someone was there, holding her hand and petting her head. Andrew had quietly joined her, not saying a word but just sitting with her. Eventually she had fallen into his lap, crying harder, yet letting him take care of her. It was then she realized this man who was holding her didn’t need to be here and yet here he was. Telling her she was going to be okay and telling her how great she was, and good for being so strong for her family and those around her. It was as if he could see things others didn’t. Or wouldn’t.

Abby sat up suddenly and looked at Andrew. She wasn’t sure what came over her, but she grabbed his face and kissed him. It was harder than she had ever kissed anyone. It was reaching, searching. Like she wanted him to answer her kiss and tell her she was going to be all right as long as they found a way to be together. Abby really wasn’t sure what she wanted for her future, but she knew that right now, she wanted Andrew.

Andrew could tell that she was pushing for more than their usual make-out session. He pulled back, holding her face in his hands. “Abby, are you sure you want to . . . ?”

She decided to answer his question by taking off her shirt.

Andrew nodded. “Okay, then. I guess you do.”

And he answered her right back by walking over to the door to the pool house and locking and bolting it shut to ensure their privacy.

#

Abby and Andrew emerged from the pool house, completely entwined in each other’s arms. She still wasn’t sure where her head was, but she did know that she had just had the best sex of her thirties with this hot young man. And she was damned proud.

They were freshly showered and sitting with their feet in the pool when Leigh emerged from the main house dressed like a local in her long skirt and tank top. “Andrew, may I have a moment with my sister?”

Nodding, he stood and kissed Abby’s head. “Sure thing.”

Not wanting to cast Andrew aside, nor be left alone with her sister yet, Abby tugged on his arm. “Are you sure?”

“I need to prepare for my meeting.” He leaned down into Abby’s ear, whispering “Good luck,” then headed back inside.

Abby sat swirling her feet in the pool water, waiting for Leigh to speak. Leigh in turn sat down next to her sister, slowly lowering her feet in next to hers, and took up mimicking how Abby was moving her feet, creating a small current.

Abby heard Leigh take a big breath. “Do you know I’m jealous of you sometimes, Abby?”

Not what I was expecting to hear. Not at all.
“No, I actually would never have thought that at all.”

“Well, I can be. I’m sorry for all the terrible things I said in there. That was not about you. That was me being a crazy bitch.”

Abby kept her feet moving, willing Leigh to keep talking. Abby was worried that if she opened her mouth she might cry.

“It’s stupid, but I am,” Leigh went on. “Not all the time, like when Matt left you . . . ” Abby swatted her sister on the arm. “But seriously. I called you a perpetual assistant and I didn’t mean it. You had the balls to leave school and do something different. Something I would never do, and instead of supporting you . . . well. I’ve always tried to tear you down somehow or build you up. Character-building to make sure you knew ‘your place.’ So stupid and so immature. And I’m supposed to be the older sister.”

“Leigh, it’s fine.” Abby began to let it go, then thought twice. “Actually, it isn’t fine, but it’s not like I’m an angel, either. I have done some stupid things and God knows I’ve made bad decisions, but I feel like I learn from all of them.” Abby was swallowing her tears now. “I really want a chance to take care of the inn, to be an owner. I want to make us money -- or maybe I’ll fail miserably. I’ll never know unless I try. I just need a chance.”

Leigh was looking at Abby with what could have been pride in her eyes, but Abby wasn’t quite sure.

“Tell you what, Abs. Let me think about it, okay? I’m not going to say no yet, but I need to really take a moment to think about this. I’m supposed to be signing it over to someone else tomorrow night.”

“I know.” Abby was polite but firm. “But meetings can be canceled. Offers can be pulled off the table.”

Leigh started to rise from her spot poolside. Abby stood with her.

“I get jealous of you, too, you know. You have it all, Leigh. Husband that loves you, kids that are amazing, good job.” Sniffing back her tears, Abby reached out and grabbed her sister, pulling her into a big hug. “You took care of me when Mom couldn’t do it and Dad was gone. Then you continued with Ben. People say I’m strong, smart, capable . . . all of these wonderful compliments. Some of that’s because you helped raise me.”

Leigh stepped back, eyeing her little sister adoringly. “Abby . . . stop . . . ”

Abby held her hand up, copying Leigh’s signature move. “Mm-mm.” She shook her head. “I get to say thank you and I love you.”

Abby helped Leigh brush away her tears and soaked in the smile that her sister gave her. For the first time in a long time, Abby felt the one thing she had needed all these years.