3 Weeks 'Til Forever Page 7

  “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?

  How?

  Just how was he supposed to put all of this into words she could understand when he couldn’t even understand it, never mind verbalize it, himself?

  Janey took his silence for another wall she’d have to climb over to “get in.” And that wasn’t a battle she was willing to take on with any man again – ever.

  “We’re going to be late,” was all she said, which penetrated Redmond’s train of thought.

  “I’ll be ready in five.”

  They were one of ‘those couples’ at dinner that night; the type who b
arely spoke to, or looked at, each other.

  Instead of lasting the 45 minutes to an hour most dinners between couples lasted, Janey cut the evening short and told Redmond that she’d seen everything she needed to see after half an hour.

  It was going to be a long drive back to the center of the island tomorrow.