Love's Paradise

by Celeste O. Norfleet

  “Then you had better call her Mamma Lou, hadn’t you? Everyone else does.”

  “Yes, so I’ve been told, repeatedly.” He looked around at the guests mingling, laughing and talking in the living room and in what looked like a solarium. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. “Wow, I didn’t expect so many people. Mamma Lou mentioned it would be a small gathering. It looks like nearly everybody on the island showed up.”

  “When Louise Gates throws a party, it’s a very big deal. If you’re on the island it’s a must to attend. And actually, to Louise, this is a small gathering. I’m Lois Chambers,” the woman said, extending her hand and introducing herself. “And you are…”

  “I’m Jordan Hamilton. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Chambers.”

  “Call me Lois, please. And it’s a pleasure meeting you, as well. So Jordan, what do you do for a living?” she asked.

  “I’m in construction,” he said.

  “Jordan Hamilton, you wouldn’t happen to be one of the Hamilton brothers from Hamilton Development Corporation?”

  “I am.”

  Lois smiled brightly. “Of course, my ex-husband has mentioned you often. You know him, of course, his name is Nolan Chambers. He’s head of the city council. He speaks very highly of you. It’s wonderful to finally meet you. I understand your resort complex is going to be sensational.”

  “I certainly hope so,” he said, looking around.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing it when it’s completed.”

  “We’re planning a big opening.”

  “So tell me, Jordan,” she began as she glanced behind him, “will your wife or fiancée be joining you this evening?”

  “No,” he said, deciding not to give more information than asked.

  “Then perhaps you and your girlfriend—” She probed further.

  “No girlfriend, either,” he interrupted then watched her smile that smile and knew it was time to change the subject. This wasn’t the first time a woman tried to hook him up with their daughter, niece or granddaughter and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. He’d been getting this special attention all his adult life, and more and more recently. The result was always disastrous. Jordan changed the subject. “This is a magnificent home.”

  “Yes, it is. I assume this your first time here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, then, come in, I’ll show you around,” Lois said, linking her arm in his. They walked into the living room then continued through to the dining room, where they stopped and got a drink. Lois talked about the history of the home and gave a brief history of when Louise and her then-husband, Jonathan Gates, had it built. They continued into the enormous family and game room. There were a lot more people there than he’d expected. Lois introduced Jordan to some of the family and guests as they walked through. They stayed and talked with a small group that included Tony and Madison Gates and Kennedy Evans-Mason.

  “So how did you meet Mamma Lou?” Madison asked Jordan.

  “She played matchmaker with my older brother, Julian, and his wife, Dena. Dena’s aunt is a friend of hers. Ellen Peyton.”

  All three smiled and nodded. “That sounds familiar,” Tony said. “My grandmother’s been matching up couples forever. My cousin and I have joked over the years that she should open her own matchmaking firm.”

  “That’s probably a great idea. She’d make a mint,” said Madison.

  “Is she really that good at it?” Jordan asked.

  “Yes,” all three answered together then laughed.

  “Let’s see,” Madison began, “there’s you and me. Kennedy, you and Juwan.”

  “My father and uncles along with their wives. My cousin Raymond and his wife, Hope,” Tony continued.

  “JT and Juliet, her friend Patricia and Franklin, Randolph and Alyssa, Trey and Kenya,” Kennedy added then paused.

  “And also my brother Julian and Dena,” Jordan said. “Wow, that’s a lot of matchmaking.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it. And those are just the ones we know about. Imagine all the rest we don’t know about.”

  “So what do you do, Jordan?” Kennedy asked.

  “I’m an architect and developer. My company, Hamilton Development, is building a resort out on Crescent Point.”

  Madison nearly choked on her wine. She realized exactly who he was. Tony patted her back gently. “Are you okay, babe?” he said. She nodded and looked at Kennedy who was nearly bursting at the seams.

  “Aha, Jordan, so you’re the one, huh?” Kennedy said.

  “The one?” Jordan wondered aloud, and quickly assumed that Kennedy didn’t agree with all the development on the island.

  “Yes, the one building at Crescent Point. I hear you are extremely talented,” Kennedy said.

  Madison choked again, knowing that Kennedy was using Sheri’s words when she had described the kiss earlier. Tony patted her back again. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Tony asked. She nodded again.

  “We heard it’s going to be stunning,” Kennedy continued.

  “It’s going to be nice,” he said modestly. “Unfortunately, I’ve gotten quite a bit of opposition.”

  “Change is difficult, particularly in a small place like Crescent Island. But I wouldn’t worry. As soon as the project is complete everyone who opposed it will certainly come around when they see how much revenue it brings to the island.”

  Jordan nodded. “I hope so. Do you work on the island?”

  “Yes, I own an antique shop. I have locations here, in Alexandria, in Philadelphia and now in New York,” said Tony.

  “Antiques, huh? That’s exactly what I’m looking for. I’d like to stop by and show you a few things that have crossed my desk recently. Maybe you can point me in the right direction.”

  “Sure,” Tony said. “I’ll be in the store tomorrow. Why don’t you stop by?”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  The conversation continued, then switched to construction and then on to the beauty of Crescent Island. A number of guests joined their little group and for the next forty-five minutes Jordan smiled, shook hands and joked with Tony, Madison, Kennedy and other guests. He gave out business cards when asked, made business contacts to help expand the Hamilton Development name.

  He blended in easily with the crowd. With the businessmen, he talked about what was happening in the market. With sports fans he talked about the upcoming seasons and with the politicians he spoke with conviction about the state of local and national issues. He was charming and always made a good impression. He’d been doing it his entire life.

  Juwan Mason, Kennedy’s husband, and doctors Raymond and Hope arrived just as Jordan had planned to leave. He stayed a bit longer hoping Sheri would still come. After a while he noticed the party was beginning to thin. It was time for him to make his move as the conversation turned back to Mamma Lou and her upcoming wedding to Colonel Wheeler.

  “Where is Mamma Lou?” Jordan asked.

  “I believe she’s outside on the patio.”

  Jordan turned and looked out through the open French doors. He saw her instantly. His face lit up. He excused himself and made his way toward the patio, following Sheri.

  “Good evening.”

  She turned around and smiled. “Hi, you made it.”

  “Yes, I did.” He openly looked down the length of her body and raked his lower lip with his teeth. “You look stunning.”

  “Thank you. You look very handsome, too.”

  For a moment they didn’t speak, just stood smiling at each other. “I guess one of us should say something. We can’t just stand here staring at each other.”

  “Dance with me,” he whispered.

  There was soft jazz playing, but no one was dancing. Sheri looked around. “I don’t know if you noticed or not, but no one’s dancing.”

  “Don’t worry. They’ll join us in a few minutes.”

  She nodded. He took her hand and guided her outside onto the patio near the pool. There was crystal light in the trees
and candles floating in the pool. They were surrounded by more open space. He wrapped his arm around her body and pulled her close. They began moving to the slow rhythms.

  It took less than a few minutes before others joined them, as Jordan had predicted. Tony took Madison’s hand and brought her out onto the patio. The expressions on their faces was unmistakable. Seeing Tony, Juwan held out his hand to his wife, Kennedy. She took it and followed him as did JT and Juliet, her baby bump several months along by now. Raymond looked around the room for his wife. She was talking. He touched her hand. She turned. When he smiled and glanced toward the patio, she nodded and followed him. Soon more couples were dancing.

  “You are a genius,” Sheri whispered. “How did you know?”

  “It only takes one.”

  Sheri nodded and leaned closer, enjoying the moment. She looked around at the happy couples and then up at the stars in the sky. “It’s so beautiful tonight. It’s the perfect moment. I wish…” she began then stopped herself.

  He leaned back and looked at her. “What?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  “No, tell me. What did you wish?”

  “I wish this feeling would last forever.”

  He looked deep into her eyes. His heart poured out to her. She was beautiful, but not just her face or her body, even though they certainly were. It was her spirit he loved. “Me, too.” He wrapped his arm tighter around her waist and held her close. A feeling of contentment filled him. He looked around at the many couples near them. They all had the same expression as his brother Julian. “Me, too,” he whispered again.

  After the next two songs ended Sheri took Jordan’s hand. “Come, I want you to meet someone.” They walked around to the covered patio area. There were a number of guests surrounding an older woman. She sat telling a most interesting tale about early Crescent Island history and folklore. Even though she appeared to be well into her eighties her voice was clear and strong. They only caught the ending of her story, but he found it fascinating.

  When she ended, there was a collective sigh and jubilant applause. Several of the guests sitting around thanked her and then got up to leave. Others wandered back into the house.

  “Hi, Grandma. Hi, Mamma Lou,” Sheri said, bending down to kiss their cheeks. “That was a wonderful tale. I don’t remember hearing it before.”

  “I still have a few secrets,” Camille said, and winked. “Sheri, be a dear and get me a glass of water.”

  “Sure, I’ll be right back,” she said, glancing at Jordan. Jordan nodded and then turned to watch her walk away.

  “And who do we have here?” Camille asked.

  “Jordan,” Mamma Lou said, looking up and smiling. “You came. I’m so happy. I hoped you could make it.”

  “Actually I’ve been here for some time. I apologize for not finding you earlier. I was talking to your grandson Tony and his wife, Madison. They’re a great couple. I’ll be stopping by his antique store tomorrow. I also met Kennedy, Juwan, Raymond and Hope.”

  “Oh, good. It sounds like you’ve been having a wonderful time.”

  “Yes, I have. Thank you so much for inviting me.” Louise turned and smiled at the woman sitting beside her. The woman smiled back attentively. “Jordan, I’d like to introduce you to a very dear friend of mine and a very special woman, Camille Rantone. Camille, this is Jordan Hamilton.”

  He stepped forward and extended his hand, taking hers gently. “Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry I missed the beginning of your story. It sounded fascinating. I’d love to hear the whole thing one of these days.”

  “Thank you, Jordan, and I wouldn’t worry too much about missing the beginning of the story. We’ll have plenty of time to chat real soon.”

  Jordan looked at her oddly. He wasn’t sure what she meant. Still, he was immediately impressed by her warmth and gentleness. There was something about her engaging manner that warmed him as soon as he touched her hand. She kept holding his hand and smiled looking directly into his eyes. “Jordan Hamilton, it’s truly a pleasure to meet you. You’re a creator, a man who works with his hands. That’s a very honorable profession.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I do work with my hands. I’m an architect and a builder,” Jordan said.

  “Actually, I see you are much more than that. You have an old soul, Jordan Hamilton. That’s a very good thing.”

  “You see?” Jordan repeated, glancing at Mamma Lou.

  “Camille is a clairvoyant.”

  “Really?” he said, smiling at Camille again.

  “Sometimes yes and sometimes not so much,” Camille said. “You, not so much. But I see you have an open mind. That’s good, very good. I’ve been waiting a long time for you.”

  “You have?” he asked inquisitively.

  “Camille, Jordan is one of the owners of Hamilton Development. His company is building a resort out on Crescent Point.”

  “Oh, how wonderful. It’s about time someone found something to do with that plot of land. And you are the perfect man to take care of the property. You will learn to care for this land. You’ll know exactly what to do. You know there was a large fishing company there many years ago.”

  “That’s right, I was told that when we bought the land.”

  “So, are you enjoying your time on the island, Jordan? I hope you’re getting out and meeting people,” Mamma Lou said.

  “Actually, I don’t stay on the island that much.”

  “Now that’s a shame. May I ask why?” Camille said.

  “Right now my workload varies. Most days it takes me back to our main office outside of D.C.”

  “What about weekends?” she asked.

  “Especially on weekends,” he confirmed.

  “Then you’re missing the best part of the island. There are so many things for young people to do.”

  Sheri returned. “Sorry it took so long,” Sheri said, placing a glass on the small table beside Camille’s chair. She turned to Jordan and smiled pleasantly. “Grandma, did you meet Jordan?”

  “Yes, we just met.” She winked. “I think he’s a keeper.” Louise nodded in agreement.

  “Thank you, ladies. Mamma Lou, thank you for a wonderful evening. I had a great time. I’m gonna head out now.”

  “You’re very welcome. Make sure you come visit me again.”

  “I will,” he promised.

  “Good night, ladies.”

  “Sheri, be a dear and walk Jordan out. Thank you.”

  She nodded and led the way to the front door. He opened it and they stepped outside. They walked down the path. “How long have you known Mamma Lou?” he asked.

  “All my life,” she said. “She and my grandmother are best friends. They met over sixty years ago.”

  “They look dangerous.”

  She laughed. “You have no idea. They’ve been trying to match me up for the past two years.”

  “And?” he asked curiously.

  “And nothing. I guess I’m a one-date kind of woman.”

  “I hope that’s not true.”

  “Since you and I have never actually been out on a date,” she said, “you don’t have anything to worry about right now.”

  “How about we rectify that. Would you like to go out with me tomorrow?”

  Sheri smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’d like that.”

  “Good, it’s a date.” They got to his truck and stopped.

  “You do know there’s no ferry this late, right.”

  “My brothers and I rent a condo at the Crescent Regency. How late are you staying tonight?” he asked.

  “Not long, probably another half hour or so, why?”

  “I’ll see you later.” He got into his truck and drove away.

  Louise and Camille watched through the front window. Louise gripped Camille’s hand and nodded. Camille smiled. It was exactly what she wanted to see. “Yes, he’s perfect, thank you, Louise.”

  Chapter 16

  Sheri left the party an ho
ur later. She drove home, showered, then changed into a T-shirt and boxers. She lay down across the bed and checked her messages before turning in for the night. There were five new messages including one text from Jordan Hamilton. I’m hungry. She read it, smiled and then typed a simple reply. What do you want to eat? She went on to the next five emails. Just as she saved the last one, her cell phone vibrated. It was another message from Jordan. You! She typed in her reply then closed her phone, rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling fan above her bed. It was a good night.

  They had danced, they had talked and it was wonderful. She knew in her heart it was happening so fast. But she couldn’t stop it. She was already there—in love with a man who was impossible to love. She knew her heart would be broken and that it was only a matter of time, but she opened up anyway. Mama Lou was right all those months ago when she first introduced them. Jordan Hamilton was the man for her. She just wasn’t the woman for him.

  She shook her head and chuckled, thinking about Jordan’s last text message and her reply. Bon appétit. He was incorrigible and she was definitely playing with fire and knew it. He was dangerous to her heart. They wanted two different things and there was no way their differences could ever be resolved. But while she had him, she intended to enjoy every minute of it.

  She sighed heavily and closed her eyes. A second later her cell phone rang. She looked over at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was just after midnight. She figured it was either Kennedy, Madison or her mother calling so she picked up. “Hello.”

  “Are you in bed?”

  She immediately recognized Jordan’s voice. “Uh-huh.”

  “Perfect. It’s after midnight,” he said.

  “Uh-huh,” she confirmed, curious as to why he was calling her.

  “That makes it officially tomorrow. Technically we could be on our date.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Feel like coming out to play?”

  “No, not really,” she said. “I feel like staying in.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  A split second later her doorbell rang. She sat up. Her heart raced as she nearly had a panic attack. “Is that you?”