Rum Punch Regrets

by Anne Kemp

  “That’s the spirit, make it happen.” Maria was gathering her things and making her way back to the main house. “And Abby?”

  “Yeah?”

  “No matter what, trust yourself.”

  Abby was halfway in the door to the pool house. “Okay, Hallmark!” Abby teasingly threw Maria a thumbs-up and went inside.

  Once she was in the kitchen, Abby started looking around for Ben’s note. It should still be on the counter, Abby hoped. It was a plantation on the Caribbean side. Nice restaurant, cottages with porches, hammocks under palm and coconut trees. Palm Tree Plantation? Then she saw the sticky note with Ben’s scribble on it. Coconut Palm Plantation! There was a number and Abby quickly grabbed her mobile to call.

  She was in luck. Abby was able to hold two cottages on Saturday night. The cottages had pull-out couches on the screened-in porches, so if Ben wanted to invite anyone else along, they could make it work. They just needed to get the ferry over in the morning. She couldn’t wait to tell Ben the news.

  Abby realized the boys would be getting back any minute, so she hurried to get through a shower to be fresh for meeting Ben’s friend. This was the first of his good, close friends to whom she would be introduced as his sister, and she didn’t want to disappoint anyone, especially someone Ben was so close to.

  Abby was just about to head to the main house to start a load of laundry when Ben’s car came whizzing up the driveway. There were two figures inside with Ben. It seemed Tracey had been picked up along the way to the airport as well.

  The group was extracting themselves from the small car as Abby made her way over. Tracey jumped out of the backseat first and came over to hug Abby hello.

  “Hope you don’t mind that Ben asked me to tag along?” Tracey asked.

  “What? Never. You can come around anytime you like.” Abby tilted her head in secretively to Tracey. “What’s he like?”

  “He’s great. You’re going to love him.” Tracey grinned.

  “Good. I’m excited to meet him.” Abby had noticed her palms were a little sweaty, and it wasn’t from the humidity. She was excited but oddly nervous as well.

  She turned toward the car so she could greet the two boys as they got out. Ben was already at the back of the car unloading Andrew’s suitcases. Andrew was just emerging from the passenger’s seat. He and Ben were arguing about something news-related, politics or such. Andrew turned in Abby’s direction to wave hello, and it was all she could do to keep from falling over.

  It seemed that Ben had neglected to tell Abby that his friend Andrew was absolutely to-die-for gorgeous. Andrew was smiling, standing in the sunshine like a glistening Adonis or at least a cute close-up version of Brad Pitt. His body was fit, as he, like Ben, still played rugby almost every weekend. He had a ball cap on to cover his dark curly hair, and it only added to the boyish charm that oozed from his very being. He came complete with gorgeous biceps that threatened to rip open the T-shirt he wore. Abby was thrown for a loop as her eyes drifted over his rugged body. The smile he greeted Abby with melted her insides like chocolate on a sidewalk at noon.

  She was quick to maintain her composure. She made her way over to the car and held out her hand to Andrew as she began to introduce herself.

  Andrew turned the tables on her, though. She had no sooner rounded the front of the car to greet to him than he grabbed her and took her into the biggest hug she had ever gotten from a stranger. Taken off guard, Abby stumbled a little backward when she was released.

  “Andrew . . . uh, nice to meet you,” she stammered, not knowing how to react.

  “Abby, I’ve heard so much about you.” He was smiling at her with all those perfect damn teeth and that beautiful smile again. Abby couldn’t help but be lost in his dark brown eyes. Dammit! she thought.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you as well. And I think Ben is really looking forward to getting to spend some time with you. Seems he has a lot to talk about, huh?” Abby managed to summon a wink.

  Andrew was laughing. “True.” His smile was wickedly twitching on his lips as his eyes trailed over Abby’s body. She could feel his gaze like a searing hook in her gut. “But first, I think I need to fill you in on some good Ben stories.” Andrew threw a look Ben’s way as he teasingly tossed an arm around Abby’s shoulders. “You know, like -- ”

  Ben piped in here, cutting Andrew off, pulling Abby away from his friend. “Like the time you wanted to play cards with the locals in Phuket?” Ben turned to the girls here. “Andrew had this great idea. ‘Ben, let’s play cards with these guys for beer. It’ll be easy.’ Famous last words.” Ben rolled his eyes Andrew’s way.

  “Like I knew they were militia and they actually understood English. Apparently, they didn’t like it that I was trying to cheat them at our game.”

  “Andrew,” Ben insisted, “tell them the card game we were teaching them.”

  With a straight face, Andrew replied, “Go Fish.”

  Abby and Tracey exchanged a glance.

  “Go Fish?” Abby asked.

  Andrew nodded. “Yep. And I pretended that certain cards meant that we got beer or we won.” He shrugged. “I just kept making up rules.”

  “And the drunker he was, the sloppier the game. Eventually, one of the guys realized what we were doing since tattletale here,” Ben jerked his thumb toward Andrew, “opened his mouth to share his excitement at winning with me. We were bounced out with a few swings taken at us --”

  “But,” Andrew interjected with a wink, “we made it out. We were on a flight out the next day.”

  Ben stared Andrew down. “We got lucky. You almost got us killed over beer.”

  “We’re okay now, right?” Andrew was charming; Abby could see that it was going to be fun having him around to spar with Ben.

  “Well, I’d like to request that nothing like that happens while you’re here with us, okay? When you leave, we’ll still be here and I don’t want our locals ganging up on us.” Abby could feel her body tingling whenever they made eye contact.

  Oh, good God, she thought to herself. I need to get it together. This is Ben’s best friend. And he’s at least nine years younger than I am. What the hell am I thinking?

  As if sensing the need to change the subject or at least keep things moving, Tracey began to question Andrew about his job as they headed toward the main house.

  “Andrew’s an architect.” Ben decided to boast for Andrew, in case he wouldn’t do it himself. “Gets to fly all over the place for work.”

  “And rack up frequent-flier miles in the process?” Abby offered.

  “Indeed. Although most of my trips are business-related these days.”

  The group was stopped short by a high-pitched scream.

  “Andrew! It’s about time you came back to us!” Needless to say, Maria was thrilled to see him.

  “He’s here for me, Maria!” Ben chided his housemother.

  It was obvious that there was a lot of love in this group for one another and that they were all happy to be together. Andrew and Ben were punching each other and laughing, sharing some stories with Maria when Ziggy came in through the hallway off the kitchen, carrying some fishing poles over his shoulder and what appeared to be a gun of some sort.

  “Look ’ere! He’s back from South Africa and going on a safari wit’out me,” Ziggy exclaimed as he grabbed Andrew in a big bear hug.

  “I’m in London now, Ziggy,” Andrew chuckled as he patted Ziggy on the back. “On your way to spear-gun a few fish?”

  “Yeah, mon. Going to Ricky’s now and meetin’ da Cap’n. We gonna catch some fish, den I was gonna make us some on de grill for dinner.” He cast a quick look toward his wife. “If dat’s okay wit’ da meal you have planned, baby?”

  “My, that man gets so sweet when he wants his way,” Maria remarked as Ziggy came up behind her and gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Yes, Ziggy. Go and get some fish. The more island food we can offer this skinny man, the better!” She began buzzing around the k
itchen again, prepping some snacks for the group to munch on for the time being.

  “You are the sweetest woman in the world, Maria. If you weren’t already taken . . . ” Andrew began, but was stopped when Ziggy pointed to the spear gun he’d placed on the kitchen table.

  “You see dat? I will use it on you, Andrew, if you be puttin’ dose hands on my girl,” Ziggy teased.

  Andrew threw his hands up in mock horror and backed up behind Abby. “If you try, I swear I’ll hold her hostage.”

  Abby was more than aware of Andrew touching her forearms. Oh no, she thought, not my brother’s best friend. This is a definite no. He’s the one who will always be around, you silly girl.

  Not wanting to appear rude, Abby played along with the game for another heartbeat and then found a way to slide out of Andrew’s playful grasp. He looked at her funny when she pulled away. She just shrugged and threw herself into helping Maria prep the snacks.

  When all was said and done, Maria and Abby had arranged several plates on the counter of fruits, cheeses with crackers of all kinds, an assortment of meats, and a little veggie tray with ranch dressing for dipping. Abby grabbed a little plate and then headed over to the center island to take one of the two seats. Andrew joined her, much to her chagrin.

  “Abby, Tracey here tells me you’ve been down here for a while now. Is that right?” Abby had the feeling he already knew the answer but was just trying to be conversational.

  “Yes, that’s right . . . and I’m here for a little bit longer. Then it’s back to Los Angeles for me.” Abby’s voice was actually a little down as she said this last part.

  “I can’t imagine leaving paradise after being here for so long. Although, Ben seems ready, too. He’s very excited to get back to the States.” Andrew was being very friendly to Abby. Was he flirting with her?

  Behind them, Tracey was helping Maria get drinks together for everyone. They were stirring up some pitchers of lemonade and iced tea. Ziggy was busy cutting up fresh lemons. And here sat Abby, feeling out of place in a room she was usually so comfortable in.

  “I’m a little sad to leave here, in a bittersweet kind of way,” she piped up, as if she was afraid of the silence and needed to fill it. “I think it’ll be really weird heading home and not knowing what I’m going to do.”

  Andrew’s eyes were boring straight into hers. “What do you mean?”

  “Not too much to tell, really. We hit the recession, I got laid off, and I came here. Now I get to go home and find a job.” Andrew started to say something, but Abby stopped him. “If you’re going to tell me to be more positive, I get it, but facts are facts. Things are just different for me and a lot of other people right now.”

  “I was going to say that I feel a lot for the Americans right now.” He stopped long enough to take the glass of lemonade that Tracey was offering him. “But now that you mention it, that was very negative of you to say.”

  Abby looked at him and was about to go into her usual “I’m right and you’re not” tirade that was reserved for when people were sassy, but the smile in his eyes told her he was joking, so she pinched her mouth closed and smiled at him.

  “You’re a teaser, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve been called a pisser.”

  Abby was reaching for her napkin as Andrew was reaching for some more food on his plate. Somehow the two of them grazed hands, and Abby could swear the electricity shot up into her shoulder. She snapped her hand back, but she did it too fast, because she saw a look of confusion register on Andrew’s face.

  “Uh . . . Trace. Don’t make my drink, I’ll come around and pour my own.” Abby was already off her barstool. Anything to get away from the close proximity she was in with Andrew. “I like a certain mixture.”

  “Is it your Arnold Palmer?” Ben teased.

  Abby laughed as she got up to make her favorite beverage.

  “Yes, Ben, I’m making my golfing drink.”

  This made Andrew perk up. “You golf?”

  “Well, I have to do something in my free time.” Abby was stirring her drink and heading back to her spot next to Andrew. “Actually, free time that I used to have in my other life. I hate to admit it, but I’ve not played at all since I’ve been here. It’s too hot.”

  “Nonsense. We need to go out one day before I leave. Maybe when Ben’s back in classes you can entertain me?”

  Abby was taking a drink of her concoction and had to fight to keep from spitting it out. “I’m sure we can find some time for me to ‘entertain’ you, Andrew.”

  “Good. Now,” Andrew had turned his attention to Ben and Tracey, “these two mentioned going to Nevis tomorrow for a getaway at one of the hotels.”

  Maria scoffed at Andrew. “Maybe you should all ask Abby what she went ahead and did earlier to make life a little easier on all of you.”

  The group all turned, waiting for Abby to spill her news.

  “Well,” she began, “I called the plantation you mentioned, Ben.”

  “Coconut Palm Plantation?”

  Abby nodded. “I held two cottages for us. They sleep up to four in each. That way, if you have friends that want to come, bring ’em. I just want my own bed in one of the cottages, okay?”

  Ben was shocked but happily so. “Abby, thank you. I kept meaning to do that all week, and I kept forgetting . . . all week.” He had his arm around Tracey’s waist. She had a grin plastered on her face as well.

  “This has been such a rough semester! I’m ready to go and just relax and enjoy some sunshine.”

  “Hiking. We should totally go hiking,” Ben said.

  Abby and Andrew both snorted at the thought. The timing was so perfect it made the whole lot laugh.

  “I guess I know which two will be on the beach most of the time,” Maria said.

  Abby was nodding her head in happiness. “Indeed.” She looked Ben’s way. “I think when we get back from Nevis, we should talk to Leigh and get this over with.”

  Ben looked a little pale at the thought. Abby totally understood. “I know you’re worried because of how rough school’s been for you, but I think if we can get this out now, while you have a few days off to deal with it . . . well, I think it’s better in the long run. You need a clear head. We both do.”

  Ben stared at the floor, soaking in Abby’s suggestion. After a few quiet moments lost in his thoughts, he looked at Abby and nodded.

  “You’re right. When we get back Monday, let’s call Leigh.” He pulled Tracey in a little tighter to his body. “That way I can talk to my mum, too.”

  Abby smiled at Ben. It was so cool that she had a brother. She had always felt very protective of family members, even if they did drive her nuts, and with Ben it was the same. She wanted to protect him from any falling-out this phone call with Leigh could have, knowing that it could impact the world they were creating for themselves down here.

  “Okay, kids. I’m done with all of ya. You too, Ziggy,” Maria said as she began to shoo everyone out the door. “Take some drinks and food for the road. But I don’t want to see any of ya until it’s time for dinner. Got it?”

  Everyone began to trail out the door. Ziggy was packing his gear in his cab, while Ben and Andrew were getting Andrew’s luggage and taking it into the pool house, leaving Abby and Tracey together.

  The girls made their way to the pool, each knowing the other wanted to sit. They let their feet dangle in the cool water as they sipped their beverages in silence and enjoyed being still.

  It was Tracey who broke the peace finally. “Andrew’s cute, huh?”

  Abby rolled her eyes at Tracey. “Well, yes, he is very cute for a guy who is the same age as my little brother. Next question?”

  Tracey laughed at Abby. “You’re funny, Abby. He’s cute. There are a lot of boys here who are cute. And,” she added as she let her feet turn swirly circles in the pool, “I think you’d make a great cougar.”

  Abby’s jaw dropped at that last comment. She looked at Tracey, only to find she was b
iting her lip to keep from laughing.

  “Are people really and truly okay with cougars? Why can’t an older woman interested in a younger man be a grown-up cat with an attitude? ‘Cougar’ sounds so, oh, I don’t know, so . . . lecherous.” Abby’s reasoning made Tracey bite her lip more in her outstanding effort at stopping her laughter.

  “So many of the guys down here have hooked up with older women, not that you’re old,” Tracey was quick to ad-lib. “What I mean is that with tourists, teachers, and the occasional horny mom who shows up, well . . . the boys here are pretty hot on it, too.”

  Mumbling an “eh” under her breath, Abby rolled on her side to face Tracey. She had grass stuck in her hair that she was pulling out as she pointedly changed the subject.

  “So, Coconut Palm Plantation on Nevis. I’m so excited. Do you know the ferry run times?”

  “We can look it up online, subject changer. Runs like every thirty minutes.”

  Abby absentmindedly nodded. She was playing with one of the sticks she had found in her hair and was drawing pictures in some sand.

  “Abby, I’m not trying to push you on anyone or to do something stupid. I just want to see you happy. I see how hard you work to make the people around you happy. The hours you’ve spent assisting Maria around the inn so she doesn’t have to work so hard to clean the rooms, or the detail you’ve put into repairs that go above and beyond what your sister was asking of you. You’ve been working nonstop. From what you’ve told me about your life back in the States, you always seem to work in jobs tailored around other people’s happiness.” Abby felt Tracey’s eyes watching her as she added, “Don’t you think it’s time you got some of that happiness as well?”

  You have a point, Abby thought. But to think I might find something that magical here, wouldn’t that just be wishful thinking?

  Tracey was watching Abby with such hopeful eyes. Abby smiled at Tracey and finally told her what she wanted to hear.

  “Yes, Trace, I do. I think it’s high time I was happy, whatever that definition may be. Happiness is an air mattress these days. I’m not really looking for anything romantic, but if it comes along while I’m here, then so be it.”