by Anne Kemp
Abby’s heart was heavy. Now that she knew she had one-third of the say in the property, she felt that she owed a little more respect to La Cantina than serving it up as a sacrificial offering to the property gods. She opened her mouth to speak, but Buddy beat her to it.
“Well, ladies. Our job here be done. Go turn de air on inside and see for yourself.” He nodded Abby’s way. “If dey don’t tear de place down, it be needin’ a new unit sooner rather den later.”
Abby nodded, watching the men gather their tools. She and Maria shared a quiet, secret smile across the roof with each other. “Okay, Buddy. . . . Thanks, guys.”
She slowly made her way back down the ladder. She felt woozy and overwhelmed from this newest development and wanted to get her shaken body back onto terra firma.
#
The sun was still high in the cloudless Caribbean sky when Ziggy’s cab pulled into the driveway at the inn. Leigh’s flight had landed, and she was exiting the vehicle in her usual sweeping fashion, on her iPhone giving instructions to whomever the poor schmuck was on the other end. Abby was at the front door to greet her and could tell that Leigh was already agitated by the brusque tone of her voice.
“Well, I made it, and the inn is still standing. Thank goodness for small miracles,” Leigh announced tersely as she was hanging up her call.
“I wouldn’t think you’d have sent me here unless you wanted the place to be intact.” Abby’s reply was more deflective than defensive.
Leigh’s face was tired, and her eyes had dark circles under them.
“Let’s get you inside so you can relax.” Abby wanted to get her comfortable so they could get into details about Ben, their dad and other various items of discussion. She also knew that with Leigh, you had to play your cards right. Don’t push nor pressure. Guide her into revealing her information so she feels like she has power. It was a game they played.
“You always know just what I need. Always the assistant, aren’t you?” Leigh smiled at her sister as she was surveying the property, but Abby felt like she had just swatted her in the face. It was a familiar feeling, like thousands of bees stinging her at once all over her body. “Let’s get in so I can say my hellos.”
Abby stood to the side, feeling like a small child, allowing Leigh to enter first. Leigh was making a beeline to the kitchen so she could see Maria. What Leigh didn’t expect was to see the group that had gathered in there waiting for her to arrive.
Maria was, as usual, bustling around, barking orders. Ben and Andrew had been given duties by Maria, and they were already prepping items she needed. Leigh stood for a minute, taken off guard, but quickly composed herself.
“I see everyone has a job in here. Maybe someone could tell me what I need to do?”
Maria turned to greet her longtime friend and employer. “There’s my girl. Come give me some love!”
The two women embraced, hugging and laughing. When Leigh pulled away, the tears were quietly pouring down her tired cheeks. Andrew noticed and made a sign to Abby that he was going to go to the pool house, giving the group their privacy. He managed to sneak out, undetected by the distracted Leigh.
“Why are you crying, girl? Everything is good.”
Leigh wiped away her tears with a paper towel Abby handed her. “Thank you, Maria. I know. It’s just -- ” she turned and looked at Ben -- “oh, Ben. I’m so sorry. I should have told you about this a long time ago. And I didn’t. I wanted to do the right thing.”
Ben put down the knife he had been holding to chop vegetables and walked over to Leigh. “I’m not angry. Confused, but not angry.”
Leigh turned and looked at Abby. “You didn’t talk to him after our phone call?”
Abby shook her head. “No. That’s for you to talk to him about.”
Leigh nodded, then motioned to Ben to sit down. As she repeated the story about their father’s dying wishes to Ben, Maria gathered drinks for everyone, whispering to Abby that “this could be a four-bottle night” as she opened the first bottle of wine.
When Leigh was done, Ben sat still. He didn’t move.
Leigh was holding her breath, looking at Abby for moral support. Abby just looked at her sister blankly. After a few minutes of silence, Ben finally spoke.
“Thank you.” It was simple. It was kind. It was grateful. “You were asked to do something, and you obliged. I don’t know how I would have handled the situation had it been me. You did what you thought was best. Thank you. You made sure I had a home here and school funding.”
It was Leigh’s turn for gratitude. “I should be thanking you, Ben. This has been the heaviest burden to carry. Hell, I’ve told so many white lies over the years, I forget what’s true and what isn’t.”
“Did you send me here on purpose, Leigh?” Abby wanted to appease her own need to know. “I think you hoped Ben and I would somehow figure out that we were related. Am I crazy? Is that why you set this up?”
Leigh looked at her little sis with admiration. “Busted. I told Dad I wouldn’t tell, but we never talked about what would happen if the truth ‘accidentally’ came out.” She sighed heavily. “Now, my marriage is in trouble, all because I withheld the truth from my husband. The one person I should have kept in the loop and didn’t.” She looked at Abby and Ben, adding, “Not that you didn’t need to be in the loop, but he’s my husband. I have to face it. I kinda screwed this one up.”
Abby watched Leigh take a long drink of her wine. It turned into a gulp as she tried to numb her issues. “Ben’s mother doesn’t know yet.”
“What she means is that my mum doesn’t know that I know the truth,” Ben interjected. “I wanted to wait to tell her after we spoke.”
Leigh understood. “Of course.” She gestured toward the office door. “If you want to use the main line here to call her at home, you can. I think she may be as relieved as I am now that it’s all out.”
Ben nodded, still a little shell-shocked, and headed out the door of the kitchen to use the phone. He quickly changed his mind and walked back over to Leigh.
“I know this may be odd, but . . . ” And with that, Ben hugged his newfound sister. Leigh was ecstatic.
“I’m sorry, Ben. I really am.”
“Don’t be. You had to do it.” He cleared his throat and looked around the kitchen. “I’m going to go call her.” He smiled at Leigh. “Then we can all move on.”
Leigh watched as Ben left the room, then she turned to Abby. “I wanted to tell you so many times. I was honestly following what Dad wanted, but I also never thought you were mature enough to handle it.”
Her words sliced through Abby like a hot knife.
“I’m sorry, Abby . . . I just . . . ”
Abby sat at the stool that Ben had just vacated. “It’s fine.” She threw a sideways glance at her sister. “It’s what you do.”
“Abby . . . ” was all Leigh could muster.
“No, Leigh, I’m serious.” Abby knew that if she didn’t address this now, it would fall to the side. “I love you, but I’m done. Maybe it’s me, but sometimes I feel that your words are supportive and kind, then there are the times that they are biting and condescending.” Abby looked down at her hands. Once again she was playing nervously with her rings. “No more, Leigh. I’m an adult. Some days I feel like you still don’t see me as one.”
Leigh’s face was twisting slowly. Abby thought she was getting ready to blow her top. She wanted to close her eyes and brace for the wrath. The silence between them felt like an eternity.
“You’re right. I do see you sometimes as my immature and irresponsible little sister.” Her tone was stern and matter-of-fact, but a bit softer. “I guess I need to stop doing that, huh?”
Abby fought her inner surge of sisterly irritation, choosing instead to whisper, “Thanks.” She was staring out the window watching some monkeys run through the backyard. “Did Mom know?”
“No. Mom thought Dad was faithful all of the years he was on the road for business. This was a one-time sli
p. He thought he was in love. He led a double life with Carla.”
Hearing the name was jogging a faded memory, one that Abby must have put aside a long time ago. “Carla.” She was slowly nodding her head. “Wait . . . Of course! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before . . . ”
Abby had retreated into her thoughts, combing through a memory from years ago. “I think I met her, Leigh. I met someone named Carla one day when I was with Dad. Running errands.”
It was a vivid memory for Abby. She had been shopping with her father. He had dragged her with him to their local Home Depot to get some supplies for the house. Abby’s mom couldn’t come; she was grocery shopping, maybe? Either way, Abby was looking for cleaning supplies, then had gone to look for her father. She had found him in a heated argument with a strange woman in the gardening section.
“They were arguing, or ‘talking loudly,’ to use the phrase Dad used to. He introduced us. I was nervous or maybe I was scared, I think?” This was more of a question than a statement. “Her name was Carla.”
Abby had been so sure that all the facts were out, but now she felt that there was more that Leigh wasn’t telling her. It was only a second before Leigh confirmed that thought.
“Abby. There is so much more I need to tell you, but I can’t.”
Abby glanced in the direction where Maria had been standing, searching for support, but she had disappeared from the room as well. This is too weird, she thought, feeling her blood pressure rise and trying not to shake. Who the hell is my father and what did he do?
“Leigh, I need you to tell me. Please,” she was begging.
Leigh shook her head. “I can only dredge up the past one giant step at a time, Abby.” She sighed heavily again. “Let’s just get this cleaned up here and then we can move forward.”
“No, Leigh. You always keep me in the dark. I need answers. Now. None of this ‘when the time is right’ bullshit. I deserve more.”
“You do. I just can’t tell you the whole story about Dad and Carla.”
Abby was floored. “And why the hell not?”
Leigh grabbed Abby’s arms and looked her dead in the eyes. “Because it’s not mine to tell.”
Abby fell quiet. She was now angry and irritated with her sister.
“He’s my dad, too. And Ben’s. We kind of have a right to know.”
“I don’t agree.” Leigh reached in her purse and took out her cigarettes. “If you want to know, you’re going to have to talk to the other person involved here.”
“Ben?”
“No, ding-dong.” Leigh shook her head at her sister. “Carla. Ben’s mother.”
“Well, how the hell do I do that when I don’t know her?”
Leigh shrugged. “I can’t help you from here. Carla’s the only one who can fill in the gaps for you and Ben.”
Abby was flabbergasted. She wanted to argue further but knew Leigh well enough to know that she wasn’t going to budge. Abby knew this was one conversation she couldn’t let go of, but vowed to walk away for the time being. “Let’s change the subject, then, so I don’t get more irritated. What’s up with Daryl?”
Leigh shrugged her shoulders as she walked over to the kitchen window and lit her smoke. “He’s mad that I lied. He’s furious that I kept a secret from him and hurt that you knew before he did. He’s just not happy . . . with me.”
“I get it. I mean, I was mad, actually more shocked. I wanted to be really pissed.” Abby looked at her sister leaning against the windowpane, almost as if it were a life raft. “I just knew I couldn’t be. And really, even though it’s all kinda screwed up, it’s kinda cool. We got a brother.”
Leigh smiled. “And I helped to keep that relationship a secret from all of you for years.” She was shaking her head in disbelief. “I’m disgusted with myself.”
Abby stood up and closed the gap that had been between her and her sister. “No. You aren’t allowed that emotion right now. Okay?”
A sound in the other room brought them back to attention. Ben was done talking to his mother and was coming back.
“Well?” Abby asked.
Ben was smiling. “She’s happy that I know. She cried, and she feels bad. For me, for you,” he motioned at Abby, “and for you. She said that the day Leigh called her to tell her the story your dad had relayed was the day she knew our lives had gotten more complicated.”
Leigh smiled at Ben. “Are you okay? With all of this?”
Ben grinned at his two sisters. “So, tell me about my nephews.”
Leigh almost sank to the ground. “How do I have so many good people around me?”
“You’re just lucky.” Abby’s tone was teasing. “All right, Ben, start asking this woman questions. I think she’s ready to answer,” Abby added, winking at her sister.
But I haven’t forgotten, Leigh, Abby mulled. We still need to talk about Carla.
#
Abby wanted to give Ben and Leigh some privacy, not to mention take a moment for herself, so she found her way to the front porch. Lowering herself into a chair, she laid her back against the cold wood and closed her eyes.
Listening to the quiet sounds of the palm fronds swaying in the wind and rocking methodically in her chair, she was lulling herself into a state of self-hypnosis. As she felt her mind begin to drift toward total peace, she heard the familiar noise of someone clearing their throat for attention. Abby shielded her eyes from the sun and slowly opened them to greet her company.
“You look relaxed.” It was a man’s voice, but the sun was behind him and she couldn’t make out his face, though his voice and accent rang familiar. Abby smiled, tilting her head to get a better look.
When she had adjusted her angle, Abby was surprised to find J. D. standing in front of her.
“I . . . I am actually,” she replied. Abby found herself very happy to see him, which made her feel a bit guilty as well. “It’s a good porch to rest on.”
The handsome stranger motioned to the chair next to Abby, asking permission to join her. She smiled and nodded as he lowered himself into the matching chair. The two sat silently rocking together.
“So,” she said, breaking the quiet. “Are you staying here at the inn?”
“I am, in fact I just checked in and was walking around exploring the property.” He had turned in his chair to face her.
Abby nodded, taking a moment to glance sideways and take in his handsome profile. And the rugged features that made her heart race. She guessed he was in his late thirties or early forties. His grin was slightly off balance and his skin had a nice glow to it, obviously from being in the Caribbean sun for a few weeks now.
She pulled her hair up into a loose bun, securing it on her head, and leaned forward slightly, adjusting her flip-flops. “I take it you like St. Kitts?”
She looked back at him only to find him grinning at her almost mockingly. “Like St. Kitts? I could live here. I’ve thought about it for years.”
“Really?”
He nodded his head. Abby felt his eyes on her as she sat back into the chair again, stretching out her body in an attempt to find a more comfortable position.
“My family came here for vacations when I was growing up.” He leaned forward, scooting his chair closer to Abby’s. “Why do I feel like you don’t want to see me?”
Abby squinted her eyes at J. D., taking in his rugged features. Her eyes scanned his features as she went over the pros and cons of this island-hopping playboy in her mind.
“It’s not that I don’t want to see you. I do . . . or I did.” She sighed, sitting up and pulling herself to the edge of her seat, facing J. D. “I have a lot going on and really don’t need things to be complicated right now.”
“Complicated?”
She nodded. “Yep. And you,” she said pointedly, “you seem like the kind of guy that can cause complications.”
J. D. feigned mild horror at the accusation. “Me? Complicated? You’re the one who never called.”
It was Abby’s
turn for faux horror. “You’re the man, allegedly,” she teased. “I figured if you wanted to see me bad enough you’d figure it out. Plus, you seemed pretty occupied yourself the other night with that beautiful woman by your side.”
J. D.’s smile was broad and enticing as he leaned closer to her. “Why do you think I’m here, Abby?”
As she was opening her mouth to answer, the front door opened and Ben stepped out onto the porch.
“Hey, Leigh wants you in the kitchen,” he said, eyeing J. D. with interest.
“Okay,” Abby answered as nonchalantly as she could. “Be right in.”
Abby turned away from Ben, trying once again to answer J. D.’s question, but Ben interrupted.
“Ummm . . . Abs? I think she meant now.”
Abby turned and gave him a look of “got it!” and smiled tightly.
“Okay, Ben. I’ll be right there.”
The two stopped for a moment, watching each other almost comically, with Ben looking at Abby and then looking at J. D., and Abby making motions with her eyes for Ben to go back inside. Ben finally retreated into the inn, leaving the pair alone on the front porch.
“Let me guess.” J. D. eyed her up and down, stroking her body with his eyes. “Rain check.”
Abby stood, steeling herself to go inside, but J. D. stood with her, stepping closer to her and leaning in so his gaze matched hers. She could feel his breath on her lips as he spoke.
“I don’t know why, but I just don’t think we’re done here, Abby. You owe me a dinner. Or at least -- ” he brushed away the hair that had fallen in front of her eyes -- “one more kiss.”
Abby’s gut lurched as J. D. wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her body closer to his. Her mind was screaming for her to stop, that Andrew was a mere property line away, but her body was insisting she keep her close proximity since it wouldn’t move. Her breath was heavy and hot, and she was struggling to keep her eyes focused on J. D.’s and to not let them be drawn to his lips. She wasn’t sure why, but she couldn’t turn off the pull she felt to this man. And right now, she didn’t want to.