No Place Like Home

by Trina Crooks

  “I will.”

  “Man, I wish I could go.” I could hear the jealousy in my sister’s voice which caused me to smile. Finally, for the first time I was doing something that Lisa was actually envious of and not the other way around. I put one more bathing suit into my suitcase and smiled. Five swimsuits should be enough for this trip.

  “I will bring you a souvenir back.”

  “You better.”

  I said my last good-byes and then set down my cell phone. I was so excited to get out of town because my regular life was getting boring and tiresome. My boss had been on a terror the last couple of weeks so the fact that I was getting away from her for a week was a dream in itself.

  It was almost midnight and I was finally able to figure out what I was dragging to Jamaica with me. I set my suitcase next to the front door and flopped down on my bed for the restless sleep that I knew was inevitable. My mind was racing now that I was surrounded by quiet. I was going to see Maurice and I hadn’t seen him since I asked him to leave three years ago. We were good together but he just could not get his act together. I couldn’t keep supporting the both of us and he didn’t seem to understand that.

  But I couldn’t worry about this now. I had to get some sleep. Tomorrow I would be in paradise and I couldn’t wait.

  ~~~~~

  My flight to Jamaica was bright and early which was great because the sooner I got on the plane, the sooner I would be getting off of it. The only problem was the very chatty lady I had sitting next to me. She informed me that she was going to Jamaica for a wedding herself and then proceeded to show me every picture she had of her granddaughter which was the bride to be. I smiled and tried to be courteous while I secretly tried to rush the plane to our destination. It seemed like forever before they announced our descent.

  “Have a good time at your wedding,” Loreen, my new best friend said to me as we parted ways.

  “You too.” I was ushered through the customs department with very little problems, thank goodness. I had heard that customs could be a bear to get through. Then I started looking for the bus service that Marley had set up for her guests so that they had a ride to the resort, The Grand Oasis Resort and Spa. Of course, I’d forgotten the name of the company and was now walking around aimlessly hoping the name would pop into my brain somehow. But I didn’t have long to wander because a voice called my name.

  “Kenya!” I didn’t even have to turn around to know who that was. “Kenya, I know you hear me.” Yeah, I heard him. I turned around to see Maurice’s still handsome as hell ass walking my way.

  **~~~**

  Maurice knew it was Kenya because he would know her body shape anywhere. Even after all of these years her abundant backside and confident walk made him know that it was the love of his life that he was staring at in the very congested airport of Jamaica. When she turned around to face him, although she had a scowl on her face, nothing could mask her beauty.

  “Hello,” was all she said to him as she stood there.

  “Hello Kenya. How are you doing?” His gaze lowered to the lips he missed kissing as he waited for her to speak.

  “What do you want Maurice?”

  “Still have that same feisty attitude I see.”

  “Mm-hmm. Are you looking for the bus company we are supposed to be getting on? I forgot the name of it.”

  “I got myself a town car service. I have been waiting thirty minutes for you to arrive so that you can hitch a ride with me.”

  “Well you just wasted your time.” He watched as Kenya turned to look around at the different tables that had sketchy looking gentleman standing at them. He knew she was not going to be comfortable talking to any of them so Maurice stood there and waited for her to agree to ride with him. But too his surprise she stomped away from him so that she could actually approach a man to see if he could help her.

  “Kenya, don’t be silly. My car is already here. Come on.”

  “I don’t want to ride with you.”

  “Well I am not leaving until you figure out what transportation you are supposed to take,” he said with frustration. She was being ridiculous. “I am not going to just leave you here.”

  Kenya turned her attention to him again and sighed. He could tell she was accepting defeat since she was not going to get rid of him that easily. “Fine Maurice. Let’s go.”

  Maurice reached for her bag but she snatched it back and stood there waiting for him to lead the way. When they got outside, she then allowed the driver to take her suitcase and put it in the trunk. Kenya got inside and pressed herself against the door trying to put as much room between them as she could. Maurice just shook his head.

  “How long until we get there, sir,” she asked the driver causing Maurice to smile. Why she was treating him with so much hostility as if he cheated on her and broke her heart was beyond him? Three years ago, he was just not the man that she deserved; that was the only reason for their break up.

  “It is a forrrty-minute ride miss,” he responded with his thick accent as he started the car and pulled off.

  “I promise I won’t hurt you Kenya.”

  “I know you won’t,” she answered with irritation and fixated her gaze toward her passenger window. He let her take in the ambiance in silence while he took in another view. Kenya was still beautiful. Her usually medium length hair was now in some curly style that he was sure was just put in for the vacation by her hair stylist sister. He liked it a lot and it gave her an island looking quality. Her mocha brown skin was still as smooth as it always was and her full lips were painted with a brown color that made him want to take a taste. Damn Mo. Why in three years had his love for her not diminished? Not even a little bit.

  “Quit looking at me,” she fussed.

  “Why are you being so mean to me? I thought you would be happy to see my handsome face after all of this time.” Even though they lived in the same city, their paths did not cross. Luckily Marley moved to Indianapolis to live with her fiancé Jonathon so they could take turns going to visit her. This was one event that they couldn’t avoid each other. They both had to be a part of this joyous occasion.

  Kenya looked at him and rolled her eyes. “I was doing pretty good not seeing your handsome face.”

  “So, you admit I am handsome,” he responded with a smile. That comment was met with her famous eye roll again. He saw she didn’t lose that over the years. “How are Mama and Lisa?”

  “They are fine.” She turned to face him before she spoke again. “Mama said you came by to see her a couple of times.”

  “Mm hmm. We broke up. I didn’t break up with her.” In fact, he had been over to her mother’s house quite a few times, assembling a cabinet for her, picking up some wood from the hardware store; whatever she needed him to do. He loved Kenya’s mother, just like he loved her.

  “Well I appreciate that.”

  “No problem. I am a great guy like that. Always caring for others,” Maurice answered.

  “Oh, shut up.” So, he did. They drove the rest of the way to the resort with them both dozing a bit until the car came to a stop.

  “We are here Mista.”

  “Thank you.” Maurice looked at Kenya who was still sound asleep. She must be exhausted because he had traveled with her enough to know she would normally wake up when the car stopped so he nudged her gently. “Kenya, we are here.”

  “Hmm?”

  “We are here,” he stated again. Kenya sat up and stretched as she looked out of her window. He watched as the biggest smile spread across her beautiful mouth. “Breathtaking isn’t it?”

  “Simply gorgeous,” she responded as she stepped out of her door. Maurice followed close behind as he tipped the driver and tried to grab their suitcases. Kenya reached for hers and began walking up to the two Jamaican women that greeted them at the outdoor lobby.

  “Drink?” they asked. Maurice grabbed one of the red fruity drinks and quickly downed it while Kenya savored hers a little longer. He made it over to the hotel a
ttendants and smiled.

  “Mista Parrish. Welcome back.” Maurice noticed Kenya’s eyes on him.

  “Come here much?” she quipped.

  “As a matter of fact, I have been here a few times.”

  “We have your key here. Villa 9, room 909.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Your name Miss?” Maurice waited as Kenya got all of the things she needed and took note that she was in Villa 10, room 1007. Kenya turned to him with a frown.

  “What are you still doing here?”

  “Because we have to hitch a ride to our rooms.”

  “I can walk.”

  “It is far Kenya. Quit being difficult and try to enjoy this trip. You are going to have to deal with me for a week so you might as well try being nice. It would make this a lot easier.”

  “Mm-hmm,” she responded.

  Maurice leaned toward her so he could whisper in her ear. “You know you want to be nice to me anyway.” He placed a soft kiss on her neck and he heard her gasp and immediately her body showed how that kiss had affected her. Her nipples were pressing against the soft material of her shirt letting him know without a doubt that she didn’t have anything between her skin and her clothes. That turned him on.

  “Can we get going already?” The golf cart that was escorting them to their villas piled their luggage on the back and Maurice sat down next to Kenya in the seat. There was not much room and his large stature was taking up a lot of the space so he put his arm behind her and surprisingly she scooted closer to him without much of a fuss. It was either that or risk falling out of the cart so she didn’t have much of a choice. He smiled to himself. He liked being next to her like this; like they used to be. Being in this setting together was making him wish he could have afforded to take her on luxury vacations before.

  The cart stopped and Maurice stepped out. Kenya grabbed her things and began walking up to the building without even a goodbye. He just shook his head and turned to his room. There was no need to push the issue now because he was determined that he would win her over during this week vacation, if it was the last thing he did.