Our driver told us that his name was Wellington Bramble and that he was also a registered tour guide with the Department of the Interior. The other couple climbed into the back of the van, then Derek and Gina in the middle row. I hopped in up front, next to Wellington, turned, and introduced myself.
“Hi, my name is Leo Haggerty.”
“Hello, I’m Derek Marshall and this is my fiancée, Gina Dalesandro.”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Derek and Gina turned and we were all introduced to Tom and Dorothy Needham of Chicago, Illinois.
Wellington stuck his head out the window and spoke to one of the maids. They spoke rapidly in the local patois until the woman slapped him across the forearm and waved a scolding finger at him.
He engaged the gears, pulled away from the reception area, and told us that we would be visiting the tropical rain forests that surround the island’s active volcano. All this in perfect English, the language of strangers and for strangers.
Dorothy Needham asked the question on all of our minds. “How long will we be on this road to the volcano?”
Wellington laughed. “Twenty minutes, ma’am, then we go inland to the volcano.”
We left the coast road and passed through a gate marked St. Mary’s Island Conservancy—Devil’s Cauldron Volcano and Tropical Rain Forest. I was first out and helped the women step down into the muddy path. Wellington lined us up and began to lead us through the jungle, calling out the names of plants and flowers and answering questions.
There were soursop trees, lime trees, nutmeg, guava, bananas, coconuts, cocoa trees, ginger lilies, lobster-claw plants, flamboyant and hibiscus, impression fern, and chenille red-hot cattails. We stopped on the path at a large fern. Wellington turned and pointed to it.
“Here, you touch the plant, right here,” he said, pointing at Derek, who eyed him suspiciously. “It won’t hurt you.”
Derek reached out a finger and touched the fern. Instantly the leaves retracted and curled in on themselves.
“That’s Mary, Mary, Shut the Door. As you can see, a delicate and shy plant indeed.”
He waved us on and we followed. Gina slipped an arm through Derek’s and put her head on his shoulder. She squeezed him once.
“Derek, you know I used to be like that plant. Before you came along. All closed up and frightened if anybody got too close. But not anymore. I am so happy,” she said, and squeezed him again.
Other than a mild self-loathing, I was having a good time, too. We came out of the forest and were on the volcano. Wellington turned to face us.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please listen very carefully. We are on top of an active volcano. There is no danger of an eruption, because there is no crust, so there is no pressure buildup. The last eruption was over two hundred years ago. That does not mean that there is no danger here. You must stay on the marked path at all times and be very careful on the sections that have no guardrail. The water in the volcano is well over three hundred degrees Fahrenheit; should you stumble and fall in, you would be burned alive. I do not wish to alarm you unreasonably, but a couple of years ago we did lose a visitor, so please be very careful. Now follow me.”
We moved along, single file and well spaced through a setting unlike any other I’d ever encountered. The circular top of the volcano looked like a wound on the earth. The ground steamed and smoked and nothing grew anywhere. Here and there black water leaked out of crusty patches like blood seeping from under a scab. The smell of sulfur was everywhere.
I followed Derek and Gina and watched him stop a couple of times and test the railings before he let her proceed. Caution, Derek? Or a trial run?
We circled the volcano and retraced our path back to the van. As promised, we were back at the hotel twenty minutes later. Gina was flushed with excitement and asked Derek if they could go back again. He thought that was possible, but there weren’t any other guided tours this week, so they’d have to rent a car and go themselves. I closed my eyes and imagined her by the side of the road, taking a picture perhaps, and him ushering her through the foliage and on her way to eternity.
We all went in for lunch and ate separately. I followed them back to their room and then down to the beach. They moved to the far end of the beach and sat facing away from everyone else. I went into the bar and worked my way through a pair of long necks.
A couple in the dining room was having a spat, or maybe it was a tiff. Whatever, she called him a schwein and really tagged him with an open forehand to the chops. His face lit up redder than a baboon’s ass.
She pushed back her chair, swung her long blonde hair in an about-face, and stormed off. I watched her go, taking each step like she was grinding out a cigarette under her foot. Made her hips and butt do terrible things.
I pulled my eyes away when I realized I had company. He was leering at me enthusiastically.
I swung around slowly. “Yes?”
It was one of the local hustlers who patrolled the beach, as ubiquitous and resourceful as the coconuts that littered the sand.
“I seen you around, man. Y’all alone. That’s not a good thin’, man. I was thinkin’ maybe you could use some company. Someone to share paradise wit’. Watcha say, man?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He frowned. “I know you ain’t that way, man. I seen you watch that blonde with the big ones. What’sa matter? What you afraid of?” He stopped and tried to answer that one for me. “She be clean, man. No problem.”
When I didn’t say anything, he got pissed. “What is it then? You don’t fuck strange, man?”
“Watch my lips, bucko. I’m not interested. Don’t make more of it than there is.”
He sized me up and decided I wasn’t worth the aggravation. Spinning off his stool, he called me something in patois. I was sure it wasn’t “sir.”
I found a free lounge under a bohio and kept an eye on Derek and Gina. No sooner had I settled in than Gina got up and headed across the cocoa-colored volcanic sands to the beach bar. She was a little pink around the edges. Probably wouldn’t be out too long today. Derek had his back to me, so I swiveled my head to keep her in sight. She sat down and one of the female staff came over and began to run a comb through her hair. Cornrowing. She’d be there for at least an hour. I ordered a drink from a wandering waiter, closed my eyes, and relaxed.
Gina strolled back, her hair in tight little braids, each one tipped with a series of colored beads. She was smiling and kicking up little sprays of water. I watched her take Derek by the hands and pull him up out of his chair. She twirled around and shook her head back and forth, just to watch the braids fly by.
They picked up their snorkels and fins and headed for the water. I watched to see which way they’d go. The left side of the bay had numerous warning signs about the strong current including one on the point that said Turn Back—Next Stop Panama.
They went right and so did I. Maybe it was a little fear, maybe it was love, but she held on to his hand while they hovered over the reef. I went farther out and then turned back so I could keep them in sight. The reef was one of the richest I’d ever been on and worthy of its reputation as one of the best in the Caribbean.
I kept my position near the couple, moving when they did, just like the school of squid I was above. They were in formation, tentacles tucked in, holding their position by undulating the fins on each lateral axis. When the school moved, they all went at once and kept the same distance from each other. I drifted off the coral to a bed of sea grass. Two creatures were walking through the grass. Gray-green, with knobs and lumps everywhere, they had legs and wings! They weren’t toxic-waste mutants, just the flying gurnards. I dived down on them and they spread their violet wings and took off.
When I surfaced, Derek and Gina were heading in. I swam downstream from them and came ashore as they did. Gina was holding her side and peeking behind her palm. Derek steadied her and helped get her flippers off.
“I don’t know what it wa
s, Derek. It just brushed me and then it felt like a bee sting. It really burns,” Gina said.
I wandered by and said, “Looks like a jellyfish sting. When did it happen?”
“Just a second ago.” They answered in unison.
“Best thing for that is papaya skins. Has an enzyme that neutralizes the toxin. The beach restaurant has plenty of them. They keep it just for things like this. You better get right over, though. It only works if you apply it right away.”
“Thanks. Thanks a lot,” Derek said, then turned to help Gina down the beach.
“Yes, thank you,” she said over his shoulder.
“You’re welcome,” I said to myself, and went to dry off.
I sat at the bar, waiting for dinner and playing backgammon with myself. Derek and Gina came in and went to the bar to order. Her dress was a swirl of purple, black, and white and matched the color of the beads in her hair. Derek wore lime green shorts and a white short-sleeved shirt. Drinks in hand, they walked over to me. I stood up, shook hands, and invited them to join me.
“That tip of yours was a lifesaver. We went over to the bar and got some papaya on it right away. I think the pain was gone in maybe five minutes. How did you know about it?” Gina asked.
“I’ve been stung myself before. Somebody told me about it. Now I tell you. Word of mouth.”
“Well, we’re very grateful. We’re getting married here on the island and I didn’t want anything to mess this time up for us,” Derek said.
I raised my glass in a toast. “Congratulations to you. This is a lovely place to get married. When is the ceremony?” I asked, sipping my drink.
“Tomorrow,” Gina said, running her arm through Derek’s. “I’m so excited.”
I nearly drowned her in rerouted rum punch but managed to turn away and choke myself instead. I pounded my chest and waved off any assistance.
“Are you okay?” Derek asked.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” I said as I got myself under control. Tomorrow? How the hell could it be tomorrow? “Sorry. I was trying to talk when I was drinking. Just doesn’t work that way.”
Derek asked if he could buy me another drink and I let him take my glass to the bar.
“I read the tourist brochure about getting married on the island. How long does it take for them to approve an application? They only said that you have to be on the island for two days before you can submit an application.”
Gina leaned forward and touched my knee. “It usually takes two or three days, but Derek found a way to hurry things up. He sent the papers down early to the manager here and he agreed to file them for us as if we were on the island. It’ll be ready tomorrow morning and we’ll get married right after noon.”
“That’s wonderful. Where will the ceremony be?” My head was spinning.
“Here at the hotel. Down on the beach. They provide a cake, champagne, photographs, flowers. Would you join us afterward to celebrate?”
“Thank you, that’s very kind. I’m not sure that I’ll still be here, though. My plane leaves in the afternoon, and you know with that ride back to the airport, I might be gone. If I’m still here, I’d be delighted.”
Derek returned with drinks and sat close to Gina and looped an arm around her.
“Honey, I hope you don’t mind, but I invited Mr. Haggerty to join us after the ceremony.” She smiled anxiously.
“No, that sounds great, love to have you. By the way, it sounded like you’ve been to the islands before. This is our first time. Have you ever gone scuba diving?” Derek was all graciousness.
“Yeah, are you thinking of trying it?”
“Maybe, they have a course for beginners tomorrow. We were talking about taking the course and seeing if we liked it,” he said.
“I’m a little scared. Is it really dangerous?” Gina asked.
Absolutely lethal. Russian roulette with one empty chamber. Don’t do it. Wouldn’t recommend it to my worst enemy.
“No, not really. There are dangers if you’re careless, and they’re pretty serious ones. The sea is not very forgiving of our mistakes. But if you’re well trained and maintain some respect for what you’re doing, it’s not all that dangerous.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just watch you do it, Derek.”
“Come on, honey. You really liked snorkeling. Can you imagine how much fun it would be if you didn’t have to worry about coming up for air all the time?” Derek gave Gina a squeeze. “And besides, I love the way you look in that new suit.”
I saw others heading to the dining room and began to clean up the tiles from the board.
“Mr. Haggerty, would you—” Gina began.
“I’m sure we’ll see Mr. Haggerty again, Gina. Thanks for your help this afternoon,” Derek said, and led her to the dining room.
I finished my drink and took myself to dinner. After that, I sat and watched them dance to the shak-shak band. She put her head on his shoulder and molded her body to his. They swayed together in the perfect harmony only lovers and mothers and babies have.
They left that way, her head on his shoulder, a peaceful smile on her lips. I could not drink enough to cut the ache I felt and went to bed when I gave up trying.
Del was in when I called and gave me the brief bad news.
“The mailman was a dead end. I went over to the school library and talked to teachers and students. So far, nobody’s had anything useful to tell us. I’ve got a class list and we’re working our way through it. Walt did get a lead on him, though. He’s a junior partner in a small law firm, a ‘boutique’ he called it.”
“What kind of law?” Come on, say tax and estate.
“Immigration and naturalization.”
“Shit. Anything else?”
“Yeah, he’s new there. Still don’t know where he came from. We’ll try to get some information from the partners first thing in the morning.”
“It better be first thing. Our timetable just went out the window. They’re getting married tomorrow at noon.”
“Jesus Christ, that puts the screws to us. We’ll only have a couple of hours to work with.”
“Don’t remind me. Is that it?”
“For right now. Clancy is hitting bars looking for people that play this ‘Ultimate Frisbee’ thing. He’s got a sketch with him. Hasn’t called in yet.”
“Well, if he finds anything, call me no matter what time it is. I’ll be around all morning tomorrow. If you don’t get me direct, have me paged, as an emergency. Right now we don’t have shit.”
“Hey, boss, we just ran out of time. I’m sure in a couple of days we’d have turned something up.”
“Maybe so, Del, but tomorrow around noon somebody’s gonna look out over their heads and ask if anybody has anything to say or forever hold your peace. I don’t see myself raising my hand and asking for a couple of more days, ’cause we’re bound to turn something up.”
“We did our best. We just weren’t holding very good cards is all.”
“Del, we were holding shit.” I should have folded when Scolari dealt them.
I hung up and readied my bedroom to repel all boarders. Under the netting, I sat and mulled over my options. I had no reason to stick my nose into Gina’s life. No reason at all to think that Derek was anything but the man she’d waited her whole life for. Her happiness was real, though. She was blossoming under his touch. I had seen it. And happiness is a fragile thing. Who was I to cast a shadow on hers? And without any reason. Tomorrow was a special day for her. How would she remember it? How would I?
I woke early from a restless night and called the office. Nothing new. I tried Scolari’s number and spoke briefly to him. I told him we were out of time and had nothing of substance. I asked him a couple of questions and he gave me some good news and some bad. There was nothing else to do, so I went down to see the betrothed.
They were in the dining room holding hands and finishing their coffee. I approached and asked if I could join them.
“Good morning, Mr. Hag
gerty. Lovely day, isn’t it?” Gina said, her face aglow.
I settled into the chair and decided to smack them in the face with it. “Before you proceed with your wedding, I have some news for you.”
They sat upright and took their hands, still joined, off the table.
“Gina’s uncle, Enzo Scolari, wishes me to inform you that he has had his attorneys activate the trustee’s discretionary powers over Miss Dalesandro’s portion of the estate so that she cannot take possession of the money or use it in any fashion without his consent. He regrets having to take this action, but your insistence on this marriage leaves him no choice.”
“You son of a bitch. You’ve been spying on us for that bastard,” Derek shouted, and threw his glass of water at me. I sat there dripping while I counted to ten. Gina had gone pale and was on the verge of tears. Marshall stood up. “Come on, Gina, let’s go. I don’t want this man anywhere near me.” He leaned forward and stabbed a finger at me. “I intend to call your employer, Mr. Scolari, and let him know what a despicable piece of shit I think he is, and that goes double for you.” He turned away. “Gina, are you coming?”
“Just a second, honey,” she whispered. “I’ll be along in just a second.” Marshall crashed out of the room, assaulting chairs and tables that got in his way.
“Why did you do this to me? I’ve waited my whole life for this day. To find someone who loves me and wants to live with me and to celebrate that. We came here to get away from my uncle and his obsessions. You know what hurts the most? You reminded me that my uncle doesn’t believe that anyone could love me for myself. It has to be my money. What’s so wrong with me? Can you tell me that?” She was starting to cry and wiped at her tears with her palms. “Hell of a question to be asking on your wedding day, huh? You do good work, Mr. Haggerty. I hope you’re proud of yourself.”
I’d rather Marshall had thrown acid in my face than the words she hurled at me. “Think about one thing, Miss Dalesandro. This way you can’t lose. If he doesn’t marry you now, you’ve avoided a lot of heartache and maybe worse. If he does, knowing this, then you can relax knowing it’s you and not your money. The way I see it, either way you can’t lose. But I’m sorry. If there had been any other way, I’d have done it.”
Mary, Mary, Shut the Door Page 11