Unforgettable, My Love Has Come Along

by Ann Marie Bryan

  The breeze was barely blowing in the warm evening air as Harriett and I exited the arrival area at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica.

  Home sweet home!

  Orane spotted me and we hastily move towards each other.

  “Welcome home. You look wonderful.” He looked at me fondly after locking me in a warm embrace.

  I was dressed in white jean pants and jacket, gold ruffled tank blouse and gold sandals. My curly hair style and light make up added to my wow factor.

  “Thank you. Great to see you,” I said, laughing softly. “It’s good to be home.”

  Orane heartily hugged Harriett. “Dr. Selby, welcome back.”

  Harriett flashed a radiant smile, overjoyed to see Orane. “Good to see you Orane, all the very best for the Christmas season.” It was two days before Christmas day.

  “Same to you Doc, to you and your family.”

  While Orane greeted Everton, Harriett’s husband, Harriett eyed me crazily. “You look great together,” she mouthed, giggling softly as she secretly gave me two thumbs up.

  I grinned right back at her, nodding foolishly.

  Within minutes, we left the airport in Orane’s black BMW M6 Coupe for MayPo, a town approximately forty five minutes away.

  “Look at you,” Orane said, squeezing my shoulder.

  “No. Look at you!”

  “Are you happy to see me?” he asked.

  “Totally,” I said dramatically and then burst into a fit of girlish giggles at his raised eyebrows.

  “I’m happy to see you too,” he chuckled.

  “I cannot believe that I kept myself away from this country for over four years. It was so hard to leave.”

  “It’s called out of sight, out of mind,” he teased.

  “Of course…. not. I was laying and anchoring my foundation in my new country.”

  He smiled at me. “Now you have good reasons to be back.”

  “Oh yes,” I grinned.

  “Come now, let me hear you speak patois. Say, ‘I am going over there’ in patois.”

  “What?” I asked in dismay.

  Orane laughed as he waited to hear my Jamaican Creole. “Let me help you, Mi a go dung deh so.”

  As I attempted to repeat the phrase, he really got a kick out of it. “Are you finished?” I asked, pursing my lips.

  “Yes, I am. No, say it again.” He laughed loudly.

  “Go on, take advantage of me.”

  “Never, ever my love.”

  I touched his shoulder. “Sounds good to me.”

  “I mapped out our itinerary, but let me know if you would like to add anything else.”

  “No. Nothing else. What we discussed is good.”

  “Look in the cup holder. I have a cell phone for you.”

  “Honey, that is so thoughtful. Thank you,” I said, picking up the cell phone.

  “You’re welcome. Roaming may be too costly for you to use your own cell phone. The charger is there too.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Anything for you, my girl.”

  “Anything? I will make a list.”

  “I give you an inch and you take a mile,” he said smiling. “I plan to stop by my home before taking you to Mrs. Mohan.”

  “To my sister? I thought I was staying with you,” I teased.

  “Right! As old as you are, Mr. and Mrs. Mohan would be so disappointed in you…cohabiting.”

  “Yes. I can hear that conversation now. Anyway, it’s not even about them. It’s about our relationship with God.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  “If you like, you can refer to her as Sister Maydine instead of Mrs. Mohan.”

  “Nooo. I prefer to use Mrs. Mohan…right now.”

  “Okay.”

  “I have dinner for you.”

  “That’s what I am talking about, taking care of your girl.”

  “Yes. I am trying to impress you. I hope I succeeded.”

  I smiled at him. “Yes. You can check that off your list. After dinner, I will give you a honey-do list so you can impress me further.”

  A few minutes later, Orane looked much at ease as he showed me around his home, a beautiful three-bedroom single family house.

  “I have something for you,” I beamed across the square four-seater glass dining table after dinner.

  “Okay.”

  I pulled the gift from my bag. “Guess, what’s in it?”

  “I’m not playing that game today,” he said, trying not to appear eager.

  “Fine, spoil sport!” I handed him the gift and he tore the wrapping away.

  “Annalisa!” He jumped from his seat and hugged me. “Great minds think alike,” he said smiling as he looked at the eight by ten framed photo of me.

  I smiled at him. “Yes. I saw the same picture in your bedroom.”

  “But I like this larger frame. You look great.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I took this picture of you in Tallahassee. I like it,” Orane said, staring at the photo. “Nice shot.”

  “Thought you would like it.”

  “I will keep this one in the living room.”

  With that, he placed the photo on the entertainment stand then stood back to admire it. “Okay, let’s get out of here,” he announced.

  The following day, Orane picked me up at mid-morning and gave me a tour of his business place. He intended to close down operations until the New Year. His work life was extremely hectic and I could see why he was in such great shape. I met a few of his employees, mostly sales personnel and his administrative assistant. They were very courteous, but I could see curiosity in their gaze.

  At midday, we picked up Merck, Orane’s cousin, in the town and transported him home. Merck was already smiling when I met him. He was anticipating our meeting. A tall man perhaps a little over six feet, Merck’s broad shoulders rested well on his lean frame.

  “Hello Annalisa,” he greeted me as he entered the car. “How you doing?”

  “I’m great! Nice to meet you Merck!” I extended my hand and he shook it heartily.

  “Likewise Annalisa, likewise.”

  Orane greeted Merck. “Ready to roll.”

  “Yes sir,” he responded.

  “Annalisa welcome home,” Merck said as we drove off.

  “Thank Merck! I feel as if I never left.”

  “Yes. There is no place like home. Now you have good reasons to be back.”

  Orane chuckled. “She sure does!”

  “Yes, I do!” I confirmed.

  “You have a good man on your hands,” Merck offered. “He will take care of you.”

  “Thanks Merck! I realize that!”

  Laughter filled Orane’s eyes as he glanced at me. “Merck and I grew up together.”

  “Yes. Wild adventures!” Merck laughed. “I had to rescue him several times.”

  “Annalisa, do not believe him. It’s the reverse. I had to rescue him from girls, his siblings and his parents. He was just a bad kid.”

  Merck chuckled. “Cousin, let’s put it down to youth. Unforgettable times! I know you enjoyed the adventures.”

  Orane laughed knowingly. “Yes, yes.”

  “It was like that huh?” I teased.

  “Yes,” Orane responded. “Merck got me in trouble with my parents several times because of his antics.”

  “He was a bookworm. I was trying to break him out a little,” Merck said as Orane stopped at a white single family house.

  Merck exited the car. “Annalisa, please come and meet my wife and kids!”

  I looked at Orane who nodded approvingly.

  “Audra!” Merck called out as we approached the house.

  No response came so he opened the front door. “Audra,” he yelled, looking towards what I assumed to be the kitchen. Sounds of the washing of dishes were coming from there. “Audra, we have guests. Orane and…”

  “On my way dear!” Audra entered the living room, wiping her hands with a small wh
ite towel. “Hello, nice to meet you Annalisa!” she said, after Merck’s introduction. Audra was bright eyed and her voice had a cheery ring to it. She was brimming with energy.

  “Nice to meet you too Audra.” I smiled as we hugged.

  “May I call you Anna?” she asked.

  “Anna is fine. Where are the children?”

  The three children seemed to appear from nowhere. They must have been waiting in the wings.

  “Nice to meet you Miss Annalisa,” they greeted me shyly as their mother introduced each by a wave of her hand, Cathy, Simone and Joseph.

  “So nice to meet you,” I said as I smiled and shook each hand.

  Audra and Orane greeted and shortly thereafter, we left.

  “Ready to eat?” Orane inquired.

  “Definitely,” I responded.

  We ate lunch at Catirean, an open air seafood restaurant and entertainment center. Within minutes, the restaurant was crowded with locals, all of whom seemed to know each other. They kept the waitresses busy with their orders.

  I enjoyed a splendid meal of steamed red snapper, steamed white rice and steamed vegetables while Orane ate jerked conch served with sweet papaya sauce, steamed rice and peas and tossed salad.

  Orane touched my arm and smiled at me across the square wooden table. “You are really enjoying your meal.”

  “Ah, yes! It is deeelicious. Thank you!”

  “Glad you’re enjoying it.”

  “I’m gonna need a bed after this,” I teased.

  He winked and beckoned for me to come closer and I leaned forward. “Don’t worry, I’ll roll you out of here,” he whispered, chuckling softly.

  “Roll? I can’t believe it. What about carrying me?”

  His expression softened as if explaining to a child. “I’m trying to do the safest thing.”

  I eyeballed him. “I forgive you.”

  He laughed softly and squeezed my hand.

  After lunch, Orane took me to his home.

  “Don’t move,” he said, as we walked into the living room.

  I sat my purse down on the coffee table and perched on the edge of the large, dark brown leather sofa facing the TV, as I waited with bated breath. Orane returned with an electronic portable keyboard.

  “I’m a bit rusty so I’m not sure what is the driving force behind this,” he said.

  I clapped my hands enthusiastically. “You didn’t tell me that you can play. You know that I absolutely love music.”

  “I’m rusty,” he smiled sheepishly. “I played way back in the day for my former church.”

  I flashed him an encouraging smile. “What can you play?”

  “Let’s do a worship song, You are Alpha and Omega.”

  “Ohhh, I don’t know that song.”

  “It’s easy. You can learn it.”

  Orane taught me what turned out to be his favorite worship song. He was a little rusty on the keyboard but what did I care; it was music to my ears.

  CHAPTER 13: PERFECT TIMING

  A beautiful time for all the senses!

  All of nature was clothed to perfection and out in splendor to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It was a beautiful day for a celebration. Perfect weather! The sun peeked through the clouds blessing MayPo with a clear mild sunny day. The birds chirped celestial songs from trees that swayed in the cool breeze.

  Maydine decorated her home to ring in the season and blared Christmas carols all day. Several of my siblings and their families and friends came to the celebration. We rearranged the dining room to accommodate more tables and chairs then placed additional chairs and tables on the lawn.

  Orane and I ate until our hearts were content. I could not get over the deliciousness of the baked chicken and the pleasing aroma of the beautifully decorated roasted beef pulled me in at the buffet station. Not surprising, Maydine prepared macaroni and cheese, potato salad, steamed rice and peas and baked ham. I was so full that I did not get a chance to sample the array of desserts but I did have a piece of the amazing freshly baked Christmas cake.

  More family members got a chance to meet and chat with Orane and I kept a close eye on him, just in case he needed to be rescued from any uncomfortable situation. Thankfully, there was no need for that! For someone who grew up in a small family, Orane handled himself brilliantly. Check, check!

  The day after Christmas, Orane and I journeyed to Ocho Rios, a town on Jamaica’s north coast, to meet and stay with some of his family members. I was nervous yet somewhat excited, because I would be meeting his mother for the first time. Orane’s appreciative glances did not go unnoticed when he arrived to pick me up. Maydine and I selected my outfit—navy jeans and jacket, a slate gray sweetheart neckline blouse and silver sandals. Orane looked suave in khaki shorts and a peach polo shirt. The shape of his dark-tinted sunglasses placed him squarely in the movie “The Matrix.”

  Orane prayed and we were on our way, singing and rocking to the rhythms of Michael W. Smith’s “Worship” album. In between switching worship CDs, the radio played “Tell Him” a duet by Celine Dion and Barbara Streisand. We bellowed out the song in all kinds of strange keys. Orane laughed loudly as I raised my voice to a silly falsetto. After what seemed like an hour later, we stopped at a restaurant for mouthwatering jerked chicken and coconut water.

  It was early evening when we arrived in Mahtel, a little town on the outskirt of Ocho Rios and entered the Zuger subdivision. Orane pointed out his old church and the community center where he and his friends played soccer and attended many community events. Oftentimes, he called out to neighbors, some of whom were surprised to see him.

  Orane smiled at me as he stopped the car at the gate of an off white single family house. “Are you ready?” he asked

  “No, but once the door is opened I will be.”

  “That’s my girl,” he said, squeezing my hand before exiting the car.

  He opened the gate and held my hand as we walked in lock step towards the house. I could see three figures awaiting us on the front porch.

  “Aunt Joy!” Orane greeted a petite smiling woman. Her delight was obvious. I politely said hello to the smiling man and woman who were curiously looking at me.

  “Aunt Joy, meet Annalisa,” Orane said smiling. “Annalisa, this is my mother.” Orane had already informed me that sometimes he referred to his mother as Aunt Joy. This was a family tradition.

  “Pleasure to meet you!” Aunt Joy embraced me warmly.

  “Nice to meet you Aunt Joy,” I said smiling.

  Orane continued with the introductions. “And this is Uncle Ernest and Aunt Bee.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I said, politely extending my hand to Uncle Ernest.

  “Pleasure dear,” he responded with a firm hand shake.

  “Nice to meet you too.” I extended my hand to Aunt Bee who gently pushed it aside to hug me heartily. “Welcome,” she squealed.

  Uncle Ernest took our suitcases to our rooms and we sat on the front porch. Aunt Bee served lemonade and plain cake while the trio quizzed Orane about happenings on his side of the island.

  Aunt Joy was soft-spoken. She obviously loved and admired her son. Their respect for each other was mutual.

  “Anna, are you happy to be back?” Aunt Bee’s warm voice drew me in the conversation.

  “Yes, very glad. Now, I am wondering how I left all of this.”

  Aunt Bee touched my shoulder. “Well, I’m sure you will have good reasons to be back soon.”

  Everyone laughed knowingly.

  “What time will you be ready for dinner?” Aunt Bee asked.

  “I’m sorry Aunt Bee, I should have told you,” Orane said remorsefully. “We already have dinner reservations. We won’t be here for long so I wanted to show Annalisa a little of the town.”

  “O…kay,” Aunt Bee said with mock disapproval.

  “Please forgive me,” Orane said hugging her. “The food will not go to waste.”

  I tossed Aunt Bee an apologetic look.

  “I forgi
ve you both,” Aunt Bee said, looking directly at me.

  I grinned. “Aunt Bee, I promise you, I had nothing to do with this. It was all Orane.”

  “Throw me under the bus Annalisa, please.”

  “Oh come on, Orane,” I responded playfully.

  Orane pretended to be shocked. “You just took the T out of team.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Let me take Annalisa to her room,” Orane said. “I know she’s tired.”

  “Thank you for accommodating me,” I said, moving towards Orane.

  “You are more than welcome,” Aunt Bee responded and the others murmured their agreement.

  “Can you be ready by 6:30?” Orane asked as I followed him.

  “Two hours. I can do that.”

  “Come here,” he smiled with wide open arms and I fell in them. “Hmmm! This feels so good.”

  “Totally!” I exhaled softly and slowly extracted myself from our warm embrace. “Thank you Honey. See you in a bit.” I giggled softly as he winked then moonwalked down the passageway.

  Instead of lying on the bed, I opted to rest on the small sofa. Sleep did not come easy as my eyes flitted all over the room which was nicely decorated in baby pink and white. I felt the crisp fresh evening air as the curtains blew in the wind. I pulled the sofa closer to the window making sure that I did not scratch the wooden floor.

  Almost an hour later, I woke up when my cell phone alarm went off. I showered and dressed in an elegant white one-shoulder knee length chiffon evening dress with starburst side pleats. I topped it off with bronze accessories and evening sandals. My hair was brushed straight and sleek. While most of the tresses rested on my back, a few escaped and nestled on my shoulder.

  Orane was conversing with his mom when I entered the living room. “Anna, you look wonderful!” Aunt Joy beamed.

  “Thank you Aunt Joy!”

  Orane looked totally moved as I walked toward them. “Babes, you look beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” I responded, smiling at him.

  “Are you ready?” he asked. He looked cool and confident in a black suit with a white shirt opened at the neck and black dress shoes.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Aunt Joy, we will see you a little later,” Orane said, holding my hand.