Hurricanes in Paradise

by Denise Hildreth Jones

  Winnie finally opened her eyes and turned her head. “They do now, baby girl.” She raised her glass and took a long swig, then rolled over and mimicked Tamyra’s position. “You haven’t told your family?”

  “No.” She paused. Her eyes began to burn with tears. “I don’t know how to tell them.”

  “Tell them like you told me.”

  She sniffed and swatted at her tears. “I didn’t tell you.”

  Winnie chuckled and reached down to grab a towel from the table beside her. “No, you didn’t, did you?” She handed the towel to Tamyra. “Do you want to tell me?”

  The blood began to pump harder. She hesitated. Then finally spoke. “Yeah. I do.”

  Winnie nodded.

  “I met Jason two years ago. He plays in the NFL. We met on a blind date and that was pretty much it. He swept me off my feet, and I thought my life was as wonderful as a life could be, until I won my title, anyway. As soon as they placed the crown on my head, my life changed. I had to spend a year traveling the state and I wasn’t as available. That was when I noticed that he was acting distant. I questioned him about it, of course, and he answered me with an engagement ring. A four-carat, radiant-cut stone set in platinum. He said the ‘distance’ was all in my mind because I just wasn’t around as much.”

  “Did you believe him?”

  “At first I did, yeah. But when the new season started and he was on the road, I got a call from one of my close friends who I had gone to college with. She lives in Dallas and had seen him with a woman at a bar when his team was in town to play the Cowboys. When the team got home, I called one of his teammates, Ben, a guy with impeccable character, and just asked him if it was true. He didn’t respond at first, part of that teammate oath or something. But I begged him to be honest with me and he finally broke. He said there was rarely a city they went to where Jason didn’t have someone to spend an evening with, whether she was free or purchased. He asked me not to tell Jason who it was that had told me.”

  Winnie shifted her weight and leaned in farther. “Are you still planning the wedding this whole time?”

  “No, I stopped everything. But he had no idea because he had left it all up to me anyway, as if he were doing me a favor.”

  Winnie puffed.

  “So as soon as I got off the phone with Ben, I immediately went to my doctor to get tested.”

  “Had you ever been tested before?” Winnie asked.

  Tamyra’s voice constricted. “I had never been intimate before. He had been my first and my only.” The tears were hot down her face. She wiped at them with the back of her hand.

  She watched as pity flooded Winnie’s expression. Winnie’s stubby, soft hand reached over and patted Tamyra’s. It was the same kind of touch her mother would have given her. “Go ahead, baby.”

  “So I went to get tested and then waited. It was the longest week of my life. I had to avoid Jason’s phone calls and was doing pretty good at it until he showed up banging on my front door. But I even skirted around all of it that night too. The next morning I got the call from my doctor that changed my life. I went in to see her and she told me I was HIV-positive. That my T cell count was 889. And my viral load was 100,000. She announced my death sentence as if she were giving me results from uneventful, routine blood work.”

  “Did you tell him then?”

  “Yeah, I told him. I was in a blind rage. I don’t even remember driving over to his place that morning. All I remember is a depth of anger that I didn’t even know existed in me. I banged on the door of his loft like a crazy woman. When he came to the door, I went for his throat.”

  Winnie’s eyes widened. “Like, fingers wrapped around his throat?”

  “Oh yeah, I was screaming and yelling and crying. I told him I had given him everything and he had taken everything from me. I was honestly like a wild animal. I told him I hoped he died and that I was going to tell anyone who would listen that he had given me this. And that was the first time he ever hit me.”

  Winnie wanted to respond. Tamyra could tell by the way she slightly jumped from her seat and the way she chewed on the inside of her mouth. “Where did he hit you, baby girl?”

  “The first time he hit me, it was in my gut. He hit me so hard it took the wind right out of me and I fell back onto the sofa just trying to get air, any air. That was when he grabbed me by my arms, squeezing them until they almost went numb, as he was talking to me in this voice . . . this voice, it was so controlled, so evil. I had never seen him this way before. He pulled me from the sofa and threw me on the floor. Then he kicked me in my side. He said if I told anyone, he’d kill me and that he had no reservations about doing it now since both of us were going to die eventually. He’d kill me and then just take his own life. He let me know that I would go through with the wedding and I would do everything else he told me too. The final kick left me in a ball on the floor. He walked out as if we had discussed the weather.”

  “Did you ever think about going to the police?”

  Tamyra shifted on the lounge chair. “No, all I thought about was getting as far away from him as possible, where he’d have no idea where I was. I went straight to my apartment, listed all of my furniture on craigslist, and had a lot of things sold by that evening. I took the rest to a storage facility, dropped my car off at the airport for my sister to pick up, and called my parents to tell them I just needed some time away. I had an old college professor who I knew had a place in Puerto Vallarta, called him from a pay phone, and he said I could spend six weeks there to do whatever I needed. I tossed my phone and got one of those prepay phones, where no one could get my number, and called my mom when I got there just so she would know I was safe. And until this morning I thought I was.”

  Winnie sat up in her chair. “What do you mean, until this morning?”

  Tamyra sat up too, her hands starting to shake slightly. “He called me. On the phone that my mother doesn’t even have the number to. He found it. And if he found that, he’ll find me.”

  She watched that sassy little swing come into Winnie’s shoulders. “So what have you decided?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you’ve run away for almost seven weeks. In those seven weeks what decisions have you made for your life?”

  “I don’t have a life, Winnie. I have a death sentence no matter how it comes. In all honesty, if he did kill me, it would just end the misery faster.”

  Winnie pursed her lips. “You’d better thank God almighty I didn’t just slap you. Truth is, you need to be slapped. People are living longer with HIV now than they ever have. But you’ve got to have a will to live. And as far as I’m concerned, the only thing dying around here is that piggy they’re going to cook for my dinner. Now, you have one of two choices: you can cower the rest of your life out in fear, or you can face Mr. Fancy Pants head-on and get your life back.”

  Tamyra felt herself shrinking into her shell again. What had come alive over the last two days was about to go back into hiding. “You don’t know him, Winnie.”

  Winnie must have seen it because she quickly leaned in closer to her and put her hands on top of Tamyra’s. They were quivering. “You, Tamyra Larsen, have been called to live. You have not been called to die. And the only way you will ever live is to get out of the shadows. You did it with me, but there’s a lot more to do.”

  Tamyra dropped her head. “I’ve done all I can do.”

  “You’ve done all you’re willing to do. You haven’t done all you can do. Now look at me.”

  Tamyra kept staring at the cream leather of her chair. It looked so smooth. No cracks. No age.

  “Look at me,” Winnie said louder.

  Tamyra raised her gaze.

  “Do you trust me?”

  She nodded.

  “Then hear me. It is time to face your fears. You can’t continue to hide, baby girl. And you’re not going to die. We’ll do it together. Nothing until you’re ready, okay? I promise. Nothing until you’re ready.” />
  “Promise?”

  “Promise. So come here.” Winnie held out her arms and Tamyra slipped from her chair and crawled into them. They felt as comforting as her mother’s. “You did real good, honey. You did real good.” Winnie’s whispers ran through Tamyra’s ears.

  Even though fear had swarmed through her again like a hive of angry bees, she still knew that what she had done was a huge step. That alone had lifted something. And being here in Winnie’s arms had healed something. Maybe there was healing in these waters after all.

  10

  Monday evening . . .

  Riley was having déjà vu. This marked the third time today that she had stood in the entrance of a restaurant waiting on Laine. Her bets were on being stood up again and spending the evening with Winnie and Tamyra, which would be far more enjoyable, she was certain. The peaceful music from the Steinway settled her nerves. She looked out over the breathtaking marina, the sun descending in the sky, and she couldn’t help but breathe a prayer of thankfulness that she had made it through the day. Truth be told, she had gotten a lot of work done and had enjoyed her Laine-free afternoon.

  “Magnifique!” Winnie announced as she entered the front of the restaurant. Her lime green denim outfit sparkled like the sun on water. Riley watched her carefully scan the restaurant.

  Tamyra was right behind her, her long, lean body covered in a simple black dress. “Hello, Riley.”

  “Good evening, ladies. I’m glad you could join us.” She looked at Winnie oddly. “Are you looking for someone, Winnie?”

  Winnie turned her head back around quickly. “Me . . . um . . . no, I’m not looking for a soul. Just you. I guess you’ve figured out by now Laine doesn’t like eating alone,” she announced.

  “Well, I was eating with her,” Riley informed her.

  “I don’t think she’s crazy about you, Riley, for whatever reason.”

  Tamyra grabbed her arm. “Winnie.”

  Riley stood there dumbfounded.

  “It’s not about you, Riley. This lady isn’t happy, and she’s simply trying to get through the week. Anyway, I think she just wants a warm body at the table that doesn’t remind her of her ‘stuff.’ Apparently, you remind her of her stuff and I don’t.”

  “Am I interrupting something, ladies?” Laine asked as she approached their circle of three.

  Riley felt her head start to pound.

  “Not a thing, sugar. We were just talking about what a lovely evening we’re all going to have. Weren’t we, ladies?”

  Riley and Tamyra nodded obediently. Winnie took matters into her own hands and told the hostess they were ready to be seated. They were led to a beautiful table in the back of the room next to the glass-enclosed wine cellar that carried the most celebrated vintages French and California wineries had to offer. Winnie’s rhinestone-covered outfit lit their way.

  “I swear that woman must carry a BeDazzler in her pocket,” Laine whispered.

  Tamyra stifled her laughter.

  “How is this, ladies?” the hostess asked.

  Winnie gave her a pat. “It’s fine, sugar. Just fine.”

  The women all stood at their chairs awkwardly.

  “Sit, girls.”

  They all sat like schoolchildren under their principal’s watchful eye.

  Laine picked up her menu as she spoke. “Are you sure I didn’t interrupt something?”

  Riley picked up her menu and stuck it in front of her face. “No, we were just talking about all we’ve discovered today. Apparently, Miss Winnie here is a perceptive one.”

  “She doesn’t miss a thing,” Tamyra added.

  Riley looked up as Tamyra raised her eyebrows at Winnie.

  Laine ordered almost as extravagantly as she had their first evening together, and between Winnie and Tamyra’s tales of their “day of beauty,” Riley needed to contribute little. By the time Laine paid the check, Riley had watched her fill up at least five pages of notes. She was pretty certain Winnie would have her own complete story line in Laine’s next book. Truth be told, if Laine wanted her book to write itself, she could have walked around and recorded Winnie for seven days.

  Winnie stood to leave, and Riley and the other women followed suit.

  “I’m looking forward to our dolphin experience tomorrow,” Laine said.

  “Oh, about that,” Tamyra said, “I’m not really into swimming.”

  “You’ll love it,” Laine assured her. Her smile was gracious and her voice irritatingly tender.

  Riley wanted to slap her.

  The fear was evident on Tamyra’s face. “I don’t know.”

  Laine walked over and put her arm around Tamyra. “Trust me. It will be the experience of a lifetime. Now, you ladies go get some rest and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” She hugged them both before they left.

  She turned to Riley as they disappeared up the hall. “I won’t need you for that tomorrow, Riley.” The old Laine was back.

  Riley was grateful to not have to spend the afternoon with her, but the way Laine said it made Riley’s entire body bristle, though she refused to let it come through her words. “No problem. That’s fine. We’ve got your appointment all set up. Do you need me to meet you for breakfast or schedule anything else for you?”

  “I’d like you to meet me at Mosaic for breakfast at nine. And if you could bring with you all of the answers to the questions I had yesterday, then I can make some final notes and we can begin our tour of the rest of the facility after our dolphin adventure.” With that, she turned to go. There was no good night. There was no arm around the shoulder. There was no hug. There was only the backside of one Laine Fulton, who needed a swift kick in the . . . When Riley knew Laine couldn’t see her, she stuck out her tongue. She had grown so much since she’d been here.

  11

  Tuesday morning . . .

  “Hey, Daddy.”

  “Hey, angel girl. You missing your girl?”

  Riley leaned against the railing and let the breeze wash over her face. “Like crazy.”

  He chuckled that deep laugh she loved. “She’s doing good. You know your mother; she’ll have every part of that child dolled up by the time she gets back to you.”

  “You driving?”

  “Yeah, headed down to the office.”

  “I knew I could catch you up this early. You’re the only person I can call at the crack of dawn and find up and at ’em.”

  “Well, you know, the sun don’t shine on the same dog’s tail all the time.”

  She laughed. “Still afraid the sun is going to quit shining on you? You’ve been doing this for almost forty years.”

  “Never know when they’re going to want some new blood.”

  “Strom Thurmond was still a senator when he was in his nineties. You’re only sixty-seven.”

  “Strom Thurmond was old as dirt and the sun quit shining on him quite a few years before he realized. Can’t say I want to be that old guy either.”

  “Well, I think you’ve got a lot of sunshine days.”

  “My girls are what bring out the sun.”

  Riley rubbed her toes on top of her other foot. “Thanks for taking care of my angel girl.”

  “You take care of my angel girl.”

  She felt the burning start in her eyes. “Love you.”

  “See you soon, okay?”

  “What? You’re going to actually take a vacation?”

  “Been thinking about it. Don’t underestimate the old geezer. I still surprise your mama every now and then.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  She hung up the phone and stared out into the first burst of morning. She prayed for a grace to match her day. With Laine Fulton as a part of it, she decided to pray that prayer twice.

  When she walked into Gabby’s room, Ted was fast asleep on his rocky throne. She placed some lettuce inside his cage. “How you doing, Teddy? Missing our girl?”

  Ted was motionless, his eyes closed.

  “I know. Me too.” She nud
ged him with her finger to make sure he was at least alive. His eyes popped open. “Good boy, Teddy.”

  His stubby legs moved slightly on his perch.

  “Your princess will be back soon, I promise. Until then you’re stuck with me.”

  He got his footing and closed his eyes again.

  She shook her head. “Oh, if only getting rid of people were that easy. I’d walk around with my eyes closed all day.”

  * * *

  The Cove was still quiet at seven o’clock. Without Gabby at the house, Riley couldn’t sleep. But at least she was completely prepared for her day. She had spent most of the night and the wee hours of the morning finishing up the answers to all of Laine’s questions and officially OD’ing on Dr Pepper. Somewhere around 3 a.m., when The Cove was laying to rest its reds and magentas and awakening its yellows and oranges, she fell asleep. She wouldn’t awaken until The Cove began to play its piano and strings. Those were the sounds that were wafting through the breezeways while the staff flitted about like conductors of a new day.

  A warm breeze blew through her soft curls, and the skirt of her red dress fluttered around the tops of her knees. She patted the double layer of matte gold beads that hung from her neck and straightened her collar. With as little sleep as she had last night, she was simply grateful she had been able to dress herself at all.

  She headed to the far end of the entrance that presented a panoramic view of the grounds of The Cove and a breathtaking view of the ocean. She wanted to see it one more time before the day officially began. She placed her hands on the railing and leaned over slightly, closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. The salt air clung to her lungs and brought to mind every cherished memory of her childhood.

  “You aren’t going to jump, are you?”

  She opened her eyes and looked up to heaven quickly. She’d never heard an audible voice from above before. And she thought if God was omniscient and all, He’d know jumping hadn’t been on her Tuesday agenda.

  “Riley.” Christian touched the back of her arm.