Chance on Lovin' You

by Eboni Snoe

  “This is the right house, ma’am. And I was told to show you this.” This time he held out a document headed “The Bethel Agreement” along with another letter.

  “Do you realize it’s seven-thirty in the morning?” Sasha asked.

  “Yes, ma’am, I do. I thought it was a little early, but I was told to bring this over right away.” He looked uncomfortable. “Most of the folks around here tend to get up real early. They want to get things done before noontime. It’s just too hot to work outside after that. You have to wait to almost dusk.”

  Sasha lowered her fiery gaze. She knew this man wasn’t to blame. He was only a messenger. She opened the screen door and took the document. “All right. I’ll look it over, and if I think it’s necessary I will get back to you. I guess whoever is trying to contact me, their name and address is on the letter?” She glanced at the top and bottom of the page. In the center, “Guana Manor” was embossed in a metallic black; an address was underneath it. The name “Cay Ellis Jr.” was printed at the bottom.

  “Um-m.” The man cleared his throat. “I was told to wait and escort you over.”

  “Escort me over. Now?”

  The man nodded. His eyes were apologetic.

  Sasha could feel her anger rising. What could be so important that this Cay Ellis would practically get her out of bed to be escorted to his house? Sasha scanned the document. It was an agreement between the Bethels and the Ellises. “But what does this have to do with me?” She shook the paper.

  “Ma’am, it’s my place to—”

  “Never mind,” Sasha snapped. She opened the letter again. It claimed the Ellises had the right to legally stop her from clearing the land around the spring: “We will have a restraining order drawn up against you if you do not accompany Mr. Knowles to Guana Manor this morning.”

  “You are Mr. Knowles, I presume,” Sasha questioned.

  The elderly man nodded. Sasha read on. “‘We hope to resolve this matter in a way that’s satisfactory to all.’ They have to be kidding. This agreement is practically a hundred years old!”

  “If I should say so, ma’am, I don’t think they’re kidding. The Ellis family is a pretty powerful force around here. I haven’t known them to kid too often.”

  Despite how trite the man sounded Sasha could see he was sincere. “Where is Guana Manor?”

  “Just down the road a bit. The Bethel House and Guana Manor are the only two houses on Magic Key. Magic Key basically belongs to the Ellises.”

  A sinking sensation stirred in the pit of Sasha’s stomach. She had come to Magic Key to get away from the blatant disparity between the haves and the have-nots. Yet here she was being thrust into a familiar battle. But Sasha was a fighter. She had fought long and hard to get her mother the medical care she needed. She never gave up trying. She never lost faith, even until the end. Her sense of inner strength crystallized and she would fight again to keep what was rightfully hers. “Okay. If they want to see me I want to see them,” Sasha proclaimed.

  She gathered her keys and her purse as Mr. Knowles waited beside a vintage 70s Cadillac with the passenger door wide open.

  Minutes later they went past a nearly hidden Keep Out! Private Property! sign that introduced the road to Guana Manor. Sasha was surprised the house was so close. The evenly paved road defied the pinewood forests on both sides, snaking its way through the tall trees until it opened onto manicured grounds. She hadn’t been prepared for such a display of wealth, and Sasha found herself leaning close to the windshield. Automatically, her body armed itself with adrenaline, preparing her for whatever lay ahead.

  She studied the landscape. It was a masterpiece of finely trimmed hedges and flower gardens. A fountain stood in the center of the garden. Beyond, a white, three-floored stucco building gleamed. Its rose-colored porticos offered shade to the occupants of the mansion who chose to venture outside and lounge in the wrought iron furniture beneath them. It was picturesque to say the least. A far cry from Sasha’s town house in Gary, and an outright shout from her five-room house no more than three miles away.

  Mr. Knowles pulled up behind an SUV parked at the apex of the semicircular driveway. He got out and began to make his way to Sasha’s side of the car, but she got out before he could help her. Sasha wanted the Ellises to know she was not expecting any handouts, nor was she a pushover. She wouldn’t allow them to take what was rightfully hers.

  It was cool and quiet inside the mansion as Mr. Knowles led Sasha to a sitting room. During the short walk she could sense that Guana Manor was a class act that smelled of lemon oil with a hint of patchouli. It had been a long time since Sasha had been intimidated, but intimidated she was as she sat on a striped chair with its twin facing her on the opposite side of a glass table. She browsed through a spread of Black Enterprise and People magazines as the minutes ticked away. By the time she was on her fourth magazine Mr. Knowles reentered the room.

  “I’m really sorry. I had no idea you were still sitting here waiting. Would you like something to drink? A glass of water? Some ice tea?” he offered.

  “No, I don’t—”

  “Olive,” a voice spoke over the intercom.

  “No, Mr. Cay, it’s Baltron.”

  “Is someone waiting for me in there?”

  He looked at Sasha. “Yes, there is.”

  “I’ll be there right away.”

  “Yes, Mr. Cay,” he replied. “It won’t be long now,” he reassured Sasha before he disappeared.

  Moments later a man entered the room looking at his watch. “I wish someone had told me you were coming,” he said, striding across the floor.

  “Are you Cay Ellis?” Sasha inquired.

  “Yes.”

  “Then you should have known I was coming. You’re the one who told me to come.” His memory and his inconsideration were appalling.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking abou—I remember you.” He pointed. “You’re the woman I found laid out in the field a few weeks ago.”

  “Laid out in the field!” Irritation and shame washed over Sasha. “I’m amazed that you remember something that happened weeks ago when you can’t remember sending someone to my house to get me at seven-thirty this morning.”

  “I beg your pardon?” His tone was clipped.

  “That’s right. Here is the letter and the paper to prove it.” Sasha tossed the papers on top of the magazines.

  “I don’t need to see your papers.” Cay Ellis stood poised with his hands in his pockets. “I did not send for you or anyone else.”

  “This is ridiculous.” Sasha threw up her hands. “So you don’t know anything about this?” She pointed toward the letter and the document as a slim, well-kempt woman entered the room.

  “Oh, here you are, Cay darling,” she said, diverting his answer. “And who have we here?” She placed a perfumed hand against her cheek.

  “I’m Sasha Townsend,” Sasha replied, attempting to calm herself. “I was given this document this morning” —she passed it to the woman— “and this letter demanding that I come to Guana Manor. It has Mr. Ellis’s name at the bottom, but he claims he did not send for me.” Sasha threw Cay Ellis a challenging look.

  “He didn’t,” the woman replied. “I did on behalf of my father-in-law, Cay Ellis Jr. I’m Sherry Ellis.” She offered Sasha her hand.

  Sasha noticed a large diamond and wedding band. “Oh, I see.”

  “Then why isn’t Father down here to meet her?” Cay Ellis interjected.

  “He’s not feeling well, Cay. I wanted to tell you under more appropriate circumstances” —she glanced at Sasha— “but I didn’t know you were back.”

  “I got in about an hour and a half ago. How is he?”

  “He’s fine,” she hurried on. “If I had known you were back I would have had Olive prepare a special breakfast for you.” She touched his cheek.

  Sasha looked away. She didn’t know why. A wife could touch her husband any way she wanted.

  “I’m okay,” he replied
. “What is this about?” Cay pointed at the papers.

  “The Bethel property,” Sherry answered. “Ms. Townsend is doing some things over there that I know you wouldn’t approve of, so I—”

  “I inherited that land a few months ago,” Sasha spoke up. “I’ve got the legal documents to prove it. It’s my property, and I should be able to do whatever I want with it.”

  “You inherited the Bethel property?” Cay questioned, looking deep into Sasha’s eyes.

  “Yes, I did.” Her steady gaze wavered under his probing.

  “But I thought there was no inheritors.”

  “Obviously, there is,” Sasha retorted.

  “But it’s not that simple, Ms. Townsend,” Sherry Ellis stated. “The agreement makes it clear that although the Bethels have lived on that land for several generations and the house was theirs, the land actually belongs to the Ellises.”

  “What?” Sasha exclaimed.

  Sherry Ellis turned away from Sasha and looked at Cay. “Baltron told me someone had been working on the property. So while you were gone I talked to Papa about it. I hate to say it, but he was in one of his moods. Although he did manage to tell me the original Bethel Agreement is in the family’s files and has been there from the moment it was signed. So I thought it would be best to send Ms. Townsend this letter” —she gave him the paper— “in light of all you’ve been through.”

  Sasha watched him read it.

  “You are clearing the land around the spring?”

  “Yes.” His question caught her off guard.

  “Why? What do you plan to do?” he interrogated.

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Sasha replied.

  “I’m making it my business,” he said sharply. Then he softened his approach. “If you don’t mind.”

  “I was told she applied for a business permit.” Sherry massaged her wrist. “You’re planning to start a bottled water business, aren’t you, Ms. Townsend?”

  Sasha squinted. “How do you know that?”

  “It’s a matter of public record,” Sherry informed her.

  “A bottled water business.” Cay Ellis’s tone lowered substantially. He walked over and looked out the window. “That water should never be sold.”

  “And pray tell why is that?” Sasha couldn’t believe how deep the Ellises had gotten into her affairs.

  “You don’t recall what happened to you? I had to literally pick you up after you sampled it.”

  With his close proximity Sasha remembered how natural it had felt to be in his arms. Their gazes held, and she knew he was remembering, too.

  “So you two have met before?” Sherry asked, folding her arms.

  “Yes,” Cay replied.

  Sasha collected herself and defended her actions. “There is nothing wrong with the water. I had it tested. It’s not toxic and there’s no salt in it.”

  “I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it,” Cay corrected her. “I said it should never be sold.”

  Sasha felt as if they were going around in circles. She decided to take another approach. “Look, I’m sorry you feel that way. I simply have a different opinion. And since the water is on my property, I have a right to do whatever I want with it.”

  “So you intend to go ahead with your plans?” he asked in a deceptively soft voice.

  “It’s my land,” Sasha replied. “I can do whatever I want.”

  Silently, Cay Ellis studied Sasha’s face before he looked away. “Sherry.”

  “Yes.”

  “You say we have the original document in our legal files.”

  “That’s what Papa told me.”

  “Then I think you need to give that copy back to Ms. Townsend so that she will be familiar with the terms.” He looked directly at Sasha as she took the papers. “I want you to know that I am of the opinion that the Bethel land cannot be altered or capitalized on in any way. I’m telling you that as the proprietor of Guana Manor and the owner of that land. Since I am acting in my father’s stead, I prohibit you from doing any further clearing of the land around the spring.”

  Sasha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. When she recovered from her shock she replied, “Well, I must tell you, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, it has not been a pleasure meeting my new neighbors.” She gave a fake smile. “It’s a shame that we’ve gotten off to such a rotten start, but if this is the way you want it, that’s the way it’s going to be. You can be certain I’m going to seek legal advice on this, and I believe you don’t have a chance in hell of winning with this ancient agreement.” Sasha started for the door.

  “Ms. Townsend,” Cay called.

  Sasha turned.

  “There are a couple of things you’re wrong about. I always have a chance, and” —he paused— “Sherry is my brother’s widow.”

  Sasha and Cay locked gazes for the last time as Sherry watched with apparent interest.

  Chapter 2

  Sasha watched the legal secretary’s fingers fly over the computer keys. Her desk was neat, and her voice professional when she answered the inner office telephone.

  “Attorney Williams will see you now. Just go through the door.” Her head bobbed but her hands never left the computer keyboard. “He’s in the first office on the right.”

  “Thanks,” Sasha said as she got up. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly lunchtime and she was hungry, but she had to take care of business first.

  “Ms. Townsend,” a man in his thirties said as he got up from behind his desk and extended his hand, “I’m Attorney Williams.”

  They settled down on opposite sides of the desk.

  “What can I do for you?”

  Sasha handed him the copy of the Bethel Agreement. “Have you seen a document like this before?” She was so anxious she couldn’t wait for his answer. “This agreement claims the property I inherited is not mine. It says, to settle an old score, the Ellises gave my house to my relatives, the Bethels, but they didn’t give them the land. According to this I don’t own the land my house sits on.”

  “Well…can’t say I have heard of this in particular, but with the folks down here all kinds of pacts were created to settle old island business. Caribbean Islands, I mean.” He studied the document. “Did you know some of these Keys were settled by folks from the West Indies?”

  “I’ve heard a bit about it,” Sasha replied, not interested in a general history lesson at the moment.

  “Well, it’s a big thing down here in the Keys. All the people born here call themselves Conchs. I consider myself to be a Conch.” A smile lit his average features. “But a while back, you had to be a descendant of the original Bahamians who settled the Keys to bear that label. This Key, Big Pine Key, was settled by a group of Bahamians. The Ellises were one of the families.”

  “So is that supposed to intimidate me?” Sasha was beginning to feel more and more like an outsider.

  “Nope. Just thought you might want to know.” He looked up at her, then back down at the paper. “But I tell you right now, I know the Ellises, and I know them pretty well. They’re a big name in these parts. Even though they’ve had Guana Estate on Magic Key for at least four generations, they carry a pretty big stick in the entire Big Pine Key area.”

  “I get the picture.” She reached for the document.

  “Wait a minute.” He pulled the paper toward him. “I just like to size up my opponents before I take them on. That’s all. I’m not saying this to scare you away.”

  “So is this agreement legal?”

  “It’s got some legs to stand on, but I think they’re pretty weak.” He tapped his pen on the desk. “You know, these Keys are full of subcultures. Folks like to hold on to the past. It gives them a solid foundation to work from. People like knowing their beginnings. I’m talking about the Bahamians. They are proud of their heritage. But of course I don’t need to tell you this. You’re part Bahamian yourself. You’ve got to be. You inherited the land from Hazel Bethel. I’m assuming she’
s a relative of yours.”

  “She’s a relative of mine, but I didn’t know she was Bahamian until now.”

  “What d’ya mean?” He gave her an uncertain look.

  “I didn’t know the Bethels were Bahamians.”

  “But you’re in the family, aren’t you? You inherited the land.” He leaned back as if he were questioning Sasha’s credibility for the first time.

  “Yes, I inherited the land. Hazel Bethel was my aunt. Her brother, Amos, was my father. But he and my mother never married.” Sasha folded her hands in her lap. “It’s a rather complicated story.”

  Attorney Williams chuckled. “Most family histories are.” He sat forward again. “So obviously, you didn’t know anything about this agreement when you inherited the property.”

  “No, I didn’t. As a matter of fact, I didn’t know anything about it until this morning, when I was summoned to Guana Manor.”

  “Summoned? How so?” One eyebrow went up.

  “I don’t know what else to call it. This guy shows up at my door at seven-thirty this morning with this letter.” Sasha slid the letter toward Attorney Williams. “I didn’t know what the legal repercussions would be if I didn’t obey, so I went.”

  “Uh-huh. So what is it? The Ellises want you out of the house and off of the property?”

  “No, that’s not it. Cay Ellis wants to stop me from starting a bottled water business using the natural springwater on the property.”

  “That is a mighty big project for a single woman to take on, don’t you think?” Attorney Williams pulled at his mustache.

  “We’ve got to get something straight right now if you’re going to represent me.” Sasha’s patience had run out. “I came here because I’m new to the area and I don’t know anyone. This bizarre situation was thrown at me this morning, and I knew I needed an attorney, fast. Your promotional flyer was stuck in my mailbox and I called you. Now, if you’ve got something against taking this case, it’s fine. It’s okay. But I don’t plan to spend my time convincing you that my starting a bottled water business is a good idea.”