by Judy Powell
She sighed as she sat down. She rubbed her eyes and when she looked up again he was looking down at her.
“Did you get any sleep?” His voice was low, almost gentle.
She sighed again. “Not a wink. There was so much on my mind…I just couldn’t.”
“Here.” He pulled her head towards his shoulder. “Try to relax a little. I know it’s hard but making yourself sick with worry isn’t going to help anybody.”
She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt as if her body was absorbing strength from his. Calm enveloped her and she drifted off in his arms.
Summer woke at Lance’s gentle shake. “Time to go, Summer.”
When she let go of his hand at the security entrance she felt lost and alone again. But when she got to the other side of the check point he was still standing there, watching her. She waved goodbye and he waved back. Then she turned and headed for the gate.
******
Lance took his time getting back to the hotel. The sky was just beginning to lighten and the morning air still held the coolness of the night. As he cruised in the Land Rover his thoughts were on Summer. He just couldn’t figure her out. One moment she was a feisty vixen, the next she was an innocent then before you knew it, she’d become a real bitch.
And now this. She’d seemed so helpless, so lost. All anger left him the moment she reached out for his help. There was something about her that made him want to protect her and keep her close by his side. He already knew that she was an independent woman, used to charting her own life and getting things done on her own.
The problem was, she was always proving to be a real challenge to his peace of mind. He’d never before met a woman who could drive him to such emotional extremes. Lately he seemed to be losing control.
He frowned and set his mouth in a determined line. There was no way he was going to let this little minx get the better of him.
But despite his resolve Lance found himself thinking about Summer all that day. Although he was tired he was first at the studio and by the time the others arrived he’d already started cuing up the equipment. He was not surprised when Derrick approached him.
“Lance, I’m worried about Summer. I was going to bring her over here but then I found out that she checked out. Did you know about that?”
“She got a call last night. Her mother is sick so she had to head back to Chicago,” Lance said gravely. “I took her to the airport this morning.”
“Is it really bad?”
“Well, her mother is in the hospital so it must be serious…but I guess you’ll be calling her so she should be able to give you all the details then.”
“I would, but I don’t have her number in Chicago. You don’t know it offhand do you?”
Lance was annoyed at the question but he kept his face expressionless. “Call the office. Chantal can get it from the files.”
Derrick looked somewhat surprised at his clipped tone but Lance just walked away, ending the conversation.
For the rest of the day Lance worked hard, pushing the singers to the limit. When Monisha questioned his intensity he fixed her with a hard stare. “If you don’t want to be here you’re free to leave.”
“But Lance, I was just saying…”
“You’re not here to speak, you’re here to sing,” he said bluntly. “Now, if you’re not prepared to do that I don’t need you wasting our time.”
“Geez!” Monisha shook her head but said nothing more.
Super Cool and Derrick looked at each other, eyebrows raised, but remained silent.
After that Lance tried to get a hold on his temper but despite his efforts he kept being distracted by thoughts of Summer. He threw himself into his work and drove the others so that they finished two days’ work by eight o’clock that night.
“Whew!” Derrick sighed as he flopped down on the couch. “I’m beat.”
“Me, too,” Lance admitted. There was silence for a moment then he said, “So…did you call Summer?”
“I tried a couple of times but only got voicemail. Looks like she was out all day.”
“Probably with her mother,” Lance said.
“Yeah.” There was another long silence then he spoke again.
“You like her?”
Derrick seemed taken aback by the question. “You know me, man. The ladies love me.”
“That’s not what I asked you.”
“Alright, I’ll level with you. That girl’s got something on me, man,” Derrick said, nodding, “and I think she likes me, too.”
“What makes you think that?” The question came out sharper than Lance had intended.
“She’s been giving me these vibes ever since we got to Jamaica,” Derrick said smugly. “She likes me, man. I know it.”
Lance was silent again. Then he rose. “See you tomorrow.” He slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed for the door.
Back at the hotel he decided to order room service and go to bed early. He hadn’t slept at all after she left his room at almost midnight. He’d been pushing himself all day, trying to drive her from his mind, but without success. Now, as he stood under the spray of water from the shower, he let himself relax and allowed his thoughts free reign.
There was no use denying it. He was taken with this woman. He was forced to admit that he had worked hard all day, not just because he was trying to hold thoughts of her at bay, but also because he wanted to finish the project early and get back to Chicago as soon as possible. As much as he would like to deny it, his haste to return was all because of her.
He stepped out of the shower, grabbed a thick towel and rubbed his head vigorously.
“Damn you, Derrick!” he said aloud.
He toweled off then strode into the bedroom where he donned boxers and cargo shorts. He left his feet and chest bare. As far as he was concerned, the less clothing one wore while in Jamaica, the better.
He unlocked the glass sliding door and went out onto the balcony. Although it was almost nine the air was still warm from the evening sun. A light breeze caressed his skin and brought with it the smell of jasmine. He leaned forward and looked down at the cars and people below.
He gripped the railing. He wanted to call her, to hear her voice. On the other hand he wasn’t ready to look like a fool for any woman.
After another minute of hesitation he pushed away from the railing and went back into the room. He checked his BlackBerry for her phone number then dialed. After five rings her answering machine chipped in and he growled and hung up the phone.
When his food arrived ten minutes later he picked at it then pushed the tray away and lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. What the hell was she doing to him? He was going to have to put a stop to this. The woman wasn’t interested in him; it was Derrick she wanted.
He picked up the phone receiver a second time. “Monisha? You’re still up? Good. Want to go have a drink with me?” He grimaced as the girl squealed her delight. “Okay, I’ll be right over.”
******
Summer switched on the television set then pressed the button, searching through the channels. “See anything you like yet?”
“Keep going.”
She continued pressing until Lucy appeared on the screen.
“Yes. That one.”
“Mom, it’s in black and white.”
“So? I’m from the black and white era. And anyway, those are the best shows.” Edna took a sip from her glass. “That was when television was television.”
“Okay, we’ll watch this one.” Summer acquiesced. “‘I love Lucy’ is pretty funny.”
“And a lot more wholesome than some of the shows they have on TV today. Gangsters, shootings, sex…what else are they going to put in front of our children?”
Summer went to sit in the chair by her mother’s bedside. Edna was propped up in bed eating Jell-O from a small plastic bowl. Her legs were covered with a thin white sheet and there was a light green blanket at the foot of the b
ed. Her face was thin but cheerful and she was obviously enjoying her daughter’s company.
She suddenly burst out laughing and turned to her daughter. “That Lucy is something else, isn’t she?”
“She sure is, Mom.” Summer’s calm voice and smiling face hid the turmoil in her breast.
She had come so close to losing her mother that now she spent every available moment by her bedside. Four days had passed since she’d returned to Chicago and, with each passing day, her mother had grown stronger. Doctor Jabez had even said that he might release her in another two or three days. Summer was relieved but she was still scared. She couldn’t even contemplate being without her mother.
“How is the thesis coming along?” Edna asked.
“Oh…kinda slow,” Summer replied distractedly.
“Summer,” Edna looked at her sternly, “you have to settle down. You can’t afford to miss your deadline.”
“I just lost focus a little bit, Mom, but I’ll make it.” Summer reassured her. “I’ve got lots of notes. I just need to actually start writing the report.”
“Just don’t wait until the last minute.” Her mother warned. “I would suggest that you spend even an hour working on it every day so you don’t have a mad rush a week before the end of the semester.”
“Mom,” Summer chuckled and rolled her eyes playfully, “I’m not like that anymore. I’m more organized now.”
“I’m not so sure, Summer. I remember times when you had to stay up all night reading a book you hadn’t opened all semester…for a test next day!” Edna shook her head.
“Those days are over.” Summer laughed “I don’t think I can do all-nighters anymore. That was when I was young.”
“And you’re old now, are you?” Edna joked.
“No. Just older. And wiser, I hope.”
When the nurse came at nine o’clock to tell Summer that visiting hours were over she reluctantly kissed her mother’s cheek and bid her goodbye. When she got back to her apartment she grabbed her notes, switched on the computer and began to type.
She was engrossed in the introductory chapter of her thesis when the shrill ring of the telephone startled her. Her heart thumped and she hesitated before resting her hand on the receiver. “Hello?” Her voice was hoarse and hesitant.
“Hello, Summer. It’s Lance.”
She relaxed with relief. “Oh, Lance, it’s you.”
There was silence then his voice came again. “Were you expecting another call? I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“No, not at all. It’s just that ever since I got that scary phone message about my mother every time the phone rings I get so nervous.”
“I see.” There was another pause then he asked, “How is your mother?’
“She’s doing much better now, thanks,” she said. “She’s still in the hospital but the doctor said he might release her by the weekend. I’m hopeful.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I want you to know that you can take as much time as you need to be with her.”
“Thanks, Lance. I think things will be back to normal by the time you get back next weekend.” She sat twirling the phone cord around her finger.
“Actually, I plan to be back a lot earlier than that.”
“Really? When?”
“This weekend.”
“So soon?” Summer clutched the cord, hoping the joy she felt was not transmitted in her voice. “How come? You had all those tracks to get done.”
“We’ve been doubling our efforts and I’m already more than half way there. If all goes well I should be back in Chicago by Saturday night.”
“Wow, that’s great,” she began to gush than caught herself, “…about finishing up early, I mean.”
Lance chuckled. “Want to make sure I don’t misunderstand you?”
“No, it’s not that. I just…”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just teasing you. But seriously, how are you?”
“I’m fine,” she said, glad he’d asked. “Now if only my mother were fine, too, I’d be perfect.”
“Has she been sick long, or is this something that happened when you were away?”
“Mom has MS. She’s been suffering from it for a long time. Now on top of that she had this stroke. That’s why I had to rush back.”
“You never mentioned this. Is someone helping you take care of her?”
“When she leaves the hospital she’ll go back to the nursing home. She’s lived there the whole time I was in college,” Summer explained. “She’s very independent; she didn’t want to burden me, she said. But she knows I’d love to take care of her.”
“Do your relatives help out? Do you have people supporting you?”
“No. I don’t have any brothers and sisters. My mother was an only child too, so of course, no aunts or uncles on that side of the family. And my father’s dead.”
“So you’re all alone.”
“I have my Mom.”
“I know that. I mean you’re the only one she has to rely on.”
“Well, in that, you’re right.”
Lance was silent for a while then he said “Why didn’t you ever tell me this?”
“Tell you what?”
“About your mother being sick. About your being her only family.”
“I wasn’t sure…” She paused. “…I didn’t know if it was appropriate.”
“No, I don’t think so. I think it’s because you thought that if I knew I wouldn’t give you the job.”
“Well, something like that,” she admitted.
“And it was because of your mother’s illness that you were afraid to go to Jamaica for two weeks.”
“Yes.”
“You should have told me, Summer.”
“But I was scared. I lost my scholarship, I lost my apartment, and I was trying to get money for my mother’s surgery. I was scared I’d lose the job.”
“Summer, what kind of monster do you think I am?” he growled into the phone. “I would never have fired you because you couldn’t go on that trip. It’s your mother we’re talking about here. To me, family is the most important thing in life. I would never deny you that.”
“Well…I know that now but I didn’t know you back then,” she said meekly. “And Lance?”
“Yes?”
“I appreciate your saying that.”
“I’m not just saying it, I mean it,” he said brusquely. “Now what were you saying about losing a scholarship and needing money for surgery?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt all that stuff out.”
“But you did, so explain yourself.”
“It’s just that there was a lot going on in my life all at the same time.” She sighed. “You already know about my having to find a new apartment on short notice but on top of that, I had to find five thousand dollars to cover my last semester of school. I was also trying to figure out how to get money for Mom’s eye surgery.”
“I see. No wonder you jumped at my job offer.”
“I had to find a way to make more money, and fast,” she defended herself. “Now do you understand why I did my best to protect my job? There’s a lot counting on my salary.”
“I can see that.” There was a pause then Lance asked, “So I guess you’ve heard from Derrick?”
“He left me a couple of messages but I haven’t actually spoken to him. Is he alright?”
“Your man is fine. He’ll be back this weekend.”
“He’s not my man.”
“You could’ve fooled me. He’s been going on about you all week.” His voice turned hard. “And last time I saw you guys together I recall a kiss..”
Summer bit her lip then muttered, “It’s not what you think.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think, does it? You’ve made your choice.”
“Lance…”
“No, you don’t owe me any explanation. Let’s just leave it alone and move on.” He sighed. “It’s getting late so I’ll let you go now. Goodnight, Summ
er.”
Long after he’d hung up she still sat with the receiver in her hand staring blankly at the wall, wondering what had just happened.
15
“Wow, Chantal. That’s beautiful.” Summer gazed at the diamond in admiration.
“I’m so excited. We’re planning to go to Grenada for our honeymoon.”
“You should have fun,” Summer said. “I hear they have beautiful beaches there.”
“My cousin went there last year and she said it was great. She got all these brochures and stuff for me.” Chantal held a brochure up to Summer.
Summer shook her head. “I’d love to look at them but right now I’ve got to run. I’ve only got an hour to finish my presentation. I’m still on for two o’clock with Lance right?”
“Yes, two o’clock it is.”
“Okay, you’ll see me then. Catch you later.”
Summer had been back in the office for almost a week and was hard at work on the promotional campaign for Super Cool’s new album. She had worked late the last two evenings just so she could have the project completed on time. She was almost there, but wanted to review it once more before making her presentation.
She was at the computer clicking through the slides when there was a quick rap at the door and Derrick walked in.
“Hi, Beautiful. Been thinking about me today?”
“Derrick, please. I’ve only got forty-five minutes to finish up this presentation. I can’t entertain you right now.”
She hoped he would hear the annoyance in her voice and leave. She was disappointed when he just grinned and took a seat in the chair across from her.
“Oh, come on, now. You haven’t seen me for four whole days. What – not even a welcome back hug or a kiss?”
“No, Derrick. I’m busy.”
“You work too hard, Summer.” He shook his head. “You’re too young to be such a workaholic. Slow it down, girl.”
Summer sighed. “Can we talk about this later? I need to have this done by two o’clock.”
“Later it is, then.” Derrick slapped his knee and rose. “I’ll come get you at six. There’s a new Italian restaurant nearby that I want to check out.”