by Ju Ephraime
“What happened when you closed the door?”
“I didn’t hear anything for a while, then another sound came, like someone weeping—most definitely a woman. I thought I was losing my mind. The weeping continued for a while without stopping. Then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped.”
“Oh, you poor dear,” she began, “how on earth did you stay here under those circumstances?”
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t stay that first night. I went to my son’s and returned the following morning. When I went into the room it was as if I’d imagined the entire thing. But I returned with some garlic and a cross I had brought back with me from Rome years ago. I placed a clove of garlic on the two windows and door, and then I put the cross at the head of your bed.”
“I’m afraid to ask, what happened in the night?”
“Nothing! I heard nothing, saw nothing, and I even went into the room and everything felt fine. Whatever, or whoever, had been in your room had not returned. I only removed the things this morning when I heard from you.”
“Oh, Cook.” She couldn’t help hugging the woman to her. She was so overcome with gratitude. “There’s a story behind this, but it’s not my story to tell. I’ll let Todd tell you in his own time. In the meantime, I may have to borrow your garlic and cross, but I’m hoping that may not be necessary. We’ll know tonight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Simonia was filled with nervous anticipation. Everything she and Todd had done for the past three days was about to be put to the test this night. She was anxious to see if Todd would have an interrupted night’s sleep. She’d not follow through on her request to Cook to use her garlic. She really didn’t want to remind Todd of the problem if she didn’t have to. She’d decided to wait to see if the treatment her papino had done would work. She would soon find out.
She returned to the family room where Todd was having a difficult keeping his eyes open. After the third set of yawns, she agreed they should retire for the night.
She went ahead of him to the bathroom to prepare herself for bed and changed into her nightgown. She lay on the bed and waited for Todd. He came and got in behind her, pulling her into the warmth of his body. There was a strange smell emanating from him, and she tried to turn to face him to inquire as to the source, but he kept her in place by applying pressure to her back.
This was evidently some concoction from her papino. It had a strange smell, but if it worked in keeping the witch away from Todd, she could live with it, for now. She wanted to talk to him about his experience with her papino, but he had evidently made up his mind he was not going to go into details. What he’d told her was all he intended to.
Very soon sleep claimed her. She felt him kissing her goodnight as she settled more firmly against him.
She awoke the next morning to Todd’s mouth on her breast, his tongue flicking the nipple that had grown stiff under his administration. She groaned and placed her hand on his chest as if in protest, but she turned her body more fully toward him, giving him better access to her. He suckled for a minute or two, his free hand massaging her butt. Then he entered her without her being fully awake. He proceeded to make sweet love to her as she slowly awakened to having him in her the way she loved him to be.
She was so focused on the act that it never occurred to her, if he was able to wake her in his usual manner, then evidently everything was all right. The thought only came to her after she had claimed her release, and Todd followed soon after.
Now that she was fully awake, she was aware of the faint smell of the concoction that was all over Todd’s body. Had it been anyone else, she would have thought it funny, but given the circumstances, she was able to maintain a straight face when she was finally able to see Todd’s face and body.
“Did you have a good night’s sleep, darling?” she asked, a hint of a smile in her voice.
“I sure did. I slept like a babe. After sleeping with this on for the past three nights, I’ve gotten used to it.”
“Are you telling me you’ve been sleeping with this smell for four nights now?”
“I have,” he answered.
“What’s in it?”
“I really don’t know. You know your papino wouldn’t tell me what he put in his medicine. He didn’t even let me see the pointing bone. I was so looking forward to finally seeing one in person. But he said he didn’t think I should get too involved in the how and where, but that I should concentrate on getting better so he could get his grandson soon.”
“So, how long do you have to sleep covered in this concoction?”
“I believe until the witch is destroyed or her power removed. We have to give some serious thought to going to St. Lucia, but I don’t want to think about this now. We have a good three weeks before we have to prepare for the next new moon. I’ll understand if you don’t want to go.”
“You can take the idea of my not going out of your head. There is no way I will remain here while you are fighting for your life in St. Lucia. Remember what my papino said—we have to do this together. We have to work as a team.”
“Who’s the head of this team? You know all teams need a leader, and in this team, I’m the leader.”
“I have no intention of fighting with you for leadership. You are a control freak, Todd Montgomery, and I know I wouldn’t win this fight. I have to pick my battles.”
“I’m not a control freak, as you so politely put it, sweetheart. There are some instances in which I bow to your superior wisdom,” he said with a cheeky grin. “I don’t want you opposing me in anything I do to get this matter resolved. But I do need your unwavering support. You know that, don’t you?”
“I know, darling. I know. I just wish we didn’t have this fight ahead of us.”
“Hopefully it will be over soon,” he replied.
“Let’s hope so, darling.”
Sometimes, she couldn’t help feeling that Todd must have done something to draw the attention of this witch, and if this turned out to be the case, as much as she loved him, he was on his own. But for now, she was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. It was either that or she allowed the witch to destroy her marriage without putting up a fight.
“I have a few errands to run. I’ll be going into Sydney later this morning. Is there anything you need in the city?” he asked.
“No, I don’t think so. I’ll ask Cook if there’s anything she needs.”
“Cook said she’s all set also. She did suggest that if you wanted to, you can pick up a leg of lamb for dinner, but that’s only if you wanted to and had the time.”
“I didn’t mean to go to the butcher shop, but I guess I’m going now.”
“Todd, you don’t have to go. It was just a suggestion.”
“I know your suggestions. I am very familiar with them. You make a request, and if I don’t do what you request in the form of a suggestion, I live to regret it. So, I’ll stop at the meat shop, all right?”
“You whine about it, but you know you love it.”
“Come here. I’ll show you how much I love it,” he said, reaching for her.
She ran laughing into the kitchen, knowing he wouldn’t follow her there.
“You’ll pay for this when I get back. I’ll see you in a bit.”
She spent the time he was gone sorting through the things they would need to bring with them to St. Lucia. There was so much planning and preparation to be done. It was almost overwhelming. But every so often she would think of his threat of punishment when he returned from the city, and she would get all hot and excited. She would take his brand of punishment any day. It was something to look forward to.
She needed to stop daydreaming and get busy with the task at hand. She had to find a furnished home for them to stay. They were not going back to his old place. She needed to hire a local girl and set up telephone service.
She soon found out that life on the island went at its own pace. There was no rushing them. She waited the entire day for a call back from
the rental company, and it never came. The same thing could be said about the telephone company. She needed the signed lease from the rental company before she could get the telephone service turned on. She was only going to do a month-to-month lease because she didn’t anticipate being there for more than a month, but in the event they had to, she wanted to be prepared.
Initially, she’d thought a hotel would be enough, but after talking with Todd, she didn’t think the things they had to do could be done in a hotel. The house would be furnished so they only needed their clothes and immediate personal things. Unfortunately, they’d need phone services. The cellphone service on the island was terrible and it was not cost-effective, if they had to call back home. It would be costly either way, but the landline was the lesser of the two evils.
She was going from suitcase to suitcase, packing thing for herself and Todd, when the bedroom door opened. She hadn’t even taken a break for lunch. She looked up, and there was Todd, standing in the doorway.
“I see you are making great progress with the packing.”
“Yes, I am. I have to start now if I want to be ready when we have to leave. How did it go for you? Were you able to get everything squared away?”
“I did better than that. I was able to get the time approved for me to return to St. Lucia with pay. And the great thing about it is they will finance the entire thing, even your having to accompany me.”
“Oh, darling, how were you able to accomplish this?” she asked, giving him a big hug and a kiss. “I thought for sure they would have another project lined up for you and give you an argument about going back, especially so soon.”
“It turned out my replacement is having a difficult time since the assistant I left with her, Sharon, has not been back at work for six days now. Sharon is a very sensitive girl. She works best when left alone. In this place, you need a local who knows the ropes. Sharon was a genius. I told Dr. Harman so when I left. A lot of the things I accomplished there would not have been possible in the time I did them, if not for Sharon.”
“Maybe she didn’t like having a female boss. You know how some women are, Todd.”
“Sharon is a child, darling, a genius child, I’ll grant you that, but a child nonetheless.”
“Wow, I’ll have to meet this paragon of an assistant.” She couldn’t help thinking, He saw her as a child but maybe the girl didn’t see him as the father figure he seemed to believe he is, which is why she said, “I’m beginning to feel greatly outnumbered. The women on the island seemed to have the hots for you.”
“Sweetheart, Sharon didn’t have the ‘hots’ for me. When you meet her, you’ll see. She was always, ‘yes Mr. Montgomery, no Mr. Montgomery.’ She did all the little things that normally I would have to spend time doing, leaving me free to work on the important stuff. I didn’t supervise her too closely. I found she worked better when I was not constantly telling her what to do. If Dr. Harman had taken to supervising her too closely, this could have caused her to leave.”
“If you say so. You don’t seem to know the effect you have on women. They see you, and they can’t help lusting after you. You just ooze sex.”
“Is that what you think? I ooze sex? Is that what attracted you to me?”
“That among other things.”
“What other things pray tell? My brilliant mind?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out,” she told him, laughing heartily.
“Come here, you big tease. I’ll show you how I’ll find out. Don’t forget you are due a punishment. Now you will get it doubled.” And with that, he lifted her and threw her on the bed, following her down to pin her with his body, and that was the end of their discussion for a good long while.
***
Todd couldn’t help but admire his wife. She had taken over organizing the trip to St. Lucia, and he could see that this time around, his time in St. Lucia would be totally different compared to when he was there alone. He didn’t mind it in the least. She was an organizer to the top of her pinkie finger. If he wanted something done, he only had to tell her, and it was done. Some people had the gift, and Simonia most certainly had it, sometimes, a little too much, but he loved her and loved everything about her, and part of her was being an excellent organizer.
He didn’t know how she would cope with the mentality of the St. Lucians, however. It was a different environment to what she was used to. To begin with, the pace was not hurried. It was slow to the point of being annoying.
He was walking into the study when the telephone rang. He didn’t know where Simonia was, but after the third ring, he picked up the phone.
“Hello.”
“May I speak with Mrs. Montgomery?” the person on the other asked. He didn’t recognize the voice, but he recognized the accent. This was most definitely a St. Lucian accent. He felt a chill go through him, and he wanted to smash the phone, but he had to remind himself that he shouldn’t take this attitude because of one bad apple. So he continued by asking who was calling.
As it turned out, it was the real estate rental company, who had located three properties for Simonia to see. She wanted her email to send her a video of the various rentals.
He gave her the email address and thanked her before hanging up and going to find Simonia.
Simonia was in the greenroom, feeding her plants. He had forgotten about the greenhouse. Simonia would be devastated if any of her plants and flowers were to die.
“What’s going to become of these when you are not here?” he asked her.
“I’ve arranged for Marcus, the gardener from next door, to check on it every day. We’ve agreed upon a fee that we both are comfortable with, comfortable enough for him to take a few days off from doing the Waltons’ gardening.”
“He should’ve known he would’ve been taken care of. Is someone going to take care of your classes at the theater also?”
“Yes, Suzie has offered to fill in for me. I wanted to have Ray, but he didn’t offer, she did, and you know, beggars can’t be choosers. And I don’t plan on letting anything stop me from accompanying you to St. Lucia.”
“Speaking of which, you had a phone call from the rental company in St. Lucia.”
“I did? Are they still on the line?”
“No, they wanted to send you a video of three properties for you to view. They wanted your email address, so I gave it to them. You should be receiving it any minute now, if you haven’t already.”
“Thanks, darling, I’ve been trying to spare you the unpleasant tasks of securing a place for us to reside during our stay in St. Lucia. They do everything at a snail’s pace there. I’m still waiting for a call from the telephone company. Turns out, I can’t arrange for a telephone number until I have secured the residence.”
“Sweetheart, nothing in St. Lucia is hurried. It’s a foreign concept to them. So you’ll do well to accept it before you’ve even arrived there. You’ll only be frustrated otherwise.”
“I’ll try. I’m going to go wash my hands and meet you in the library so we can view the videos together.”
“Okay. I’m going to fix myself a cocktail. Would you like something?”
“I’ll take a whisky sour, and I’ll be right down.”
She hoped at least one of these properties was suited to them. She hoped to find a house within five to ten miles of the research facility. It was even more critical now, seeing how Todd was expected to play a role there. Granted, it wasn’t full responsibility, but if she knew Todd, and she did, he would soon be running the show again. She sincerely hoped he didn’t try to take over from Dr. Harman. It was her responsibility now, and quite frankly, she didn’t want Todd remaining on the island a minute more than they needed to. She would try to exert whatever influence she had on him to convince him to stick to their initial plan—go in and take care of his situation and then leave.
***
Simonia and Todd spent some time reviewing the three properties from the rental agency. In the end, they settled
on the largest property. It had a bit more than they were looking for, and was at the high end of their budget, but both she and Todd loved it. The one downside was that it was the farthest away from the research lab. But it looked perfect from the pictures and the written description. They decided to email the company and asked that the rental contract be sent to them via email.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Simonia was impressed with the clarity and professional quality of the videos she’d received from the rental agency. She hoped the property she and Todd had decided on lived up to the hype the rental company had listed in the description.
The arched and gated entry into this very special hilltop villa compound only hints at the wonderful gardens and glorious views beyond. Luxurious but comfortable, this villa blends the best of contemporary and West Indian styles with wooden louvers, which capture the cooling trade winds. Located on a breezy hilltop in Cap Estate, the premier villa location in St. Lucia, you will find dramatic views of both the Atlantic over Cas En Bas Bay and the Caribbean out toward Pigeon Point. Cadasse Villa is 3,500 square feet under roof and 1,500 square feet of terraces and deck.
The large dining table seats eight and looks out to the Atlantic view. A pass-thru from the kitchen makes serving easy. The great room has huge comfortable couches and cable TV, tuner, and CD player. A bar is situated near the covered terrace by the pool.
The master bedroom is on the second floor. It is air-conditioned with an en suite bathroom. A spacious terrace adjoining this bedroom has an outdoor shower and is private enough for sunbathing. Two additional air-conditioned bedrooms with en suite bathrooms are located on the lowest level of the house with views out to sea. Each of these bedrooms has a private terrace.
The huge kitchen is equipped with every amenity, and the sink overlooks the Atlantic view. We used imported Italian tile floors throughout the villa. The covered outdoor dining terrace adjoining the full size pool is oriented to the sunset view. The adjacent large wooden deck has a Caribbean view and chaises for sunning. Just a five-minute drive to beaches and the new 18-hole golf course, the villa is only ten minutes to a variety of restaurants and shopping.