Gloria’s Secret

by Robin Alexander

  When my internal pity party was disturbed by giggling, I tossed my half-eaten chicken salad sandwich on my plate and went in search of the source. Just behind the cottage sat Teddy and my orange tabby.

  “I see you’ve met Saber, my vicious tiger,” I said with a smile as I knelt down.

  Teddy nodded and continued to stroke Saber’s back. My orange beast circled him, purring, thoroughly enjoying the attention.

  “You must be a special guy because Saber doesn’t let just anyone pet him.”

  This seemed to please Teddy; he grinned and leaned down so that Saber could rub his face. “His wickers tickle.”

  “Oh, yeah, his whiskers, or wickers as you call them, are great. It’s the claws you gotta keep an eye on.”

  Saber flopped over on his back, and I watched in amazement as Teddy’s small hand rubbed his spotted tummy. Had I laid a hand on that cat’s stomach, he would’ve latched onto me and left me bleeding. But Saber seemed to sense that this was a little human, and he transformed into a gentle creature that I hardly recognized.

  “I’ll tell you what,” I began with a smile, “we can share Saber. Whenever you’re here, you can visit him, he can be your cat, too.”

  No sooner than the words were out of my mouth, we both heard Teddy’s mother calling for him in the distance. Teddy hopped up and hugged my neck. The act appeared to surprise him as it did me. His face showed as much as he took two steps back, then turned and ran.

  I couldn’t help but grin knowing that my offer to share a cat had pleased him so much that it resulted in an unexpected display of affection. It touched a place in me that I didn’t know existed, and for a moment, I wondered what it would be like to have a child of my own—only for a moment.

  After a shower, I loaded up my lunch tray and took it back to the bar where I found Adrienne straightening up after her visit with Shelby and Myra. She looked especially sexy in a pair of board shorts with a bright blue stripe that went across her ass and a matching tank top. The sight of her made me sigh and long to steal her away to our cottage. If I played my cards right, maybe I’d get lucky.

  “I tried to wake you this morning,” Adrienne said without turning to look at me. “You mumbled something about doughnuts, then pulled the sheet over your head.”

  “Damn confectionary devils, they’re always in my dreams,” I mumbled under my breath.

  Adrienne took the dirty dishes into the kitchen while I fixed us a couple of iced teas. When she returned, she joined me on one of the chaise lounges. She took the glass I offered and took a sip, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The hair tucking usually preceded a serious discussion.

  “I didn’t sleep very well last night, love.” She paused and looked me in the eyes. “This morning, I felt your fear. It was so intense I almost felt paralyzed by it. I was going to come after you and looked through the window before opening the cabin door. I saw you and Colie standing together on the path, and I knew then that you were okay, but I’d like you to tell me what happened.”

  I love doughnuts, plain, chocolate, and raspberry filled, they’re all good. I miss ’em so much I’d even eat one made of wood. I sang this repeatedly in my mind. I’d broken my promise to her by not staying with Colie at all times the night before. She knew it too and was trying to make me admit it.

  “I heard some creepy sounds last night, and it gave me the willies. I’m not entirely sure that I didn’t fall asleep and was dreaming, so it’s nothing to worry about.”

  Adrienne cocked her head and smirked. “Was that when you were hiding in the bushes waiting for Colie to come out of the bathroom?”

  “Shit. I’m no match for you. How did you get that out of my head? I was concentrating on doughnuts.”

  Adrienne took a long swallow from her glass and wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand. She was stalling, knowing that it was making me squirm.

  “Colie told me at lunch,” she said with a grin. I watched as that grin vaporized and Adrienne’s eyes bore into mine. “How can I trust you to go back out there tonight, Hayden?”

  I held my hands up in surrender. “Okay, if Colie has to go to the potty tonight, I’ll go with him and hold his hand.”

  Adrienne made a face. “That’s moderately disgusting, and I’m serious.”

  “If we have to be separated, I’ll wait for him in our cabin.”

  “Keep that promise tonight, girlie, or we’re going to switch shifts,” Adrienne said, sounding much like Iris with her threatening tone. “Then I’ll spend my evenings with Colie and you’ll spend your days with Tara. She regaled us with facts on flesh-eating viruses this morning over breakfast.”

  I leaned over and gave Adrienne’s bare shoulder a little nibble. “I’d like to gnaw on your flesh right now.”

  She giggled and gave me a playful shove. “Is there ever a time that your mind isn’t on sex?”

  “You know my thoughts better than anyone else. It’s all sex, cookies, and lately doughnuts.”

  Adrienne arched an eyebrow. “So if I wanted to seduce you, say…right now…all I have to do is wave a cookie in front of your face?”

  “Oh, baby.” I growled. “You’re making me hungry and horny all at the same time.”

  Adrienne leaned over and kissed me, and as she ended the kiss, she grazed my bottom lip with her teeth. “If you can still walk, we can go back to our cabin. I’ve got a little free time on my schedule.”

  I was on my feet before she finished the sentence; all thoughts of cookies were obliterated. We hurried down the path to our cottage exchanging kisses and heated looks, until we were intercepted by Barry.

  “Hi, ladies,” he said, greeting us with a bright smile. “Diane told us about a straw market they passed the other day on the way to MountAlvernia. Russell and I were wondering if we could arrange transportation to it this afternoon.”

  “Of course,” Adrienne said cheerfully. I didn’t say a word for fear that if I opened my mouth, I would curse him and everyone in his bloodline.

  “Why don’t you and Russell get ready and I’ll meet you back at the bar as soon as Hayden and I take care of something?”

  I watched as Barry skipped off to find Russell, and resisted the urge to body slam him to the ground. Adrienne took me by the hand and continued to our cottage. I was still grumbling about Barry’s timing as she pulled me through the door, closed it, and shoved me against it.

  “What are you doing?” I asked as she began unbuttoning my shorts.

  “We have time,” she whispered against my ear. “Barry takes longer to get ready than you do.”

  “We don’t do quickies very well, honey,” I protested as she grazed her teeth over the skin of my neck, making my eyes roll up into my head.

  “I’ll take whatever I can get right now,” Adrienne said as she knelt down in front of me, stripping me from the waist down as she did.

  “Baby, let’s just wait until we—” I lost the ability of speech when her tongue came in contact with my flesh. I grabbed the door handle and locked my knees, pushing my back into the door for support. “I don’t want you to stop, but this will go a lot faster if you let me lay down,” I said between gasps for breath.

  She paused just long enough to say, “It’ll be more intense if you be patient.”

  “Patient,” I repeated as she went back to the task that I found most pleasurable. “Yes, right there, don’t stop.” I groaned as the pressure began to build.

  “Barry said they were headed this way,” I heard Tara say just outside our door.

  Adrienne stopped and looked up at me. “Ignore her and concentrate,” she whispered.

  “Hello, I need some assistance,” Tara said as she knocked on the door.

  Adrienne dug her nails into my ass cheeks, making me gasp. I clamped my free hand over my mouth to stifle any more outbursts and to keep myself from yelling at Tara. I could hear her arguing with someone in the distance who sounded like Rachel.

  The muscles in my legs began to protest from
being flexed for so long, but Adrienne intensified her attentions and I grew very close. I was at that euphoric stage where the sensations were so intense that it was almost painful. I was teetering on the edge when Tara pounded on the door again.

  “Hello. I’ve been stung by a jellyfish. Is there anyone in there?”

  “I hope it was on your ass,” I hissed before gently pushing Adrienne away. She sighed and rested her head on my thigh. “Just a minute,” she called out.

  “Go wash your face first,” I whispered with a sad smile.

  “Honey, this is going to take a while. I gave one of the porters the day off, and the other has taken Toni and Tarsha on a tour of the other side of the island. I’m going to have to take Barry and Russell to the market myself,” Adrienne said on her way to the bathroom.

  “I’ll take care of Tara then.” I gathered my clothes.

  “No, you stay here and nap. You have a long night ahead of you. I’ll have Iris put some meat tenderizer on Tara when I meet Russell and Barry in the bar.”

  I felt useless. “I can take Barry and Russell, honey, you can’t do it all by yourself.”

  “You sleep, that’s an order,” Adrienne said before kissing me and slipping out the door.

  Anger washed away my arousal, and sleep was not an option. I cleaned up and went to the bar to check on Tara. It took me a while to convince her that she didn’t need a doctor. If I called Shelby over for a simple jellyfish sting, she’d stitch my nostrils together. So I went back to our cottage, changed into my swimsuit, and headed for the beach. I could see Diane and Lucy way off in the distance sunning themselves, and I decided not to interrupt.

  I ran straight into the surf and plunged under the water, letting it take away my frustration. It cooled my overheated skin as I swam a few laps. When I tired, I made my way back to the beach, and it was then I noticed Teddy standing there watching me.

  “Hey, buddy,” I called to him as I approached.

  “My name is Teddy, Ms. Hayden,” he said as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

  I stifled a laugh. “It’s a nickname, sweetie, I know who you are. Where’s your mom?”

  “Working,” he said with a shrug.

  “Are you going for a swim?” I asked, afraid he was going to venture into the water without anyone to watch over him.

  “I don’t know how.”

  “Well, I think it’s time you learn. Would you like me to teach you?”

  He looked a little uncertain but didn’t object.

  “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to, but if you want to learn, I’m a good teacher,” I said with what I considered a disarming smile.

  He returned the smile and nodded.

  “Do you think your mom will mind if you get your clothes wet?” I asked, looking at his T-shirt and cut-offs.

  He smiled even broader this time and shook his head.

  “Okay, but you have to make me a promise before we start the first lesson.” I knelt down and looked him in the eye. “You must promise me that you’ll never go into the water without an adult here to watch you.”

  He nodded again, and I felt the need to make my point clear. ”Promise me that you won’t put one foot in the water without an adult.”

  “I promise.”

  I held out my hand. “We have to shake on it.”

  He put his miniature hand in mine with a smile and sealed the deal.

  We walked into the water hand in hand until it began to get a little deep, and he started to climb up me like a spider monkey.

  I pulled him up in my arms. “It’s kind of scary the first time, so if you want to get used to being in the water, you can ride on my back.”

  Teddy nodded again and climbed around me. He wrapped his arms so tight around my neck, it nearly cut off my air. “Okay, loosen up there a little bit, Teddy bear, you’re killing me,” I choked out.

  He giggled and loosened his grip only slightly. I lowered myself into the water and started making boat sounds. We sliced through the blue water, and the more he laughed, the deeper I dipped until only our heads were sticking out of the water. After he seemed comfortable, I held him in front of me and showed him how to kick and stroke with his arms. He practiced this for a while but was more interested in riding on my back.

  SS Hayden set sail again with her little boy cargo and explored the ocean blue. I pointed out different aquatic creatures as we encountered them and was surprised to learn that Teddy had never seen any of them. I thought it strange that he lived on an island and had never been in the waters surrounding it.

  “Does your mom swim?”

  “She never goes to the water.”

  “Well, not all adults swim,” I said, unable to think of anything else. “Does your dad swim?”

  “I don’t have a dad,” he answered, and the disappointment was obvious.

  “Well, that settles it. I’m just going to have to be your swim buddy.”

  He genuinely laughed then. “Can we go every day?”

  It was then that I realized the commitment I had made. “There are going to be some days that I have to work, but we’ll go as often as we can. But if you break your promise, we won’t be able to do it anymore.”

  “I promise, Ms. Hayden.”

  “Just call me Hayden, sweetie. I can’t have my swim buddy calling me ‘Ms.’”

  “Okay, Hayden, go faster,” he commanded and kicked me in the ribs.

  After our swim, we went in search of snacks and Teddy’s mom. It troubled me that she hadn’t come looking for him. Maybe it was just me, but there was no way I’d let a child his age out of my sight for a moment.

  “Iris, have you seen Marta?” I asked as we dripped our way into her kitchen.

  “Girlie, get dem wet bodies out of here.” She waved a spoon menacingly.

  “We’re hungry,” I protested as Teddy and I backed out.

  “I’ll bring snacks to the bar, now get out.”

  Teddy and I retreated into the bar and settled at a table in a sunny spot.

  “Is she really mad?” Teddy asked with wide eyes. “Are we gonna get a spankin’?”

  The fear I saw on his face saddened me. “Oh, no, honey, Iris was just playing with us.”

  Iris set a plate of pastries and fruit in front of us, obviously overhearing our conversation. “No, child, I would never spank you.” She smiled at Teddy. “Now dis one,” she nodded in my direction, “dis one deserves a spankin’, but I let Ms. Adrienne take care of that.”

  “Ms. Adrienne spanks?” Teddy asked incredulously.

  “No, she doesn’t. She just fusses at me when I’m bad.” I giggled, hoping it would allay his fears.

  “Have you seen Marta?” I asked Iris again.

  “She was here earlier, but I haven’t seen her in a while.” Iris set a glass of tea in front of me and juice in front of Teddy. “I can take care of da boy if you have something you need to do.”

  “No, thank you, Iris. I don’t have anything pressing and I’m enjoying this young man’s company.” Teddy smiled around a brownie at my comment, which warmed my heart. He seemed to be enjoying me as much as I was him. It stunned me to realize just how fast this little guy was carving out his own spot in my heart.

  The sound of the Jeep pulling up broke me from my thoughts. I watched as Adrienne emerged with Barry and Russell. She smiled when she noticed Teddy and me.

  “I see you disobeyed me on the nap.”

  “Too hot to sleep.” I watched as her face colored when she caught the double meaning of that statement.

  She ruffled Teddy’s damp hair and he smiled up at her. “I see that you two have been in the water.”

  “Teddy had his first swim lesson today,” I said, giving him a smile.

  Adrienne pulled up a chair and joined us. “And how’d you like that, Teddy?”

  He grinned, showing off brownie-covered teeth. “It’s fun!”

  Adrienne shot me a look. “And what does his mom say about this?”

&nb
sp; “We’ll…we haven’t asked her yet, she’s been busy.”

  Adrienne nodded and let the subject drop. We sat there eating and chatting for a while until Marta showed up. Her eyes grew wide when she noticed Teddy sitting with us.

  “Has he been any trouble?” she asked nervously.

  “Not at all,” I said. I was more than a little peeved that she’d left him on his own for so long. I think Marta sensed this because she began explaining her whereabouts.

  “I went to take the table linens to the wash cottage, then I got a little lost.”

  “It’s easy to do if you get off the paths,” Adrienne said. “We like to leave the vegetation as it is on the grounds because it adds to the beauty of the inn, but it can disorient you.”

  Marta simply nodded. “I’ve got to get into the kitchen,” she said and thrust out her hand, which Teddy obediently took. He waved as he followed his mother.

  “Why don’t we talk about this at the cottage?” Adrienne whispered.

  Adrienne put the seat down on the toilet and sat as I climbed into the shower. “I don’t buy the lost bit for one minute.”

  “Me either, and it pisses me off that she left that boy unattended. I found him on the beach today.” Chills raced down my spine, even though the shower was warm. “I came out of the water and there he stood alone. He doesn’t know how to swim. What if…” I couldn’t finish the thought.

  “She didn’t even seem relieved to see him today. Her thoughts were all jumbled and her biggest worry was of Teddy being a nuisance. Maybe she really was lost, she was certainly flustered. I think we should have Iris talk to her about this,” Adrienne said after a minute. “Marta doesn’t seem to be very comfortable around us. I think Iris would do a better job of getting through to her.”

  “I think that’s a great idea.” I cut off the water and pulled back the curtain.

  Adrienne smiled and handed me a towel. “I’m sorry about this afternoon, baby.”

  “Well, as the saying goes, ‘the customer always comes first.’” I smirked at my pun.

  Adrienne followed me into the bedroom. “You didn’t get much sleep today.”

  “I was thinking about skipping dinner. Teddy and I just had snacks and I’m not very hungry, so I was thinking of a nap instead.”