CHAPTER 17
As the plane began its descent, she looked out the window at the glorious landscape below and the ice blue waters. She mused that the airport didn’t look much different from the last time she visited fifteen years ago. The landing was a bit rough, but that was expected. Winds in the coastal city could be gusty at times even if the sky was clear. “Welcome to Belize City!” the flight attendant said continuing, “The local time is 2:40 PM and the temperature is 87° Fahrenheit, 30° Celsius. If this is your final destination enjoy your stay with us. If you have a connecting flight, please see one of our representatives inside the terminal for further assistance.” It was a speech Janine had grown accustomed to regardless of the airline used.
She exited the plane making her way to customs when she heard someone calling her name. Looking around she saw Jamal waving frantically and coming towards her.
“Jamal! Hey!” She stretched out her arms to hug him as he made his way to her.
He gave her a bear of a hug, lifting her off her feet. “Janine Powell! What’s up girl? Look at you!” She kissed him on the cheek as he slowly lowered her to the ground.
“It’s so good to see you! Were you on this flight? I thought there was a direct flight from Houston,” she said.
“Yeah there is, but I flew out of Norfolk to Atlanta. Denise and the kids are there visiting with my in-laws. So we got to Norfolk Sunday—you know, spent a few days doing the family thing. Now, I get to hang with y’all down here. I’ll meet them back in Norfolk and then we’ll fly back home to Houston.”
“How is your family?” she asked as they resumed their walk towards customs.
“They’re real good! I don’t know if you heard, but we’ve got another baby on the way.”
“Shut Up!” Janine jokingly said, “Damn Jamal, give that poor woman a break! Four kids weren’t enough?”
He just laughed with such heartiness her heart swelled just thinking about how hopelessly in love he was with the firebrand he married. Denise was a petite woman who was clever, smart and no-nonsense. She could check him faster than any of his friends. It was funny to watch a man of his size cower to someone who barely stood five feet tall. The one thing Janine admired most was Jamal wanted nothing more than to please Denise. His boorish and sexist behavior from school didn’t reflect who he truly was. He was a good and decent man.
Jamal was actually one of the first students she met when she started the law program. They were both trying to register for a class that had been listed as full. As they waited in line outside the professor’s office trying to get a waiver for the class, Jamal tried to make a pass at her. He called her “Shorty” and “Pretty Boo” enraging her. Regardless of his intimidating size, she let him know starting his legal career with a harassment complaint could be problematic down the road. Ironically, it was the beginning of a long friendship that neither of them could have predicted.
Many people, including her, presumed he played football as an undergraduate given his size and girth. The youngest of seven kids with four older brothers, he confessed years later he didn’t like getting hit. Instead, he became the first of his siblings to complete college. Despite their initial meeting, she discovered he was one of the hardest working people she had ever met. He was thoughtful, loved learning and frequently went above and beyond researching obscure elements of the law. After completing the program, he decided to get a PhD in hopes of eventually becoming a university law professor. He did that and more.
They continued to chat making their way through customs and immigration. Once through, they shared a taxi to the ferry that would carry them to the island cay. They’d have to walk the rest of the way to the guesthouse. Walking wasn’t a notion he was too thrilled about given he had put on a bit of weight since she last saw him. Men tended to be less self-conscious about such things so she decided to tease him a bit about it.
“Ah, come on Jamal! I know you can walk a half mile!”
“Shit! I do enough running around with those damn kids of mine!” he said jokingly.
“I see Denise is feeding you well though!”
“Yeah, my baby can cook! My pops always told me to find a woman that can cook and I sure did!”
“You can push away from the table from time to time too!”
“Ohhhh! So you got jokes! But I think it’s just pregnancy sympathy weight.”
They both laughed and enjoyed the short ride on the ferry.
Once off the boat, Janine asked, “So are we the first ones here, you think?”
“Naw. Kelly flew in last night to make sure everything was straight with the house. I think Monica and Dave were coming in this morning. I have no idea when Mike is showing up.”
“Oh, okay.”
As they walked Jamal asked her, “So when’s the last time you saw him?”
“Who?”
“So you playing stupid now? When’s the last time you saw Mike?”
“We spent a little time together a few years ago.”
“Y’all still keeping your shit on the down low.” He paused for a moment before asking her, “So what really was going on with you two? I mean, were y’all just hittin’ it back in school or was there more to it?”
She had to chuckle. “There was much more to it. But we couldn’t make it work.“
“Damn. I’m sorry, J. I really am. You know I got nothing but love for both of y’all. I really wasn’t sure about any of it. You know me—I don’t get into folks business too much. But everybody was whispering about you two…trying to figure it out.”
She smiled and said, “I didn’t think you knew for sure. It worked better since we were all friends…at first.”
At the time she and Michael become truly serious, Monica was the only friend she actually talked in detail about her relationship without ever revealing intimate details. Although she was very close to Kelly too, Janine and Monica shared a special bond. As their friendship grew, she suspected Monica was either bisexual or a lesbian, especially after their night at the club. But there was a sadness Janine saw in her as well. She decided to take the risk and ask her privately about it. At first Monica denied it and was very defensive.
“What about me makes you think I’m gay?” she huffed.
Janine calmly replied, “The truth is, it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. You’ll always be my friend—no matter what. But I’ve seen subtle things that I can’t exactly put my finger on. But again it’s cool if that’s a part of who you are.” The question that revealed the answer was when Janine asked, “Does your family know or are you still in the closet?”
It was at that point Monica broke down. Janine reassured her friend she’d always have her unwavering support. And she promised her if she needed to keep this private, it would stay private. If she needed cover, Janine would give her cover. If Monica wanted to hang out in one of D.C.’s gay clubs, she’d go with her. Monica was grateful to have someone who didn’t judge her and let her be who she was.
The only male friend she had conversations about Michael with was Dave. But those became rare as time went on because Michael and Dave became very close. The rest of their friends certainly suspected and even inquired. She’d asked Michael to stay vague on the subject and he indulged her. It seemed silly to her now, but at the time she wanted to keep their relationship private from the others. She was particularly sensitive given the nature of their sexual explorations. In retrospect, it was foolish to hide their love from the people closest to them. With the exception of clueless Jamal, they all knew anyway.
They walked up to the gated drive and Jamal turned to her. “I’m just glad to see you. You look good…and happy”
“Thanks. You look good too. Denise is good for you.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t trade the moon or stars for her. I hope you find someone too, J. You deserve it.”
She was touched by the sweet sentiment. No one could have imagined Jamal would end up being an indulgent father and doting and loving husband. Call
ing him a big, old teddy bear was condescending because he was so much more, but it was the closest description she could articulate.
He rang the intercom button at the pedestrian gate. The male voice on the other end was rather formal, “Welcome, Ms. Powell and Mr. Jenkins. Please, make your way up to the house.” Once the buzzer sounded, the gate opened and they walked towards the lovely multi-level house with immaculate gardens and fountains. The front door opened as they stepped onto the porch. A middle-aged man dressed in crisp white shirt and khaki Bermuda shorts greeted them.
“Hello. My name is Morris and I’ll be at your service during your stay. I’ll be happy to take your bags to your rooms if you care to join your friends poolside.”
“Thank you, Morris,” she said.
Jamal ever the jokester said, “Well all right then, old chum!”
Janine just shook her head at him. They followed Morris through the massive living area that led out to the patio with its stunning poolside view.
Their friends were seated around a table enjoying cocktails. “What’s up?” Jamal shouted.
“Hey, everybody!” Janine said.
“Hey!” They were all there waiting for them; Monica Moore, Dave Bennett, Kelly Davis-Rubenstein and Michael Josey. With greetings filled with hugs, kisses and light-hearted inspections, they talked to and over each other with excitement and love. Michael and Janine hugged each other with an embrace a little longer than those shared with the others—and it did not go unnoticed.
Dave asked “What do you want to drink, Jamal? Janine?” breaking their embrace.
“Since we up in here like ballers—thanks to Mrs. Rubenstein over here—I’m going with the best cognac they got!” Jamal said as everyone laughed.
“I’ll take a rum and coke,” Janine said.
The dutiful bartender prepared their requests while the friends returned to the elegant bamboo table with its enormous umbrella.
“Kelly, this place is stunning! Thank you so much for arranging this. It’s beyond fabulous!” Janine said.
“Here, here!“ Dave said, raising his glass. Jamal added, “Let’s toast when we get our
drinks too!”
Returning with extraordinary efficiency, they all had drinks in hand as Michael raised his glass to toast.
“To Dave—for bugging the hell out of us to get together!” he said.
“Cheers!” they said in harmony.
Monica continued, “To Kelly who pulled the strings to get this place for us!”
“Cheers!”
“And to friendship that lasts a lifetime!” Janine said.
“Cheers!”
“Ahhh, listen to J being all sentimental and shit!” Jamal said as they all laughed.
One of the things Janine could always count on was the laughter shared among these friends. She was happy to be with them again and she felt completely at ease, even with Michael present. In fact, she felt even more comfortable than she expected. By the third round of drinks, she was feeling a bit loose and very hungry. With the exception of the beautifully prepared hors d’oeuvres tray sitting on the table, she hadn’t had anything to eat since the snack on the plane. Fortunately, Morris came out of the villa informing them dinner would be ready in a half hour.
Taking the cue, Monica said to Kelly, “So how does this work again. Who’s where? This is a big ass house and I’m not quite sure which one is my room.”
“Oh, right!” Kelly said. “Okay, so you, me, Jamal, and Dave are in the main house. Michael and Janine will be in the adjoining bungalows. The bungalows have their own little kitchenettes, but if you want to get back into the main house, all you have to do is use your electronic key. The keys should be on the dresser in your rooms.”
“Can we get a tour of the house?” Monica asked.
“Yeah! I’ll show everyone around after dinner.”
“Kelly, I want to freshen up a bit and change into something a bit more relaxing. Is that okay?” Janine asked.
“Oh, sure. Like I said, you’re in that bungalow over there. It’s open and your bags should be there.”
“Thanks!” Turning to the others she said, “I’ll meet everyone back for dinner. I just really want to clean up a bit.”
“You look fine! Just have another drink with us!” Jamal said.
“I got a feeling we’ll be drinking all night! I won’t be long.”
Taking the pathway to the bungalow, she noticed a variety of blooming tropical plants along the way accentuating the textured stone path. She had been to a lot of lovely places before, but this estate was breathtaking. As she entered the bungalow, there was a sitting area with two love seats facing each other. The room hues were soft blue and a faint charcoal with accents of sea foam green. The small kitchenette was to the left with stone countertops and two bar stools. It had a smaller refrigerator, mini stove and microwave. There was also a fully stocked mini bar and wine chiller.
To the right was the bedroom suite with its massive king sized canopy bed accented by soft blue netting tied onto the posts with a lovely swag. She noticed Morris had placed her luggage on the leather bench at the end of the bed. As she moved further into the sumptuous room, she marveled at the walk-in closet with its private vanity. On the opposite side was the very large bathroom. The tub could easily fit more than two people and there was an equally impressive open tiled shower stall with overhead and directional shower sprays.
After touring her quarters, she opened her suitcase and took out one of the sundresses she purchased for the trip. She also grabbed her toiletry bag and hairbrush. She went into the bathroom and began washing up and changing her clothes. She brushed her hair and clipped it into a small bun before deciding to add a touch of make up. She was happy she pushed aside her trepidation and took this trip.
Heading back to the main house, she noticed there were actually two pathways; one led to the cascading pool area and the other to a doorway into the house. Since she heard the guys talking, she decided to return on the pool path. As she approached, their conversation seemed to halt somewhat abruptly. Monica and Kelly were not with them as expected.
“No need to stop talking on my account.” She assured them, “Are Monica and Kelly in the house?”
“Yeah, J. We’ll be right in. You know just catching up a bit with the fellas,” Jamal said.
“Okay, I’ll see you all at dinner.”
Once she entered the house, she wasn’t entirely sure where they were since she didn’t hear them. She started wandering through the main level finding the kitchen and dining area with a staff busy at work. Down another hallway, there was an immaculate game room with billiard and poker tables as well as video game consoles. There was also a media viewing room with plush leather reclining chairs that were formed in two rows of four on a raised floor. The panel television was one of the largest available. Making her way up the stairway she soon heard Kelly’s voice. She found Kelly and Monica in the master suite sitting on the bed talking.
Interrupting them, “Hey, what are you two up to?”
“Just catching up. What did you think of your bungalow?” Kelly asked.
“Oh girl, it’s fabulous! This whole place is gorgeous… at least what I’ve seen.”
“Glad you like it. Maybe you can come back soon.”
“Really? Your friend will let us use it again?”
“Wait for it...” said Monica as she snorted a little with her glass still in hand.
“Wait for what?”
“It’s ours,” Kelly replied.
“What do you mean? Are you telling me you and Jason own this place?” She couldn’t get over it.
“That was the sweet client hookup she told us about on the phone. She just left out the part when he agreed to sell them the place for helping him out with that big divorce settlement,” Monica added.
“Shut Up! Okay, this? This right here is just crazy cool!” Janine gushed.
“I know, right? After I saw the pictures I had to come down here an
d check it out for myself. I told Jason how beautiful it was and how much I really wanted it. I just knew he was going to tell me no because I certainly couldn’t swing it myself even with my fee for that case. My baby said yes! He called it an early anniversary present.” Kelly beamed as she shared the story. “And I mean what I said. I want you all to come back here and use it anytime you want. Mi casa es su casa!”
“I don’t know what to say! That’s very generous!” Janine said.
“I know I’m coming back! She’s going to be tired of me bugging her,” Monica chimed in.
They continued talking before heading downstairs to the dining room to join the guys. An exquisite gourmet meal had been prepared for them. The meal consisted of a variety of delectable items. There was filet mignon with Béarnaise sauce and salmon as well as fresh asparagus, a polenta dish, diced red potatoes and a Portobello mushroom dish that smelled as delicious as it looked.
“Any particular place you want us to sit, Kelly?” Dave asked.
“Brotha please! Just sit wherever you want. Formality is out the window. It’s us—how often do we just get to ‘be’ anymore?”
They all took places as Morris made his way around the table pouring wine for each. Kelly sat at the head of the table and Dave took the end opposite her. Michael and Monica sat on the long side with Janine and Jamal opposite them. Michael sat directly across from Janine.
When he finished filling their glasses, Kelly said, “Morris, thank you for everything. You can take the rest of the evening off. I think we’ll be fine.”
Being dutiful, Morris replied, “That’s very kind of you Mrs. Rubenstein, but I want to make sure everything is ready for the staff in the morning.“ With that, he turned and exited the room.
“So did Morris come with the house too, Kelly?” Monica asked.
“In a way. He coordinates the catering or any other things that need to happen when we’re here or have guests. He lives on the property in the apartment above the garage making sure the place is protected when we are away.”
“That’s what I’m talking about! Big time balling!” Jamal said.
Her Love and Regrets (Book I) Page 14