by Inia Jardine
'Those were dangerous times indeed. I know that in South Africa it was the year Nelson Mandela was arrested even though it was a few years before I was born. It was a dark time for my country too.'
'The world was an unhappy place then. It was, I believe, the time when the world came closest to Armageddon. Total destruction as a result of nuclear war.'
A shiver runs down my spine and I look away. In the distance I see Kiki trying to be brave but still too scared to go into the ocean. 'Kiki my girl, come here. Henri, Jonah, please excuse me. This stuff is too heavy for me, you two have rained on my parade a bit, choked my little bee and I need to go and play with my dog to recuperate.'
I kiss them both and run towards Kiki.
After we play around with driftwood and dig up some clams and bury them again – Huskies don't fetch but they love to dig, Jonah and I walk further along the crescent shaped beach.
'I can see caves in those rock formations Lilia, but I remember very well what happened last time I took you exploring. I will go there while you paint our house' he picks me up and swings me around.
'We are going to make this work Big J. We can grow old here. I feel at home and we have a future here. Thanks to Henri. You guys made your peace yet?'
'Now seems like the perfect time. Look at him playing with Kiki. How can I still hold the past against him?'
'Henri, I apologise for not giving you a chance before. Lilia and I would love to stay here and build a future with you. That OK?'
With tears in his eyes Henri embraces Jonah. No words need to be said.
I hook my arm into Henri’s on the one side and Jonah’s on the other while Kiki runs free ahead of us on the path leading back to the cottage. 'So Henri, do you have a special lady in your life? Jonah and I were wondering about that gorgeous bed in your jet.'
Jonah starts coughing and Henri stops walking. 'I'm sorry Lilia what did you say?'
'Henri, you will get to know me well and I must warn you that I am a very direct person. I try not to be rude but sometimes I don't give my brain time to catch up with my mouth.'
'That's true.'
Jonah... grrr' I growl at him in warning but then soften it with a smile.
'But I love her anyway' he says. A good save.
'It's alright Lilia, just an unexpected question. I actually met a lady from Trinidad a few years ago when she became my personal chef. Her name is Jalade Granville. One thing led to another and she has actually just moved in with me. At our age marriage is not on the cards but companionship is. We enjoy each other's company and I absolutely love her cooking. I am looking after her grown son Omar financially while he is studying Botany at the Institute. You will see him around in the gardens, he loves flowers and plants.'
'We will have lots to talk about then. How old is he?'
'He is about thirty maybe, late twenties. He could never study before as they did not have the financial means. Why don't you come over tonight for dinner and meet them? I am sure that Jalade can do vegetarian dishes too.'
'Dinner would be lovely, but please let me help Jalade with the veggie stuff, share some ideas?'
'See you at six thirty then Lilia. We are looking forward to being more than three for dinner!'
'Oh and Lilia, Jonah told me that you two are not really attached to technology and didn't even bring your mobile phones with. I find that hard to believe, so I purchased a mobile for each of you...wait. For security reasons. This Estate is very big and anyone can get lost. Please keep them with you when you leave your home OK? For me? I also purchased a laptop for each of you as I heard that you left your old ones behind. You really did travel lightly. This is in order for you to do research Lilia. For your incomplete project, Jonah told me about the book on slavery and I am very interested in that. You can work on new projects, the new hotel, anything. Enjoy.'
'Thanks Henri, you are too kind. I know that we most probably need to keep up with the world but it is nice to not always be available. We decided to make a clean break with the UK, all our contacts included - except for Bella and Howie. No one but them will be able to find us. I will most definitely continue my slavery manuscript, on our way back from the airport your chauffeur pointed out the grave of Three Fingered Jack. I am going back there as soon as I can to include his story and a few photos in my manuscript.'
'So what will you do first Lilia, the painting or hotel planning or writing?'
'Oh, I don't know. Let's see how the wind blows.'
We get to the cottage and Henri walks on ahead to his house. 'See you around six thirty Lilia' he calls out.
Jonah, Kiki and I explore around the house before going inside and suddenly come across the old gazebo mostly hidden behind a massive wisteria. 'Henri must have built the guest cottage close to the gazebo for a reason. I thought it would have rusted away long ago.'
'Are you OK with it? I know you never used to like being around it.'
'I'm good. Maybe once we start using it again we will put some positive and loving energy into it and lessen the bad memories.'
I suddenly feel faint and before I can warn Jonah, I crumble to the ground.
'Lilia, Lilia, can you hear me. What's wrong my darling? Lilia!'
'Don't shout like that Jonah, I'm OK. I touched the gazebo and something must have shocked me or bit me or stung me, look my hand is a bit red, it burns. I have anti-allergy pills in my bag, it's in our room upstairs please bring me one with some water. Careful, don't let the cats out yet.'
As Jonah runs to the house I look at Kiki. 'Do you feel something too my girl?' Kiki starts growling softly and comes to sit next to me.
'I don't think she means us harm. She is just so sad.' I can see her through the wisteria but have no idea how she got in there, it is so dense.
'Who are you?' The only reply is a soft sigh and her looking at me imploringly. As Jonah comes running back from the house I show him with hand gestures to slow down and come closer softly.
'What is it, here are your pills and inhaler.'
'Thanks but I don't need it Jonah, I wasn't stung - do you see her?'
'See who?' He peers intently in the same direction as Kiki and I. ' I can't see anything. Is it a snake or a bird?'
'It's a woman. Kiki can see her too' I whisper.
'A woman? How did she get in there? Why are we whispering, should we not try to help her out?'
'Jonah I think she is not from this world. She is a bit misty and dressed in a light coloured long garment. She may be your ancestor who died here.'
'Lilia what's wrong with you? You have never seen ghosts before. This may only be your imagination. Did you bump your head?'
'Kiki can see her too.' I reach over to touch Kiki softly without scaring her. 'Animals know these things, she does not sense danger that is why she is just staring.'
'Can you talk to her?'
'I have never tried before but here we go...Can we help you Lady of the Wisteria, what can we do?'
I feel a soft touch on my arm and she disappears. I suddenly have goose bumps all over my body. 'Who can she be? Jonah did you not tell me the first time I visited you that your many times great grandmother was killed here by slaves?'
'Yeah that's true but only my Mom would have been able to tell you the whole story. I don't think the slaves killed her but it was during a revolt where they burned the estate and the gazebo with it. She was trapped inside. Maybe you can ask the ghost...' and with that he sings the Ripley's theme again.
'Jonah don't make fun of me. Or her. Or the whole thing. Let's go inside and get things settled with the cats before dinner. I don't want to argue about this now. You know, I have had a few supernatural experiences in my life but none of them were clear like this. I could feel presences before but never saw anything except orbs.'
'What are orbs?'
I take his hand as we walk back to the house. 'Orbs are physical manifestations of spirit energy, sometimes you can see them on photographs after they have been developed. I have seen and
photographed such clear and glowing orbs around a few of the places I have lived, and I mostly thought they were my pets who have crossed over. I believe that they are still with me wherever I go. Some cynics call orbs dust motes, but I feel that they are real. I have taken photographs where they moved position and came closer, or went further away. They are genuine.'
'That's cool, were you never scared of them?'
'Not the orbs, but the presences scared me a bit. It is fairly creepy when you wake up in the middle of the night from the feeling that there is someone with you inside your room. Especially when you know that you should be alone inside a locked house. When you feel the pressure of something next to you on the bed and there is nobody. Sometimes even on top of you, and the fear paralyses you. Or the time I was driving alone at night on a deserted road and I felt someone sitting behind me in my empty car, yeah it's scary.'
'Not as scary as I can be...do you think we have a few minutes to christen the new house?'
Jonah turns me towards him and starts kissing me in that way of his that makes me melt. We walk up the front steps and he lifts me in his strong arms. 'I know that we have been married for a year and a bit but for you my only bride, I will carry you over the doorstep of our new home. You are a bit heavier than before but...'
I wriggle until he puts me down and say in a mock lawyer voice 'Mr Hibbert. Is it true that you have said more than once that you don't mind a bit of extra flesh on the bones as you prefer that to a bony carcass in bed?'
'Ha-ha yes Mrs Hibbert, only joking! I like to make you a little bit mad so that we can have good make up sex tonight!'
'You wish! I will see how I feel about you after dinner. You may need to grovel a bit.'
He reaches out, locks the front door behind us and pinches my butt. 'No problem as I like big butts and I cannot lie... but how about that make up sex now darling? I absolutely love your dress, it is so sheer and cool, almost like the one you had on when we first met. I bet it will look even better when wet.'
'Jonah, don't you dare make me wet just to prove a point. You know we have come full circle. It has been almost what three? years since we met on that wonderful rainy day. Here we are, back in Jamaica. Who knows what awaits us?'
'What awaits you, gorgeous luscious creature, is this.' He unzips his pants and starts unbuttoning his shirt. The sight of him naked still arouses me instantly and I reach for him.
'Welcome to Jamaica...' are my last words before he claims my lips again and we melt into each other in more ways than one.
'You know Lilia,' he murmurs between kisses and thrusts, 'I believe that we are attracted on a sub-atomic level. The scientists say that the attraction between protons and electrons is the strongest force of attraction on earth. I wonder who is which molecule?'
'Yin and Yang that is who we are. Sometimes I am Yin and you Yang, sometimes I am Yang and you Yin. But what I do know is that we complete each other.' We make slow emotional love and untangle our limbs only after Kiki licks my naked behind and I burst out laughing.
'I think the animals want attention too my love, look at the cats they are clambering all over the curtains trying to find an open window to explore and Kiki must be hungry. What time does the sun set here?'
'Usually between six and seven at night so we will have to shower and get dressed quickly so as not to be late for dinner. I will feed the animals and you can shower first. Come on, go, go, go' and he pats me on my naked butt.
'I'm going, I'm going, ha-ha it's funny as just now I was I'm coming, I'm coming!' We have a good laugh and I realise that this is why I love him so much. Well, one of the many reasons. We share the same sense of humour and try to take life in a light hearted way seeking humour amongst all the drama. I feel that the saying 'don't wait for the storms to pass but rather enjoy dancing in the rain' is the way I want to live my life.
As I run up the stairs to our bedroom I am not even embarrassed about my wiggly old butt. I am not shy in front of Jonah as he has never once said anything nasty to me about my body, even though it is far from perfect. We just seem to look deeper inside for things to love, and it makes our imperfections of no consequence whatsoever.
I will always remember the derogatory things the inconsiderate white South African males have said about my body. They just seemed interested in arm candy, no woman of substance (or girth) was ever deigned important enough to explore deeper. Most things over there are about what is only skin deep. That is the main reason I left, and will never go back.
The bathroom is elegant, all done in eggshell white with a faint blue tinge. It has a huge corner bath, Jacuzzi - where I am sure we will have lots of fun. At the moment the shower will have to do. I believe that the negative ions of running water have an invigorating effect on one's body and usually prefer to shower. Later tonight though, I think a long luxurious bath will do to get rid of the stresses of travel and new beginnings.
While singing 'I wanna go home, home, home to Jamaica' at the top of my voice I feel invigorated and ready for our new life here. My cats and Kiki are with me, I have Jonah and we have the new projects to look forward to. We have a lot to thank Henri for.
'Hey woman, are you done? Henri just phoned. I knew these pesky mobile phones would create problems.'
'I'm done, I'm done. Your turn. I will be ready in ten minutes. Seeing that we now live in Jamaica I am going to let my hair down to be free and wild. What do you think?'
'You know I love your hair free and wild, I may just consider growing mine again too.'
'No Jonah, you look so nice with just a shadow of hair, but it's up to you. I will always love you no matter what your hair does, you can dye it purple to match my streaks if you want!'
'Good to know, I may try that. Now get going. I told Henri that we are late because you seduced me. I did not mention anything about your ghost. Maybe we should wait with that. We are going to walk up hey? Henri said the driver will come fetch us with the golf cart but I said we would love to walk. Maybe he can bring us back. The Ducati will be here soonish so then there will be transport for us.'
'I want to walk in the fresh air and get exercise. Get my big butt smaller. My jeans won't fit. I am just going to wear a loose dress again; I hope they don't think that I'm pregnant. You know that once a stupid woman in the grocery store asked me when the baby was due. I told her that I was not pregnant, only fat. She was so embarrassed but I was livid. Never went back to that shop.'
'My lovely pregnant almost fifty-year-old. I'm proud of you and love you. But yes, let's get fit. With the forest path down to the beach every day walking Kiki, we will definitely get fit in no time. I need to exercise this wonky leg of mine. Come, let's go.'
'I've made sure that everything is still closed and the cats have nested here on the chaise lounge on my clothes. Kiki's blanket is in front of the bed but I'm sure she will be on the bed when we get back. We must not be late; they are still a bit wary of the strange environment but they have been really good. There is such a peaceful feeling in the house.'
27
'Lilia, Jonah welcome. May I introduce you to Jalade Granville, my companion and our chef tonight.'
Henri is all dressed up in his white ensemble with cravat and Jalade is looking very well for a seventy something year old in a green mu-mu. She must have been a stunning young woman as she is still quite beautiful.
'Good evening Jalade, pleased to meet you. If my nose does not deceive me, I am too late to help you prepare our meal. Sorry.' I look at Jonah and he pulls up his shoulders.
'Sorry Jalade, my fault. I am also very pleased to meet you and I will let Lilia teach you all her vegetarian secrets another day. Feed her potatoes so long and she will be happy. But, if I can concur with my wife, something smells divine.' He reaches over and kisses her hand. My Jonah, the gentleman.
'Lilia, Jonah, I feel like I know you already. Henri has told me so much about you. I have prepared some vegetarian foods for you but you are more than welcome to show me some of your re
cipes. I am glad to hear that you like potatoes as they grow very well here. You must come during the day and I will show you my kitchen garden.'
'Jalade, we will get along splendidly. I wondered who would teach me about gardening in the Jamaican climate and now I have you! My fingers are itching to start growing vegetables and herbs for our use too.' We are each handed a cocktail and we move towards the dining room.