Tropical Balm

by Franny Armstrong

  In Canada, Teal had worked for a large corporate firm where she was the lead trainer of personnel and clients. She’d been paid extremely well, often turning down offers by other firms, who wanted to hire her for her services. She didn’t miss the job, but she did miss being useful.

  Getting back in the car, she said, “Delon, I’ve got a list of things I’d like you to order, and if possible, I’d like you to rush it.”

  Her smile had Delon smiling. It was the first time she’d been happy, since the fateful day so many months ago.

  “I’ll order it today,” he said, humming as he drove them home. He had swapped the bike with the car for the day. It looked like the repair job was nearly finished, and she hoped that Teal she could get rid of Simeon once it was done. She knew that Delon could tell that she wasn’t happy with the nightly visits from his cousin, by her unguarded expressions each morning. She’d noticed new strain marks around her mouth and eyes.

  ***

  It was mid afternoon, and the heat was incredible. Teal felt light headed, and decided that she needed to take a cool shower. The others didn’t seem to mind the heat, but she gave them the afternoon off anyway.

  Poppy took Zola up to the cottage, and Delon went to town to pick up a few things for the addition.

  Putting the radio in the house on classical music, she turned it up loud, and went to the shower, wearing only a light robe. Behind the curtain, she hung the robe on a peg, and stepped under the cooling spray, humming to the plucky fiddles and crashing symbols. Teal stopped humming in surprise. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d hummed. Grinning, she continued, scrubbing to the beat of the music.

  Sighing, Teal turned off the water, stepping out of the tub. Something moved by her foot brushing her ankle, and she screamed, jumping back, tangling in the cloth curtain.

  Suddenly the curtain flew back, and she screamed again, falling toward the tub. Strong arms swung around her waist, and pulled her back into a solid wall of hot skin, her own naked back tingling from the contact.

  Screaming again, she fought the arms, thinking she was being attacked. Her foot caught in the curtain, which sent her and the attacker crashing to the ground.

  “Damn it, will you stop squirming! What the hell are you screaming about?”

  Teal stopped. She lay naked on top of Camden Brooke’s bare chest.

  “Ahhh…let me go you idiot! Pervert! Let go!”

  “I can’t bloody well let you go you fool woman, we are tangled together in this damn curtain,” he yelled at her.

  “Well…well untangle us. No! Wait…ah…close your eyes.”

  Teal tensed her body while on top of him toe-to-toe, and nose-to-nose. She could feel every bump of his body, especially the one against her pelvis!

  Cam stared into her eyes. “You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.”

  Shock made her speechless for all of ten seconds, and then, “I said close your damn eyes!” she cried, wiggling as she tried to untangle her legs, but they were bound firmly to his, and he chuckled.

  “You wiggling your beautiful body like that isn’t helpin’ darlin’.” His Scottish burr was becoming more pronounced by the minute. His voice had become deeper, and husky.

  “Well you aren’t helping a damn bit now are you?”

  When his eyes dipped to her chest, she struggled anew.

  “Oh, damn it anyway!” She noticed that he lay there, not trying to get free at all, and her temper soared.

  “If you don’t help me get free, I’m going to make sure it’s not only wiggles you get right here,” she nudged him with her knee, and he grunted. His warm hands on her back were disturbing her thought process, and the cool shower but a memory as his body heated hers.

  “Now that’s not nice. I heard you scream and came running to help and then—hey, why did you scream anyway? If you wanted my attention, all you had to do was ask. I’d be more than happy to oblige.”

  His cheeky grin was nearly her undoing. Dropping her forehead to his chest, she groaned in frustration. She did not want another bloody man screwing up her evenings, and this big oaf sweet-talking her wasn’t helping things.

  Cam ran his hand over her soft hair, and she tensed. Not lifting her head, she ground out through clenched teeth, “Will you please help me get loose?”

  “Ah, lass, there you go spoiling a perfectly wonderful moment.” Rolling them over, he lay on top of her, noting her widened eyes, and rapid breathing. Cops noticed things like that, at least this ex-cop did.

  “And what will you offer me for turnin’ you loose lassy?” He grinned, and she caught her breath. He appeared to be years younger as his sense of humor took over.

  “I’m not a bloody dog, and the only thing you will get for turning me loose, is the right to keep your balls intact!” Her temper flared.

  He noticed that when she got angry, thin black circles surrounded the iris’ in her sea-green eyes.

  “Not even a kiss?” he teased.

  “Especially not a kiss! Now let me up, or I’m going to keep screaming until the cops in Canada hear me, and come running!”

  Chuckling, he made a vague effort to untangle them, but her warm breasts practically burned holes in his chest, and he wanted to stay tangled up with her for a long time. Weeks maybe!

  Shrugging, he said in fake apology, “Sorry love, but it seems were stuck for a bit.” His eyes held hers captive, and then dropped to her kissable lips.

  Seeing his intent was to kiss her, her eyes widened, and just before their lips met, she turned her head, tears coming to her eyes. Biting her lip, she whispered, “Please.”

  A tear escaped, and he untangled them in record time.

  Her hands came up to hide her naked body from him, and relief shot through her when she felt her robe cover her. A sob escaped, and she scrambled to put it on, tying it tight, her back to him.

  “I…I’m sorry lass. I meant no harm. Will ya forgive me?” he asked, humbled and truly apologetic.

  “Why are you here?” she whispered.

  “Damned if I can remember!” he muttered, nearly bringing a smile to her lips. “Oh, aye. Ah…I came to ask you about the room. You see, the rest of the house is fairly old and worn looking, and I can get a good price on some textured paint, enough to do the addition as well as the whole house. Do you want me to look into it for you?”

  Nodding, she started to walk away, but he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

  “Lass?” he asked softly.

  When the silence stretched, she sighed, and asked, “What is it Cam?”

  “Ah, but it’s nice to hear my name on your lovely lips.”

  Teal cringed, keeping her back to him. “You can stop with the false flattery Mr. Brooke, just tell me what you want so I can leave.”

  “If I told you what I really want, you might leave anyway.”

  Trying to shake off his hand so she could escape his disturbing presence didn’t work, since he only placed his other hand on her shoulder, effectively keeping her still.

  “All right then love, I wanted to know what colour you’d like it to be?” he asked, his warm breath on her neck sending chills up her spine.

  A hoarse croak was all that came out when she said, “You choose.” Breaking free, she ran for the house.

  ***

  Taking a deep breath, Cam gave himself an exaggerated shake, and grinned. “Now there is a woman, flesh and bone.” Sighing, he turned back to the shower and hung the curtain back up. It was some time before he felt it safe to walk straight since his swollen member was in the way.

  Bending down to pick up the bar of soap, he saw what had made her scream in the first place. It was a green lizard, hiding under the cool tub, from the heat of the day.

  “Thanks little friend. You’ve given me quite an enjoyable day.” Winking, he turned, heading for the car, eyeing the house and grinning. He sensed her watching him from the shadows. He stared at the window, then waved. Her face disappeared, leaving him disappoi
nted. She obviously found him attractive. Turning away, he began whistling the tune she’d played on her flute, and went back to work.

  ***

  Wondering how he knew she stared at him, she grinned. He was outrageous! And attractive. And…Alex, she had to think of Alex. Pain washed over her, and her amusing interlude with Cam was forgotten. Well, not really forgotten, but put on the back burner.

  For the rest of the afternoon, Teal found herself in bed, struggling to keep Alex’s face in her mind, and frustrated when Cam’s kept popping up. She was surprised that she didn’t feel like crying. The memory of Cam’s hard…ah…muscles, made her frown. She didn’t want to feel an attraction to anyone. Being in love, and having it taken away, was the worst pain she’d ever suffered. She swore to herself that she would not get involved with a man again.

  Thinking of Zachary, she did cry. No one could replace her handsome son. The sun rose and set on him, and now he’d died because she hadn’t tried hard enough to stop them from going on that trip. She had known what was going to happen, but he’d taken their son anyway. Anger at Alex made her feel guilty, and disloyal. She was so confused! Eventually, she fell into a deep sleep, and didn’t wake up until Poppy woke her for dinner.

  ***

  Simeon showed up early that night, and Poppy took Delon’s and Zola’s meals to the cottage, giving Simeon a disapproving look.

  “I guess you and I are having dinner alone tonight. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said, not wanting him there at all, but feeling obligated. Once the car was repaired, she was going to end it. She left the room to take care of some personal issues.

  Simeon walked over to the stove. Most Jamaican homes didn’t have one, but Teal was used to the finer comforts. Smelling the stew, he was about to put the lid back on, but grinned.

  Pulling a package out of his shirt pocket, he dumped the whole bag of magic mushrooms into the pot and stirred it, replacing the lid just before Teal came back into the room.

  “Hope you like stew. Poppy is an excellent cook.” Taking out two bowls, Teal dished out the stew, bring them to the table.

  Simeon had a strange expression in his eyes tonight.

  “Something on your mind, Simeon?” she asked, taking a bite of the stew, and staring at it funny.

  “Nothing special. Do you want to take a walk before we…ah…after dinner?” He wanted a little time for the mushrooms to work. The mushrooms could cause hallucinations, and a feeling of euphoria. They would loosen her up once they started walking. Maybe he would enjoy himself this time, he thought.

  Teal ate the strange tasting stew, and put the two bowls in the sink to be washed later. Simeon waited impatiently for her to walk with him. Teal wondered at his strange mood, but went outside with him.

  It was just getting dark, and the sky soon filled with beautiful shifting colors. They walked side-by-side in silence for about ten minutes, and then Simeon said he’d changed his mind and wanted to go back to the house.

  Shrugging, Teal began walking back with him. She watched the sky change colour when she suddenly gasped, grabbing his arm. “Did you see that?”

  “What?” he asked grinning. It was working.

  “There was a purple monkey in that tree. Let’s go find him.” Feeling strange, Teal kept her eyes on the trees, watching for the monkey, while Simeon pulled her along with him, heading back to the house.

  Chuckling, he started seeing his own funky characters in the forest. He had to hurry now.

  Tripping, Teal protested as she was pulled along behind Simeon. Narrowing her eyes, she looked at him, and then blinked. His hair was moving. It warbled and shifted in front of her eyes.

  “Your hair! There is something wrong with your hair Simon, Simone, Simyon…I can’t say your name! Why can’t I say your name? What’s wrong with me?” The house loomed up in front of her, and she screamed. “It’s going to swallow me. The house is going to swallow me!”

  Laughing aloud, Simeon pulled her into the bedroom. He yanked at her clothing, tearing it to shreds.

  Weaving on her feet, Teal started crying. “What did you do? Samon what did you…to do…too…do…me? Oh, God…can’t talk.”

  Excited, he pushed her down on the bed, ready to plunge inside, he tried to kiss her, and she started fighting.

  “No! Get the hell…go…stop!” she yelled, shoving him.

  “Listen to me you frigid bitch, lie there, and be still.”

  “No…no…no…No! Let me go. I don’t even like you. I can’t stand you touching me. Get out of here, get out now!”

  His fist came flying, and cracked across her cheek. Again it fell, and then he punched her torso, over, and over again, while she screamed.

  Suddenly he was gone, thrown across the room, and a large red ape was about to step on him, her face was on fire, her body hurt all over, and she could only lie there watching the ape pummel Simeon.

  And then they were gone, and she was alone. She could hear yelling, and a car motor. The ape came back, and she screamed, terrified it would hit her.

  “Teal,” it called, its voice disjointed, and odd.

  “No more stew. No more…please don’t hit me!” she cried, sobbing in pain.

  Another strange creature came in staring at her in horror. “I don’t like stew anymore. Simo, Siman, Simonium…did something…I don’t like it. He hit me…he hit me—.” Sobs wracked her body.

  Cool. Something cool was on her cheek. It felt good. Opening her eyes, Teal saw Cam. He was so handsome, so strong, so funny, and kind. She knew he wouldn’t hit her.

  Reaching up her arm, she touched his lips.

  “Pretty. You’re so pretty Camdam. Hey, Cam…damn…it rhymes. Cam…damn…Cam…damn…You know. I like you Cam…damn.” Giggling she pulled on his shirt bringing him closer.

  When his lips were a hairsbreadth away from hers, she whispered, “Don’t tell Cam…damn that I like him. I can’t like anyone.”

  ***

  Cam was concerned about her, but was assured by Poppy that the mushroom’s effect would wear off, and there should be no side effects. As long as she didn’t take too much, but there was no way of knowing for sure, and the doctor was an hour away. He had to keep her talking until it wore off.

  “Why can’t you like anyone, love?” he asked.

  Her face screwed up, and the pain in her eyes pierced his heart, it was so great.

  “Because, if you love something, set it free, if it comes back it’s yours, if it doesn’t, it never was. They never were mine ‘cause they’re gone. They didn’t love me enough to stay.” A cry of agony tore from her throat. “It’s all my fault. I should have stopped them. I knew they were going to die, and I didn’t stop them. Damn fish! Damn bloody fish. They took my boy, my husband. I’m alone. I’m all alone. I want to die. Let me die!” her shriek rose, hurting his ears.

  Gathering her close, he rocked her, whispered soothing words to her, asked her question after question. He kept her awake until finally, she started to come down, as the mushrooms wore off.

  His arms ached, his back was on fire, as he rocked her hour after hour, kissing her hair, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. He also held a cold compress on her swollen bruised cheek.

  Calm once again, Teal blinked, staring up at him.

  “Why are you here?” she whispered.

  “Because you need me,” he answered.

  “I can’t like you, you know?”

  “I know. Maybe we can start with being friends.” His lips were close to hers, his forehead touching hers.

  “I’m not a very good friend. I let people down.” Her voice was calm, matter of fact.

  “I don’t think that’s true. Poppy, Delon, and Zola seem to think you are pretty awesome, and I think you are too.”

  Teal let out a small snort, and a sigh. “I don’t think so. I killed them. I dreamed of their death, and Alex wouldn’t listen to me. I didn’t try hard enough, and now my husband, my son—.” Her voice cracked, and the tears started a
gain.

  Cam kissed her tears away, cupping her head in his large hand. “Hush now. They chose to go. They chose not to listen to you. You are not responsible for other people’s decisions, whether they are related or not.”

  “I miss them,” she cried. “It hurts so much. I can’t stand the pain.” She was shaking now, the agony of her loss ripping through her.

  Cam lay her down on the bed, and curled into her body, pulling her close. He hung onto her long into the night, until finally she relaxed and fell asleep.

  ***

  When Poppy came in early that morning, and saw Cam holding Teal safe and secure in his arms. She smiled. Through all her tragedy, through all her pain, Teal had found a man who could love her, if she would only let him.

  Turning, she went to the kitchen and made coffee, and a cold breakfast of fruit and yogurt. When she was done, she went back to the cottage, and let them sleep.

  CHAPTER 4

  Coming To Terms

  Alex’s chest hair was tickling her nose. She could feel his heart beating beneath her ear, and sighed. It had all been a bad dream. Alex held her like he always did, and that meant that Zack was fine too.

  She decided to get up, and make his coffee. He liked his coffee as soon as he got out of bed, even taking it to the bathroom so he could drink it while he showered and shaved. Zack would have a soccer game to go to, or hockey, or baseball, depending on the season. Funny, she couldn’t remember which season it was. Frowning, she pushed the thought away.