Memory House

by Ruth Hay

  “Later, Mitchell! This is Stuart Ingleby’s father, Jamison. He’s fine, just tired.

  Would you mind going to see what the man in the powerboat wants? I suspect he has luggage for Jamison. I’ll take him on to my villa now.”

  Mitchell followed orders and returned to Jannice with very little information but with a leather travel bag showing the initials J.I.

  “Who is he?”

  “I haven’t met the man, but if he is Stuart’s father, he has been to Harmony House for a tour so he is not a stranger, although his behaviour is definitely strange. You had better follow them to Vilma’s villa and deliver the luggage. He is going to need some clothes soon.

  Don’t linger there for long. We’ll get the details tomorrow, I expect.”

  * * *

  By the time they reached the villa, Jamison was walking on his own. Vilma showed him the shower and promptly called room service to deliver hot coffee and a meal for two. She then ran over to the companion villa and found Jannice with Honor and Jared who were waiting for Vilma to return from her walk and beginning to worry.

  “What’s going on, Vilma?”

  “Long story! Please go off for your meal together. Mitchell and Jannice will fill you in on some of it. The rest will be added tomorrow, no doubt.

  Look, there’s Mitchell coming for you! Pass me that bag and don’t worry. Everything is fine now.”

  Vilma spoke with her usual confidence but it was in contrast to her inner feelings. She needed to get Jamison on her own, away from everyone, to find out what he was thinking by doing something so dangerous.

  * * *

  By the time Jamison showered, dried, and changed into his clothes, Vilma had washed her face and hands with bottled water and changed into a fresh outfit. The room service meal was ready to eat and she insisted on no conversation until both of them had taken their fill of the plates, washed down with coffee, juice and a bottle of gin. Both of them applied the gin liberally.

  It was full dark by the time they finished eating. They were alone in the night.

  Jamison spoke first.

  “I did not intend to cause such a disturbance, Vilma. I chartered a boat because I could not get in touch with you, and Mavis only knew the resort was somewhere close to Ocho Rios on the north shore. We have been scouring the shore all day looking for you and when I saw you through the binoculars, I acted on impulse in the fear you would be gone by the time we docked somewhere and tried to find you again.”

  She took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.

  “Before I ask the most important question, Jamison, let me explain that we five Canadians agreed to turn off our devices for at least three days in order to escape the distractions of normal life. We were not expecting a visitor rising up from the sea.”

  She could not resist a chuckle. She had the feeling that the vision of him emerging from the waves would never leave her.

  “I understand that now. This is certainly a magical place, set apart from the world, but what is the important question you referred to?”

  “Simply this! Why are you here, Jamison Ingleby?”

  His green eyes were lit up by starlight. He looked straight into hers and never did his gaze falter until he was finished with his explanation.

  “Vilma, I have been an unutterable fool. It took a painful conversation with my long-lost son to awaken me to the fact that I have treated you in an abysmal way. I have presumed too much on slight acquaintance. I have neglected to inform you about my plans in detail. Worst of all, I confess to my shame, I have not shared with you how much I am attracted to you.

  You would be well within your rights to send me on my way with my tail between my legs and never see me again, but I beg you to give me another chance to win your favour.”

  This was becoming more medieval by the minute and Vilma was feeling very uncomfortable. If Jamison Ingleby now fell to his knees, she would scream out loud. This had to stop.

  “Wait! No more, please! You must understand that never in my life has a man pursued me across continents and oceans. You have made your point, Jamison. I trust you have learned something in the process.”

  She smiled a slow smile to warm the effect of her words.

  “Here we are together. We have time to talk and decide what comes next.

  For now, on this heavenly night, the decision is whether or not you sleep in my bed or on this chaise longue?”

  He gasped, his eyes wider than ever, and put his hands on either side of her face to steady her for what was coming.

  The kiss was slow, and deep, and sincere. When it ended, he rose to his feet, and took her hand and led her into the bedroom.

  They slept late. When they walked out to the terrace to survey the beach, there was no one in sight.

  “Smart people you brought with you, my dear Vilma.”

  “Only the best of people for me, Jamison! I hope you know what a great favour you have done me in providing a partner. Three couples can have much more fun than two and a single.”

  “You are full of surprises, Vilma Smith. I will need to get used to your sense of humour among many others of your attributes.”

  She blushed like a young girl.

  “Breakfast now, or a swim first?

  I’ll race you to the water.”

  She stripped off her shorts and ran for the pathway. He was a minute or two behind her. It was another warning that he must not underestimate her energy or her ability to surprise him.

  If ever there was a woman to match him as a partner, friend, companion and lover, it was the one now striding out into the waves and waiting for him to race with her.

  * * *

  From the beach restaurant, two couples watched the display of one-upmanship between Vilma and Jamison Ingleby. They had already shared what little they knew about the man, but it was obvious Vilma accepted him without question.

  “That man has no idea what he is in for with Vilma Smith.”

  Honor nodded in agreement with Jannice.

  “So, shall we make ourselves scarce for the day, or wait here until they get hungry and join us for introductions and explanations?”

  “I favour the latter choice, Mitchell. I am dying with curiosity.”

  “Me too, Jannice! You men can go off wherever you want but I am glued to this seat until I hear the whole story.”

  “Now, Honor, you cannot truly expect an author and his companion writer to miss out on the chance to get the details from the horse’s mouth, as it were. This is priceless material and not the first time I have encountered someone with stories to tell on this very beach.”

  He exchanged a loving look with Jannice and she reached over and squeezed his hand.

  “Right! More drinks around the table, is it?”

  Jared had quickly decided he wanted to be an accepted part of this group. Honor was really happy here with these people and he was beginning to realize this was his chance to find, not just a partner in life, but also a family. A different kind of family, of course, but if shared feelings, kindness, and genuine concern for each other were anything to judge by, this was a family for sure.

  Jared Pace wanted in.

  Chapter 33

  It is one thing to romp around freely on a paradise island where meals appear as if by magic and the days last so long that each one seems endless. It is another thing to pack up and begin the long journey back to reality, and winter in Canada.

  They travelled on New Year’s Day, which meant Jamison easily got a seat on the plane beside Vilma.

  The three couples were subdued. It was hard to adjust to the prospect of separation again.

  Jared and Mitchell were back to work almost as soon as they reached Toronto. Jamison continued on to London with the women but he declared a ground transport bus was useless. For speed and comfort, he hired a limousine van that took all the short cuts and speedily drove them back to London.

  “I do not want to waste another minute without you, Vilma Smith. You have ruin
ed me for the single life.”

  “Hush, Jamison!” she whispered. “Honor and Jannice will hear you.”

  “I don’t think so. Honor is sleeping, and Jannice is writing with earphones on. In any case, there’s nothing either of us could say, or do, that would shock them after the week we have had.”

  There was a lot of truth in his assertion. From the time Jamison arrived at the resort, the atmosphere became more akin to carnival than conservative beach resort. Jamison found some place new to explore every day, and for most of the excursions, he insisted on the other two couples being included in the fun. It was like a honeymoon for six, wherever they went, and the laughter was endless.

  Jared turned out to have a raunchy sense of humour.

  Mitchell was a fund of local history knowledge. Honor reactivated her smartphone and added to his descriptions all the time, causing hilarious results when her information and Mitchell’s were at odds. This led to competition between them and a rush to confirm or deny information by finding a local source. Generally, this was in the form of a co-operative Jamaican woman who was more than happy to expand on their mistakes.

  Jannice was mostly quiet and observant, but she confided in Vilma one afternoon as they sat on the beach chairs while Jamison stretched out full length on the sand getting a tan, that she was thrilled to see how well she and Jamison were suited.

  “I believe you have found someone who will match you in many ways, Vilma.”

  “You never met my Nolan, Jannice, but although they are really quite different men, it’s almost like I have flipped back in time to when I was most comfortable and happy with a man. Of course, I must keep him on his toes. There’s a long way to go before I will let him forget the scene on the beach when he emerged from the sea like a drowned rat!”

  “What are you two giggling about back there?”

  “Nothing, darling! Nothing at all!”

  Jamison was not convinced by their obvious lie and he sat up and surveyed his tanning progress. Laughing with, was fine, but Jamison Ingleby did not appreciate laughing at.

  Vilma promised herself that she would soon add that weakness of his to the list of changes she would require of him. Nothing major, thankfully, just a few necessary little tweaks and adjustments. Of particular concern to her was the danger of his forgetting how important she now was in his life.

  The life, where he lived with a female partner, that is, rather than the life his business interests represented.

  When they drew up in front of Harmony House, the path to the front door was clear of snow. Mavis and Hilary were in Vilma’s room watching for their arrival from the window.

  Vilma had phoned ahead to tell them the time they might be expected, but she said nothing about the man arriving with them. Jamison promptly shooed the women into the house and proceeded to unload all the luggage, pay the driver, and march up to the house in stages, with cases and bags strung around him.

  This delay provided just enough time for Mavis and Hilary to get the basic questions out of the way.

  Jamison Ingleby? Stuart’s father? Really?

  How on earth did that happen?

  Yes, he asked me where you were going in Jamaica, but I had no idea he was going to fly there.

  By yacht? Are you joking?

  How was it?

  The best time ever? I am so glad for all of you.

  “Look, come inside. You must be freezing after the tropics. There are coffee and treats in the winter dining room. The fire is on.

  Jannice please set out another cup and plate. I am going to get the surprise.”

  Vilma could not imagine what surprise Mavis would produce to match the sudden appearance of Jamison Ingleby.

  Hilary was saying nothing in the way of a clue. She was pulling another chair up to the table for Jamison.

  By the time Jamison had removed his coat and poured his coffee, Mavis returned to introduce her Christmas Kitten. She gently placed a sweet little grey cat with white paws and a white tip on her tiny tail, onto an unused place mat on the table.

  “This is Sparkle. Hilary named her and she has certainly brought a sparkle to us this Christmas.

  Andy Patterson brought her by on Christmas Eve. He also cleared the paths and the porch and brought in milk from the store in case we ran out, now we were to be feeding a cat as well as ourselves.”

  “She is a darling, isn’t she?” added Hilary. “She is tiny, so do look out for her underfoot. We hoped to get her familiar with the house before the dogs return home. After that she will be mostly inside either of our tower rooms until she is bigger and can fend for herself.”

  “By the way, Vilma, Andy said to tell you he will deliver the dogs tomorrow, if that suits you.”

  Everyone around the table automatically lowered their voices so as not to startle the kitten. They sat still and watched while Sparkle chose which person to move toward. It was like a special privilege when she navigated the cups and plates to nibble on crumbs left by Jamison.

  “I am a confirmed dog man,” he murmured, “but this little one could cause me to change my mind.” He reached out a cautious finger and stroked the kitten’s fur very gently.

  Vilma noted the result, and thought it could be something to remember for the future.

  * * *

  That future was the topic of discussion on their last night in the villa.

  “Can you give me a time frame for the new house, Jamison?”

  “It’s difficult! Winter construction is dependent on weather conditions. It will be a single-story house with a dugout basement below the main floor so at least some of it is likely to be complete before spring.

  I promise to keep you up to date on progress, my darling. I will send daily reports and photos, and of course I want you to be the designer for the entire interior.”

  “Good!” She turned around in his arms and gave him a kiss to remind him she was pleased he remembered their agreement.

  “Before that stage, I need to see the site as a whole. I have not driven much around Prince Edward County but I am told it is spectacular in a rural kind of way.”

  “That is correct. It is an area very attractive to Toronto buyers. I managed to snap up one of the larger lots overlooking a small lake. You will love it Vilma.”

  She felt encouraged by his enthusiasm and yet she knew there would be no chance of moving house until winter had turned into spring, or even summer. Jamison had many decisions to make about his business interests. She had many decisions to make about her own future also. For now, they were in a honeymoon phase of their relationship and that was lovely. Vilma Smith did not delude herself about the real possibility of changes on either side of the equation. It was a waiting game. Everything depended on the strength and durability of what they had started in the very villa in which they slept.

  Harmony House was not a private Jamaican villa.

  She would judge by the number of times Jamison made it through the snow to join her in London.

  Travelling to wherever his hotel accommodation might be, was not so simple in winter with the dogs in tow.

  As ever in these situations, time would tell.

  Right at the moment, she was in his arms, warm, loved and loving. She knew enough to value the moment for what it was. Wonderful!

  Vilma was not the only woman in Harmony House with decisions to make.

  Jannice saw a new side of Mitchell when they went exploring the island with two other couples. He cast off his scholarly demeanour, and reacted as a more relaxed and fun person. It was a side of him she really enjoyed and she was keen to keep this alive.

  They had several discussions when they were alone about where and when they would set up house together. It was difficult to keep on topic with all the distractions of sun and sand around them but some conclusions had been reached.

  They preferred not to be apart so much.

  Janice did not want to move permanently to Quebec City.

  Mitchell did not want to live exclus
ively in Harmony House.

  When the present archaeology dig in Toronto was over, Mitchell would begin to search for a middle point where they could set up house together.

  In the meantime, Jannice would remain with her friends.

  It was tentative, and both of them knew it.

  Mitchell needed to be available to help his aging mother. He also needed a quiet place to continue his writing.

  Jannice was writing also, although she had not yet fully disclosed this to Mitchell.

  There were final decisions to be made on both sides. By spring, they would confer again about any changes.

  Honor was in a similar situation and she and Jannice bonded over their dilemmas. They consumed multiple cups of coffee and tea while they discussed options.

  Honor thought Jared would respond well to living with her at Harmony House.

  “I think he needs the family atmosphere around him. At least I hope so, because I doubt I could ever get a better working and living situation than the one I have here. The lease on his apartment on Southdale Road expires in a few months. Decisions must be made by then, but I can’t force him to choose. I do believe we can make a go of it as a couple.”

  “Are you talking about a formal relationship? A wedding perhaps?”

  “Oh, Jannice, that is such a minefield for me and for him. Both of us have lived on our own for so long. The idea of marriage brings such expectations and inevitable changes that I am frankly terrified of the thought of it. My memories of marriages from those I have known, are not the best. My parents had a strange union based on strict religious principles. My sister’s pseudo marriage to Mason Jeffries was for convenience only but that turned out to be a saving grace for Faith when she found him again and saw what a real marriage looks like.”

  “What is a real marriage, Honor?”

  “You would know better than I do, Jannice. You had a stable home for most of your life.”

  “That is true, but it was stifling because my parents relied on me so much that I did not know how to develop my own life until Vilma came along.”