by S M Mala
‘Who are we waiting for?’ she asked.
She saw an older woman approach the table followed by Jake.
Hatty wasn’t quite sure what happened. She felt her breathing stop for a moment when she saw him walk towards them, wearing a loose white shirt and smiling brightly.
Even she knew how she was feeling spelt trouble.
‘Caroline,’ said Murray, standing up and hugging the woman. Hatty noticed Jake stand next to her. ‘This is my belated wife’s sister and Jake’s Aunt.’
The woman smiled at all of them then stopped when she saw Hatty. Immediately Hatty rearranged her dress thinking something was wrong.
‘You’re Harriet aren’t you?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, noticing the concern in Delores eyes.
They moved around so Hatty had Frederick on her left side and Jake on her right. She turned to look at Jake who just grinned.
‘I thought you were busy,’ she whispered.
‘I thought you were busy too.’
‘I was and now I’m here.’
‘What’ve you been doing?’
‘What have you?’ she noticed his mouth and wanted to kiss him but grabbed her drink and sipped it instead. Hatty was reading all the wrong signals and they were friends. Before she managed to get anything up her straw, Jake grabbed her glass and sipped it then flinched. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘There’s a certain amount of rum you can drink at a time.’
‘Mother’s milk,’ she smiled, taking a sip and realising it tasted like they’d put a quart of rum inside. Hatty tuned her head and noticed Caroline was staring. She smiled at the woman only to be met with no reaction as Elena then turned to speak to Caroline, who greeted her with a wide, friendly grin. ‘I don’t think your aunt likes me.’
‘She doesn’t like anyone so that’s no big deal,’ he said. She looked at him and wanted to sigh but bit her lip. ‘I’m starving let’s order.’
Hatty sat at the table as her burger turned up. The other’s had order steaks, lobster, grilled fish but Hatty wasn’t having any of it, not liking the herbs they used on the food and the accompaniment. She asked for a burger and, eventually after Murray’s intervention, she got one.
Looking at the four inch high monstrosity, she sighed before taking it apart. She took out the tomato slice, the lettuce leaf, removed most of the onion and the onions rings. Taking her knife, she scraped out the tomato relish and the half gherkin pickle, Hatty sliced into small slivers. Then she spread a small amount of tomato ketchup and mustard at the bottom, gently placing the gherkin back on the bun and putting the burger on top. When she finished, she divided it into four quarters and realised she was being stared at by a smiling Jake.
‘Why didn’t you say you didn’t want the extras?’ Jake asked, taking one of her fries as he looked at her plate.
‘They didn’t ask me,’ she shrugged, eating a quarter of her hamburger.
‘You’re very strange Ha Ha,’ he said, continuing to eat her fries and examining her plate. ‘You know in New York a burger is a big thing.’
‘I know,’ she shrugged. ‘At least I get to tell them I don’t like the additions. When I want a burger, I just want what I like and that’s it.’
‘You’ve been to New York? You never said.’ Jake leaned back a little surprised.
Hatty continued eating but realised she didn’t like the burger as they’d put thyme into the meat. That’s not what she wanted. She swallowed it and noticed Delores knew she didn’t like it but raised her eyebrows in a way as to instruct her not to say anything. Hatty smiled, smothering her portion of the burger in pepper sauce to hide the taste. Her aunt gave her a little nod before shooting Jake a warning glance.
‘I’ve been a couple of times with aunt to the big apple,’ she eventually replied. ‘We did all the tourist things.’
‘You didn’t like it?’
‘I loved it but it’s too full of people,’ she replied. ‘But on the plus side, no mosquitos.’
‘They do have some in the summer. Most cities do.’
‘I didn’t get bitten and I was fine but I wore repellent anyway.’ She leaned closer to Jake and got a whiff of a scent he was wearing, making her lose her concentration as he turned his face so close to hers. ‘Can you help me eat this? I don’t like it.’
‘Sure,’ he said, their eyes were locked for a moment. He grabbed a quarter, taking two bites and finishing it off. ‘Tastes fine to me.’
‘Hatty,’ Elena said, breaking Hatty out of her moment with Jake. ‘What have you been doing with Philip?’
‘Nothing!’ Hatty said, immediately going bright red as she realised Jake was eyeing her suspiciously.
‘This Sunday and every Sunday, disappearing for hours? Delores, do you know where they go?’
‘The Sunday market down here, isn’t that so Hatty? I don’t know why. It’s all things for tourists coming off from the boats to spend the day on the beaches. They leave so much litter, it’s a disgrace.’
‘Why do you come here every Sunday?’ Jake asked and Hatty noticed he didn’t look impressed.
‘I like the market and watching the people,’ she smiled brightly as Murray raised his eyebrows. Hatty knew he knew what she was up to. ‘And spending time with Philip.’
‘Who’s supposed to be learning about my business when he’s not occupied by you or his sister,’ said Frederick, smiling brightly. ‘That boy runs around for you two like a little servant.’ Hatty bit her lip, knowing it wasn’t exactly the truth. ‘How many times has my son refused your proposal of marriage?’
‘What?’ said Delores, dropping her cutlery.
‘It’s not what you think,’ laughed Hatty nervously, feeling Jake’s glare as he pulled his chair discreetly away. ‘I only asked him to marry me if I’m in my forties and unmarried. And if he is too, he should marry me that’s all. You need to plan ahead.’
‘Why did he refuse?’ asked Jake, throwing his napkin on to his plate.
‘He said he’d end up killing me after a week,’ she quietly replied. ‘And I’m too much like a sister.’
‘And this doesn’t upset you?’ enquired Caroline, speaking to Hatty for the first time.
‘At least he’s being honest,’ she sighed and realised Jake wasn’t smiling.
‘Excuse me,’ he said, getting up and grabbing his phone. ‘I’ve got a message.’
Hatty watched him walked away and make a phone call. Her eyes were momentarily diverted when she could hear the sound of large waves crashing against the beach and she held her breath. When Jake returned, he pulled a chair and sat between his aunt and father, avoiding looking at Hatty. She didn’t know what she’d done to upset him.
After they’d had desert and coffee, Hatty realised no one was talking to her. They seemed enthralled in things she had no idea about. She excused herself and went to the ladies, wondering if she’d ever get the hang of socialising. As she came out of the toilet, she noticed Caroline standing outside.
‘Hello,’ Hatty said, as the woman glared.
‘Harriet,’ she said. ‘Can I have a word?’
‘Yes,’ gulped Hatty, not knowing what she wanted but followed the woman to the side. ‘How can I help you Miss Caroline?’ She noticed the woman examine her face as Hatty looked at the immaculate blonde grey bob, clear green eyes, like Jake’s, and thin pink lips. Her face was only lightly lined but she seemed puzzled. ‘Have I done something to upset you?’
‘I don’t want you to get too close to Jake. He’s suffered enough because of you, do you hear me?’ she said quietly, nevertheless sharply enough for Hatty to know it was a warning.
‘I’ve never done anything to hurt Jake and never will.’
‘You being born was a start,’ Caroline added, walking away quickly.
Hatty stood there, confused by what she said. She walked back to the table and stopped when she saw Jake kissing Gina, openly by the bar. Her heart crumbled completely as she steppe
d back and hid, watching how he touched and caressed the woman. Hatty closed her eyes and felt a tear fall down her cheek then turned around to see Delores standing a few feet away from her.
‘I think we should go home, don’t you?’ Delores gently said.
Hatty nodded, wiping her eyes discreetly and walked out to the waiting car.
After a silent journey home, Hatty went to her bedroom, silently crying at what Caroline had said and seeing Jake with Gina. Her happiness at selling her work obliterated.
Hatty woke at four in the morning. She had sat by the window, late into the night, waiting to see if Jake’s car was there but it wasn’t. Knowing she was on a lost cause, Hatty let out an unhappy sigh, taking her satchel out and examining the contents. She went into the side pocket and saw her passport, birth certificate and money. Hatty knew not to keep anything of value or of secret in the bungalow as aunt would find it. Looking out of the window, the weather was over cast and very grey. It smelt like thunder and she knew if she didn’t go now, she’d be stuck on the grounds for the rest of the day.
Scribbling a note quickly to let Delores know she had left early, Hatty sneaked out of the house, and quickly rode her cycle down the drive, waving to the security man at the front who did a double take when he saw her. He stood in her path.
‘Ha Ha Hatty where ya go so early? Ya Aunt Delores know where you are?’ said Arthur. ‘There gonna be a storm so ya should go back ‘ome. Me know ya not like dem.’
‘Me cyclin’ to a hotel on the other side to get me shawl. Auntie said it okay.’ She noticed he squinted. ‘Me know a short cut.’
‘Ya get wet.’
‘Look,’ she said, taking out her waterproof see through poncho with a hood. ‘Me wear it in England where it always wet.’
‘Ya promise to stop when it rain, ya hear?’
‘Me hear.’
Hatty cycled so hard, the tops of her thighs hurt as well as the soles of her feet.
When she got to the house, she put her bicycle inside and locked the door. It was her weekly cleaning day but, as it was raining, she lit all the mosquito repellent rings and put her plug-in mosquito killer into the workroom area. It was the only place that had electricity. After cleaning the invisible dust and tidying up, she went back into the work room and started to carve the frame of the mirror she intended to give to Jake, as she cried.
Jake was lying on the hotel bed watching Gina ride him with wild abandon as he closed his eyes. She was on heat and so were her insides. He heard her juices squelch.
‘Dat feel good baby?’ she said, her hands pressing firmly against his chest. ‘Ya feel so hard.’
‘Yeah,’ he said throatily, tired from lack of sleep and too much drink.
‘Move ya hips, me close to comin’.’
Jake grabbed her arse and took the weight. He thrust his hips up as quickly as possible and heard her start to groan loudly.
‘Yeah man, fuck me good an’ ‘ard!’ she groaned.
He pumped away. The image of Hatty came into his head and he was fucking her, holding onto her wrists as she groaned and he came instantly. Then he felt Gina’s sweaty body fall on top of his.
‘Me like dis hotel,’ she laughed, kissing him gently on the lips. She slid next to him as he gulped. ‘Ya a wonderful lover.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, trying not to think of Hatty then getting jealous when he realised she was playing him for a fool with Philip. ‘You better leave before my aunt catches us.’
‘Why you stay ‘ere last night an’ not go home?’ she purred, stroking his chest as he closed his eyes.
‘My aunt is here for a couple of days before going to visit friends in Barbados. She wanted to see dad so I thought I’d stick around,’ he said, slowly sitting up and walking to the bathroom, pulling off the condom then throwing it into the bin.
Jake examined his lean muscular body. He stepped into the shower followed by Gina, who was soaping him. He felt tired and had hardly slept, due to Gina and thinking about Hatty.
He spotted Hatty spying on him at the bar and decided to give her a show. He only did it only because he was jealous about Philip. Jake knew Hatty liked him but he didn’t know what he really felt about Ha Ha… other than the continuing annoyance about her fibs and secretive life. The only thing he knew for sure was his loins ached for her and his desire was continually growing.
‘What ya goin’ to do today? Me got to leave to get change for work.’
‘Go for my daily tour with Hatty Ha Ha,’ he said, feeling the urge to go sooner than later.
‘I see,’ Gina said, stepping away and walking out of the shower.
He watched her slim feline naked body as she started to dry her skin.
‘I know you don’t like each other but she’s really very sweet. My father told me to keep her out of trouble before I go.’ He forced a laugh. ‘You know she got sacked as one of the gardeners.’
‘Me don’t care about her!’ spat Gina. Jake stepped out the shower and towel dried his hair. ‘She twenty two an’ act like twelve!’
‘She certainly looked twenty two yesterday,’ he mumbled, thinking about her dress and the curve of her breasts.
‘Me saw,’ snarled Gina, putting on a false smile. ‘Pretty up because Delores don’t want ‘er to be an embarrassment. She behave ‘erself, did she?’
‘Hatty Ha Ha was very well behaved and polite. Were you two in the same year at school?’
‘She went private an’ me two year older. Simon a year younger dan me.’
‘Your brother that died?’
‘The boy she kill!’ snapped Gina, rolling her eyes and looking at the grey clouds gathering in the sky. ‘Ya won’t be goin’ nowhere today with Ha Ha Hatty. She scare of thunder an’ lightin’.’
‘Most people are,’ he replied, wanting Gina and her spiteful comments to go.
‘Not like Harriet. She scare of da noise like she afraid of da sea. Stupid gal!’
‘What happens on days it’s like this?’
‘Delores put her in your father house or she goes to the new hotel down the beach an’ stay in da basement area, just in case we hit by tornado or hurricane, which not happen for tirty years.’ Gina laughed. ‘She be under her bed right now, cryin’. That’s what she do since she a child, cry like a baby.’ The woman smiled, as she put on her bra and top. ‘How many week before ya go?’
‘Eighteen days today,’ he said anxiously, wanting to get back to his father’s house and stay with Hatty. ‘I better get dressed and see my aunt.’
‘Ya come to me home tonight?’ she smiled, her face now softer and beautiful.
‘I’ll call you later,’ he said, brushing his teeth rapidly.
When he came back out Gina had gone. An almighty wave of relief hit him as he quickly got dressed and walked towards his aunt’s room. He heard raised voices from the inside. His aunt and father were having a quarrel.
‘If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t be the man he is today!’ snapped Caroline.
‘And I’m grateful,’ his father said in a calm manner. ‘But you had no right telling Hatty that.’
‘She needs to know the truth.’
‘Why? What good would that do? And what is the truth?’
‘You used my sister and then you neglected your son all for a little native girl!’ snarled Caroline. ‘Times when Jake needed you, where were you? Whatever you thought about Jane, you at least had some responsibility for her child, your son!’
‘It was complicated,’ he groaned.
‘Mourning over a woman who married another man, then thinking you had to look after her child! What on earth what were you thinking?’
‘It’s none of your business!’
‘It is when it affected my sister’s son’s life!’ yelled Caroline. ‘And what about Delores? How can you flaunt her!’
‘I don’t flaunt Delores. She’s very close to me and-.’
‘You don’t even love her, I can tell. Everything was Eloise, I know. We all know. Even
now I see that same look you had all those years ago when you see Harriet. You’re a foolish man.’
‘I’m not going to listen to this shit!’ he said.
Before Jake could move, his father had flung open the door and was startled to see him standing there.
‘I need to listen to this shit,’ Jake said, his feelings in turmoil, knowing his father’s relationship with Hatty’s mother wasn’t just a casual thing.
‘Jake,’ Murray said gently. ‘You shouldn’t have been listening.’
‘But I did,’ he replied, stepping past his father and seeing his aunt’s alarmed face. ‘What did you say to Hatty last night?’
‘Nothing,’ she said dismissively, and carried on packing. Murray put a gentle hand on his shoulder. ‘It doesn’t concern you.’
‘I think when the two people closest to me in my life are at loggerheads then it concerns me,’ he replied and turned to his father. ‘Dad, please tell me what’s going on with Hatty.’
‘There’s nothing to know.’
‘I know her mother was apparently close to you,’ Jake gulped and saw his father’s concern. ‘And she married a man, got pregnant and died two days after giving birth. You’re not the child’s father but you have a sense of responsibility.’
‘You know a bit more than I thought,’ he frowned, glancing at Caroline, who was standing up straight listening.
‘Why don’t you tell him the rest?’ said Caroline sharply, walking towards Murray. ‘How you loved another woman when you married his mother? How both you and Eloise betrayed your partners to hide their affair.’
‘It wasn’t an affair!’ Murray snapped. Jake had rarely seen his father lose his temper. ‘And I don’t have to justify anything to you!’ He pointed at Caroline. ‘It’s idle gossip and people interfering that has ruined my life. I won’t have anyone tell me different!’
‘You could have stopped Jane taking her own life!’ yelled Caroline as Jake took a sharp breath.
‘How?’ asked Murray, walking up to Caroline. ‘I told her I loved her. I said I’d do anything to make her happy but she took the overdose when there was a small child in the next room sleeping. What was I supposed to do?’
‘Because she knew you were still mourning over your stupid little black girl! Two women you’ve managed to kill in one way or another Murray Logan. Are you proud?’