by S M Mala
‘I’ll close the blinds,’ he said, getting up and seeing the flashes of light coming through, knowing thunder was to soon follow. Jake then got in and wrapped his arms around her. She was shaking and had put a pillow over her head. ‘You’ll be fine.’
She waited for hours as the noise crashed around her head until it was silence then the rain came down heavily. Hatty was getting some flash backs to when she was younger but she couldn’t make sense of it in her head. Jake was breathing on her neck as she carefully got out of bed and put on her dungarees, walking out and down the corridor towards Murray’s room. She prised open the door with the spare key Jake had and walked in.
Murray was sleeping as she sat and watched him, feeling less scared than before as she got comfy on the sofa and fell asleep.
Hatty heard sounds as she started to open her eyes.
Delores was looking down at her.
‘What are you doing in here?’ she asked as Hatty jumped up seeing Murray smiling at her and looking much better.
‘You look tired. Did you sleep last night?’ he said and she shook her head from side to side.
‘I was scared so I came to find you,’ she said listlessly.
‘You shouldn’t have come to disturb Murray, you know that?’ Delores said sharply as Hatty nodded, catching a sympathetic look from Murray before walking out of the room.
She opened the door to her room. Jake was still asleep but Barney shot up towards her and she dragged him out.
Going through the doors to the pool area, she let the pooch have a walk but it was too windy as he hid in the bushes, did what he had to do and she brought him back in. Hatty saw the hot tub in the corner and the empty steam and sauna rooms as she headed back out to the main throng of the hotel.
‘This really is no place for a dog,’ she said, walking tiredly through the building.
‘What are you doing up so early?’ said Caroline stopping Hatty.
She felt so tired she couldn’t talk but smiled.
‘Couldn’t sleep,’ she said wearily. ‘Did you sleep?’
‘Like a log,’ the woman said brightly. ‘I expect Jake’s still out.’
‘Yes,’ said Hatty, seeing the black sky out of the window. ‘I better get back.’
‘Can we talk later?’
‘Yes,’ Hatty wearily said, not having the energy to fight as she took the emergency stair case and walked up to her floor, returning to the bedroom.
He was still fast asleep. Barney jumped on the bed and sat on the corner as Hatty took a shower and brushed her teeth. She didn’t feel well and wondered if she was coming down with something as she got out and wrapped towels around her head and body.
As she walked into the bedroom, Jake’s eyes were starting to open. Hatty just put on the television and tuned into the news channel. She sat on the floor and then heard her own gasp on watching what was happening in the storm, wanting to cry but bit back what was occurring in her throat. All the time there was a heavy rumbling in the background from the sky.
‘Shit,’ she heard Jake say, getting up quickly. ‘It’s heading here fast.’
Hatty watched him run in and out of the bathroom, get changed and sprint out of the room as she sat there in a sleep numb state. Getting up slowly, she opened the blinds further and was met with the darkest grey sky before looking down and at the beach.
The waves were roaring and smacking the islands with the grey fluid. They were larger than she had ever seen them and she took as sharp intake of breath, seriously scared they’d reach her house then come towards her. Sitting back down, she just stared, eventually falling asleep on the ground.
‘Wake up,’ she heard Delores say as she opened her eyes. ‘It’s nearly lunchtime and I’ve been looking for you all over the place.’
‘I fell asleep.’
‘It’s going to get a lot worse Harriet, mark my words,’ she said as Hatty sat up and stayed still for a few moments. ‘What were you doing in Murray’s room last night? You know he needs his rest.’
‘I couldn’t sleep and I didn’t know where to go so I went there.’
‘Leave him to get better Hatty,’ she said sternly. ‘Promise me?’
‘I promise,’ she said, knowing a ban when she heard one. ‘I better… Where’s Jake?’
‘Downstairs,’ she said dismissively, then through gritted teeth. ‘Attracting a lot of female attention but then again, he is a Logan.’
Her aunt wasn’t far off the truth as he was sitting at a table with Philip surrounded by women. Then she noticed Gina was part of the group and quickly stepped back, taking Barney for a walk before handing him over to Bennett. She got something to eat from the kitchen and sat back in the pool area which was still empty.
She felt so alone and deeply scared about the sea and sky. Hatty started to cry. Then she realised she couldn’t hear anything, realising the pool area was sound proof.
Hatty did what she did best and just hid for the rest of the day. She lay on a lounger by the glass windows and watched the weather go wild outside. A few people walked in and walked out when they realised it was a pool. There was no sound from outside and it made her feel safe.
Her eyes focussed on the sky as she saw the shapes of the grey clouds move so quickly across. She couldn’t keep up with them, then the sky would get very dark before the water poured down. She thought of so many things as she closed her eyes and wondered if she was destined to be happy.
‘Hatty?’ she heard but she couldn’t open her eyes as she swallowed hard. ‘Hatty?’ Jake was crouching by her. ‘Dad said he found you sleeping in his room this morning then you disappeared. I’ve been looking all over the place for you.’
‘Yeah, it’s really quiet,’ she said, unable to move. ‘Leave me here I’ll be fine.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Delores told me to keep out of Murray’s room. I think I might have given him a fright when he found me sleeping there.’
‘I hadn’t even noticed you’d gone,’ he said, looking at her. ‘I’ve done as much work as I can so it’s a question of waiting it out.’
‘When’s it coming?’
‘Tomorrow afternoon,’ Jake said grimacing. ‘We’ll be together so there’s nothing to worry about.’
‘Then the day after tomorrow I’ll be free.’
‘You’ll be free.’
Murray lay in his bed in the early evening after eating a light meal. He was feeling better and smiled at recalling Hatty sleeping in his room, as she had done so many times when she was really scared as a child. He then looked around, knowing he’d not been to the hotel for over twenty two years.
Many times he wanted to sell it but Frederick stopped him, both knowing what and whom lay in the concrete foundations. The idea of Hatty being on site made him shudder and he wished this wasn’t happening.
Delores walked in and his heart sunk further as she smiled brightly.
‘You look so much better,’ she said, kissing him on the cheek and sitting down. ‘I thought you might need some company.’
‘I seem to have a lot of it,’ he said, forcing a smile. ‘How’s everyone doing?’
‘It’s so busy in this place you don’t get time to think,’ she laughed out and he noticed she seemed very cheerful.
‘How’s Hatty? Even I’m scared by the sounds outside. She must be going through hell.’ He watched her smile slip. ‘You shouldn’t have told her not to come into my room. I was happy to see her this morning.’
‘Jake should be looking after her,’ said Delores, biting her bottom lip. ‘He’s her boyfriend isn’t he?’
‘He’s more than that,’ Murray replied and closed his eyes for a moment.
‘I feel bad about you collapsing. I keep wondering if I’m to blame.’
‘I’ve not been feeling well for a while and you know this is a warning to look after this old ticker,’ he said, patting his heart.
‘And talking about your heart,’ she said gently, leaning closer. ‘I was so w
orried about you. You know if anything happened, I’d simply be devastated.’
‘I know you care about me.’
‘I love you Murray with all my heart,’ she said and he realised the sincerity. His heart sank. ‘You know I’d do anything to make sure you’re happy.’
‘I know,’ he said, closing his eyes. ‘You’ve been so good to me but these past months things have changed between us.’
‘I’ve been a little distant but you’ve not been coming back for long stretches of time,’ she said quietly.
‘Why are you so resentful about Hatty and Jake?’ he said and watched her face suddenly become taut. ‘Ever since he came on the island and their relationship started, you’ve been agitated and very angry. We’ve spoken a lot about it and that’s what’s worrying me, you can’t see their happiness.’
‘I don’t believe it, that’s all. She’s a young twenty three and he’s a very young twenty two. She’s going to get hurt pining for him and there’ll come a day he returns to the island with someone new. How do you think Hatty’s going to take? You know she’s not interested in boys from around here so it will break her heart. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen.’
‘You’re so sure they’re not meant to be together?’ Murray asked, seeing she looked adamant. ‘What about us? Are we destined to be together?’ He noticed her surprised expression. ‘You know I don’t want to marry you, I know I told you this before I collapsed.’
‘I realise you don’t want to make it official between us. I accept that, though I’d prefer it if we showed everyone we’re together.’
‘We’re not,’ he heard himself say and watched her shocked expression. ‘We’re not together because I don’t want to be with you.’
‘Murray, you’ve been under a lot of stress and-.’
‘I don’t love you. You asked me and I never replied but I don’t love you.’ Murray closed his eyes for a moment. ‘I care about you very much but I don’t think I’ve ever been in love with you and recently, I’m starting to feel trapped.’
‘You can’t mean that,’ she said and he watched her trying her hardest to hold back tears. ‘After all we’ve been through together. You’re not thinking-.’
‘It’s all I’ve been thinking about for months… maybe years,’ he said quietly and took a deep breath. ‘You see, I think it’s time for us to call it a day.’
‘What?’
‘I don’t want to be with you Delores,’ he said, feeling the pain of saying it in his chest.
‘Is there someone else?’
‘No.’
‘I know you Murray,’ she said, leaning closer. ‘You’ve seen other women, I’ve always known. I don’t believe for one moment it’s not because of another person.’
‘Okay it is,’ he said, getting annoyed with her.
‘I knew it.’
‘It’s me!’ He watched her face contort with pain. ‘I’m sorry but I can’t put it any other way.’
‘No!’ she said, standing up. ‘You can’t throw me aside like this!’
‘We can’t go on.’ Murray took a deep breath knowing what he was going to say next would cause all amount of problems. ‘I think you should move off the estate. I’ll buy you-.’
‘Can you hear yourself? You need me to help run your home, to sort out your staff and life. What will you do without me?’
‘Cope.’
The room was dark when she walked into it, though the blinds were wide open. Delores marched out of his room and into her own, telling the nurse not to let anyone else see him for the day, especially Hatty. She couldn’t accept what he was saying but realised he meant it.
‘How could he do this to me?’ she said angrily, as she wiped her bitter tears away and kicked the armchair, sitting on the bed and weeping angrily at losing the love of her life, all the time blaming Hatty and Jake for this terrible turn of events
Thirty two
Jake watched Hatty lay motionless on the lounger as she stared out into the sky. There was an eerie silence around the swimming pool and he was surprised she was alone. The rain and wind smashed around outside.
‘I need to get Barney,’ she smiled. ‘I hate this, I really do. Not knowing what’s going to happen next.’
‘It’s going to come and pulverise the island then go away and we can forget about it,’ he said gently, hoping it would be the case but knowing the damage being done at other locations.
‘Is there bad weather in New York? You know in London it can rain quite a lot but I’d only hear thunder and lightning about twice a year, if that.’
‘It’s normal in New York. Not at wet as London but there’s occasional thunder and lightning. You know when it’s like this it’s very sexy, like built up sexual frustration,’ he smiled. ‘Have you ever made love when there’s thunder and lightning?’
‘Jacob, I’m usually crying or shaking or both,’ she said sullenly. ‘And you know you’re the only one I’ve ever been with so if we haven’t done it, then I haven’t done it.’
‘Let’s go back to the room,’ he said and noticed her eyes narrow. ‘You look tired.’
‘We need to get Barney.’
‘I’ll sort it out, don’t worry.’
Jake bribed the children to look after the dog as they walked to the lift and went back to the room. No one was making the beds or cleaning so it was exactly how they’d left it. Hatty slowly tidied up then looked out at the sky and grimaced. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. Slowly, he pulled down the straps of her dungarees as she stood still and focussed on outside. As her denim dropped to the floor, he took of his t-shirt and moved his hand up her top, feeling her breasts through her bra. He could hear the change in her breathing as she put her hand on his crotch, touching his hard on in his jeans.
‘Don’t turn around, keep looking at it and you’ll see the next time you won’t be afraid,’ he said into her ear as he pushed her hair away from her neck while undoing his jeans and stepping out of them.
They were now in their underwear as he kissed her shoulders and undid her bra, cupping each breast in his hand, feeling their glorious weight while looking at her face, her eyes closed.
Jake pushed her closer to the back of a chair, stopping a bit in front of it. He squeezed her nipples the way she liked it before slipping one hand down the front of her knickers. She felt wet as he gently pushed his hard on into her back before whispering,
‘Open your legs.’
She parted her thighs as he pushed his fingers up and down her slit, feeling her nub and rubbed her gently. He knew how quickly she could come so he stopped and placed a finger inside as she groaned. Jake wanted to fuck her hard and started rubbing with speed, holding tightly onto her body, squeezing her breast and nibbling on her ear.
‘Yes, don’t stop, don’t stop,’ she said.
‘Open your eyes and look out the window,’ he moaned and saw her do it as her body trembled.
Then the rumbling of thunder started and he held firmly onto her and rubbed her until Hatty screamed at the same time as the fork lightening came. He bent her over the chair and put his fingers inside her, moving at fast speed, holding on to her breast then stuck his throbbing cock inside her. Hatty’s body vibrated and he fucked her with all his might. The pair watched their reflection in the glass as they came together, all the time the angry grey sea thrashed about outside.
She knew he wanted to take her mind off things as they lay on the floor an hour later. Jake sucked hard on her breasts, concentrating all the time as she tried not to look out of the window. Hatty realised he wanted to spend as much time having sex as he possibly could and given the current predicament, it’s all they could do.
‘I love these,’ he said, nibbling on her nipples. The wind was battling with the elements outside and they’d watched things fly through the sky. ‘I want to suck them until you come again.’
‘Or until you come again?’ she said quietly, closing her eyes. ‘I noticed there was no kissin
g when we made love.’
‘Hatty, it was spontaneous,’ he laughed, looking up at her as she smiled into bright green eyes. ‘And I love making love to you.’
‘Good because you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life,’ she said, pulling his head so she could kiss him. They embraced and kissed passionately, slowly prising their bodies apart. ‘I like your lips.’
‘I like yours,’ he said, stroking her side. ‘Why were you so sad this afternoon?’
‘I was thinking that’s all. Things are coming back into my head about my accident and I can’t figure it out. I’d never jump into the sea. It doesn’t make sense but I’m told that’s what I did. How could I do that and make people worry?’
‘Don’t think about it. Look, when this Hatty whirlwind is over we can look forward to new things.’
‘I have a house now,’ she said, staring right at him. ‘We have a home.’
‘I have an apartment,’ Jake replied. ‘We have a home.’
‘We’re very lucky to have two homes at our age. Some people don’t get that in their lifetime.’
‘You’re not changing your mind about coming to New York now you’re a woman of retail estate?’ he smiled as Hatty grinned.
‘You owe me rent!’ She sat up and looked down at him. ‘Lots of rent!’
‘I knew you were going to say that!’ he laughed as she admired his long lean body. ‘I’ll pay you in tiny instalments.’
‘As it’s you, I’ll let you off.’ She touched her necklace. ‘Because I love you.’
‘Then on the eve of this hurricane I think we should celebrate.’
‘What?’
‘We’re getting married a year tomorrow, or had you forgotten?’
‘You just want me for me money, don’t you?’
The wind beating against the glass replicated how her heart was thumping through her breast. Delores couldn’t think and didn’t know what to do. For hours she walked around her room, unable to focus. It was a horrible nightmare and she couldn’t snap out of it. It was after five and she could hear people rushing down the corridor, preparing for the massive storm.