An Island Affair Page 3

  “I definitely can’t move to the islands right now. I’m up for reelection!” exclaimed Edward. “But I have a friend who owns his own construction business. He can definitely do the work. I’ll fly over and assist as much as I can, but I can’t move here.”

  Finally we agreed that we weren’t going to sell the properties, but develop them. We wanted to honor our father’s wishes—to do something great with the properties, as he’d suggested. But the reality was, the properties would require more time and effort—not to mention resources—than any of us would be able to provide alone.

  “I like Jasmine’s idea of developing the properties into bed-and-breakfasts. And I think we should call it the Grove,” said my sister Whitney. “I’d be happy to help run the place when the school year ends.” Whitney had gone to college in Dallas, Texas, and never returned to the Bahamas. Instead, she’d accepted a teaching position at an elementary school there and made her home in a cozy little Dallas suburb.

  My youngest brother, Dennison, had been as quiet as a church mouse for most of the conversation. As the baby of the family, he was often forgotten.

  “Denny, you haven’t said what you think about all of this,” I said. “What would you like to see happen with the properties?”

  “I don’t really care one way or the other,” he said.

  “I think if we do this bed-and-breakfast thing, Denny could probably play a major role in running the place,” suggested Alyson, “especially since he’s the only one who lives at home right now.”

  “No,” said Denny.

  “Why not?” asked Alyson. “You’re not doing anything else! It’s not like you’re going to college.”

  Dennison, who had been a few weeks from graduating high school, hadn’t yet identified a school of higher education.

  “Of course he’s going to college,” said Nate, the ever-protective brother. “He just hasn’t figured out where. Get off his back!”

  “I haven’t applied anywhere because I’m not going to college,” said Denny matter-of-factly.

  The entire household fell silent. No one said anything for what seemed like a lifetime. We all waited for hell to break loose.

  My mother, who hadn’t said much either, stood with her hands on her hips. “Dennison Talbot, what do you mean you’re not going to college?”

  We waited for Denny’s response.

  “I’ve enlisted in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. I’ve already sworn in, and after graduation, I’m due to be deployed to the United States to train with the US Navy Seals.”

  “Have you lost all the sense God gave you, child?” My mother’s Bahamian accent suddenly seemed stronger than normal. It usually came and went, considering she wasn’t a native. She turned to my father. “Paul John, did you hear what your son just said?”

  “Daddy.” Denny tried to whisper, but failed. “You said you would talk to her.”

  “You knew about this, Paul?” she calmly asked my father.

  “Beverly, this is not the time for this discussion,” my father said calmly. “Not while we’re discussing the children’s inheritance. One issue at a time.”

  “This discussion is not over.” She pointed a finger at Denny and then at my father. “We will revisit it.”

  With Denny going away soon, the idea of turning the properties into a successful business had seemed impossible, particularly since we were all scattered about the US. Pulling this off would require a sacrifice that no one was willing to make—except for me. Having had very little success as a model-turned-actress, I was ready to return home.

  “I’ll do it,” I volunteered. “I’ll move back home and oversee the construction. And I’ll even write the business and marketing plan.”

  “Have you ever written a business plan before, Jasmine?” asked Alyson.

  “Yes, at Spelman,” I told her. My classes in college had equipped me with a great deal of business knowledge.

  “Have you ever written a real business plan for a real business, I mean?”

  “Well, no...”

  “Where have you used what you learned at Spelman? In Hollywood?” Alyson continued.

  I rolled my eyes at my sister, who’d obviously found humor in the fact that I’d chosen a different career path than the rest of my siblings.

  * * *

  A few hours later, I placed the photos back into the boxes I’d found them in. It was getting late, and I needed to make my way to the water taxi before nightfall. I did a final walk-through of the house, shut off all the lights, secured the place and then stepped outside.

  I was surprised to find Jackson seated on a stoop outside, chattering on his phone.

  “What are you still doing here?” I asked him once he’d wrapped up his call.

  “I had a few loose ends to tie up.”

  “You sure you aren’t stalking me?”

  “Of course not. I have better things to do than to stalk you.”

  “I told you I’d be fine,” I said.

  “I know, but I wanted to make sure anyway.”

  “Fine. I’m leaving.”

  “Good.”

  I smiled as I hopped into the backseat of the cab. Of all those bad qualities I’d pinpointed in Jackson, I could not accuse him of not being a gentleman.

  Chapter 4

  Jasmine

  My father stood at the dock with his graying sideburns, tall, slender frame and round midsection. He wiped sweat from his dark brown face with a handkerchief and grinned a wide grin when he saw me.

  “Hello, darling,” his deep voice greeted me.

  “Hi, Daddy.” I hugged my father. “You didn’t have to pick me up. I could’ve gotten a taxi.”

  I was happy to see my father. It reminded me of the times he’d picked me up from school when I was much younger. He’d stand outside the little pink schoolhouse and wait to walk me home. I’d tell him all about my day, and we’d stop for fresh fruit at the market—papayas, mangoes and pineapples.

  “It’s okay. Your mother sent me to the market anyway. I think she wanted me out of the house—sometimes I get on her nerves, if you can believe that.”

  “I don’t believe that.” I laughed.

  “It’s true.” Daddy laughed heartily. “Besides, I couldn’t wait to find out how things went at the Grove today. I’m so proud of you, and your brothers and sisters for taking this on.” He had a strong Bahamian accent, though he was not born or raised in the Bahamas. He grew up in Key West. But with both parents of Bahamian descent, he was bound to speak just like them.

  My siblings and I had Bahamian accents as well, although I tried with all my might to lose mine once I left the islands. And with California being a huge melting pot, my accent was just one of many dialects there.

  “I found all sorts of things belonging to Grammy and Granddad. Photos and paintings and stuff. Lots of photos of Granddad and his band.”

  My father smiled.

  “My father was a multitalented musician. He played the trumpet, traveled throughout the Caribbean with his band. He played the goombay drums, and when he lived in Key West, he was a self-taught pianist. He had his very own baby grand piano and had it shipped over from the States.”

  “I saw the baby grand. It’s beautiful! I think it will look nice in the Clydesdale,” I said. “I guess I got my desire for the arts from him.”

  “I guess you did.” Daddy held my car door open and I hopped in.

  He maneuvered the car on the left side of the road and navigated down Queen’s Highway from the water-taxi dock toward our home on Governor’s Harbour.

  “I’m really not feeling Edward’s friend Jackson, the contractor...” I lowered my window a bit to catch a breeze, checked my hair in the side mirror. “He’s so...let me see...” I thought about the words I wanted t
o use. “...so arrogant and egotistical.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, I don’t like him much at all. I don’t know if I can work with him,” I said. “Maybe we can find someone who’s a little more approachable to do the work. Someone friendlier.”

  “Is he unapproachable?”

  “He’s cold. Self-absorbed.”

  Daddy smiled a little. “You mean he didn’t make a fuss over you.”

  “What? No. I don’t care about that,” I said. “I just care about the Grove and making sure we’ve hired the best person for the job.”

  “He has a very impressive work history and comes highly recommended.”

  “Of course he’s highly recommended by Edward—they’re friends!”

  “By people he’s done work for in the past.” Daddy pulled his old pickup truck in front of the house, a vehicle he’d owned for as long as I could remember. “From what I can tell, the fellow does excellent work. You should do a little research on him. You’d be surprised at what you’ll find.”

  I climbed out of the truck and gave the door a hard push. “Maybe I will.”

  * * *

  I found Denny in his bedroom, lying flat on his back and tossing a football into the air.

  “Don’t you have anything better to do?” I peeked inside.

  “No.” He was so unconcerned. He’d recently made one of the biggest decisions of his life and seemed so dispassionate about everything else.

  “You seem so weird lately, like it doesn’t concern you that you’ll be deployed soon.”

  “It’s life, Jazzy. No big deal.”

  “No big deal? Really?” I took a seat at the foot of his bed. “Well, if it’s no big deal, why didn’t you tell our parents about it before you did it?”

  “Because they make a big fuss about everything! I mean, I’m just not college material. I know my limitations. I know what I want, and this is it. End of story.”

  “Aren’t you a little bit afraid?”

  “Of course. I mean, weren’t you afraid when you went away to Spelman? And weren’t you afraid when you moved to California?”

  “Terrified.”

  “Well, I’m not terrified. But I’m a little scared,” he admitted. “But it’s my life. And no one can live it for me.”

  “You’re right.” I smiled. “I guess you’re not a little kid anymore. You’re growing up. You obviously trusted Daddy enough to talk to him about this. I think Daddy’s easy to talk to.”

  My brother gave me a sideways glance. “He’s easy for you to talk to. You’re his favorite.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah...you didn’t know?”

  “I’m not his favorite. He loves all of his children equally.”

  “Well now, that might be true. But he’s not as easy as you think he is. Not with me. When all of you guys left for college, it was bad. I received everything that was meant for all of you. The good and the bad. Mostly the bad,” Denny laughed. “Every time one of you messed up, or made a bad decision, I caught hell. All of the lessons you missed, I got them. So unfair.”

  “You’re exaggerating.” I grabbed a pillow and threw it at my little brother.

  “Oh yeah, I caught hell for you more than anybody!” Denny laughed a bit. “Jasmine this, Jasmine that. Jasmine broke up with Darren, and now her grades are bad. Jasmine moved clear across the country to California. Who does she know there? Where will she stay? How will she pay her rent? Denny, no, you can’t go out with your friends. We have to figure out what we’re going to do about Jasmine.”

  “Shut up!” I laughed.

  “I’m serious. You’re responsible for my lack of a decent social life. They sheltered me from your mistakes.”

  “You’re exaggerating.”

  “You always were the rebel,” said Denny, “which is why the rest of them don’t think you can handle the Grove. It’s why they give you such a hard time. They’re jealous of you. Wish they could be rebels, too.”

  I was laughing hard at this point. “You think so?”

  “I know so!” said Denny. “It’s true because I wanted to be like you, too. I admire you, Jazzy. You follow your dreams. Even if things don’t work out for you, at least you give it a try.”

  “Oh, Dennison Talbot. You are a sweetheart.” I grabbed my little brother’s face in my hands and kissed his forehead.

  “I’m serious. It’s why I joined the Royal Bahamas. I’m making a bold move to do what I want to do.”

  “I’m happy that you’re doing what makes you happy, Denny.” I smiled. “When do you ship out?”

  “Few weeks.” He walked over to his computer desk, pulled out a blue velvet box and handed it to me.

  I opened the box and was astonished to find a beautiful diamond ring inside.

  “Why, Dennison Talbot! I don’t know what to say.” I covered my chest with my hand.

  “Shut up!” He snatched the ring. “It’s for Sage.”

  “Of course it is. You’ve only dated her since the sixth grade.”

  “I want you to hold on to it for me. And if I come back—”

  I raised an eyebrow at his choice of words. “If you come back?” I asked.

  “I mean, when I come back I’m going to ask her to marry me. You’re the only one that I trust with this.” He handed the ring back to me.

  “I feel so honored.”

  “No, seriously, I don’t want anyone else to know.”

  “I won’t tell a soul. I promise.” I gave my little brother the biggest hug. He was growing up right before my eyes. I stuffed the velvet box into the pocket of my skirt and gave Denny a warm smile as I walked toward the door. “I love you, big head.”

  “I love you back.”

  I left his room and headed down the hall to my own private space. My room hadn’t changed much. With two comfortable canopy beds, two chests of drawers and an old white pine desk in the corner of the room, it was the place I’d shared with my younger sister, Whitney. Things were just as we’d left them when I went away to Spelman, and she went away to college in Texas. Old-school posters of Caribbean artist Elephant Man still adorned my side of the wall, reminding me of my high school party days. My brother Nate and I would sneak off to the neighboring islands without my parents’ knowledge. We’d make up the excuse that we were spending the night with friends. We were clever and kept our sister Whitney as our watchperson.

  Whitney had never been one to attend parties—or to sneak away, for that matter. She was the practical, levelheaded one of the Talbot bunch, always the peacemaker, always finding the good in everyone. Perfect attributes for a kindergarten teacher. Through Whitney, my mother was able to live her teaching dreams vicariously. And for that reason, she had clearly become my mother’s favorite. I was probably my mother’s least favorite of the bunch, having disappointed her on more than enough occasions. She was a worrier, and I’d caused her the most angst. She was convinced that I’d thrown away my education when I went traipsing across the country to pursue an acting career.

  “Do you know how many people have rushed to Hollywood, looking to become famous?” she’d asked me. “You have a good education, from a good school, and yet you choose to squander it.”

  I never changed my course. I still moved to California. However, my mother’s words stuck with me. She probably thought I didn’t listen to her, but the truth was I listened to everything my parents taught me. Kept all their instruction tucked away for safekeeping and pulled things out as I needed it.

  I stuck Denny’s velvet box beneath my mattress, sat on my bed and glanced over at Whitney’s side of the room. Her stupid teddy bear Georgie relaxed atop her pillow—his place for most of her life. She couldn’t sleep without him. I missed Whitney. I missed Alyson, too. As young girls, we were all much closer—having
shared so many intimate secrets growing up. Alyson was my first best friend, my accomplice on many of my sneaky endeavors. I’d been close with both my sisters.

  I removed the embellished sandals from my feet and changed into a pair of exercise pants and a tank top. I turned on my music playlist on my iPhone, rolled my mat onto the hardwood floor and immediately began to stretch my limbs. As I worked out the kinks in my body, thoughts of Jackson Conner entered my head, unannounced. Unwarranted thoughts danced about without permission. Despite his arrogance, the man was so sexy. I smiled at the thought of him wanting to see me to the ferry. That was cute. Actually it was quite gentlemanlike, I thought. It was surprising that a man like him would care at all. He seemed so pompous.

  I got into the downward-dog position, stretched my body across my mat. Yoga was a practice that I’d studied and developed as a significant part of my lifestyle. My parents didn’t understand yoga.

  “We’re Baptists,” my mother reminded me when I tried to explain what all the stretching and candle-lighting was about, “and we don’t practice any other religions in this house!”

  It was a lost cause trying to explain to them that yoga was not a religion. So I simply exercised behind closed doors, and very quietly. But I made a mental note that, as much as I loved my childhood home, I needed my own place very soon.

  Chapter 5

  Jackson

  I could see the flames in the distance and hear the sirens blare. I felt helpless in the backseat of the taxi, so close to the Grove. Though I wanted the driver to speed up a bit, that would never happen. No one on this island hurried for anything. Relaxed and easygoing, the islanders fished, took long walks along the beach and lounged on hammocks all day. Hurry was not a part of the culture here. My heart pounded and my mind raced as I thought of the Grove. The electrician was scheduled to be at the properties this morning. Had there been a mishap? A short circuit? I prayed.