“This is such a nice place. The people and the atmosphere are so soothing, just what I needed tonight.”
For a moment all Trace could do, was stare at her. Her smile brightened her whole face and her natural beauty shone like a beacon in the night. The kind of beauty to be savored and sipped, a beauty that could soothe you and make you want all of her. A beauty that had him in a trance since the day he met her.
Unfortunately he was what they call a ‘ladies’ man, and do not know how to act differently with a woman but in his usual flirty way. He sighed, knowing that he would never be able to win her heart.
Clarissa made sure that she kept the conversation light and smooth and she felt her whole body relax. They made jokes and laughed so much that the people kept glancing in their direction, positive that they were two happy people in love.
Trace was involved in the traveling industry. His family owned a big travel and tour agency spread out all over the world and he ran the business along with his father. He was a pure people’s person and knew just how to treat all kinds of people. More than that, he knew how to make people feel comfortable and make them laugh. Clarissa sometimes wondered if he could ever be serious about anything and if he would ever fell in love.
Part of the evening, they discussed the upcoming Pirates festival. This year marked the 37th anniversary of the festival and as always, most of the activities took place on the Seven Mile Beach.
The Princeton Hotel hosted many of the events, which involved a lot of work and preparation. Global Tours, Trace’s company, worked closely with the Hotel assisting with the preparations and bookings for tourist groups they made for accommodation at the hotel.
The Pirates festival was in celebration of the age-old legends of Cayman’s occupation by pirates during the 18th century. This legend included treasure catches left behind by Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, Neal Walker, and Henry Hogan. It continued to be a romantic but historically questionable part of the Folklore of this Western Caribbean country.
Every year this festival relived all the age-old beliefs and every occupant on the three islands, Grant Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, were involved and participated in the festival. The festival drew thousands of tourists every year.
The Pirates festival was ten days full of fun, competitions, music, and dance. The Princeton Hotel was responsible for the pre-pirates week kick-off party, the Miss festival Queen Costume competition, Street dance and song festival, the trial of the pirates and at the end, the Street dance finale. The hotel also arranged various other activities and competitions for the children. All of this required many hours of work and numerous people to plan and arrange everything. It was always an honor if elected to host certain functions of the festival. Being elected to host so many in the same year was indeed a sign of the Pirates Festivals’ committee’s trust in the hotels’ capabilities to meet the high standard set previously by everyone involved.
As soon as they finished their meal, Trace rose and tugged a protesting Clarissa from her chair.
“No, none of that. You cannot deny that I have behaved myself extremely well tonight, therefore I deserve a dance.”
She just shook her head at him and allowed him to lead her to the tiny dance floor on the one side of the restaurant where a small band played slow tunes. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed in resignation at their closeness and placed her arms lightly around his shoulders. They swayed to the music as Trace expertly maneuvered her around the tiny dancing space. A livelier tune was next and the two of them fell into the Mamba with gusto.
Clarissa laughed, swirled, dipped in time with the music, and felt alive for the first time in years. She always loved dancing; Raymond and she used to go dancing all the time. Since she arrived on the island, she hardly ever had the time or the desire to go dancing.
They stayed on the dance floor for nearly an hour until she eventually shook her head at him and headed back to the table, falling laughingly in her chair.
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve had so much fun! Thanks for that. I forgot how much I loved dancing.”
“And a wonderful and very sensual dancer you are at that!” He looked at her with so much desire that she shrank back in her chair.
“Please, Trace, don’t spoil the evening now!”
He gazed at her hotly for another moment then sighed and sank down in the chair opposite her. He took his drink and finished it in one gulp.
“I’m sorry, Clarissa. That was surely not my intention, but at the same time I cannot deny your beauty and that I desire you.”
The frustration in him became apparent in his gaze on her. Clarissa sighed and reached out to place her hand over his.
“Trace, I am sorry and very flattered, but I have told you numerous times that we can never be more than just friends.”
“Why? What is stopping you from even trying to give a relationship between us a chance? Am I such a terrible person that you cannot…”
Her hand tightened over his. “Trace stop. It is not you. It has never been you. You have been a wonderful friend to me over the past six years and I cannot thank you enough for that. I am not ready to have a relationship just yet, not with you, not with anybody.”
“Just yet? You have not been in any kind of relationship since you came here. So I still don’t understand.” He became more and more frustrated.
“I … I don’t want to talk about it, please. Suffice it to say that I have suffered because of love … and I …”
Her throat closed up and she could not continue. She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat and cursed softly. “Damn him!”
Trace looked at her and sighed. It was very clear that he was not going to change her mind. He gestured the waiter for the bill and they left as soon as he settled it. They drove back to the hotel in silence, each engrossed with their own thoughts.
At her door, she turned to him. “Trace, I would hate to lose your friendship over this.” She looked so beautiful standing there, gazing at him so imploringly, that he could do no other than pull her close and smile down at her.
“Of course not. Better me accept what we have and keep my heart in one piece than have you and have my heart broken later.” She frowned up at him.
“Why do you say that?”
“Never mind, maybe one day I’ll tell you. Now, as I have been a good boy I am going to take one proper kiss…”
With that, his head lowered and he captured her lips in a long, passionate kiss. Clarissa gave herself up to the kiss and kissed him back just as eagerly, desperate for a spark to ignite as a sign she was ready to move on.
He was not the first man to kiss her since Raymond, but it was the first one she put all effort in to kiss back. The kiss was soft and tender and his desire evident in the passionate kiss. As far as kisses went, this one was good, even exciting, but it still did not move her in any way.
She did not experience a warm feeling in her tummy, there were no bells ringing, and she did not feel any desire for the man kissing her. Acknowledging what this meant, she pushed him away.
He held her in his arms for a while longer, then kissed her forehead, and looked sadly in her eyes. “So now I know.”
“I’m sorry!”
He looked like a little boy who just lost his only puppy. Clarissa felt terrible. He shook his head and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
“No, Clarissa love, don’t be. At least you know that you have a friend in me for life. At least now, I will accept my fate and stop hoping and trying. But be warned … I am just as demanding a friend as I am a lover!”
Clarissa laughed and gave him a hug. Relieved that he understood and accepted what their relationship could only ever be. Getting into bed later after a long, hot, bubble bath, Clarissa hugged the pillow close to her breast.
She was very happy here on the Cayman’s Island. It was nestled in the calm, turquoise waters of the Western Caribbean. The Island blessed, with sun-kissed be
aches and waters teeming with fish flecked with gold. It was a very popular tourist attraction and offered some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world.
She thought back to the day she arrived and saw the seven-mile beach for the first time from the small window of the airplane. A long stretch of white sand, rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Caribbean.
Her excitement knew no bounds then. The rich history of the Island entranced her during those first few months, but within four months’ it all dimmed under her longing … her constant longing for Raymond.
A longing so intense, that she boarded a plane and went back to Manchester to go and plead for her love again. Her heart contracted painfully in remembrance. She should not have bothered. He had clearly already moved on by that time!
Thinking back to the kiss she shared with Trace earlier, she never felt so lonely and in need of love as she did just then.
Chapter Three
Jogging always relaxed Clarissa, but this morning the tension remained in her body, even after jogging an extra half a mile. Slowing down, she jogged on the edge of the surf back towards her cottage. Miguel, Retha, his nephew and his son arrived late last night.
Clarissa already went down to her cottage and did not see them arrive. She was so tired after the past two months’ hectic schedule, she needed to soak in a hot bubble bath and try to have a proper nights rest for a change. Hopefully, Miguel understood and was not too upset that she did not stay to welcome them upon arrival.
As she neared their impressive presidential cottage, she noticed a small figure running down the beach towards the sea. A frown worried her brow and she glanced towards the big cottage. No one appeared to be watching the little boy, so Clarissa increased her pace. The little boys’ short legs pumped vigorously in his apparent eagerness to reach the water.
“Hey…little one…hey!”
Clarissa tried shouting at the top of her voice. She was still a distance away from him and the exertion of running so far and the speed at which she was now running, she only managed a croak and that hardly carried any distance.
With a loud shout, if you could call the exited shriek loud, he jumped into the water, his arms high above his head, surging forward to reach the crashing waves. Clarissa felt herself cringe and she forced her legs to go faster, praying that she would reach the little boy before the crashing surf did and the force of the backwash pulled him in.
“No…oh no!”
Clarissa cried in horror when she saw the water crash over his little head and rolled him like a lost piece of driftwood in the water. She splashed in the water and then dove under a shallow breaking wave, forcefully swimming forward in the direction she saw the little boy go under.
Luckily, the Caribbean waters were very clear and she could see the thrashing arms and legs as the little boy desperately tried to clear his head above the water. She grabbed him around the waist and pushed him upwards, trying to find her feet in the force of the backwash at the same time. This time of the morning, the current was extremely strong and people generally did not swim.
They both cleared the water and she gasped for breath, alarmed at the weak, apparent lifeless body in her arms. She surged forward, falling to her knees and laying the little boy down. She brushed his black hair from his brow and quickly turned him on his side, pressing firmly on his back. He was breathing shallowly, but she was worried that he might have swallowed a lot of water, He started coughing and spat out, it felt to her, liters of seawater!
“Robby…Robby…oh my God, Robert! Miguel, come quick it is Robbie!”
Clarissa glanced up and saw Retha staggering down the beach towards them, with Miguel shortly on her heels.
The little boy, Robby, sat up and gazed at her with clear, silver-black eyes. She stared at him with a start of recollection. Something about him seemed so familiar!
“Are you okay, little one?” She brushed his wayward flock of black hair back from his eyes again.
“Yes … are you a mer … a mermid … merm … you know, one of those people from the sea? Like Ariel!” His innocent question and little boy look played with her heartstrings.
“A mermaid?” His bobbing head confirmed her question. “No, I’m afraid not. I’m just a normal person who pulled you from the sea.”
“Oh … are you sure you are not a mermid?
She laughed and stood up when Retha fell down on her knees, pulled the little boy in her arms and hugged him tight. He struggled and pulled away, the look on his face clearly indicating his dislike in the public display of emotion.
“Auntie! Stop!”
“Oh Robert, are you okay? I got such a fright when I saw the lady pulling you from the water. I surely thought you had …”
“That’s quite enough Retha. Well, boy, what were you thinking frightening your aunt that way?”
Miguel clearly was not going to show the same emotion his wife did, but Clarissa could see the relief in his eyes when their gazes met.
Robert pulled himself upright and looked his uncle square in the eyes. For someone his age, which could not be more than five or six years, he showed tremendous courage.
“Sorry, uncle. I wanted to swim and I could not find Dad.”
“Then you wait for him. You know very well your father goes jogging every morning!”
“But he promised we’d go swi…”
“Yes, and he will keep his promise, as soon as he is back from his run. Now, no more of this. You gave us all a very big fright and I want your promise that you will not go near the water again unless one of us is with you.”
“But uncle. I …”
“No buts! Promise Robert!”
Roberts’ bottom lip thrust out and his chest literally huffed out. He pulled a deep breath and whispered, “I promise.”
“That’s better. Well, thank goodness you were close by, miss. My goodness, Clarissa? Is it you? I hardly recognize you! Retha, look it is Clarissa!”
Retha exclaimed in surprise too and came over to hug Clarissa to her. “My darling, girl, it has been three years! You are so thin, and your hair so long … you look absolutely amazing!”
Clarissa laughed. “I lost some weight, but not that much, surely!”
Miguel hugged her and planted a kiss on her cheek. “We missed you last night, but Bette explained how busy it has been over the past few months. I’m very glad to see I have my business in such capable hands!”
“Uncle … this lady is a merm … a mermaid!”
Little Robert piped up and was clearly very proud of himself for having got the word out. Everyone laughed with him.
“Yes, Robby, she could be one, being so pretty and all. This is Clarissa; she is the person looking after your Uncles’ hotel here. Won’t you join us for a cup of tea?” Retha asked Clarissa.
Clarissa shook her head. “No, thank you. I am late as it is already. I better get going. Will we see you at breakfast?”
“Not this morning. We are going to have a late breakfast on the cottage patio, as soon as R…”
Retha stopped mid-sentence when Miguel coughed loudly. “As soon as Robby is dry and his dad is back from his run. Then I imagine Robby is going to want to go for that swim. But we’ll see you for dinner tonight, I’m sure.”
Over the following three days Clarissa was so busy, she literally fell into bed at night, falling asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. With the Pirates Festival around the corner, there were still some arrangements to finalize and Clarissa had to make sure everything was perfect.
She only ran into the St Claire’s in passing, once or twice with little Robert in tow. He lit up like a light bulb every time he saw his “mermid”.
“I watch for you every day when Dad and I go swim, but you’re never there?”
The accusation in his voice made her feel guilty, even though she obviously had nothing to feel guilty about!
“I am sorry, Robby, but I have been very busy. Are you enjoying your holiday so far?”
He bubbled over in pleasure to be included in the conversation. “Yes, it’s a fun island. I think Dad and I should move here forever!”
Miguel gave a start at that and Clarissa frowned. Why would such an innocent remark cause such a reaction?
“Now, now, Robert, you know that is not possible.”
“Why not? Dad can build his own hotel here too!”
Miguel shook his head and pulled Robby to his side. “I think it’s time we get going. Your Dad is probably already looking for us.” Robby shook his head and the bottom lip thrust forward again.
“No … he and that lady went on the boat, AGAIN …” Little Robby was clearly not impressed with “that lady” taking up so much time with his dad.
Bette came rushing around the corner. “Oh, Clarissa, there you are, I need you to …” With an apologetic smile at the St Claire’s, Clarissa joined Bette who still babbled about the pre-week party.
The rest of the afternoon flew by with conferences and meetings with the Pirates Festival Committee. The pre-week party was this Friday and all the final issues still needed to be resolved. During one of the meetings, Clarissa stood by the wide window overlooking the enclosed swimming pool area.
A tall black haired figure caught her eye and she gasped. It couldn’t be! Yet the proud tilt of the head and the square shoulders held so proud and erect…it had to be him. Raymond! Then he bent down, caught a little black-haired boy in his arms, and swung him high in the air, making the small boy squeal in delight.
She relaxed visibly. It was only Robby’s dad. It was to be expected that he had black hair too! She quietly berated herself. Not every tall, black haired man was Raymond!
Get over it, he forgot about you long ago! Why can you not forget him!
After that, everything passed in a blur. She was there and participated in the discussions and decisions, but if anyone asked her later that day what they discussed, she would not be able to tell. Seeing that man earlier brought back all the memories, loneliness and heartache, all over again. All she wanted to do now was to take a long, hot bubble bath, lie back, and cry her heart out.
Cayman Desires Page 3
