by Sandra Kitt
“Hello,” Eva opened with a false lightness, as her heart thudded once against her chest. Maxwell did not respond with a greeting.
“You sound as if you’re surprised to see me,” he commented, tilting his head a little to the side and looking her up and down rather slowly. Eva crossed her arms in what she hoped was a casual movement.
“I am.”
“I told Diane you were probably busy since we haven’t seen you.” He came forward to lean against the counter with his hip, also crossing his arms over his chest. She realized he now had the advantage since she had to tilt her head in order to see into his face. It was also not lost on Eva that apparently only Diane had missed her presence the last several days.
“I was,” she answered, trying to seem indifferent.
Maxwell’s lightly browned eyes looked into hers, searching over her features. “Doing what?” he asked softly.
“Laundry,” she improvised quickly, “visiting with Mildred Decker…” Which was the truth.
Maxwell held her gaze for a second longer. Then his eyes dropped to the half-finished letter on the counter next to him. He looked up at her, quirking a questioning brow. Defensively Eva put the letter face down under a nearby fruit bowl. “Letter to someone you left behind?” he asked mockingly.
Eva raised her chin. “Yes, as a matter of fact. My mother!” She moved then to put some space between them. “Why are you here?”
Maxwell stood straight and put his hands into the pockets of the light pants. The fabric gave way under the force of his large hands and the pants slid from his waist to his hips, showing even more of his stomach lightly covered with hair. Eva’s imagination suddenly went wild, wondering if he had on swim trunks or anything under the pants. She lowered her eyes to her bare feet.
“I’m going over to Coral Bay. It’s the other side of the island. Diane thought you’d like to go. Have you been there yet?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“Okay…then why don’t…”
“Maxwell…” Eva interrupted “…considering how we last parted company maybe…well, maybe I shouldn’t go.”
He seemed to think about that for a moment, frowning. “How did we part company?” he asked blandly. Eva was infuriated by his calm and apparent dismissal of the evening. Did he take nothing seriously?
“I’d say angrily,” Eva answered stiffly.
“I wasn’t angry,” Maxwell said, turning away from her.
“Well, I was!” Eva almost exploded in exasperation.
Maxwell had one foot on a descending step. “I know. Are you coming?” he finished.
Eva stared openmouthed at him. She was right. He had just brushed the whole episode aside. She finally let out a sigh of resignation. “Yes, I’ll come.”
“I’ll wait in the Jeep,” he said and disappeared. Eva stared silently at the space he’d just occupied, wondering if she would ever understand him.
Eva went to retrieve a white cotton sweater. She got her tote and filled it with things she thought she’d need if she was gone all day. All the time she wondered about the mercurial changes in Maxwell’s moods. They hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in almost four days, and then he just shows up as though nothing had happened. That she had thought about him for those four days, imagined him in the arms of Lavona Morris, didn’t for the moment enter into her thinking as she went to meet him.
Eva climbed into the front passenger seat and immediately he started the engine. She looked around her. “Where’s Diane? Did you leave her at the house?”
Maxwell backed up and turned the Jeep around, shifting gears quickly. “Diane’s not going with us.”
Eva frowned in confusion. “But you said she suggested…”
“That’s right. But I never said she would be coming with us.”
Eva looked at him, trying to figure out what this meant. He cast a quick look in her direction and back to the road.
“Want to change your mind? I’ll take you back…”
“No! No…it’s okay.”
Maxwell nodded and continued driving. Still confused and also surprised now, Eva settled into her seat for the journey. Somewhere in her mind she worked out that Maxwell was not the kind of man to have anyone for company just for the hell of it. She reasoned finally that she was here because he wanted her to be. Her spirits began to lift.
“Where is Diane?” she asked.
“With Dory Hamilton. Dory and two of her brothers are in the parade next weekend for Carnival. There’s still work to do on their costumes. Diane’s going to be with them until Wednesday.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t want to come with you,” Eva commented.
Adam shrugged. “I’m glad she’s made friends here. It’s no fun being with me all the time.”
“Diane used to think so. What happened?” she asked with some concern.
“I don’t know for sure. Maybe she realizes that I’m always going to be here for her. She doesn’t have to worry about losing me.”
“So it makes it easier for her to find other friends,” Eva concluded.
“Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, she says she’s having a great summer,” Maxwell said.
“I’m very glad to hear that.” Eva relaxed. “But then…why did she tell you to ask me along?”
Maxwell turned his head to regard her, his eyes squinting, his jaw looking very square and strong, jutting into the breeze. “She said, so I wouldn’t be lonely,” he said evenly. “She said you’d make a good assistant in her place.”
“What about Lavona?” Eva couldn’t help asking in a low voice. Adam looked away a bit impatiently and took his time answering.
“She had other plans,” was all he said.
They followed the Center Line Road through the National Parklands of St. John, passing scenic views and old ruins. Coral Bay was a very small town on the other side of St. John with a beautiful harbor lined with a number of small sailing crafts. Maxwell parked the Jeep near the pier and they walked from there. If Cruz Bay was a tiny town, Coral Bay was tinier still, with only a handful of shops and restaurants. Eva walked beside the towering form of Maxwell, feeling oddly complacent and safe with him. People called out to him, waving, and it surprised her that so reticent a man would have friends here.
They finally came to a stop outside a green-painted cement hut. Maxwell knocked on the door, and after a bit of muffled movement the door opened to show an elderly black man, his tightly curled hair all white, his teeth clamped on a very worn pipe.
“Hey, man. You make it after all!” he said in his musical tongue, opening the door for them to enter. Maxwell had to duck into the very low door frame. Once inside he could stand straight again, but Eva was sure there weren’t two inches to spare between the ceiling and the top of Adam’s head.
“This is Lito Varrick,” Adam said to Eva. “Lito, this is Eva Duncan. She’s vacationing here from New Jersey.”
Lito nodded politely, his white teeth even and brilliant in his shiny dark face. “Yes, yes! It’s good to see you, man. How you like St. John?” he asked Eva.
She was always amused at the local use of the word “man” to describe just about anyone and anything. She smiled at the gentleman. “Oh, I love it here! It’s a beautiful, peaceful island.”
“That’s good!” Lito beamed at her. “Many continentals they say it too hot, man. Nothing to do.”
Eva’s smile widened, aware that Adam was watching and listening to the exchange between her and Lito. “I’ve only been here for a short time. But I feel as if I’ve lived here for years!”
Lito laughed. “That’s good. Adam find woman who like it here, too.”
Eva raised her brows in an ironic gesture at Maxwell and then back to Lito. “Well, he didn’t exactly find me,” Eva inserted caustically. That sounded too much like he’d just picked her up somewhere, and she was still somewhat sensitive to that kind of reference. For another thing Lito made it sound as though it was all Adam’s doing, and she’d had no
part in deciding whether or not to be with him.
Eva looked again at Adam, but his attention was now focused on a large tank on a table, filled with plants and shells. He had his hand in the tank almost up to his elbow, poking through the growth. Eva grimaced ruefully and turned back to Lito. “That’s what’s really important to him…” she whispered, nodding toward the tank.
Lito laughed softly around his pipe stem. “Maybe. But I not so sure,” he said mysteriously.
“Lito, what do you have for me today?” Maxwell’s voice broke into their quiet conversation, and Lito walked over to stand next to Maxwell and talk. The conversation was obviously on fish and sea plants, so Eva left them alone, not wanting to interfere, and not able to contribute.
She found a comfortable low chair covered in a bright flowered pattern and sat in it. Eva looked around the room. It was very neat and clean but lacked most definitely any female touches. Lito Varrick was either a bachelor or a widower.
After turning her head around the room, Eva noticed a sleeping gray cat across the back of her chair. The cat lazily opened one eye halfway, gave her a disinterested look, and went peacefully back to sleep. She smiled at the action and turned back to the two men, listening to their low voices.
The conversation was technical, all about fungus and water temperatures, phosphate levels and oxygen contents. She’d always been impressed with Maxwell’s knowledge of such things, and it was clear to her now that he had also made the best use of his time by becoming acquainted with someone who lived here, knew the waters and the islands, and could teach him more. Eva watched the concentration on Maxwell’s face, the wide mouth pursing or forming questions, the jaw tensing thoughtfully, the hands gentle with the fragile sea life. What a study in contrasts he was.
The gray cat behind her padded silently down the arm of the chair and onto Eva’s lap, taking the liberty of curling up into a furry ball and going back to sleep. Eva idly stroked the soft thick fur, thinking more about the enigma that was Adam Maxwell.
Half an hour later, the two men turned away from the tank, drying their hands on towels.
“Well, that helps.” Adam sighed. “Now I see what I did wrong.”
“Not too bad, man. Next time remember to place your samples in salt water, not fresh.”
“Okay, Lito.” Adam nodded. Eva had never seen him defer to anyone else before. He respected and liked this older gentleman.
They both now turned to see her with the cat.
“Ahhh…Pepper likes you! That good. Pepper scratch Miss Lavona on leg last time, eh, Adam?”
Adam was watching Eva and lifted a brow at Lito’s observation, but he made no comment and held no apology to Eva for having brought Lavona here also. Eva didn’t expect any from him. They said good-bye to Lito and left the small hut.
Adam suggested lunch, and they stopped at the Sputnik. Over their lunch of fried fish and salad, Adam explained that Lito was a retired fisherman who was often called on by the Park Service for his expert advice on the sea world. He was always available to help Adam when he ran into a problem with his research. After lunch Adam continued to conduct Eva on a Jeep tour around the island.
She liked being with him like this, when he was informative and easy. Not closed in and careful. They stopped at Chocolate Hole, a different side of the island that was rocky coastline and no sandy beaches, where the water crashed to shore and where the sun rose on a flat low horizon. On the drive back they circled past the Annenberg ruins, an old sugar mill, but Adam said that tour was for another day since the sun was already going down.
Back at her house, Eva invited Adam to have dinner with her. He hesitated, but then shook his head no. “Not tonight. I have things to do.”
“Oh,” was Eva’s response, not realizing yet her disappointment. “Thank you for letting me come today. I enjoyed it very much.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning…”
“Tomorrow morning?” Eva questioned. He’d said nothing all day about taking her with him again.
“I thought you were going to be my assistant in place of Diane?” he said, frowning.
Eva shrugged. “I—I thought you were only kidding. I don’t know how I can help.”
“I’ll show you how,” he said smoothly, once again starting his engine to leave.
Eva gestured helplessly. “Well, okay. If you’re sure…”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.” He waited.
“Fine. I’ll be ready,” Eva said a bit breathlessly. Already she was looking forward to it.
When Maxwell picked her up promptly the next morning, he was wearing the same loose-fitting pants and another tank shirt, this one a deep green. Eva chose to wear the same black swimsuit, worn under a one-piece short denim jump suit. There was almost no talk between them as Maxwell got them to the sailing vessel and quickly under sail. Occasionally he’d yell an instruction to her, and she’d follow it even though she was afraid she’d pull the wrong line or get something twisted.
The breeze was good and steady, and the vessel didn’t lurch nearly as much as it had the week before. The ship held its course, and Maxwell was able to lock the tiller into one position, freeing him to move around the small ship. He stripped off his shirt and light drawstring pants and stood before Eva in his brown swim trunks. The color was not that much darker than his own skin color, and for a weird moment with the sun behind him he seemed naked. Eva drew in a sharp breath at the image which for a quick second proved extremely provocative and enticing. She knew an instant warming flow throughout her body.
Adam came and sat next to Eva taking hold of lines, lowering one sail, and raising another until the ship seemed to be sailing itself. He turned his head to find Eva staring at him with her almond-shaped eyes.
“You okay?” he asked, squinting against the bright sun.
Eva nodded, but she wasn’t okay at all. Something was happening inside her that was different from any other time she’d been with Maxwell. It went beyond a lot of earlier feelings and reactions to him. She was beginning to feel intimidated, threatened, unsure all over again in his presence. She was sensing again his overwhelming maleness and virility, and part of her was struggling in its natural response to him.
“Who taught you to sail?” she asked in a queer, broken voice, diverting her thoughts to something safer.
Adam tied off another line. “I started learning in high school…picked it up again while in college. Troy Hamilton and Lito Varrick taught me the rest. They showed me how to handle the small-masted ships like a cutter or sloop when I first came down here.”
“How long have you been down here?”
“A little over three years.” He braced a muscular leg against the side of the ship as he shifted a sail and the ship rolled. Eva tried to smooth down her wind blown hair with her hand.
“But why down here? Whom do you work for?”
Adam didn’t answer right away, but then he turned to give her a quick, brief look of impatience. “What is this…Twenty Questions?”
But Eva continued to wait for an answer. When he did choose to answer, it was almost with indifference.
“I’m with the research department of the National Oceanographic office in Washington…on loan from the Naval Department.”
Eva raised her brows appreciatively, and Maxwell gave a short chuckle. “It’s not as impressive as it sounds. You see what I do. It’s not glamorous at all.”
“But it’s fascinating. And looks like fun. And it’s probably important work,” Eva reasoned. Maxwell gave her a long thoughtful look.
“It is.”
The ship rolled in the opposite direction. Maxwell changed his seat, moving opposite Eva, and bracing his leg in reverse. Salt spray washed coolly over the side and splashed them lightly. Eva tilted her head and looked again at Maxwell. “What are you in the Navy? An ensign?” she asked, naming the only naval title she could remember.
Maxwell found the question amusing and laughed briefly, his teeth makin
g a white slash in his brown face. “Not even that. I don’t have a position with the Navy. I’m a civilian employee.”
“I guess you must like it down here. It’s been a long time.”
Maxwell’s grin slowly faded and his expression became guarded. “It’s all right. No one bothers me down here.”
“Are you hiding from someone?” Eva quipped teasingly, but the tensing of Maxwell’s jaw suddenly alerted her to the lack of humor he found in her question.
“I can get another assignment anytime I want to. Right now, I don’t want to. Being here suits me.”
Eva hesitated a moment. “Maxwell, if you had an assignment stateside, you could see Diane more often,” she pointed out. There was a long silence while he looked out to sea.
“I know,” he answered her shortly. No doubt he’d already thought of his trade-off for being down here. But Eva didn’t believe that the decision he’d made and held to was necessarily the right one…or an easy one for him.
“What about the rest of your family? Do you have any?” Eva could see the impatience with which he continued to view her questions, but still he answered her.
“My father lives in Boston. He’s retired and spends all his time fishing. My mother died when I was eighteen. I have an older brother who lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and two sons. He teaches math at the Air Force Academy. End of questions…end of answers,” he finished pointedly.
“It sounds as if you came from a military family. Were you a Navy brat?”
