Bare In Bermuda

by Livia Ellis

  “Nothing. It was stupid. Eden and Gloria were teasing me. I should have brushed it off, but I didn't.”

  “Teasing you about what?”

  “They wanted to know if I had a sugar daddy buying me jewelry or if I was a dominatrix with my own dungeon and was paid in gems. Puerile, juvenile behavior, and I let myself get sucked in. What they were saying was just so rude and so typical of Eden. Now that I'm saying this out loud to you, I feel even more ridiculous for the way I reacted.”

  “Sounds like you had every right to be angry with them. They are grown women. Not little girls. They should act like grown women.”

  “Truthfully, I do love my sister, but she can be very jealous when she thinks that I'm somehow getting something more or better than she is, so I've always just let her win at mine's better than yours. I don't know where this comes from. I was in college by the time she started kindergarten so there really was no rivalry when we were growing up.”

  “Ah,” he said. “I can tell you why she's jealous of you.”

  “She is not jealous of me.”

  “Yes, she is. You are your father's favorite. She knows this. It's obvious to me. Eden is a lovely girl, but you are well educated and a successful doctor. Eden's ability with languages is admirable, but having such an accomplished older sister is a hard example to live up to.”

  Henna turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He handed her a towel after opening it with a flick of his wrist.

  “I never thought of it like that. I'm not certain you're right, but it would explain a lot.”

  He watched as she dried her body. Telling her he wanted a child hadn't sent her running. A good sign. He kissed her on the cheek. “Don't let Gloria bother you,” he said. “I'll speak with her.”

  “Don't,” she said. “I don't want her to think I ran and told on her. Besides, I think she's on to us, and I'd rather not have any problems with her between now and until the wedding is over. I am going to tell you now, that if she threatens me with a shotgun or comes after me with a machete, we're going to have a problem.”

  “You heard about that?”

  “Yes. I'm becoming a big fan of passion, but not when guns and knives are involved.”

  He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Have a good evening. I'll come back here to spend the night with you. That is if you'll let me take a new key.”

  “You can take a new key.”

  He kissed her again then left. Before shutting the door, he checked that he had the right card. Instead of going across the hall to his room, he went down the hall seven doors and thumped on it.

  Hector answered in his underwear.

  “Go put your pants on,” he ordered Hector as he walked past him into the room.

  “You can't just walk in here,” Hector told him. “We're not children anymore.”

  He picked up a robe from the floor and threw it at Gloria who was trying to hide under the blankets. “You and I need to have a conversation about you thinking it's acceptable to be a bitch to Henna when she's done nothing to harm you.”

  “We'll be down in ten minutes.” Hector held the door open and gestured for him to leave.

  He turned around, put a hand on Hector's chest, and shoved him out the still open door and onto his rear in the hallway. “Don't even start with me. Esmeralda is on her way to Switzerland right now. Have you even bothered to call her?”

  “No.” Hector looked up at him from the floor, and for a brief moment, Eduardo saw the boy he'd known since birth.

  Eduardo pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket and tossed it at Hector. “Call her now, you spoiled little shit bag.” He closed the door, leaving Hector outside the room. What he needed to say to Gloria had nothing to do with Hector.

  Gloria was out of the bed, wrapped in the robe, and, based on the way her arms crossed her body, ready to fight with him.

  “What is the matter with you?” he shouted.

  “I was just having some fun,” Gloria shouted back. “She didn't have to be so touchy!”

  “I told you this morning to keep your mouth shut. What do you do? Instead of showing me respect or consideration, you mock the gifts I buy for a beautiful woman who has given me so much joy in such a small amount of time.”

  “I get it,” Gloria shrieked. “Okay? What is the big deal? I was just teasing her a little.”

  “You try to ruin the first dose of happiness I've had since your mother died. Why? Why would you do this to me? What have I done to you to deserve such disrespect?”

  “You are overreacting, and so is she. I can't believe she told you what happened.” Gloria examined her nails as she flicked her hair. “What a child.”

  “She was right to tell me what happened,” he replied. “She also told me that she knows about you and Fatima. What you think is some harmless teasing, she very rightfully sees as an unbalanced lunatic being hostile towards her.”

  Gloria's face fell slightly. “She knows about that? Who told her?”

  “I didn't ask. She knows. That's what matters. Right now, she thinks you're a maniac who’s coming for her next. Do you see now how your stupid, childish behavior might cost me a relationship I want to explore? What woman in her right mind wants to be with a man who has a child that might start chasing her with a machete?”

  Gloria rolled her eyes and huffed a little. “I am not going to chase her with a machete. Before she overreacted this afternoon—”

  He held up a silencing hand. “She was going to refuse my gifts because the idea of taking something expensive made her uncomfortable. It took a great deal of convincing to get her to accept what I offered her. Then what do you do? You highlight the very things that made her uncomfortable to begin with.”

  “Like she had a sugar daddy,” Gloria said with a grimace.

  “Now you are seeing things through eyes other than your own. You are very stupid and selfish sometimes. You think only of yourself and not of others. That you were like this disappointed your mother terribly. She wanted you to be kind. Often you are not. There are times when you have no empathy.”

  Mentioning Pilar had the effect he wanted. Gloria finally seemed to understand the world that existed beyond her limited scope. “Eden was much worse. Much worse.”

  “That's an excuse? Henna knows her sister and can judge what was harmless, yet infantile teasing. She doesn't know you other than you went after Fatima and that you pretty well accused her of being a gold digger.”

  “Are you sure she's not a gold digger?”

  He stared at his daughter.

  “Don't think I haven't seen the prenuptial agreement you made Romeo have Eden sign. You can go on about destiny all you want, but at the end of the day you still covered your ass.”

  “There is a meanness in you that is ugly to me as it was to your mother. If she knew how you'd treated Henna, knowing I was developing feelings for her, she would cry and wonder what she had done wrong in raising you.” Perhaps a bit low, but it worked. There were times when he needed a sledgehammer to break through Gloria's thick skull.

  “I'm really sorry.” Gloria started to cry.

  Her tears no longer worked on him. They hadn't for twenty years. “I don't care what you have to do, but you make friends with Henna. She's very kind. Perhaps you can learn something from her.”

  “I'll try to make it up to her tonight,” Gloria said. “I'll tell her I was just teasing. I'll let her know that I'm really okay with the two of you being together. Which I am.”

  “Pay attention!” he barked. “Do not let her know you know. I'm not pleased with Esmeralda that she called you, but I should have anticipated that. It was stupid of me to tell her something I wanted her to keep quiet. Nothing until after the wedding.”

  “Everybody knows,” Gloria said. “Between you acting like a teenager and her walking around like she owns you—”

  “Not another word.” He opened the door and walked into the hallway. Hector sat on the ground with his hands wrapped around the phone.


  “Did you talk to her?” He crouched down and took the phone from Hector.

  “She won't talk to me.” He looked up, eyes somber and strained. “Screamed at me for a minute when she realized it wasn't you on the phone and hung up. I think I really might have gone too far, leaving her behind.”

  “She doesn't belong here,” he said. “Her being here would only cause problems. You have to stop letting her hijack how you live your life. Romeo figured this out. Now you need to.” Eduardo stood and offered Hector a hand. “One more thing.” He put his hand on Hector's chest and pushed him against a wall. “You either marry my daughter, or you stop treating her like a whore. If I catch the two of you in bed together again, and she doesn't have a ring on her finger, I'll cut your dick off myself. Do we understand each other?”

  “Yes.” Hector said.

  Eduardo gave him a smart, but not hard, slap across the face. “So you don't forget.”

  He released Hector from the wall and stalked back down the hall to his own room. When he was behind the door, he called Esmeralda's head of security to confirm she was still in Europe and not on a flight to Bermuda. He couldn't reach anyone. This was noteworthy, but not worrying. He had other resources. After he made a few calls, he pulled himself together.

  There were messages on his phone, and a text from Henna. Esmeralda was truly in Switzerland. He was to come across the hall when ready.

  He was ready. He left his room and walked into hers. Judith and Midge sat in the matching club chairs set near the window. Each looked at him with vastly different expressions as he walked into the room. Henna stood at the mirror and turned to him. She was in the white dress paired up with lime green shoes and the emeralds. Her hair was pulled up and off of her neck. It was lucky for her that her mother and her aunt were in the room. Otherwise, her hair wouldn't have stood a chance.

  “Ladies. I was not expecting you.”

  “Oh...” Henna looked at him. “I forgot to send you a follow up text. So much for being discreet.”

  “Oh, my god,” Judith gasped. “You two are sleeping together. I knew it. Just don't let daddy find out. He'll have a kitten. He's already not happy about the fact your brother is behaving like a sailor on shore leave. You two mincing about won't help matters.”

  “Judith,” he said. “I am a grown man. I feel no need to conceal my behavior from Mel.”

  “You make a good couple,” Midge said. “My brother is a big boy. Don't let him bother you.” She stood up, pulling Judith up with her. “We're late. We'll meet you two at the elevator.”

  “Don't dawdle,” Judith told Henna.

  The two women left.

  “Did you need me?” he asked her when they were alone.

  “Not really,” she said. “I just wanted you to see me in my dress. Tell me I'm a vision or a goddess or…as you like.” She shrugged a little. “You pick.”

  He laughed. “You are a vision.” He bent down and kissed her. “Thank you for letting me worship you.” His hands held her hips then slid down her thighs to the hem of her dress. He kissed her again as he drew up the fabric to her waist. He hooked his thumbs around her panties.

  “Do not rip my panties off me. I don't care that you paid for them. I love them too much.”

  Instead of ripping at the fabric, he shimmied them down her hips and thighs as he knelt in front of her. He blew on her wet, exposed sex, then gave it a long lick. The tip of his tongue slipped between her lips and found her clit. She leaned back against the dresser, supporting herself with her hands. He let his tongue flicker and pulse while her fingers threaded through his hair. He sat back just a touch then spread her lips with two fingers. Just enough to expose the bright pink button. His lips curled into a tight circle and he blew air, cool and hard.

  “Oh.” Henna sighed. She was close. He knew. He could tell.

  He finished sliding her panties down her legs. When they were unhooked from around her shoes, he stood. He delved two fingers inside her wet cunt. The muscles clamped tight around them. “I think I'm going to leave you like this,” he said. “Unsatisfied. Wanting me.”

  “No.” She shook her head for emphasis. “You wouldn't.”

  “Yes. I would.” He withdrew his fingers, stooped to pick up her panties, and tucked them inside his jacket pocket.

  “That is mean.”

  “Yes.” He adjusted the hem of her dress, letting it fall. “Feel free to punish me later.” He took her chin in his fingers, lifting her lips to his. The kiss opened her mouth. His tongue flicked and licked hers as it had her clit. Again, he pulled away before she was ready for to let him go.

  “Oh, I will.” She stepped away from him, but not before her hand landed hard on his ass. She picked up a glossy red clutch and headed to the door. With the clutch tucked under one arm, she reached for the neckline of her dress and flashed her breasts at him. “Hard?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” She tucked her breasts into her dress. “Hurry up. They already know we're sleeping together. I don't need my mother giving me funny looks.”

  They walked together to the elevator where Midge and Judith waited. Judith looked at her watch. “Ten minutes.”

  “I work well under pressure,” Eduardo said and put his hand on Henna's back.

  Midge laughed and Judith looked horrified. Henna just shook her head. The doors opened, revealing Leo and Mel. “Where the hell have you women been? It's like wrangling cats,” Mel grumbled. “Eduardo. Good. Any sign of Hector or Romeo?”

  “There.” Leo pointed. His hand fell against the elevator door that started to close.

  He looked behind him and saw Hector, Gloria, Romeo, and Eden. Henna followed his gaze, then stepped away from him. Gloria. Although he had never actually beaten his child, he considered it as a real possibility at that moment.

  Mel gestured for the four to move it along.

  “We are not all going to fit in there,” Judith said. “Boys wait. Ladies first.”

  Mel and Leo traded places on the elevator with Henna, Judith and Midge. Gloria and Eden stepped on last. Henna avoided Gloria carefully as she moved to stand between her mother and her aunt. This was not what he wanted.

  “Hola!” He turned along with everyone else at the call from down the hallway. Fatima came charging after them, arm waving and bosom heaving.

  Fatima stopped at his shoulder. She turned to him and told him in Spanish. “Esmeralda called me. You lied to me.” She smiled then walked onto the elevator with the women. Before the door closed, Fatima gave him a little wave. This was definitely not what he wanted.

  ****

  Henna spent the ride in the elevator ignoring glares from Fatima and avoiding Gloria, who seemed determined to get closer. Midge and her mother were better human shields than she could have ever previously envisioned.

  When they sat at dinner, one on either side of her, the two women stared at her without speaking until she grew so uncomfortable she had to break the silence. “What?”

  “Really, Henna,” her mother said. “Romeo's father?”

  “Honey,” Aunt Midge said. “All I got to say is, hubba hubba. You've done me proud. He's foxy.”

  “He's incredible,” she told her aunt. “He's nothing like any other man I've ever met.”

  “Well, I'm a fan,” Aunt Midge said. “Any fella who puts roses in your cheeks is okay by me.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Judith said. “It's bad enough Eden is practically eloping with a stranger, but now you're…keeping company with his father? This is very unlike you, Henna.”

  “Is that a bad thing?” she asked, not really looking for an answer. “He makes me think differently. What do you think about destiny?”

  “Like love at first sight?” Aunt Midge asked.

  “Sure,” she said. “Like love at first sight.”

  “The first time I saw your Uncle Lou, I knew I would spend my life with him.” Aunt Midge smiled sadly. “I'll never forget it. It was at Coney Island, and your dad was t
rying to set me up with that Jimmy—what was his name, Judith?”

  “Oh, god.” Her mother’s eyes rolled slightly. “I'm getting old. Jimmy…Jimmy Horschack.”

  “That's it. Jimmy Horschack. Wonder whatever happened to him?” Aunt Midge shrugged a little. “Anyhow, Mel's got it all set up for me to meet Jimmy Horschack. Well, he shows up with Jimmy Horschack and your Uncle Lou. But your Uncle Lou wasn't there to meet me. He was there to meet your mother's friend. What was her name?” Midge asked her mother who stared blankly into space.

  “Dottie Cohen,” her mother cheered at last. “My memory isn't totally gone.”

  “Anyhow,” Aunt Midge continued. “Could have been Farrah Fawcett he was there to meet, and it wouldn't have mattered. It was love at first sight. I knew I would be with your Uncle Lou from that moment on, and it was the same for him. Does that answer your question, honey?”

  For a moment, she'd forgotten her question then remembered she wanted to know if her mother and aunt believed in destiny. “Yes, I think it does. Not everything, especially matters of the heart, are always predictable.”

  “That's the truth!” her mother said. “You're a planner like me, Henna, but some things defy order. Think of it this way. What would have happened if I hadn't been pulled over for speeding in your grandfather's brand new Chrysler New Yorker in Midtown when I was supposed to be in English class? I never would have met your father.”

  “You realize that daddy offering to take you on a date instead of writing you a ticket is against the law?”

  “Honestly Henna.” Her mother sighed. “You are a fuddy-duddy. Do you have any idea how angry grandpa would have been with me not only for skipping school but for speeding in his new car? Besides, your father was just the most handsome thing in his uniform. He looked like Magnum P.I.”

  “Does everybody believe in destiny?” Henna asked. “I'm starting to think I need to rethink my position on what is an acceptable way to find a man. Maybe I should start listening to fortunetellers and tossing pennies into wishing wells. I like Eduardo, but I'm not convinced that anything can come from a flirtation under extraordinary circumstances.”