Gloria’s Secret

by Robin Alexander

  “You’ll be staying here with Iris tonight?” Adrienne asked.

  Colie smiled, and I think he might even have blushed a little. “Yes, I’ll be here, but first I’ll walk you back to your cottage.”

  “We’ll be walking you back,” Iris chimed in.

  None of us said much as we walked through the jungle-like vegetation that separated our cottage from Iris’s house. All four of us seemed to be straining our ears for anything out of place. I kept feeling like we were being watched, and it made the little hairs prickle on my neck.

  “Ladies, keep your doors and windows locked tonight,” Colie said as we entered our cottage.

  “We will,” Adrienne said before kissing Iris on the cheek.

  I pulled Iris in for a bear hug and whispered in her ear that I was glad she wasn’t hurt. The last of her children had married and moved out, leaving her alone, and I was relieved she had Colie to take care of her.

  “Do as Colie says, keep your doors and windows locked,” Iris said as Colie took a look around our place. He gave the all clear, and Iris pushed us both inside.

  “Call me if you need anything at all.” Colie wrapped a protective arm around Iris’s shoulders.

  “You two behave yourselves, no funny business.” I wagged my finger at them before Adrienne could close the door. I heard a muffled response from Iris and was glad that I couldn’t hear what she said. I was certain it involved the skillet and my ass.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to find it hard to sleep tonight.” Adrienne slipped into the bathroom.

  I plopped down on the bed and kicked my flip-flops off. “I’m not really comfortable with leaving Iris and going home for Christmas. Do you think we should cancel the trip?”

  “What kind of excuse are you going to give your parents?” Adrienne called from the bathroom.

  I pondered that for a second. Mom, I can’t come home for the holidays. You see, we killed a bad man with a skillet…well, Iris did anyway, and now we think his ghost is haunting our inn. No, that definitely wouldn’t work. My folks would show up and demand that I sell the inn and move back home.

  I tugged at the band that held my ponytail in place, let my unruly hair fall, and brushed my fingers through it to get rid of the knots while I debated what to do about the trip. Here I was a woman in my thirties worrying that my parents would show up and drag me home like a child.

  “We know that Colie will stay with Iris while we’re gone, and there will be no guests during that time, so I see no reason to cancel the trip.” Adrienne sneaked up on me and smiled when her touch caused me to jump. “You’re looking for an excuse not to go, like you’ve been doing since the day your mother called.”

  “Because I know they’re going to do nothing but bitch about me being here. Mom doesn’t like me being on what she describes as an untamed island. Dad will make snide comments about his gay sister corrupting his daughter and how it’s a disgrace to the Tate name. Now tell me, are you really looking forward to being subjected to that?”

  “What I’m looking forward to is seeing where you grew up and sneaking a peek at your childhood pictures.” She leaned down and kissed me. “The rest of it will probably always be there, so I might as well learn to deal with it now.” Adrienne crawled into bed. “Now go get cleaned up so we can cuddle.”

  I did as I was told and went into the bathroom and stared at my reflection as I brushed my teeth. I had my dad’s height, but that was the only thing I shared with him other than my last name. He despised my Aunt Gloria because she was a lesbian, and when I revealed my sexuality, he hated her all the more. How could I take the woman I loved into a house where she would be just as despised? I had grown up with his disapproval, but if he mistreated Adrienne, I wasn’t sure how I’d react, and that scared me.

  I washed my face and joined Adrienne and the cats on our bed. She pulled me close, and I rested my head on her shoulder. Just the smell of her comforted me.

  “Don’t worry about me and your parents, baby. You’ve prepared me for what we’ll face.”

  I smiled. She’d tapped into my thoughts and knew my fears and concerns. “I can’t help but want to shield you from my dad’s caustic attitude.”

  “Shield me from whatever’s out there.” She motioned to the door. “Your parents I can handle.”

  I wrapped my arm over her and held her tight, wondering if I’d be able to protect her from any of it.

  Chapter Three

  We would have one group of guests staying at the inn before Adrienne and I left for New Orleans, and that raised our stress level to a peak. Neither of us was looking forward to having an inn full of people with some jackass running around wreaking havoc.

  Adrienne and I tried to look our cheery best when the vans arrived with people we’d come to know over the next two weeks. Sometimes the experience was enjoyable, sometimes complete misery, and most of the time a combination of the two. As I watched folks emerge from the vans, I figured we were all in store for a wild ride.

  The first couple we greeted was Diane Galvez and her partner, Lucy Morton. Diane had a dry wit and I immediately liked her. Her partner was very polite and seemed to treat Diane as Adrienne did me—with kid gloves. They were cute together, both the same height, which was about five feet, add maybe a half an inch. Diane had dark hair and eyes, and Lucy was the complete opposite with blond hair and blue eyes.

  Upon meeting the next couple, Adrienne and I exchanged glances, both of us knowing that we’d have our hands full with Tara Roberts and Rachel Benton. Tara was a germaphobe and whipped out a bottle of alcohol gel the minute she shook our hands. She liberally coated her hands and wrists with the gel and chased after her annoyed partner to purify her, as well.

  The life of the party would be Barry Gillis, a six-foot-five drag queen who burst into song as he emerged from the van. His partner, Russell, doted over Barry as though he was a celebrity who required around-the-clock attention. He carried a bag with feather boas and expensive spring water that Barry required a sip of often to soothe his vocal cords.

  The next couple moved among the crowd quietly. Toni Snider, whose skin was as dark as Iris’s, had to be every bit of six-foot-five inches of athletic lesbian. She had a no-nonsense look on her face that said don’t get on my bad side. Her partner, Tarsha Gibbs, had the face of an angel, and I figured the only person who could strike fear in Toni would be the angelic creature who stood at her side.

  “Only four couples this time?” I asked Adrienne as we watched the latest in a string of bartenders weave through the crowd with drinks.

  “Yeah, we had a last-minute cancellation.” Adrienne sighed. “A small group might be easier to contend with right now.”

  “It’s your turn to do the speech,” I reminded Adrienne. Public speaking was not among my favorite things to do.

  “Rock, paper, scissors?” Adrienne asked, raising a brow.

  “I love ya, darling, but it’s your turn. I mangled the last one, remember?”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention,” Adrienne raised her voice above the cacophony of chatter. “Lunch will be served here in the bar in thirty minutes. The porters are already bringing your belongings to your cottages. You’re all welcome to enjoy drinks until the food is served, or my partner, Hayden, and I will be happy to escort you to your cottages to freshen up first.”

  All four couples decided to be shown to their respective cottages, so we split the group in half. Adrienne took Diane and Lucy, with Barry and Russell sashaying behind. I took the germaphobe and her partner along with Toni and Tarsha.

  “What kind of filtration system do you have here, or will we need to stick to bottled water?” Tara asked as she followed close at my heels.

  “The water here is safe to drink from the tap, but we do have a filtration system just to be on the safe side.”

  “I have my own. Do you have any problems with me attaching it to the sink in our bathroom?” Tara asked as she produced a can of bug rep
ellent and sprayed enough of it to cause a fog.

  “You’re welcome to attach your own filter,” I said patiently. “I have tools and would be happy to do it for you.”

  “No, that won’t be necessary. I like to do it myself to assure that it’s done properly.”

  When we arrived at their cottage, I opened the door and presented them with the key. Tara fished around in her bag of germ warfare products and began spraying the room with Lysol.

  Tarsha covered her mouth with her hand to suppress a giggle; Toni simply shook her head in amazement. They followed behind me as I made a hasty retreat from the disinfectant cloud that already surrounded Tara’s cottage. Toni and Tarsha seemed to be well pleased with their cottage and thanked me for the escort.

  “Ladies, your things are inside, please make yourselves at home and don’t hesitate to let me, or any member of the staff, know if you need anything.” I gave them their keys.

  “Peace and quiet is all we need,” Toni said with a satisfied smile.

  I hoped that peace and quiet was on the schedule for their stay because I really didn’t want to be on Toni’s bad side.

  Iris and her staff, minus two, still produced an amazing spread of barbecue chicken with an island flair. All the guests appeared to be enjoying their first meal with us, even Tara who sniffed and poked through everything before taking a bite.

  I nudged Adrienne to remind her that it was still her turn to address our guests. She responded with a pinch on my inner thigh that caused me to yelp and gather everyone’s attention.

  “If you paid close attention to the information on our Web site,” Adrienne began, “you already know that CatIsland is unlike most of the BahamianIslands. There are no casinos or high-rise resorts. Instead, the island offers pristine beaches and breathtaking vistas from MountAlvernia, which is the highest point in the island chain. If you’re looking for a tropical paradise to relax in and enjoy nature, you’ve found it.”

  The crowd applauded.

  “There’s still plenty of things to do,” Adrienne continued. “Canoeing, snorkeling, shelling, and most important, relaxing, are all at your fingertips.”

  “How about kayaking?” Diane asked.

  “That too,” Adrienne said. “For kayaking and canoeing, you’ll only need to make a reservation with me or Hayden, and we’ll make the arrangements. That includes tours of MountAlvernia and the monastery ruins. Otherwise, you can snorkel right off the beach behind the inn.”

  “My girlish figure is going to go to hell in a hand basket if I keep eating like this.” Barry said. “This is so delicious. I just can’t stop stuffing myself.”

  Barry was such a hoot, and I figured that he’d keep the crowd in stitches with his flamboyant attitude. He wore a pair of short cut-offs with a pink T-shirt and matching pink flip-flops. His manicured and clear polished nails were covered in barbecue sauce, along with his face. I watched as Russell occasionally dabbed Barry’s mouth with his napkin.

  Russell, with his short cropped blond hair, was much more conservative. His navy starched shirt was tucked neatly into a pair of khaki cargo shorts.

  While Adrienne was engaged in conversation with Toni about women’s basketball after lunch, I sneaked into the courtyard for some much needed nicotine. I stretched out on a chaise lounge and lit up. A gentle breeze blew in off the water, and birds sang their happy songs. All was as it should be, and I sank back into my favorite chair with a contented sigh.

  “Mind some company?”

  I turned and noticed Diane sitting next to me lighting her own cigarette.

  “Ah, a fellow smoker.” I smiled. “Yes, please join me.”

  “I’m supposed to be quitting,” Diane said as she exhaled. “But to really quit, I’ll need to go off into the wilderness somewhere so no one will get hurt.”

  I chuckled. “I tell Adrienne the same thing. I have a lot of nervous energy to begin with, and if I quit, I’d climb the walls and drive her insane. The day I decide to quit, I’ll go off to the Adirondacks.”

  “Amen to that.” Diane raised her beer in salute. “So what’s it like to own a little slice of heaven?”

  “It has its own stressors, but for the most part, it’s exactly what you describe—a slice of heaven. I have to admit, though, it wouldn’t be nearly as appealing without Adrienne.”

  “How long have you two been together?”

  “A few months. We’re still in the infancy of our relationship.” I found it easy to talk to Diane, and before long, I was telling her all about coming to the island and meeting the love of my life.

  “Is it hard to be romantically involved with your business partner?”

  “There was no way I could live and work with someone twenty-four hours a day before I met Adrienne. It just works with her.”

  Diane nodded. “Lucy and I have talked about going into business together, but it makes me a little nervous. As much as I enjoy being with her, it’s kind of a break to go off to work.” Diane grinned and continued, “Then when the day is over, I can’t wait to get home and be with her.”

  “That’s because I’m such a good cook.”

  Lucy had walked up on our conversation undetected. She ruffled Diane’s hair lovingly and plucked the cigarette from her partner’s fingers and promptly put it out.

  Diane grinned sheepishly up at Lucy. “That’s only my fourth one today, honey.”

  “Actually, it was your seventh,” Lucy said, sounding a lot like Adrienne. “She’s amazing with numbers until it comes to how much she smokes.”

  Diane looked over at me and rolled her eyes. “Lucy is determined to help me quit.”

  I looked at my own cigarette, then put it out in respect to Diane. “I wish you luck.”

  “Thank you, I’m going to need it,” Diane said and stood. “We’re going to change and hit the beach, can’t let this sun go to waste.”

  “Don’t forget your sunscreen,” I called after them and went to find Adrienne. When I walked back into the bar, she seemed very relieved to see me. Tara had her hemmed up in a corner, so I used our rescue signal. “Hey, honey, I need some help with—”

  “Oh, yes, I forgot,” Adrienne said, cutting off the rest of my sentence. “Excuse me please,” she said politely to Tara, grabbed my arm, and nearly dragged me from the bar. “That woman has some issues,” Adrienne said when we were a fair distance from the crowd.

  “She’s a little over the top. She sprayed the cottage down with disinfectant the minute she walked in, but ya know that’s really not a bad idea when you’re staying somewhere strange.”

  “Hayden, she bathed herself in antiseptic gel the whole time she talked to me, then she began coating me with it. And the scary thing is, I don’t think she was even aware she was doing it.”

  “You smell good and clean.”

  Adrienne’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t wait to see how you deal with Ms. Hypochondria.”

  The rest of the afternoon went well; our guests explored the inn, and most settled on the beach for the remainder of the day. I was still nervous and wondered what the night would bring. It was hard enough to keep our employees calm with the goings-on, but what would the guests think? How would we explain it all away?

  I could tell that Adrienne was feeling the strain, too. Normally graceful, she dropped nearly everything she picked up. She was hyper and edgy; she constantly looked at the clock, as did I. We were counting off the minutes to nightfall and wondering what the supposed poltergeist had on the agenda.

  Promptly at seven, Iris and her crew served dinner in the dining room just off the bar. Iris, as always, rose to the occasion and put on a spread that seemed to please every palate. We sat around the huge table together like old friends enjoying a meal. That is until the noise started.

  Adrienne’s eyes widened and she shot me a look before composing herself. The entire table fell silent as something in the distance howled or moaned; the eerie sound blew in with the breeze.

  “What the hell was that?” Diane a
sked as she put her fork down.

  Adrienne’s jaw started working, but nothing came out.

  “The wind makes odd noises when it blows in over the bluff,” I said casually. Silently, I applauded myself for the quick and even response.

  “The wind’s been blowing all day, and I haven’t heard it make that noise,” Tarsha said.

  “You don’t hear it when you’re down on the beach.” I was getting so good at lying. “Plus there’s a lot of noise around the inn during the day, so it’s not as noticeable.” No sooner than I’d finished speaking, the bizarre sound began again. “Then again it could be one of the islanders blowing into a conch shell, they do that a lot.”

  “That doesn’t sound like no damn conch shell,” Toni said, narrowing her eyes at me.

  “Well, it could be— ” Adrienne gave my knee a squeeze under the table that said, You’ve said enough now, please shut up before I’m forced to choke the shit out of you. “It’s probably just the wind.”

  This answer seemed to satisfy the group and they began eating again, the casual banter returned, despite the noises that seemed to fade in and out. Tara continued with her lesson on germ warfare and extolled the miracle working power of bleach. She was working my last nerve that I kept on reserve for my cat on one of his bad days.

  “Are there wild animals on the island?” Tara asked after she sniffed at a piece of chicken skewered on her fork.

  “Bears, tigers, and Komodo dragons,” I said, trying to keep a straight face.

  Adrienne popped me on the arm as Tara’s jaw sagged. “She’s kidding. There isn’t anything of the sort on CatIsland.”

  I really don’t know why, but I was in the mood to antagonize Tara. Perhaps it took my mind off the sounds, but then again maybe I was just the ass that Iris always claimed I was.

  “There are iguanas, though.”

  Barry looked disgusted. “Eww, you mean those little lizard things? I hate those.”