“He had to take your mother to Green Haven today.” When Dave stared at him, Steve went on, “Take my word for it, it’s for the best, son. She has some real problems.”
“If you say so. You know I trust you, Dad.”
Steve nodded and turned toward the yard. “Watermelon’s ready. Come and get it.”
Chapter 26
Nineteen Months Earlier
Joanna was still getting sick, though Gene had told her it would get better. She was beginning to lose faith in his diagnosis. She spent a lot of time in her hut, trying to sleep off the nausea.
As they all sat around at breakfast, Wilma asked, “Where’s Joanna?”
“She decided to sleep in. She was up most of the night throwing up,” Ray explained. “I’m worried about her.”
Gene shook his head. “I don’t like this, either.”
“What could be wrong?” Ray demanded.
“I’m not sure, but it’s not the norm for the sickness to last this long. Usually it ends in a few weeks.” He sighed. “There’re times I sure wish I had my lab equipment.”
“Is she going to be all right?”
“I hope so, Ray.”
“You’re a doctor, don’t you know?”
“I’m a doctor, but I don’t know all the answers. I’ll take care of her the best I can.”
Ray shook his head and stood. “I’m sorry, Gene. I guess I’m nervous about this pregnancy.” He stood. “I’m going to take her something to eat. Maybe she’ll be able to keep it down.” He wandered off.
Gene looked worried. “I sure hope nothing happens to this baby. They’re both so looking forward to it.”
Debbie touched Gene’s arm. “I know you’re doing all you can.”
“I just wish I could do more.”
Amanda turned to her husband. “Let’s take a walk, Steve.”
He glanced at her, but didn’t say anything. He stood and took her hand.
When they were down the beach a ways he asked, “What’s wrong, honey?”
“I had to get away. I had a dark feeling come over me and I know it concerns the baby. I don’t think Joanna’s going to be able to carry it to term.”
“Oh, Amanda, I hope you’re wrong.”
“I hope so too, but every time I’ve had one of those feelings...well, things have always happened.”
“When did you last have one of those feelings?”
“Right before the plane went down.”
Steve dropped her hand and put his arm around her waist. He didn’t say anything for a little while, then he asked, “Have you seen your native friend lately?”
“No, but I decided something. Since she’s been trying to say my name, to myself, I’m calling her Queenie. I call her man King. Do you think those are good names?”
Steve nodded. “They sound appropriate. What does she call you?”
“Something sounding kind of like Man-dah with emphasis on both syllables.”
He nodded.
“I wonder if she could help Joanna.”
“It’d be worth a try.”
“Will you go with me to see if I can find her?”
“Of course.” He looked down at her. “I’m not about to let you go into that jungle alone.”
They came back up the beach and turned into the jungle close to their camp. “Steve, I think if we go to the lagoon and turn south, we’ll come to their village. I kind of remember it was in that direction.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
They reached the lagoon and started to go south when they heard a noise in the opposite direction.
“That sounded like a man’s voice and a child crying.” Amanda turned around. “Let’s go see.”
“What the hell’s going on?” Steve demanded when they came into a small clearing a little north of the lagoon.
Mr. X was holding a little girl by her shoulder. She was crying and he was threatening her.
“Let her go!” Steve shouted at him.
“You stay out of this, old man. I wanna know where those jewels are and she’s going to tell me.”
“She doesn’t know what you’re saying. Let her go.” Steve stepped closer to Mr. X.
Amanda reached out and took the child’s hand.
Mr. X still held her by the shoulder.
“I said let her go!” Steve jerked the child away from Mr. X and Amanda smiled at her. “Go,” she said and pointed for the child to run toward the south.
The little girl began to run. In seconds she was out of sight.
Mr. X lunged at Steve, but he underestimated the older man’s agility. Steve stepped to the side and Mr. X stumbled. He managed to stay on his feet and when he turned, Steve landed a blow on his jaw.
“You son-of-a-bitch! All I want is my share of the jewels. I know you know where they are. I heard you two talking about them. You said there were enough to make a lot of people rich. I can’t believe you’re going to hog them all for yourself.”
“What good are jewels going to do you on this island?” Amanda demanded.
He didn’t answer, but swung at Steve. This time he hit Steve’s shoulder and he stumbled backward. “Now try to fight me, old man.”
“Leave him alone,” Amanda demanded.
Mr. X whirled around toward her. “Stay out of this, bitch.”
“Don’t you dare talk to her that way!” Steve lunged toward the man.
The two of them fell to the ground. Mr. X managed to get up first. He started to kick Steve, but Amanda hit his shoulder as hard as she could.
He turned and glared at her. “I told you to stay out of this.” He raised his right hand to slap her, but when a native appeared behind her with a raised spear Mr. X’s eyes got big and he backed off.
Steve scrambled to his feet. Another native came up close to him with a raised spear.
In a minute Queenie appeared. She looked at Steve and Amanda and then made a stabbing motion toward her heart. Amanda frowned.
Queenie pointed toward Mr. X and then made the stabbing motion again. Amanda knew Queenie was asking if she wanted her to have the men kill Mr. X.
Amanda knew her conscience wouldn’t let her do it so she shook her head.
Queenie understood and motioned for the men to lower their spears.
Steve said to Mr. X through clinched teeth, “You’d better get the hell out of here. Amanda saved your life this time, but if they ever catch you out here alone I wouldn’t bet on you coming out alive.”
Mr. X glared at Steve, but said nothing.
Amanda added, “And if you ever mention those jewels to anyone, we’ll see to it that you come into this jungle and meet up with some of our friends.”
She then turned to Queenie and motioned for her to follow them. The two men with spears walked up behind Mr. X and nudged him forward. Queenie walked with Amanda and Steve. From seemingly out of nowhere four more guards were following them.
When they reached the beach Steve said to Curtis, “We caught him manhandling a little girl. He’s lucky to be alive, so watch him.”
Curtis took Mr. X’s shoulder and shoved him forward. The men with the spears nodded.
Amanda turned to Ray. “I’ve brought my friend to look at Joanna. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Anything to help her.”
Gene came up beside Ray. “I don’t mind either, Amanda. I’ve decided I’ll never bet against you.”
Amanda led Queenie into the hut. Joanna was lying on the mat in a fetal position. “Joanna, I’ve brought my friend Queenie to look at you.”
Joanna nodded. “I’m so sick, Amanda. I think I’m going to die.”
“You’re not going to die.” Amanda touched her forehead. “You hang in there.”
The native knelt down and looked at Joanna. Queenie touched her abdomen then looked in her eyes. She felt of her head. In a little while she stood and motioned for Amanda to follow her out of the hut. Once outside, she looked sad and shook her head.
Amanda knew imme
diately there was nothing she could do.
Ray knew too and his eyes filled with tears. The native woman noticed and reached out and patted his arm. She then motioned for Amanda to follow her into the jungle.
When Amanda returned she was alone, but she had a handful of leaves. “She said for Joanna to chew one of these when she feels nauseated. They won’t help the baby, but they’ll make the sickness go away.”
“I’m not going to ask you how she relayed that to you,” Gene said.
“It took a while to get it across.”
Gene shook his head. “Sometimes I think your wife’s magic, Steve.”
“So do I.” He smiled at Amanda.
She returned his smile and went into the hut. She gave Joanna a leaf to chew and placed the others in one of the open-mouthed jugs on the floor. She then went out and joined her husband who’d been standing by patiently waiting for her.
* * * *
July 27—4:15 PM
Wendover, GA
Amanda looked at the computer screen. Had she done it to everyone’s satisfaction? She hoped so. Would they like it? She hoped this was true, too. With a deep breath she typed “The End.” She then selected the entire manuscript, copied it in a word file and attached it to the email addresses. She sighed deeply and hit “Send.” Now all she had to do was wait to hear from the survivors, then she’d send it to the agent. She stood, stretched and went into the kitchen. She checked the roast she’d put in the crock-pot earlier. She felt a little lonely and at loose ends. She wished she had someone to talk with, but the twins had left for Charlotte after visiting for a week and it was too early for Steve to come in from work. He told her this morning they’d be shuffling cattle to market all day and it might be late when he got home. She knew he’d be tired.
Picking up the phone she dialed Diane’s number just to hear her voice and to thank her for letting the kids visit. The answering machine picked up. “Hi honey,” she said. “Just wanted to say hi. Everything’s great here. Sent off a draft of the book to my friends and wanted to let you know. Give my love to Noah and the twins and I’ll call you later. Love you.”
She thought of calling Claudia next, but remembered her daughter-in-law was going on an outing with some other moms and their kids this afternoon.
There was no one else she wanted to talk with and it was too early to cook the vegetables for dinner so she went to the refrigerator and poured herself a glass of tea. She then saw the note on the kitchen counter.
Note1
Hi my love,
Slipped in and grabbed a sandwich for lunch. You were so busy on the computer I resisted the temptation to come in there and ravage you. Will do that later tonight.
It goes without saying, I love you.
Steve
Amanda had a big grin on her face. “Oh, Steve,” she said aloud. “You’re the most wonderful man I’ve ever known.”
The telephone rang and she picked it up.
“Mrs. Brookshire?”
“Yes.”
The man explained he was from the company they’d ordered the bedroom furniture from and was on the way with the delivery. He needed directions.
She gave them to him.
At least, she thought, This’ll keep me busy for a while. Maybe until Steve gets home.
And it did. By the time Steve came in at six-thirty everything in their bedroom was set up. She’d put new sheets on the bed, placed the decorations she’d chosen to accent the room, let the air out of the air mattress and carried it to the storage room in the basement.
“Hey, that looks great,” he said when she led him into the room to show it off. “If I wasn’t so dirty, I’d grab you, throw you on that bed and make love to you to christen it.”
She laughed. “I figured you’d get something like that in your mind.” She bopped him on the shoulder. “Why don’t you get your shower while I go put dinner on the table? After that we’ll talk about christening it.”
“I guess that’s fair.” He leaned down and kissed her.
Amanda took the roast from the crockpot, got the salad from the refrigerator and dished up the vegetables. She had it all on the table when Steve come in and sat down in his place at the end of the table. He flexed his shoulders.
“Tired, honey?” She sat the pitcher of sweet iced-tea down and stood behind him, massaging his back.
“A little, but it’s a good tired. We finished most everything today.” He leaned his head back against her front and looked up at her. “That feels good. It’s great to come home and find such a wonderful meal and a wonderful woman to share it with.”
She kissed his forehead and moved to her seat to his right. “We’ll see how wonderful the meal is when you taste it. You know I’m not the world’s best cook.”
“But you’re the world’s best lover.” He winked at her.
She rolled her eyes at him.
“Seriously, Amanda, I’ve been thinking about something.” When she only looked at him, he went on. “This house is awfully big for you to have to look after with all you have to do with your writing.”
“I don’t mind keeping house for you, Steve.”
“I know you don’t, but I mentioned to one of the guys at work today that we might be needing some help around here. He said he had an aunt who was looking for that sort of work.”
“Well, it would be nice to find someone who would do some cooking now and then. You’d get a decent meal that way.”
“Your cooking suits me fine, sweetheart. I’m more interested in getting someone to do the cleaning and heavier work.”
“I appreciate it, but now that the book’s finished—”
He interrupted. “You finished the book?”
“Today—well most likely, depending if anyone wants to make changes or add something. I emailed copies to everyone. I made a hard copy for you so you could read it at your leisure.”
“I’ll do that.” He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “Now you’re going to be busier than ever. I’m sure you’ll do some re-writing and then there’s the promotion.”
“You will go with me to promote the thing, won’t you?”
“Of course. You don’t think I’d let my beautiful wife go out into this cruel world alone, do you? Some man might try it take her away from me.”
“Fat chance of that.”
He smiled. “Then how about the housekeeper? Would you like me to tell Will to have her get in touch with us?”
“If you think we need her.”
“I definitely think so.”
“Then by all means, tell him.” She glanced at his plate. “Would you like more roast or are you ready for dessert?”
“I think I can eat a little more roast and still have room for dessert.” He grinned at her again. “Then as soon as you let me know you’re ready, I want my second dessert.”
Amanda shook her head. “Steve, you’re incorrigible.”
“No, I’m not. I just happen to be one of those lucky men who’s in love with his wife.” He looked into her eyes and added, “And unless she happens to be an Academy Award-winning actress, she loves her husband, too.”
She stood. “I’ve never acted in my life.” She ran her fingers through his still-damp hair. “I’ll get your first dessert and then...”
She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to.
Chapter 27
Eighteen Months and Two Weeks Earlier...
For the next two weeks Joanna had cramps and a little nausea, but the leaves Queenie had prescribed helped. It was mid day and they were getting ready to fix lunch when a piercing scream came from Ray’s hut.
Ray came out the door and yelled, “Gene!”
There was another scream as Gene and Wilma rushed toward the distraught man.
Amanda reached out and touched Steve’s arm. “She’s losing the baby.”
“Maybe not.”
She didn’t answer because she knew she was right.
In a little while Gene cam
e out of the hut with his arm around Ray’s shoulder. The men on the beach hung their heads. The women cried openly.
Queenie appeared with her two guards. Amanda stood and went to the edge of the jungle to meet her. The others watched as the two drastically different women communicated in gestures and expressions.
In a few minutes, Amanda nodded and headed toward Ray.
“She lost the baby, Amanda.”
“I know, Ray.” She reached out and hugged him. “How is she?”
“Sleeping.”
“Good. That’s what she needs.” She took a deep breath. “Ray, the natives have offered you a great honor.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’ve offered to let you bury your baby with their dead.”
“It wasn’t even formed completely, Amanda. It wasn’t a baby.”
“It would have been, Ray. You and I both know that.”
“Are you saying we should do this?”
“It’s up to you, but as I said it’s an honor and it might give Joanna some peace. At least it would be easier to swallow than just destroying the fetus.”
“Could I wait until Joanna wakes up and make a decision?”
“Sure.” She smiled at him. “I just want you to know, I’ve witnessed their burial process and it’s a moving ceremony.”
When Amanda reported back to Queenie, she nodded and went to the hut. In a minute she came out carrying a banana leaf-wrapped bundle. Nobody said anything, but they all knew it was the baby.
The next morning Ray informed Amanda that yes, Joanna wanted her baby buried with the natives. He also said, “She’s so weak, I don’t think she can make the trek into the jungle.”
“Steve will help carry her, won’t you darling?”
“Of course.”
Though there were no natives in sight when Amanda waved toward the jungle. Instantly Queenie and her guards appeared.
In a matter of minutes the four of them followed her into the woods. Steve and Ray had made a seat for Joanna by crossing their hands. Amanda walked beside them. In a soft voice she explained the cave to them.
“Do you mean my baby will have a jewel in the wall?” Joanna was misty-eyed.
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