Tropical Balm

by Franny Armstrong

  Smiling at him, she said, “That’s all right Delon, I’m sure your cousin will do a good job, at a reasonable price. Won’t you Simeon?” Her eyes captured his again, and he found himself nodding, practically drooling over her.

  “When do you want me to start?”

  “As soon as you can. Delon will make all the arrangements with you. It was nice meeting you Simeon.” Nodding, she turned and went back into the house.

  Delon waited until she was out of site before he lit into his cousin. “Don’t you even think about trying to get her into bed Simeon. She’s not like all your other women. She’s a lady.”

  Laughing, Simeon shoved Delon’s shoulder. “All the ladies spread their legs the same way my friend. She is one I’m going to enjoy.” Turning, he tossed his keys to Delon, and got into her car, driving away quickly.

  ***

  Rubbing his aching back, Camden Brooke stood up and stretched. The building would be completely finished in a few weeks time. Textured coral-pink paint now covered the solid concrete exterior walls. Cam had installed single paned windows, and curved grills covered each one, protection against intruders. Most people used their homes only for sleeping. The cooking was done outside over a brick fire pit.

  Cam grabbed a cold bottle of water from his cooler, and took a deep drink. Once this job was done, he didn’t know what he’d build. Hiring himself out at low prices allowed him to keep busy, but he also was able to provide work for three Jamaican men as well.

  Toronto seemed like it was years away. He had come to Jamaica to escape a marriage gone bad, and extreme boredom. One drunken driver had taken it all away, hitting him as he stood beside a car giving out a speeding ticket. His life had changed in a blink.

  The Ontario Provincial Police department had been gracious when they told him he would not be able to work in the field again. After nearly three years of hospitalization, and numerous surgeries, he accepted a large settlement, and the proverbial handshake followed by a ‘don’t let the door hit you on the way out’ pat on the back.

  Granted they did offer him a desk job, but the thought of staring at four walls day in, day out, wasn’t appealing to him, so he’d accepted the settlement, left the department, and left the country.

  At forty-eight years old, his bruised and battered body was done in, and he was unsuitable for police work. He defied them all, and came here to begin again, working in construction, against his doctor’s advice.

  Taking a deep breath, he glanced around him. The ocean was a feast for the eyes, spreading multiple shades of blues and greens across the wave swept surface, like an artist’s paintbrush. The sky couldn’t get any bluer, and the trees…the trees were so lush and green, and teaming with life, that he sometimes stared at them in wonder, waiting to see which critter would peek out of the thick leaves next.

  Thinking of the harsh bitter winters that he’d spent outside, reminding speeders that driving too fast was dangerous, seemed simply like an unpleasant memory. The heat of Jamaica had been good for his aches and pains, although there seemed little hope for the pain in his heart, at his wife’s desertion.

  A small white car pulled up, and a young Jamaican man stepped out. Putting down his bottle, Cam walked over to meet him.

  “Hi. How can I help you?” he asked politely.

  “Good day mon. Would you be Camden Brooke?” he asked.

  “That I am.” he said, extending his hand to shake.

  “I was told you were a good builder, and my employer wants a room built on her house. Would you be interested in the job?”

  “I’d have to look at it, and I do have a few weeks left on this one, but I think I’m free to take on another job soon.”

  “My name is Delon. I work for Ms. Teal Greenwood, and she asked me to find a good builder. She doesn’t leave the hill much, so I do the hiring for her. When can you come to take a look?” he asked.

  “Well, I can come by on Saturday if you like.”

  “That would be fine. I’ll give you directions, and tell Ms. Teal you’ll be there. How about one o’clock?”

  Nodding, Cam smiled. Delon gave him directions, and drove off. Staring after him, Cam was pleased. The work was coming to him now. He should be able to keep his three men in business year round at this rate.

  ***

  Two days later, Simeon pulled up in the driveway. Teal was sitting on the bench swing that Delon had ordered built for her. She was sketching on her art pad, planning a painting she wanted to do. She’d finally begun to feel more alive since Zola had become part of her life. The girl was a treasure, very sweet, and eager to please.

  Teal planned to go to the girl’s school to meet her classmates, and the teacher on Monday. Poppy had told her that the schools were terribly inadequate, and had few supplies for the teachers to work with. Not many children could attend school since either the distance was too great, or they had to work to help support their families.

  Teal hoped to help alleviate some of that.

  Waving at Simeon, Teal put down her art pad, and walked over to look at what he’d done to the car so far.

  “Ah, I see you are working hard on the poor thing. How long do you think it will take to finish the repairs?” she asked, giving him a kind smile.

  Even though he looked into her eyes, all he saw was colour. He didn’t see the lurking pain, or lack of smile in them. She wore another baggy dress. He thought that both of them could fit into it. Feeling himself harden, he grinned.

  “Oh, possibly a week or so. It takes time to make sure it’s done right. I just wanted to show you what I’ve done so far.”

  Not blind to his true reason for being at her home, Teal smiled at him. She had thought about taking a lover, and he seemed game. She was lonely, wanting to fill a void. She did not want to have a relationship though, so she waited to see what he was going to offer her.

  “Would you like a cool drink Simeon?” she asked, keeping her eyes locked to his, so he wouldn’t know she saw his arousal.

  “That would be nice Ms. Teal.”

  Turning, she walked with him to the house, a chill going up her spine when she sensed his amorous eyes on her back.

  Dinner was over, but there were leftovers, so she offered them to him, and he accepted. Teal sat across from him at the small kitchen table, while he ate the curried chicken and rice.

  “This is really good, Ms. Teal. I appreciate you feeding me.” His burning gaze raked over her as though he wondered what she looked like beneath the sundress.

  Holding back her sigh, Teal decided to get to the point.

  “Simeon, if you want to be my lover, I am fine with that. There are only three things you have to agree to first.”

  Stunned, he sat back, his mouth opened. He had no idea Canadian women were so direct. Usually he had to chase the women a bit to get them into bed. Never had he met a woman who simply told him what she wanted.

  “Ah…what would they be, Ms. Teal?” His eyes were still wide with amazement as he listened to her lay out her conditions.

  Nodding, she said, “One; there will be no emotional attachments, just sex. Two; you will always wear a condom. Three; there will be no kissing on the lips. And finally, four; once you are done, you leave, no staying for the night. Do you agree to these terms Simeon?”

  Unable to answer, he nodded his head.

  “Good. When you are finished eating we can get started.” Standing, she left the room, heading for her bedroom. Her hands were shaking, and she gulped in a deep breath. Alex was the only man she had slept with since she was eighteen years old. The thought of another man touching her, was difficult to swallow, but she was determined to start living again, with no emotional attachments.

  Stripping off her baggy dress, she slipped under the thin blanket, and reached into the bedside drawer for a condom. Biting her lip, she froze, feeling his eyes on her.

  Bound and determined to keep it impersonal she said, “Take off your clothes, and come here.”

  Without a
word, Simeon striped quickly and began removing her blanket. She gripped it close, and shook her head, so he let it go, and slipped under it, suddenly unsure of himself.

  Lying down, Teal reached a hand up and caressed his cheek. When he aimed for her lips, she turned her head aside, and pulled her hand back.

  “Sorry. I forgot.” His hands tentatively touched her waist, sliding over her smooth skin, moving up to cup her heavy breast.

  Gasping, Teal closed her eyes, and thought about Alex, fighting back tears of anguish. She pretended Simeon was Alex, and that helped her to relax.

  Simeon’s lips found her breast, and began sucking gently, cupping her other the soft mound with his warm fingers. Excited now, he tried to climb on and enter her, but she pushed her hand on his chest, handing him a condom.

  Not willing to let her know that he didn’t know what to do with it, he ripped the package open, ripping the condom also.

  Hiding her smile, she said, “They can be pretty delicate, let me help.” Opening another, she swallowed hard, and blanked out her mind before slipping it on him.

  “There you go. I’m ready when you are.”

  Once she was lying back with her eyes closed, Simeon climbed on top of her, and parted her thighs. Without any foreplay, he pushed up into her, groaning.

  Catching her breath, she tried to feel, disappointed when she only had a physical sensation, and not a great one at that.

  He didn’t take long, and collapsed on top of her, happy with his performance. When he rolled off her, Teal turned her back to him, and said, “You can let yourself out. The waste basket is beside the end table.”

  He seemed stunned at her lack of enthusiasm, as though expecting a little praise for his virile lovemaking. Speechless, he left the bed.

  “Do you want me to come back tomorrow?”

  “Sure, after dinner,” she said, her voice muffled by the pillow. He didn’t see the tears that trailed down her cheeks.

  ***

  Confused, Simeon scratched his head. “Ah…good night.” Leaving quietly, he raced to the car. He had another woman to see to slake his thirst. His experience with Ms. Teal had enraged him so much, that Mia was going to have a rough night, a very rough night.

  Hearing her car leave, Teal burst into tears, and cried herself to sleep.

  ***

  Delon came into the kitchen in the morning, smiling at her. “Good morning Ms. Teal. I finished making it. Do you want to come see it?”

  “Thank you for working so quickly, Delon. I miss having showers.” Leaving the table, she followed him, Poppy and Zola right behind them.

  In the yard was a curtained off area. Delon pulled the curtain aside, displaying an old fashioned tub with a tall water pipe and shower head.

  “Just pull on this cord Ms. Teal, and you can have a shower.” Delon demonstrated. When he pulled on the cord, a steady stream of water came out. Another pull, and it turned off. He’d even built a small shelf for her shampoo and soap.

  “Perfect Delon. Thank you very much. Now I want you all to feel free to use it yourselves, as long as I’m not planning on being in there at the same time!” Smiling, she tried to kid with them, but she felt so dirty from her experience with Simeon, that she wanted to shower right away.

  Her three friends laughed, but she was melancholy today, and knew they were worried about her. She knew that Delon had seen his cousin arrive the night before then an hour later, he left like he was being chased by a hive of bees, his expression angry.

  In her room, she’d heard Poppy tell Delon that Teal was an adult, and had to make her own decisions, so not to tell her what he thought of his cousin.

  “I think I’ll take the first shower if you don’t mind?” Teal left them, and went to get into her robe, and bring out her soap and shampoo.

  ***

  That night Simeon came to her again, and she had a similar experience. She felt cold, dead inside, and his attempts to turn her on only annoyed her.

  Frustrated, Simeon left in anger once again, although he almost kept his anger from her. She had to pay him for the car repair before he would show her how angry he was. He thought about the many ways she would pay for humiliating him, and that cheered him up.

  Tonight he would go to Tinesha, since Mia was too bruised up to be of much use. He wanted to hurry and get the car finished so she would pay him, and then he would pay her back.

  ***

  Again, once the car was gone, she cried. Yet, this time she didn’t fall asleep. She wanted to shower, and get his stink off her. She wondered why she bothered having sex with him, when neither one of them enjoyed it.

  Getting out of bed, she slipped into her robe, and went to the shower, scrubbing herself vigorously.

  Still unable to sleep she got out her paints, and started the painting she had planned, immersing herself in the colours, losing herself in her world of art. She was still painting when Poppy showed up to make breakfast.

  ***

  A haunting melody echoed through the trees, and over the hills, bringing people out of their homes, and taking them from their work as they paused to listen. It was beautiful and sad, bringing tears to the eyes.

  Poppy and Zola stood at the door staring at the rocking swing where Teal played her flute, tears streaming down her face. She’d become lost in another world, the same way she got with her art, yet this world pulled at her heartstrings.

  She didn’t hear the two cars pull up, or see Delon walk over with another man. Her sobs broke the flow of the song, causing her to stop playing. Unaware of the four pair of eyes watching her, Teal sobbed, her hands covering her face.

  No one knew what to do. Poppy waved at Delon to come inside, and she pulled Zola inside with her, not wanting Ms. Teal to know they’d seen her crying.

  The man stood there, and stared at her for a while. Finally, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and walked quietly up to her, holding it out.

  “Here,” he said.

  Her scream echoed around them as she jumped to her feet.

  “Who the hell are you? What are you doing here? Are you some kind of perverted nut that you go around sneaking up on people?” her chest rose and fell quickly, her hand over her heart as if to slow its rapid beat.

  “Well, I’m Camden Brooke. You asked for a builder, I’m a builder. No, I’m not some kind of perverted nut, and no I didn’t sneak up on you, I walked up as bold as day. You simply weren’t paying attention. Any more questions ma’am?” Humour filled his bright blue eyes, and it annoyed her.

  He still held out the handkerchief, and she snatched it from him, swiping at her tears. “Who the hell carries a handkerchief in this day and age anyway?”

  Chuckling, Cam shrugged. “Force of habit. I’m an environmentalist, and like to save trees.”

  Not sure how to react to that answer, she stayed quiet and studied him. He was Canadian, but had a slight Scottish accent. His once fiery red hair was liberally sprinkled with silver threads. Warm blue eyes, accented by smiley lines, held a similar sadness to hers. He looked to be about Alex’s age.

  At that thought, a wave of anguish rolled through her heart, and she handed him the handkerchief back.

  “Thank you,” her voice gruff with pain.

  “You can keep it. I don’t cry that much.” He grinned, trying to cheer her up.

  An unwarranted smile almost blossomed on her face, but her pain was so raw, she lost the ability to hold it.

  “Delon can show you what I want,” she said, and practically ran to the house.

  Cam stared after her until she disappeared inside. Delon came rushing out. Staring down at the flute, Cam picked it up and placed it back in its case, snapping the clips closed. Her music was beautiful, as was she. Hoping Delon proved to be in the mood to chat, and tell him about her background, he turned to him wearing a smile.

  “I hear you’re the man who’s going to tell me what she wants?” Intrigued, without even seeing the job, he knew he was going to take it. He was.
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br />   CHAPTER 3

  A Crack In The Wall

  The ramshackle room had holes in the roof the size of fists, and the rough wooden floor looked like it couldn’t hold a child. There were no desks for the children to sit on, just the floor. Not even a rug for them to cushion their tender behinds.

  There were only six girls and two boys of various ages in attendance. Two of the girls were close to Zora’s age, and they jumped to their feet when they saw her, chatting excitedly.

  The Jamaican woman, who stood silent in the corner, stared at Teal in curiosity, wondering what she was doing at the school.

  Smiling, Teal introduced herself, and asked the woman questions about the school, and who was in charge. At that, the woman became wary.

  “Why do you want to know who runs the school?” she asked, her fingers tightening into fists.

  gazing down at the children, Teal suggested, “Perhaps you would allow the children a break outside, so we can have a few minutes to talk?” Her warm smile reassured the woman, and she clapped her hands, sending the children running for the doors in excitement. Zola went with them.

  “What is your name?” Teal asked.

  “Leah Smith.”

  Surprised at such an American name, Teal said, “Nice to meet you. Leah. I’d like to talk to you about the school. I have some ideas that I think might please you.”

  The two women talked for some time, and by the time Teal left with Zola, they were practically best friends.

  “I’ll see you in a week, Leah. Bye.” Teal smiled, pleased about her day’s work. The thought stunned her. She really missed working, and hadn’t realized that until the school visit.