by S M Mala
‘Ah that business of hers,’ said Murray smiling and sitting back in the sofa. ‘The entrepreneur has decided she wants to supply my hotels with bowls for a cost.’
‘What?’ Jake smiled and sat back down next to his father.
‘Hatty thinks I should display her work on the island and that way she can sell her pieces and it’d look nice.’
‘She has got a point. You know she’s very talented underneath that ball of Hatty. Are you going to think about it or are you going to humour her?’
‘I’m not sure. I can’t buy all her things as, effectively, I’d be financing her. Then she’ll never stand on her own two feet but it’s an idea. You know she sold some bowls to an English guy over summer. Philip told me he sold them on to Liberty’s and they went for a fortune. Hatty doesn’t know as Philip is dealing with the guy and therefore trying to recoup some of his losses.’
‘My god, you should tell her,’ smiled Jake, deeply proud and desperately wanting Christmas to be over and done with. ‘She’d be happy.’
‘She’ll also want bigger premises and the new one’s only just completed.’ Murray turned to Jake and smiled. ‘Are you really in love with Harriet Harris? I know I told her months ago if you told me you were with her, I’d tell you to go into a dark room and take a sedative.’
‘What did she say?’ laughed Jake.
‘She wasn’t impressed. Do you really love her Jake?’
‘Totally and desperately.’
‘No way!’ said Hatty, standing with her hands on her hips in the kitchen. ‘Me not gonna do dat!’ She pointed to the large headless duck on the kitchen table. ‘It’s still moving!’
‘It dead!’ snapped Ethel. ‘Me nah able pluck de feader.’
‘You should have gone to the supermarket and bought one! I’m not plucking it!’
‘Monica wid her fiancé family an’ me left wid ya. It Christmas Eve, goodwill to all men an’ Jesus Christ, our saviour was born, an’ ya not able to pluck a duck?’
‘I don’t like touching dead animals,’ she groaned. ‘Can’t I peel potatoes?’
Delores walked into the kitchen and stopped when she saw what was on the table then smiled.
‘That’s a glorious bird,’ she said brightly, as Hatty grimaced.
‘Hatty refuse to take dem feader off it,’ moaned Ethel as Hatty flashed a dirty look. ‘Ya not look at me like dat young lady!’
Hatty then diverted her eyes guiltily to the floor.
‘What are we going to do with you?’ huffed Delores as she took the bird off the table by the neck, which made Hatty nearly retch, then outside onto the porch.
‘Keep dem feader for me!’ shouted out Ethel as Hatty stood around with her hands behind her back. ‘An’ me not finish wid you!’
Hatty looked outside and saw Delores sitting down with a cloth on her lap while she started to remove the duck’s feathers.
‘What do you want me to do?’ she groaned.
‘Follow me!’
Hatty walked behind Ethel who, surprisingly, had a spring in her step.
‘Ya been overdosing on your cod liver oil auntie?’ Hatty laughed as Ethel walked her to the dining room of Murray’s house and onto the patio, facing the sea. ‘You want me to catch fish?’
‘Me want to talk to ya, alone,’ she said and closed the doors as she walked to the wall and stood at the top of the steps. ‘Delores like plucking an’ if she ask what we doin’ ‘ere tell she we plannin’ for tonight.’
‘Fine,’ said Hatty, sitting down on the chair by the table before grinning. ‘Ya wanna tell me about dem birds an’ dem bees, an’ how dem bees get dem birds with their little stings!’
‘Ya ‘avin’ sex wid Jake Logan?’ Ethel asked directly as Hatty immediately went red. ‘Dat de answer to me question.’
‘We use protection,’ Hatty said, embarrassed to look at the old lady. ‘And I didn’t drop my knickers for him immediately. I made him wait weeks.’ Ethel started to laugh. ‘I did.’
‘Ya know Mister Murray worry about all dis. He not want to see Jake an’ you fall out. Hatty darlin’, ya know Jake gonna go back to New York an’ it will be finish. Ya aware of dis?’ She moved closer to Hatty and sat next to her, taking her hand gently in her fragile old palm. ‘Me not want to see ya get ‘urt.’
‘I know,’ Hatty said, closing her eyes and trying not to cry. ‘When he comes back we have five wonderful weeks and then he goes. I just want to make sure we’re very happy until that moment comes.’
‘‘ow ya gonna mend ya broken ‘eart?’
‘I don’t want to think about that now,’ she honestly replied. ‘I love him very much and I know I have to let him go but I want to be happy. Enjoy being happy because for a lot of my life, I haven’t been.’
‘Many person will try an’ ‘urt ya two, ya know. Keep it secret until ya ready.’
‘We won’t tell anyone,’ she said quietly, leaning forward. ‘It’s just something to keep in my heart for the rest of my life if I never fall in love again. I want that perfect piece of happiness.’
‘If ‘e leave ya, ‘e a bigger fool dan is fader,’ sighed Ethel.
‘How comes?’
‘Murray made big mistakes in ‘e life an’ it affect so many people, including Jacob. Dat man never really follow ‘is ‘eart until it too late. Was Jake upset about what he fader say about seein’ Eloise?’
‘He didn’t say much about it and I didn’t want to get blamed for it, because it was to do with me one way or another. I don’t know what he thinks.’
‘Ting is, it what oder people tink an’ what oder people say dat might ‘urt ‘im.’
After an uncomfortable start to the afternoon, Murray and Caroline seemed to be talking freely to one another without any hint they had quarrelled a few months earlier. Jake was enjoying the company of his family but was itching for the moment Murray and he could leave.
Then he knew it was another day closer to getting back to the island.
Jake stared out of the window and wondered if Hatty would be with him next year and what she was getting up to on Christmas Day. When he woke up in his aunt’s house on Christmas morning, he hoped she’d have appeared from somewhere as a surprise and that’s when he knew he’d got it bad.
‘You’ve been a million miles away today,’ said Caroline gently, touching his hair as he smiled.
‘I don’t know, just things going through my mind,’ he said, seeing Murray settle into an armchair with a large glass of scotch on the rocks.
‘It’s brilliant news about ‘The New York Times’. Some people never get the opportunity to work there and look at you! Still wet behind the ears and getting a major break. When do you start?’
‘Beginning of June,’ he sighed, looking back out over the garden.
‘You could easily drop the job at that local paper on the island,’ she laughed in a way that made Jake feel uncomfortable. ‘I’m sure they’ve never had such an accomplished talent working for them before.’
‘That’s not true,’ he said softly. ‘They have many journalists from all over the place coming through and they report on the whole of the Caribbean, South America… the world. People do want to know what’s going on.’
‘I thought they’d enjoy their local life without a care about anyone else,’ she said jovially and sipped her wine. ‘Have you had much to do with Delores?’
Suddenly Caroline looked harsher.
‘I’ve not had much to do with her but she definitely doesn’t like me,’ he said, making sure Murray couldn’t hear him. ‘She never wanted me to go to the island.’
‘Did she say this to you?’
‘Most certainly did,’ he laughed. ‘She thinks I’m a threat.’
‘You are,’ hissed Caroline, taking Jake’s arm and walking further down the room. ‘That woman never gives up.’
‘What do you mean? Have you known Delores for long? Probably, when she moved back to the island you might have-.’
‘I’ve known Del
ores since before you were born,’ she said, swallowing hard and trying to hide a grimace. ‘I’ve known about her way before that child was born.’
‘‘That child’ being Hatty?’ he said, trying not to show he was riled by the comment. ‘Tell me about Delores?’
‘What’s there to say? Murray met the pair of them when they were in London and somehow they started hanging out with each other. From what I’ve been told, Delores was all over your father like a rash but Eloise was more reserved, more aware of the differences between them.’
‘You mean colour? It’s a modern world and-.’
‘Background as well. Her adopted parents weren’t very wealthy and Eloise wanted to do the best she could to make them proud. Unfortunately, Eloise was born out of very sad circumstances similar to her daughter.’ Caroline looked away for a moment as Jake realised she knew about Hatty. ‘And it doesn’t help when people talk but she was so beautiful and-.’
‘You met her?’ Jake tried to not show he was shocked. ‘How comes?’
‘I’ve known your father since he was a boy and our families were very close. I went to visit him when he studied in London. I could tell, there and then, your father was smitten. Eloise held him at arm’s length but Delores…’ Caroline let out a little snort. ‘She was all over him. I think they were sleeping together at the time so-.’
‘Dad was sleeping with Delores back then?’ he said, gulping hard and trying not to turn around to look at his father, though he could hear him laughing.
‘The woman was a tramp from the moment I met her. She might have been an American citizen, born and bred here, but god did she embrace that English accent. Delores didn’t help matters at all and even after Eloise died, she was there, wanting Murray to lean on her. Do you know Eloise didn’t tell her ‘so called’ best friend where she’d gone to? I think she was trying to run away from not only Murray but Delores.’
‘Dad told me last week while he was married to mum he stayed with Eloise.’ Jake saw the alarm in his aunt’s eyes. ‘We’re trying to be honest with each other and make up for not being together due to other things.’
‘‘Other things’ being Harriet Harris? That child’s life has affected so many people. So many lives have been hurt because of her existence. It’s like she’s cursed,’ sighed Caroline as Jake’s heart started to beat faster. ‘I told her, the time I met her in summer, if it wasn’t for her you’d have had a better life. A different life.’
‘It’s not Hatty’s fault! She wasn’t to know dad would take responsibility for her.’
‘Delores took her to London then dragged her back to the island and for what? She wanted Murray for keeps and knew if she was with Hatty, Murray would have no choice but to let her into his life. Why do you think she said she’d look after her? Surely not because she cared about Hatty! She was jealous of Eloise and certainly your father’s feelings towards that child. How can he now flaunt that woman so openly in front of people? Delores doesn’t care for Hatty, no one does other than your father and one day, when your father’s not around, she will be alone. If it wasn’t for Hatty things would be so different.’
‘How different?’
‘Your mother would be alive for a start.’ Caroline’s harsh face suddenly turned gentle as she stroked Jake’s face. He felt sick at the comment and bit his lip hard. ‘That was wrong of me. I’m sorry but it’s because I love you so much. You’re my sister’s child. Hatty’s a beautiful woman but her past is littered with all these bodies and, as much as I hate to admit it, I worry what will become of her. Sometimes I think your father keeps her there, on the island, because he doesn’t want to lose sight of Eloise, his love for Eloise. Your mother knew from the day she married him his heart was with someone else. Eloise had run away and he was hurt but Delores was still snapping around. From what I hear, she was devastated he married your mother. Anyway, Murray searched for Eloise. Then the man was smart enough not to tell anyone where she was and got involved in property and hotels on that island. Nobody knew about Eloise living there until your father told your mother about Hatty, just after you were born. He’d kept her existence quiet for over a year.’
‘Then I came along and he kept going off, I take it?’ Jake turned to look at Murray and didn’t know what he was feeling towards his father but there was a large amount of resentment.
‘He went nowhere from the day you were born until the day your mother died. Murray stayed by her side but you could see the terrible pain in his eyes, the sheer sparkle had gone because of Eloise’s death. The only time he seemed truly happy was when he was with you.’
She braced herself up against the side of the wall and stared hard at Jake as he wondered what else his aunt wasn’t telling him.
‘Why did she commit suicide?’ he quietly asked as Caroline grimaced for a second before a pain washed across her face. ‘Was it because of dad?’
‘It was because of love,’ Caroline gently said. ‘Let’s not discuss this anymore, I’ve said enough but don’t trust Delores. I’m surprised her young ward hasn’t seen through her yet.’
‘You know what I don’t understand,’ he said, in all honesty. ‘When this was all going on where was Hatty’s father? Surely, even though I know he was a bastard, he’d want to know where his child was?’
‘Jacob,’ she said, grabbing his arm gently before flashing a glance over at Murray. ‘That’s a whole other thing.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Best leave that one well alone.’
It was the worst time for Hatty, the bit between Christmas and New Year when all the people she liked and cared about would either be visiting family elsewhere on the island or busy preparing for New Year’s Eve. And this year was even more dismal.
She was missing Jake so much and it pained her.
Wanting to do him proud, she had carefully driven the jeep to the Sunday market, parked it and unloaded. She knew a few of the local policemen were watching her and instead of being greeted with a frown, they smiled knowing the danger to the road had behaved.
Hatty opened her box of wooden hearts and held one in her hand, examining the curves and thinking of Jake. The day was hot already and she knew this time next week, he’d be back and that’s where her focus would be. Then five weeks later he would be gone. Pin pricks of tears hit the back of her eyes as she blinked them away.
‘You’re not meant to be happy, Ha Ha Hatty, I mean Hatty Ha Ha,’ she mumbled to herself and smiled at her first customer of the day.
An hour later, as she was drinking a cup of hot tea and looking out onto the stall with the chilli peppers, wondering if she could get another pint. Hatty noticed someone standing to her side. She did a double take when she realised it was Delores.
‘Do you come here to sell or just eye up chilli?’ her aunt asked with a frown then looked at the table disbelievingly. ‘And you made all this?’
‘As I keep saying, I’m highly talented when it comes to wood. Do you want to buy something?’ she asked, knowing Delores was being sniffy as she looked at the other stall holders selling scarves, bags and, in Hatty’s opinion, highly tacky souvenirs.
‘And people buy these?’ she said, holding up a beautifully carved bowl. ‘Wooden bowls? Isn’t that a throw back from centuries ago?’
‘Africans still make their plates and bowls out of wood and mine are beautifully finished.’ Hatty stood up straight. ‘Plus I also make mirror and picture frames, the odd jewellery box and other lovely things… which I haven’t figured out what yet.’
‘The frames are beautiful,’ Delores said and Hatty smiled seeing she picked up one with the blue stones placed at the bottom where the sea was. ‘How much is this?’
‘You can have it,’ Hatty shrugged.
‘Really? How are you going to make money if you give things away?’
‘What are you doing here? You’ve never come here since I can remember.’
‘I came to see you,’ she smiled, still examining the mirror. ‘This is bea
utiful. And they sell?’
‘I made a massive one for a customer the other day then they had to ship it out as it wouldn’t go in their luggage.’ Hatty grinned. ‘That’s how popular they are.’
‘And how much did you make?’
‘Enough to cover my expenses, travel, tools, electric,’ she said, not having a clue if it did but knowing it swelled her sandwich bag. She had to now use two to hold her secret stash of cash. ‘Mister Murray is going to put an order on of these wooden bowls and distribute them to his hotels, worldwide, so I can get extra publicity.’
‘Is he?’ Delores replied, crossing her arms across her chest. ‘And he said this?’
‘Not exactly but when he comes back I’ll be negotiating with him.’
‘He’ll only do it to keep you off his back.’
‘My work is very good!’ Hatty said, as an elderly American woman picked up one of her wooden butterflies.
‘How much?’ the woman asked.
‘Take it,’ Hatty shrugged. ‘I make loads of them when I’m bored.’
‘You sure?’ the women said, her face lighting up.
‘I give them to the little kids but elderly people are like children in a way, so you’re welcome.’
‘Hatty! I’m sorry for her insolence,’ apologised Delores, turning to the lady before looking at Hatty. ‘You’re being rude.’
‘She’s cute!’ the woman laughed as Hatty put two into a small paper bag and handed it to her.
The woman thrust money into her hand, making them both laugh, before she noticed Delores’s scowl.
‘It’s about love!’
‘And that’s how you’re going to make money, is it?’ said Delores shaking her head from side to side. ‘Giving your things away? Now I’ve seen if before my very own eyes.’
‘It made her happy,’ smiled Hatty. ‘As I asked before, what are you doing here?’
‘As you don’t answer your phone, listen to your messages or bother to call anyone, I thought I’d remind you we are going to ‘The Lodge’ for New Year’s Eve.’
‘Do I have to go?’
‘You do. Louisa and Philip will be there. It’s expected.’
