by S M Mala
‘Seriously!’ said Jake. ‘I thought she was in her eighties.’
‘The woman hobbles because she has bunions and refuses to get them operated on, other than that she’s fit as a fiddle,’ smiled Murray, starting to eat his lunch as Jake looked on in wonderment at the woman walking away. ‘And she knows older people get more respect so she puts on the act to get people to do more things for her. Pretty shrewd plan if you ask me. She’s been doing it for over twenty five years.’
‘Hatty adores her,’ Jake said, cutting up his chicken. ‘I think Ethel is really like a true mother to her.’
‘And Delores is the wicked aunt?’ his father said bemused.
‘Something like that,’ Jake mumbled.
After they’d finished lunch, Jake felt the nerves growing in his stomach as he thought about how he was going to approach the specific conversation. He sat there fidgeting with his glass, realising his father wasn’t speaking. They were sitting in silence, other than the sound of the sea in the background.
‘What do you need to speak to me about?’ Murray said gently as Jake took a deep breath. ‘I hope it’s not something bad.’
‘I don’t think it is,’ he said honestly, and stared into his father’s eyes. ‘I love Hatty.’
‘I know,’ Murray replied, nodding and half smiling.
‘She makes me feel so happy. I know we’ve had a few complications but I put that down to us getting to know each other better. This isn’t a fling, it’s more than that.’ Jake noticed his father staring hard at him. ‘I’m going away at the end of May but I’m not going to leave her high and dry, that’s the last thing on my mind. We know it’s going to be problematic keeping in touch and I want her to come to New York when she can.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I want to marry Hatty.’ Murray’s expression didn’t change as he continued to focus on Jake. ‘I asked her to marry me and gave her mum’s engagement ring but she said she didn’t want it, because of a few things. I need to get her something and-.’
‘You gave her your mother’s engagement ring?’ his father quietly asked, biting his lip.
‘Yes but she handed it back. Dad, I know you probably think I’m being foolish but I love her. I want to get her something to show how much. She says she won’t wear a ring because it’ll put callouses on her hands when she’s working.’
‘Jake, don’t you think you’re a little young?’
‘You were young when you married mum,’ said Jake anxiously. ‘And you were even younger when you fell in love with Eloise. I know Hatty and I can be really happy together. I’ve never felt like this about anyone. I don’t think I ever will. This isn’t young love, this is true love.’
For a moment, Murray didn’t know what to say hearing his son utter those words. He sat back in his chair, looking at Jake in utter disbelief. Murray knew what he was saying, what he meant but it still took him by surprise.
‘Say something?’ Jake asked and Murray saw his son’s earnest expression. ‘I want you to be happy for us.’
‘I don’t know what to say,’ came the honest reply as Murray felt his heart beat faster. ‘I didn’t think you’d take it this far.’
‘What do you mean?’ He saw his son’s face screw up anxiously. ‘You thought I was messing with her?’
‘I thought you were having fun and then I realised you were in love but this is like a holiday romance for you and I know you’ve had a few.’
‘That was for sex and this is for love.’
‘Are you sure you’re not confusing the two?’
‘You sound like Delores,’ Jake said accusingly and Murray knew he had to back track before upsetting his son. ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’
‘I don’t know what you want me to say,’ he said, standing up and staring at his beautiful son who, for that moment, reminded him of himself twenty seven years previous. ‘You have a job in New York and-.’
‘I’m still going, nothing’s going to change but-.’
‘You will change Jacob. The new job will bring new challenges and you won’t want Hatty around. How do you think she’s going to feel when you change your mind?’
‘I won’t!’
‘You both need to think about this. Go to New York and put this marriage thing on the back burner,’ he pleaded. ‘Do that for me and in a year’s time, if you’re still serious about getting married, then I’ll pay for the wedding myself.’
‘Are you listening to me?’ Jake gently said, then smiled. ‘I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. That’s all I can think about. And I wanted to tell you because…’ There was a moment’s hesitation. ‘You’re her adopted father and you’re supposed to sort of ask the father of the bride, aren’t you?’
‘You’re asking me for permission to propose to Hatty when you’ve done it already!’ laughed Murray shaking his head, feeling a massive laugh coming to his throat. ‘My son is asking me if it’s okay to marry my adopted daughter, when it’s obviously done and dusted.’
Murray suddenly gulped hard because there was an emotion surfacing he didn’t want to admit. He felt envious of his child’s happiness knowing it was something he’d badly wanted with Eloise.
‘Are you alright?’ Jake asked, jumping up and holding on to his father’s arm.
‘Yes,’ he said, trying to suppress this new feeling and sensing something bubbling in his chest. ‘I’m surprised that’s all.’
‘You’re only a handful of people I know we can trust and who haven’t stood in our way. I know this is a bit of a shock but I won’t let her down. I’d never hurt her intentionally and I can’t live without her.’
‘Why Hatty?’ he said, trying not to show his concern about this new piece of news. ‘You could have anyone.’
‘There’s only one Hatty,’ laughed Jake and he could see his son was truly in love.
‘She’s right to reject the ring,’ Murray said, sitting back down as Jake followed. ‘I didn’t even know you had it.’
‘Caroline kept a few things for me that belonged to mum. I just thought it would be a good gesture.’
‘I’m sure Caroline wouldn’t be impressed if she knew who you gave it to.’
‘Then she’s lucky Hatty didn’t want it.’ Jake sat back in his chair and let out a massive sigh. ‘I want to give her something to show my commitment but she just said all she wanted was my heart.’ Murray couldn’t help but smile at the remark. ‘She’ll always have that.’
‘Hatty hates jewellery, lords knows I’ve bought her enough only to be returned, given away or sold,’ said Murray, his heart now beating less frantically. ‘It needs to be something very special for Hatty and discreet.’ He knew immediately what he had to do next. ‘Follow me.’
They walked up the stairs and into Murray’s room. In a corner was a small table which Murray pushed to the side and opened a door in the wall, revealing a safe.
‘I didn’t know you had that in your room?’ said Jake, looking at his father in awe.
‘Why should you? It’s a safe.’ Murray laughed for a moment. He opened the door and peered in. Then his smile faded when he saw the small box at the back. Slowly, he took it out and held in his hand, taking a silent deep breath. He hadn’t looked inside for years and the thought made him anxious. Murray glanced at Jake’s confused stare. ‘I think this is something she might like and, actually, it’s something I wanted to give to her but I didn’t know how.’
He stood up and looked at the box before slowing opening it. A flood of emotions reeled through him as he saw the necklace with the one simple tear drop diamond.
‘Are you alright dad?’ Jake asked and Murray felt his hand on his shoulder. ‘You look a bit shaken.’
‘I bought this for Eloise many years ago, when I knew she didn’t want to marry me. I wanted her to have something to keep close to her heart. She refused it so many times and then, at last, she accepted it when I found her here, on this island. I carried this with me for years and you can’t imagine how I felt knowing she wor
e this…’ He felt his voice crack for a moment. ‘…on the day she married and the day Hatty was born. I knew she’d want Hatty to have it but there was never a good time.’
‘It’s beautiful.’ Jake said gently and Murray glanced at his son. ‘But don’t you think you should give this to Hatty?’
‘If you gave this to her and explained the history, then tell her what it meant to her mother, me, now you and why she should wear it, I know she’ll realise it’s a piece of jewellery worth having.’ He let out a little nervous laugh. ‘And I’ll get it insured as she’s bound to break or lose it.’
‘I can’t take it,’ his son said and gently closed the box. ‘It means so much to you.’
‘It means everything to me,’ Murray said, unable to stop his voicing quivering. ‘And it should mean everything to you too.’
‘What’s it like being without the person you love?’
‘Painful Jake, very painful indeed. It doesn’t get any better as the years pass,’ he replied, putting it into this hand, staring deeply into his son’s eyes. ‘I told you weeks ago I would lay my life on the line for you as you’re my son but I would have no hesitation, when it comes to protecting Hatty’s heart, protecting it over you, do you hear me?’
‘I know,’ Jake replied, staring at the necklace then glancing back at his father. ‘I wouldn’t expect anything less.’
Delores sat in the restaurant knowing what she had to say and why. For weeks it went through her head what she could do to stop Hatty making a fool of herself. She looked up and saw her lunch date approaching. There was no turning back. This was to protect everyone and to make sure she didn’t lose all she held dear.
Murray.
Twenty eight
Jake was leaning back against the jeep and smiled when he saw her. She’d left him in bed to go to the Sunday market and it was the first time she’d seen him awake that day.
‘Hello,’ she said brightly, walking up to him and planting a kiss on his cheek, her heart fluttering.
He opened the door and she got in. Jake ran around the side and they drove off. Hatty placed her hand on his, turning to stare.
‘Will you stop looking at me?’ he laughed. ‘And you should be thanking me for picking the jeep up and unpacking your things while you looked around the market. How much money did you make today?’
‘Lots,’ she smiled, knowing the bottom of her satchel was packed full of cash as she held tightly on to it.
‘Why don’t you put it in a bank account like normal people?’
‘Why? I can get the money when I want and I don’t see the point,’ she smiled, overcome with how handsome he looked.
‘Then get a safe.’
‘Why?’
‘Oh Hatty, you need to keep your things in a secure place,’ he said, letting out a little sigh. ‘Your satchel isn’t going to last forever.’
‘It better. Cost enough,’ she mumbled, reaching over and stroking his hair. ‘Let’s go home and make love. I’ve been thinking about sex all day.’
‘Really?’ he laughed and shook his head. ‘And I’ve been thinking about the world all day.’
‘What’ve you been doing, or shouldn’t I ask?’ Hatty turned around and sat straight in her seat. ‘Some freelance work at the office?’
‘You know there’s talk about a hurricane winging its way to the Caribbean.’
‘You always say that!’ she laughed. ‘Seriously, you should be a weather man.’
‘I’ve been contacting a few people and they say it’s going down the East Coast of the States,’ he said seriously. ‘It might be heading its way here.’
‘We’ll be fine. It’s not even hurricane season or tropical storm time,’ she said gently. ‘Don’t go thinking you’re going to find chaos and carnage on this island just to get a good news story.’
‘In two to three days it’s going to hit New York,’ he said solemnly and she noticed the concern on his face. ‘I’m worried.’
‘I’m sure everything’s going to be fine. How bad do they say it’s going to be?’
‘People are being asked to leave low land places and move further in land so there’s a major evacuation going on,’ he replied as they took a sharp corner. ‘I tried to ring Aunt Caroline and she wasn’t answering. I’ve no idea what’s going on. Pete says it’s quite exciting though scary.’
‘I had no idea.’
‘That’s because you don’t watch the news,’ he grinned and she let out a little groan. ‘But if you want to watch cartoons that’s fine.’
‘Are you questioning my level of intellect?’ Hatty laughed. ‘You can’t beat ‘Tom and Jerry’.’
‘You should take more of an interest in the world other than this place.’
‘Are you now implying I’m stupid?’ she said, trying not to get riled. ‘Or am I just fun and a fuck?’
‘Hatty?’ he said, nearly swerving the car off the road as she laughed. ‘Don’t say that. I was just pointing out the world is a big place and you should get to grips with what’s going on.’
‘I’m very well aware what’s going on,’ Hatty sighed, folding her arms defensively across her chest. ‘There’s war, famine and global warming. Nothing changes.’
‘There’s more to it than that,’ he said gently, as she darted a look at Jake and saw he was half smiling.
‘I watch the news, I know how things are, I just don’t read the weather reports,’ she groaned, resting her head in her hand. ‘Will your apartment be safe?’
‘I think so,’ he shrugged and she saw his smile slip away. ‘I want to know everyone’s okay back home.’
‘We’ll watch the television when we get back. I’m sure it’s nothing serious,’ Hatty replied gently. ‘I know you’re worried. We’ll get hold of Caroline.’
‘It’s my home, of course I’m worried,’ he mumbled.
She suddenly felt guilty for not being interested in his real life.
After they parked and got in, Hatty switched on the television and went straight to the American news channels as Jake sat on the sofa, opening his laptop. His mood dramatically changed as he watched with concern the news unravelling.
She realised she wasn’t going to be much help, so discreetly left the house and headed to the freshwater pool to keep out of his way. After making some sketches of new styles for frames, she delved into her satchel and counted out her money. There were thousands of American dollars now in the bottom of her satchel. She put them into plastic bags and hid them in the lining. Hatty then pondered on opening a bank account before realising it was too hot to think.
Taking off her clothes, she walked into the water and was shocked to find it was pretty cold. Quickly, she walked to the warm part and stood in the sun thinking about her lover.
‘Hatty!’ she heard Jake shout out as she snapped out of her daydream about him. ‘Where are you?’
‘Down here!’ she replied and wondered if something bad had happened. Jake came rushing through and stopped when he saw her. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I got an email saying Caroline and the guys are out of town so all is well,’ he said with relief.
‘And New York?’
‘Still there,’ he replied, removing his clothes. She noticed his firm, lean body and yearned to make love to him. ‘It’s got more serious and turned into a category two. They’re saying it’s more than likely heading down into the Caribbean in the next week or so.’
‘Based on my basic knowledge hurricanes, they come from the Caribbean and head upwards so it can’t surely be heading down.’ He started to laugh. ‘Well it’s not exactly tropical, New York, and-.’
‘You’re funny,’ he said, wading into the pool then stopping. ‘It’s cold!’
‘I know,’ she said, seeing him shrivel up, looking at her frozen nipples. ‘You’re having a similar reaction to me.’ Jake dove into the water and came up closer to her grinning. ‘Shouldn’t you be monitoring the hurricane?’
‘The people I care about are safe so I�
�ve got some time before I start to write an interesting story for the paper.’ Jake stood up and towered over her as she smiled. ‘Which means I can look after the needs of my woman, for a moment or two.’
‘Considering we have a bed, we tend to make love a lot outside,’ she sighed, holding onto his hips. ‘Can’t we just go inside today?’
‘You know what they’re calling the hurricane?’
‘Wet and windy?’ she laughed, walking past him and out of the pool.
‘‘Hatty’,’ he said, following her. ‘It’s ‘Hurricane Hatty’.’ She stopped and looked at him, wondering if he was fibbing. ‘Can you believe it? Something causing so much trouble called Hatty? Sounds like someone I know.’
She laughed and walked quickly out of the pool and towards the house. As she reached the bedroom, Hatty flung herself on the bed as he slowly walked in and then lay beside her. Hatty kissed him gently on the cheek and slowly let her hands travel up and down his body as he stared at her. She got up and straddled him, kissing his neck and chest, gently moving down his stomach before taking him in her mouth.
There was a groan as she moved her lips up and down, sucking hard on him as her tongue travelled around the top. She looked and noticed his head was flung back before looking straight at her, so she stared back.
Hatty concentrated on him for a while until he gently pushed her head away and turned her on her back. Jake put his hand on her pussy and smiled. She knew she was wet as he found her nub. Hatty let out a little gasp as he rubbed her, pinching either side, flicking her erect little bean then rubbing harder. He pushed one finger inside then put two and slowly moved in and out, rubbing her again. Hatty felt her cheeks getting hotter as the burn built up in her groin and she screamed out when she came as he pushed inside and spread her legs. Slowly, he moved as Hatty looked at his face, full of lust and concentration. There was a spasm in her heart, knowing how she felt about him and her love deep within.
As she closed her eyes, holding onto his back, she wanted to cry from happiness but also the tinge of fear if she ever lost this feeling.
