After the End Read online

  "How was the whole married life thing?" Enrique was staring at her so steadily that she observed that his eyes had little flecks of green in the gray and that he had a dark ring round his iris like Maureen's cat, Pixie.

  "Married life was good. Very good. It was always a given that I would marry Isaiah. We were together since we were very young."

  "And you two were as thick as thieves in high school," Enrique said lazily. "I was madly jealous."

  "No." Colleen stared at him, her mouth slightly opened. She couldn't for one moment believe what he was saying.

  "It's true. I saw you at school, I think it was my third day there, and I watched you for a while and then when I was preparing to make my move, I heard that you were Isaiah's girl and madly in love with him and yadda-yadda-yadda. I was shockingly jealous. My first-ever crush loved another boy."

  "Are you serious?" Colleen gasped.

  "That I was jealous, or that you were my first crush?" Enrique shrugged. "Both. I am sorry that he's dead but I am not sorry that you are single."

  Enrique took her hand in his. "It would be great if we can finally be together."

  Colleen looked down at their clasped fingers, his honey gold skin against her darker skin tone, and a shudder ran from where their hands touched to the center of her being.

  She pulled her hand away slowly and rubbed it where it tingled. She was not ready to move on. Her body obviously was ready but not her mind. Her stupid mind wouldn't budge because she was feeling guilty for enjoying Enrique's touch and his company.

  "Ready to go?" Enrique asked, giving her one of his warm smiles.

  "Yes. Sure." Colleen nodded. "I have to go to the ladies’ room first."

  "Okay." Enrique said, getting up. "I'll be in the car."

  *****

  It started to rain heavily by the time they left Kingston. Enrique was forced to travel at a crawl. He didn't mind the slowness of their pace. He was enjoying looking over at Colleen.

  He loved when she looked at him intently when she thought that he was not looking. Sometimes she would look worried, biting her lips in the most seductive way. He read discomfort in her stance and he worried that he had come on too strong.

  Her friend Maureen had told him that she was still grieving for Isaiah. He had thought it ridiculous at the time. It was five years; surely Maureen couldn't have been serious, but now he saw that probably she had been.

  She was obviously attracted to him, he could feel it. He knew attraction when he saw it but he realized that he would have to go slow with her, maybe at the pace he was driving.

  That would be baby steps. He chafed at the idea. Now that he had found her, he wanted them to be together. But he didn't want to spook Colleen; she was skittish like a kitten.

  This would be the first time that he would actively be trying to woo a woman. Good old fashioned courting, like back in his grandfather's days. He gripped his hand on the steering wheel; he could do old fashioned courting.

  With lots of cold showers and maybe prayers. He would do it for Colleen. She was the kind of woman that was worth courting. His heart knew it. His head knew it. He almost chuckled at the old fashioned term. Courting. It reminded him of his grandparents’ love story.

  "My grandfather on my mother's side, Roberto Sanchez, was from Cuba," he said out loud to Colleen.

  Colleen looked at him. "Is that so?"

  "Si," Enrique grinned. "He met my grandmother, Elizabeth Paulson, when she went to Cuba to do medicine. She was from a wealthy Jamaican family, but she was slightly rebellious…thumbed her nose at their plans for her to fit into the family mold. She was the only girl with seven older brothers, so you know she had to be tough."

  "Whoa!" Colleen said, forgetting that she was trying to act more interested in the scenery and less in Enrique.

  "I have a lot of uncles on both sides of the family tree," Enrique chuckled. "Anyway, my grandmother, Liz, wanted to do medicine and she went to Cuba and did it. She met my grandfather there. At first, my grandfather had to work hard for her affection. He didn't speak a lick of English but he said for him when he saw her, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately she didn't speak Spanish either."

  Colleen chuckled. "They found a way to communicate, though. Your mother is here."

  "Oh yes." Enrique laughed. "They found a way. My grandfather was determined to win her. He was very persistent. He learned English of a sort to do it; to this day he is not very fluent. My grandma secretly learned Spanish because she wanted to know what he was saying to her, and then they started writing each other. My grandfather said it took him weeks to write a letter to express his feelings in English and he was almost sure that he got a few things wrong."

  "Aw," Colleen said, "that's so sweet."

  "Old time courting," Enrique said. "I guess there is a lot to be said for it. They are still together. Still in love, nearly sixty years later. My grandmother, Liz--she's the one we inherited the eyes from--she would like you."

  "She would?" Colleen asked.

  "Oh yes. She likes anybody I like."

  "Oh boy." Colleen fidgeted in her seat. "You are so open with your feelings."

  "I am going to court you," Enrique said, glancing at her, half-smiling. "It should be easier for me than grandpa; you and I speak the same language."

  "I don't think I want this," Colleen said slowly. "I am happy the way I am."

  "We'll see about that," Enrique said confidently. "We'll see."

  Chapter Five

  Halfway through the journey, Enrique had Colleen laughing at his jokes. By the time they reached Whitehouse the sun was setting, a red-orange glow in the sky peeping through bands of gray clouds surrounding it.

  They stopped by the seaside and watched it for a while as it made its rapid descent into the horizon.

  "I forgot how much I love a Whitehouse sunset."

  Colleen sighed appreciatively. "I love this place too. I don't understand how people can so easily leave it behind."

  Enrique inclined his head and stared over at the sea, "I remember this quote from Alan Cohen. I saw it somewhere in my final year of university and I have been quoting it ever since.

  "It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."

  He looked at her with the cloak of dusk surrounding him. "Sometimes, you have to embrace the new, Colleen."

  Colleen swallowed and pushed her hand in her jeans pocket. In movement there is life...embrace the new.

  She took a deep breath. She didn't know if she was ready, but she knew that Enrique was not talking about Whitehouse. He was referring to himself.

  "Tell me where you live," Enrique said quietly. He realized that she was chewing over what he said and he didn't want to disturb her.

  "I live in the housing scheme. Not very far from the community center."

  He nodded and held the door open for her.

  When he dropped her at the gate. Colleen looked at the neat little house with its myriad of flowering plants. The place looked pretty, even in the half dark, and she stood there with her weekend bag in hand long after Enrique had driven off.

  It had been her home since she was nineteen. She remembered the day when Isaiah had started the addition. He had worked on the place with Greg and some other guys from the community, and she had eagerly come over and cooked food for the workmen, doing her part to contribute to the building of their new place.

  It had taken them two months to finish the project. She had helped Isaiah paint and tile the place. Miss Lou had given them curtains from her personal collection, silky satin curtains in pink, with flowers in the middle.

  Isaiah had been appalled at the things but they had dutifully put them up at their new windows. They had giggled every time they looked at the frilly, frothy things, which was completely at odds with the fresh,
modern feel they were going for.

  She smiled at the memory.

  "What are you doing standing out there, Colleen?" Miss Lou called from the verandah. She had turned on the verandah lights and was standing at the door. Dan was standing behind her and they were both looking at her, concerned.

  Colleen shook her head. "Nothing, just reminiscing."

  "Oh Lord, chile," Miss Lou said. "Have you eaten yet? I made stewed peas for dinner."

  Colleen opened the gate and walked up to Miss Lou's section of the place. "I am not hungry."

  "You are way too thin," Miss Lou said disapprovingly. "A woman must be robust."

  Dan laughed. "Colleen is just the right size, Mama. Excess fat is unhealthy."

  "What do you know?" Miss Lou snorted and sat down. "So how was the weekend, Colleen?"

  "Good." Colleen sat across from Miss Lou. "Maureen and Tucker went into entertaining overdrive. I went to church with them and to two house parties with their posh friends. I tried this dessert called crème brûlée. It tasted like pie filling to me."

  "So who is the guy who dropped you home?" Miss Lou asked, widening her eyes curiously. When she did so it reminded Colleen of Isaiah. He widened his eyes just like that when he was curious about something.

  She shrugged. "I did a photo shoot and he was heading this way after the shoot so I got a lift home."

  "Who is he?" Miss Lou moved to the edge of her seat.

  "Enrique Lopez," Colleen said quickly, holding her breath until Miss Lou commented.

  "Big fish." Miss Lou clapped her hands. "Big, big fish."

  "It's nothing really," Colleen said, "nothing at all."

  Miss Lou raised her eyebrows. "What, you don't like him?"

  "I don't know." Colleen pulled her bag closer. "I mean, I do...it's just..."

  Miss Lou sighed. "When Norman died it took me a couple of years to move on, too."

  "But you don't have anybody," Colleen said confused, "so I would think that you are better than me."

  Miss Lou looked across at Dan, who was listening to the conversation keenly. "Dan, go for the mosquito destroyer."

  "But I don't feel any mosquitoes," Dan protested.

  "I feel one," Miss Lou said. "Go for it. It's in my room under the bed."

  Dan got up reluctantly. "I'll be eighteen in a year, you know. I can handle adult conversation."

  Miss Lou gave him a reproachful look and he headed into the house, grumbling.

  "There is someone," Miss Lou whispered to Colleen. "For years…Granville."

  Colleen frowned. "The guy who owns the grocery shop and sells vegetables near the town square. That guy?"

  Miss Lou nodded. "Yep. I decided a long time ago that I was not going to take my chances on another fisherman."

  "But...he is younger than you are," Colleen said, "and he lives with his children's mother."

  "Don't judge me." Miss Lou shrugged. "He makes me happy. When our younger children have passed the worst, he will leave her and we will get married."

  Colleen pursed her lips disapprovingly and got up. "I have work tomorrow."

  "Stop stewing in whatever it is you are stewing in," Miss Lou said, a warning note in her voice, "or next thing you know you'll be old and your options around here will be limited."

  Colleen saw the determined glint in Miss Lou's eyes to lecture her so she hurried from the veranda. Why was everybody so determined to get her to move on?

  *****

  After a fitful sleep, Colleen got up feeling groggy. She wouldn't be on her A game today. She had gnawed at the idea of change last night and it had kept her up—that, and the fact that she had spent a whole chunk of the time having lurid erotic dreams about Enrique, which didn't bear examining in the light of day.

  She showered and absently pulled on her uniform, a black skirt and white top, and pinned on her nametag. She spent an extra long time on her hair, peering at it in the mirror, eventually giving up and pulling it back in a ponytail, tucking the curly ends into a bun and cursing the little curls that were popping up all over her head and refusing to be tamed.

  When she opened the door it was still dark outside. The morning air was still, except for a cock crowing in the distance. She could hear the fishermen down by the bay. She could hear faint talking and an occasional robust laugh. This was prime time for them. Some of them had just gotten in from their various locations, while others were just heading out.

  She took in a deep breath and said a silent prayer for them before closing the front door. The air smelled like Miss Lou's rose bushes and a hint of shoe polish. She understood why when she saw Dan on the veranda shining his shoes.

  "You are up early," she whispered.

  "Exams," Dan said, getting up and stretching. "I studied all night. I was too keyed up to sleep."

  "All the best on the exams," Colleen said. "I know you'll do well."

  Dan nodded. "Thanks, Colleen." He hung his head shyly and then said, "I know Mama has been on your case about finding someone new and all of that, but I want to say that you should take your time. Don't rush into any relationship. No matter what Mama says."

  Colleen turned around and looked at him fully. "Thanks, Dan. That's very wise advice."

  "I am really happy that you are my sister," Dan continued, "and I haven't stopped grieving over Isaiah either. Nobody has ever really asked me."

  "Oh Dan." Tears came to Colleen's eyes and she ran up the three steps to the veranda and hugged him. He was towering over her now, almost a man, and so wise. She felt a twinge of sadness that Isaiah would not get the chance to see him now.

  "I am happy that you are my brother too, and you'll always be, no matter what."

  "Okay." Dan hugged her back, his voice cracking. He stepped back, an embarrassed smile on his face. "Have a good day."

  "You too," Colleen said, feeling choked up.

  She would walk the two miles to work; it usually gave her a chance to think, but maybe what she needed to do was stop thinking and act.

  She was over thinking things. For the first time in her life she was consumed by thoughts of another man. She was interested in Enrique and he was interested in her. He told her so several times. He was handsome and they shared a chemistry that was frighteningly strong. She was undeniably attracted to him. She needed to go with the flow and see where it took her.

  ****

  "You are not working here today." Chef Brown met her in the dining room before she could even approach the kitchen.

  "What?" Colleen asked her stern-looking boss. He already had on his chef hat and was wiping his hand on a cloth. He was a tall muscular ex-army guy who ran his kitchen like a regiment.

  "Management sent down the edict this morning. The new exclusive villas beside this property--one of them is occupied, and you are to be a housekeeper there."

  "But..." Colleen frowned.

  "It's a good opportunity," Chef Brown said, "really good opportunity. Somebody must have checked your resume and found out that you have hospitality training. The villas are not always rented so when you are done, you come back here. Make sumptuous meals, you hear me." Chef Brown wagged his finger at her.

  "Okay." Colleen nodded, feeling nervous about the whole thing. "Which villa should I report to?"

  "Villa Three. They have a name for it, some flower name. The Lopezes are obsessed with flowers. Management wants to see you at the office. I think you have to sign a confidentiality form. Apparently there are some really super-private guests staying over there."

  "Okay, thanks Chef," Colleen said, a note of apprehension in her voice.

  "Do your best and don't get fired." Chef's voice followed her through the door. She walked up the well-lit cobblestone walkway toward the office, a bungalow type building that resembled the rest of the decor. Colleen had only been up here to collect her paycheck. It was five-thirty and she doubted that anyone would be around now. However, she was surprised to see the building blazing with lights.

  She pushed the door and went
in.

  "Colleen Reid?" a harried secretary asked her quickly. "Good, you are here."

  She handed Colleen a form that had her duties and responsibilities listed and a letter. "The guest will be there for three weeks. Usually we would have a butler there too, but this guest requires only a housekeeper. Sign here." She pushed an agreement at Colleen, pointed at the dotted line, gave her an electronic key and told her that the driver, Malik, would take her next door to the thirty-acre property where the villas were nestled.

  Colleen barely had time to read over the long document. She had seen the figure, though, and her eyes widened. This was lucrative. Much more than she thought she would get.

  *****

  The entrance to Villa Poinsettia was gorgeous. Colleen looked around in awe when Malik drove off. The bungalow-type structure was surrounded by shrubs. It was private and secluded. She walked around to the back and gasped. It was on the cliffs. Steps led down to the white sands, which looked powdery and untouched in the half light. The lightening sky gave the rock face a menacing, hulking image.

  "Hi," a voice said behind her lazily.

  Colleen spun around. Enrique was standing at the doorway without his shirt on and what looked like silk pajama bottoms.

  "Hey...Hi..."she drew in a deep breath. "Hello." She tripped over each greeting and then felt silly about it. "Are you the guest staying here?"

  "Yes." Enrique came farther onto the veranda. "And I guess you are my housekeeper?"

  "Yes." Colleen inhaled, trying not to notice that his chest was hairless and leanly muscled. He was chiseled to perfection, with only a fine mist of hair around his navel.

  "As if you didn't know," she accused. "You set this up, didn't you?"

  "But of course," Enrique said unrepentantly. "Especially after I saw the contract. It said that each VIP guest would have a housekeeper at their beck and call and a butler to polish the silver."