His Wife

Chapter 33

"A who dat?"

The group that was standing in the entrance that leads up into the lane stop their chatting and stare with curiosity at their companions as they then watch the two people that alighted from the vehicle that just minutes ago park a few feet from where they stood.

"Mi Jeezaz nuh Ilene daughter and son dat," the one closest to the entrance gasp.

They and the others who stood chatting or milling about paused to watch as they made their way into the yard packed with cars, people, and a blaring sound system.

The night air was filled with a mixture of aromatic scents that drift from the makeshift cook stand that had a variety of Jamaican dishes bubbling, sizzling, jerking, and frying. To the right of the stand was another stand that was peddling cigarettes, weed, liquors, and phone cards.

As they came closer to the house that was once a one-room structure but now a stylish and newly renovated four-bedroom apartment the two people were greeted by a variety of people both young and old who express their joy at seeing them.

Ian was stopped by a few people who wanted to engage him in deep conversation but he smoothly greeted them and continue on with the promise he would get to them as the night enfold. I smile at them as I walk along with him feeling my sense of dread increase.

My heart race like a locomotive beneath my breast, I was waiting for the minute when someone would step to us and bash us because of who we were. I saw a few of those persons but they greeted us with a wave, a smile or a nod and it only made me more nervous wondering when the worst would come.

I felt Leslie grip my hand as we continue to the grilled veranda of Kameel's house where two of my past high school friends were standing at a turntable with a state of the art mixing board and laptop spinning some smooth reggae that fills the night with its compelling sound to dance and sing along. They were now blaring Beres Hammond and Buju Bantons' Can You Play Some More.

It was a scene of people chatting, dancing eating, children playing, dogs milling about for scraps, and dominoes being smashed against tabletops as others imbibe or just watch the night unfold. I felt Leslie's apprehension as we continued on my intention was to find any of her friends that might help to ease her worries.

I was yet to see Kameel and I was not too familiar with his entourage. I however saw Muggy as we step on up, he was behind a haze of ganja smoke and was watching our approach. I saw him smile knowingly at me but I ignored him. I felt like a weasel as I greet those sitting and standing on the wide enclosure. I only hope Muggy did not approach me and reveal my reason for actually being here.

My eyes dart about the veranda as Ian and I step up. I saw Miss Pat Kameel's grandaunt who looks like she had not aged a bit past sixty rocking enthusiastically as she enjoyed the music. At her side on the long lounge chair were other women I did not recognize and Maas Eric Kameel's father.

I got to the top step and was greeted with a shout of delight from Miss Pat who got up and embrace me. I must admit it was not what I was expecting as my fear of being rejected and held a grudge against because of my mother's behavior stood at the forefront of my mind.

I felt the weight of such worries lift from my shoulder a bit but I was not too quick to think that someone here was not ready to forgive and forget. I hug her back as I watch the others that sat with her move to greet me also even if they were strangers to me.

I however found myself smiling as Kameel's father got up and went to the door and shout for someone to bring Ian and I something to drink. I found myself chatting with them as we made our best to converse over the blaring sound of the music.

Ian excuse himself and I turn to see him approach someone in the shadowed corner of the veranda I wanted to see who it was but my attention was brought to the sound of someone squealing my name in excitement.

I look to see my childhood friend Neisha rushing to me now a voluptuous figure with shocking pink box braids down to her butt, she wore a marino type blue top with matching hip-hugging skin-tight mid-knee tights.

I hug her as she hugs me. An overwhelming sense of regret rush inside me as I lost myself in her embrace. How much of our lives have been spent apart because I hid away? How many occasions have I missed out on? I felt unshed tears burn my throat as I will myself not to let my tears flow.

When she pulled away slightly from me and her round face radiate with joy at me I knew that I wanted more than ever to be home. Despite all we had endured, some never left my siblings and I, here we had created friendships that I had so cowardly build a wall against.

"Look at yuh," she said eyeing me up and down, "looking like a runway model."

I laugh as she took my hand and leads me away from the group that watches us, I barely had time to bid them an excuse me. I was lead into the house where I was taken to a group of people who were busy getting paper plates, plastic forks, and pieces of serviets ready to get the food that would soon be dished out to the awaiting throng of people that were milling about.

"Kimberly gal, look who mi fine," she said with the delight of an enthused child.

I watch as another of my friends who use to sing in the youth church choir with us look up from what she was doing and her face was a mask of joyful surprise as her eyes met mine.

"Les?!" she gasped then rush around the table, "Leesss!"

Her delight was too much and I felt a tear slip from my eye and fell on her shoulder as she wraps me in her embrace. When she pulled away and saw how emotional I was she grips my hand and leads me away with Kimberly following behind us.

As we made for a door that leads into a bedroom another of our friend Kenny who was hefting a carton box from an adjoining room stood and laugh with glee at the sight of us. He places the carton box by the door and rushes to me his beared face happy.

"No sah look pan mi girlfriend," he said and I laugh through my tears.

"Ken look at you!" I said clearly surprise at how he had turned out. The lanky awkward youth was now a trapping robust figure of masculinity and sex appeal.

"No, look at you," he said his eyes moving from my red curls down to my pink painted toenails in my gladiators with clear appreciation.

"Guh weh Ken," Kimberly said with a wave of her hand, "No time for yuh now."

I smile apologetically at him and he smiles understandingly at me before hefting up the box and continuing where he was headed. I must admit I was beginning to let go of my fears and bask in the warm feeling of being with my friends again.

In mere seconds that it took the door to be close, I was being bombarded with questions about my marriage, my husband, and gossip that got me updated on things that my absence has prevented me from knowing.
I was laughing and tearing up with all my fears seeping out to be replaced by peace and serenity.

We were now calmer all our excitement seeping down to contentment and renewed friendship with Kimberly telling me about her acceptance into nursing school when a knocking sound on the door, when it was instructed to be open by Kimberly Kameel was standing there and when his eyes found me in the room amidst my friends I felt a feeling akin to fear.

I force a smile to my lips when he steps in and said, "Ladies", but his eyes remain on me leaving me with further apprehension.
*******************************************
Sup?

Well I hope I brought out some of Jamaica(n)'s vibes, attitudes, and persona in this chapter, and mind you this book is not a history lesson and my patios might just be that patwah...hope you get my point...ok moving on.

The rat is here and I have a feeling the weasel is not far away...😬

Vote and comment, do love hearing from my readers makes the motivation greater 😍