Initially, Hunter’s plans were to return to Devin’s Cay alone, but when her plane landed at a few minutes after one in the afternoon, Kevin was walking out of the aircraft’s door along with her. It was yet another impromptu move on Kevin’s part, who decided to ‘show’ Hunter rather than ‘tell’ her that he was serious about marrying her and the directional change he was about to make in his life. He was in the process of cutting all ties to Tampa, Florida and reestablishing new ones on the island on which he’d been born and raised as a precocious teenager.
Did he regret his decision to dissolve his partnership with Brier and Co.? Not in the least. He had future plans to open up his own accounting practice in Devin’s Cay. That way he would make it that much easier for Hunter to spend more quality time with him before they tied the knot. In addition, moving back to Devin’s Cay gave Kevin a chance to reconnect with his family on a whole new level, thinking now about the joy of becoming a father for real this time.
Shiloh had yet to reap the consequences of taking it upon herself to abort his first child. But Kevin was grateful to God for second chances. With Hunter, he could build a wonderful family. Two boys and two girls, or however many Hunter wanted. It didn’t matter. So as long as Hunter was the mother who carried his seed. She was a beautiful woman inside and out and Kevin knew his children would be proud to call Hunter their mother. So there was no turning back to his old, solitary life. From now on, it would be him and Hunter – doing everything together and for each other.
Having now made it through Airport Customs, Hunter and Kevin crossed to the lot where Hunter had left her Jaguar in short-term parking. Once they got to the vehicle, Kevin tossed their luggage in the trunk and slipped into the passenger seat with a huge smile on his face. Hunter was quick to notice it.
“Why do you have that big old smirk on your face?” she asked.
“It’s because I feel so liberated,” Kevin said. “Being back in Devin’s Cay and thinking about my brand-new prospects… these are special highlights for me. However, nothing beats sharing this moment with you, the woman who’s stolen my heart in a big way.”
Hunter blushed. “Well, you haven’t officially moved back to Devin’s Cay as yet,” she said. “All of your things are still in Tampa.”
“I am one step ahead of you, girl. I’ve already gotten a buyer for my car. My lease for the apartment is up next month. And as for my other material possessions, I’ll go back in two weeks to deal with them, or I’ll have them shipped here to the island. Either way, my season in Tampa is over.”
“And you really don’t regret leaving such a lofty position behind?”
“I don’t…” Kevin encased Hunter’s hand with his when he saw the uncertainty in her expression. “Seriously, I don’t regret what needed to be done. Brier and Sydney are scums anyway, who are only concerned about themselves. I’m better off without them. I have always been about what makes me happy. And I can assure you that leaving Tampa behind to create a future with you overrides every other desire that I may ever have.”
Hunter’s response was hindered by the unexpected ring of Kevin’s cell phone. She stared at Kevin in a way that suggested to him that she would watch for how he would handle the call. Between the time they were on their way to Tampa International Airport and before they’d boarded the plane, Kevin’s phone had rung at least half a dozen times and each time the call had been from Shiloh Bethune.
“It’s her calling again,” Kevin said.
“You are going to be hit hard with roaming charges if you answer it,” Hunter quipped. “But of course, that she-devil needs to be put in her place.”
Kevin suppressed his smile, because even though he found Hunter’s words quite humorous, he didn’t think she was trying to be funny. “Then my decision is easy,” he said. “I won’t waste a penny on someone who has disrespected our relationship in every way possible. Let her call until the cows come home. I’m about to change my number anyway. Until then, I will keep my phone turned off.”
Hunter was expecting Kevin to go psycho on Shiloh, but his decision was good enough for her. She shifted the gear stick into “Drive,” but before venturing out of the parking lot, she offered Kevin a smile to let him know that he could relax. She was not going to fuss with him about Shiloh Bethune. After all, they were engaged now and she didn’t want anything upsetting her peaceful spirit.
“So, where to now?” she asked.
“Well,” Kevin stalled, as he got lost in Hunter’s blue eyes, “I was thinking we should visit my mother – to give her the good news about our engagement.”
“I think that’s a very good idea, even though I’m not sure how your mother will react to it. I mean, she barely knows me.”
“She knows that you’re Sasha’s best friend,” Kevin said. “And I can almost guarantee that if she likes Sasha, she’s gonna love you. You’re one of kind and I have faith that my mother will discern that right away.”
Hunter gave a half-smile. “I hope you’re right, Kevin, because I get the uncanny feeling she will say that we are rushing things.”
Kevin reached over and pressed his lips against Hunter’s cheek. “You let me worry about my mother. She isn’t half as bad as people perceive her to be.”
****
Same Time
Suanne was crocheting and humming ‘Amazing Grace’ when she noticed clips of Armando’s concert appearing on the afternoon news. It showed highlights of the previous two nights of a massive crowd being entertained by the energetic sway of Armando’s hips. His dreadlocks swung in unison with his wild gyrations, solidifying him as one of the sexiest soca artists ever to come on the scene. The song he sang, “Bend & Wuk Yuh Waist” was highly sexual in lyrics and suggestive in nature. Little was left to the imagination as Armando enjoyed making his music as intense as he possibly could.
Suanne’s mouth fell open toward her chest. Up until that moment, she’d never seen her son being displayed in such a vulgar manner, which according to her was utterly immoral and an invitation for sin. ‘The devil’s music,’ she called it and rightly so. However, the mental rebuke she was building to unleash on Armando was interrupted by what she spotted at the bottom of the screen. A brief notification canceling that night’s event: Due to unforeseen family circumstances, Armando Beckford and the Shank Band will not be performing tonight as planned…
Suanne put her crocheting aside and reached for the phone without taking her eyes off the TV screen. What sort of family circumstances are they talking about? She was Armando’s mother and she knew nothing of it. However, Suanne intended to get to the bottom of it right then and there. Armando picked up on the first ring.
“I was about to call you,” he said without preamble.
“Call me for what? Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“No, Ma. Where would you get such a crazy idea?”
Suanne was glad Armando asked. “From TV,” she spat. “Shaking your butt like some loose woman is not how I raised you. Where’d you picked up such a dirty dance? The devil is using you to incite lust and temptation –”
“Ma…”
“Don’t Ma me! Your hips were made to help you walk and to sit and to use the bathroom. Not to twirl around in the faces of those people, who had no business supporting that mess anyway and I find that very disrespectful, if you ask me. Then to top it off, this notice appeared on the screen saying that you’re not performing tonight, due to family circumstances. Do I live under a rock that I’m the last one to know what is going on?”
The second Suanne took a break from her rant, Armando dropped the bombshell on her. “Annalise lost the baby…it was stillborn and they made her push it out. I was about to call you to inform you about it.”
Suanne cleared her throat, as her anger quickly faded into concern. “I would have said good riddance if you weren’t my son and if that baby wasn’t part of you…but I told you from the break that I didn’t agree with that marriage. Maybe it’s God’s way of telling you –”
“It’s not the time to chastise me,” Armando said. “Because whether you accept it or not, I sincerely care about Annalise. She didn’t deserve what happened to her.”
“I didn’t say she deserved it. In fact, I’m saddened that both you and Annalise had to go through that tragic experience. But I’m saying God has a way of sending us messages. Who knows why God decided to take that baby back to heaven? But what I do know: Annalise is not the right woman for you and the sooner you realize that the better it will be for everyone.”
“Well, it’s a little too late for you to say that, Ma. I’ve already married the woman and I’ve made up my mind to stay with her.”
Suanne harrumphed. “You poor child. I’ve taught you boys that however you make up your bed, you had better lie in it. I may not be able to change your mind about Annalise, but I will continue to voice my displeasure. I see much evil in that woman and you had better wake up and see her for the devil she really is.”
Armando kissed his teeth in irritation, an automatic reaction he regretted as soon as he’d done it. His mother didn’t stand for it and Armando knew she was not about to let him off the hook for showing such impertinence.
“Who you kissing your teeth at, boy? I bet I jump through this phone and slap you one.”
“Really, Ma? I’m a grown man.”
“It doesn’t matter! But I pray for you, boy, that you find healing for your soul. Leave that devil’s music alone and start going back to church. Maybe then the Holy Spirit will rub off on Annalise and run them demons out of her. Because for the life of me, I don’t understand what you saw in that woman.”
“You are not consoling me at all,” Armando said. “I’ve just lost my daughter – your first grandchild and the only thing you are capable of is badmouthing my wife. I am disappointed in you.”
“And so am I,” Suanne lashed back. “No son of mine is gonna disrespect me the way you just did and expect for me to shrug it off as nothing. But I speak peace over you, my boy, that the good Lord will give you the grace to deal with that woman and to overcome every one of your trials. However, I can’t speak the same blessing for Annalise; that demon will not accept it.”
“Bye, Ma…I will call you later when you’ve calmed down.”
Suanne grudgingly returned the phone to its cradle only to be greeted by the chime of her doorbell. She stood to her feet and looked through the peephole before opening the door for her son, Kevin, who was holding hands with a white woman she’d only seen once or twice.
Suanne pushed a hand into her side and remarked, “Lord, what sign are you boys presenting to me? The three of my sons are in Devin’s Cay, each with a woman in tow.”
Kevin chuckled. “And I’m happy to see you too. Why the long face?”
Suanne gave her eyes an impatient roll. “Boy, wouldn’t you like to know. Come in, both you and your lady friend.”
“I believe you have met Hunter Rose,” Kevin said when his mother turned to face them. “She’s Sasha’s best friend and one of the most gifted jewelry designers on this side of heaven.”
“Of course I know her,” Suanne said. “What is she doing here with you?”
Hunter offered Suanne a warm smile, being careful not to speak out of turn. She would let Kevin do all of the talking until it was safe for her to do so.
“Well,” Kevin said, turning to Hunter. “I’ve asked her for her hand in marriage and we’ve come to receive your blessing.”
“Is that right?” Suanne moved her gaze from Kevin, locking it on Hunter. She seemed to stare at her for an eternity before twisting her lips into a smirk. “For a white girl, she’s very pretty…you mean to tell me that my grandchildren is gonna have blonde hair and blue eyes? Little white legs running around my front room? Well, Holy Ghost, what is this You bringing me into?”
Kevin laughed and so did Hunter, although they still pondered in their hearts whether Suanne was pleased or not.
“Come here, child,” Suanne said, beckoning to Hunter. “Let me get a good look at you...good form…good hair…intelligent eyes. How old are you anyway?”
Kevin was about to protest but Hunter stopped him. “It’s okay for your mother to know my age…I’ll be turning thirty this coming January, if the Lord wills.”
“If the Lord wills?” Suanne tossed her head back and laughed. “You keep talking like that, child, and you and I will be friends in no time.” She suddenly stared into the ceiling, counting her fingers as if she was trying to figure out the order of the alphabet. “So you’re ten months older than my son?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Suanne cocked her head at Hunter. “I don’t have a problem with it.”
Kevin’s eyes widened with shock because he knew all too well that his mother had a serious aversion to women being older than their husbands. “Since when?”
“Since when what?” Suanne reached over and pinched Kevin’s cheek. “You had better shut your mouth before I change my mind.”
Kevin grinned. “So that means we have your blessing?”
“Of course,” Suanne exclaimed, pulling both Hunter and Kevin into a bear hug. “I’m gonna throw you two the biggest party ever. Don’t worry about a thing; I’ll plan it all. You two just show up here on time…thank you, Jesus, for the good news…now keep ‘em coming, keep em coming!”
Suanne released Kevin and Hunter and then took off down the hall, speaking in her heavenly language. All she could think about was how proud she would be, walking down the street, showing off her ‘white’ grandkids.