CHAPTER TEN

 

The journey back to Negril was pleasant, with Amelia providing comedic entertainment all the way. Robert dropped Amelia home in the West End part of Negril, near the lighthouse. As Amelia left the car, she grabbed Diana’s hand. “Welcome to Jamaica, Diana.”

“It's too early to go back home. I know just where we need to stay for the rest of the day,” Robert announced. They continued driving until they reached Negril Point. They sat on rocks overlooking the sea and talked about everything and nothing.

“Tell me about your childhood,” Robert asked, staring at her as if hypnotized.

“I was born in Flower Hill, Hanover,” Diana offered, gazing at the sea; it was blue-green and the sunlight turned it into glimmering jewels. “I was the third one for my mother; she had eight children.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of kids to have,” Robert grimaced. “I have only one sibling, and she gets on my last nerve sometimes.”

“I really don’t remember any of them,” Diana said haltingly. “My father came for me when I was barely six. I know that my older siblings, Derrick and Kenrick, were twins. They were taken from my mother by their grandparents before I was born—I was followed by Tara, she was born a year after me. I was told by my Aunt Catherine that her paternity was in question. Some people said it was a farmer down the road; others thought it was the farmer’s son; my mother just sighed when asked, I'm told. I barely remember her though. I guess I need some pictures. I'm hoping to get at least one when I go to Hanover.”

“Remember, I am going with you,” Robert said, squeezing her shoulder. “That leaves four younger siblings, who’s next?”

“Ah, that was a drama. My mother supposedly fell in love with McTaggert, the man who owned all the property in Flower Hill. Unfortunately, he was married, and his wife didn't take kindly to him having another illegitimate child. McTaggert was white, you see, so his progeny was easy to spot in the village. When my mother got pregnant with my cutie pie baby brother, Flynn, we had to move out of the two-bedroom house where we lived since it belonged to McTaggert. We moved in with my grandmother who was ashamed of her daughter and was not afraid to announce it to the world. She used to look at me and my brothers and sisters as if we were insects.”

“What an awful situation,” Robert said, shuddering dramatically.

“Yes, it was. We lived in a one-room shack made of wattle and daub, as my grandmother tells it. When she came to collect me, the roof was just about to collapse on our heads.”

“You have three more siblings to go,” Robert said, holding up his fingers.

“Why are you so interested?”

“Because it is interesting. Your mother seems to have been bent on starting her very own United Nations.”

“Well, you will have to tell me your story,” Diana retorted, wagging her finger at him and gazing into his handsome face. “Or else…”

“Okay, Okay.” Robert captured her finger and sucked on it.

Diana purred and leaned into him. “I can’t think.”

“Three siblings,” he drawled.

“Oh, yes. In exchange for food, my mother and the Chinese shop owner, Mr. Chin, had a thing.”

“See, I was right,” Robert replied, grinning. “Your mother was the poster girl for racial blindness.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “She had two children for him, Dalton and Patricia, they were twins. She died in childbirth delivering the eighth. My grandmother called the last baby Fussy. The poor baby was half-starved and cried a lot. I don’t even know his real name or who his father is.

My paternal grandmother heard of my mother’s death. She had long wanted to take me, and when she came to attend the funeral, she was so alarmed at the condition I was living in that she grabbed me with the clothes I was wearing and took me to the States.”

“Okay, so we have names, and we have locations. I can ask a private investigator to do the honors. Then, armed with the information, I’ll take you around.”

“Private investigator,” Diana exclaimed. “Why didn’t I think of that? I thought I would just go to Flower Hill and ask any family I can find there for information on my other siblings.”

Robert shook his head. “Do any of your siblings know where you are now and what you are doing?”

“No, we never stayed in touch.”

“They probably don’t know about the others either. With a private investigator, you will get a full report on their current status so you can decide if you would want to contact them.”

“You are so smart,” Diana said, kissing Robert soundly on his mouth. “However, I can’t pay for a private investigator, and before you offer to pay for one, no.”

“I thought you wanted to meet them. I thought you wanted to fill the holes in your past.”

“I do, but…I hardly know you and…”

“Okay then,” Robert said, looking upset. “It's all good and well to pique my curiosity about your siblings then leave me high and dry.”

“All right. I’ll find some way to pay you back when I reach home. I’ll send the money. I’ll beg my Daddy.”

“Great. Do whatever you want. Just write down the names for me, and I’ll call Finch.”

“Who’s Finch?”

“He’s an ex-cop who does investigations for my father. That’s settled, I don’t want to hear about the money again,” Robert saw that she was about to protest, so he added hastily, “until you get back home.”

Diana closed her mouth and gave him a bewildered look. “Why do I feel as if you've outsmarted me?”

“Probably I did.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me about your growing up?” Diana asked, giving him an impish smile.

“Nope. You haven’t finished telling me about yours.”

“There is nothing more to tell,” Diana said with a sigh. “I went to Philadelphia and was afraid of my father for days after I arrived. It was the first time I was seeing him and he seemed so much larger than life. He and his brother owned a chain of Jamaican restaurants, so we were pretty well off, but I had to work in the restaurants most holidays for pocket money. I went to private school until I got a scholarship to Pennsylvania State. I lived with my father and Nonna until I graduated with my bachelor’s degree and then I moved out.

It was a struggle to move from under their absolute command and control. They hanged unto me like a weighty brick. My father was having an affair that distracted him at the time, so it was mainly Nonna fighting the battle. By the time he realized I was gone, it was too late. I was buying furniture and kitchenware.”

“Sounds like one extreme to the other,” Robert said, shifting beside her, “from country bumpkin to riches.”

“Not riches, but much better, way better. My grandmother was a music teacher for years before she and my grandfather left Jamaica. When they arrived in America, they were not penniless immigrants. She taught at the Juilliard School of Music until she moved to Philadelphia after Grandpa died.”

“So now you will continue the tradition as an educator. That’s great,” Robert said, looking wistful. “This is the first time since I was adopted that I have felt the need to know who my blood relatives are.”

Diana grinned. “I am rubbing off on you. Tell me about your childhood.”

“Tonight, at dinner?” Robert asked, looking hopeful.

“Is that the best you can do to get a girl to go on a date?” Diana asked incredulously.

“Yes, shame on me,” Robert replied, gently running his fingers through her hair. “I love…,” he began, causing Diana to hold her breath, “…your hair,” Robert whispered as he bent to kiss her.