Roni got to the Green Turtle Club just as the ferry docked, but no girls. Just a couple that got off with their luggage, and the ferry pulled away. At least now she knew they would be on the next one. Randal saw her and came down the dock towards her.
“Hey, pritty lady,” he said and hugged her to him. “Wha’ ya doin’?”
It had only taken their first dance before Randal started hugging her when he saw her. But Roni realized he was a very touchy-feely person, especially when it came to women. She also had no problem shutting him down if he tried to push the boundaries with her. At least he wasn’t selective about who he hugged. He simply hugged all the girls.
“Waiting on my girlfriends. I thought there was a slight chance they would make the early ferry, but they didn’t,” Roni said. “I think I’ll go get a drink, see if Roe’s working while I wait for the next ferry.”
“Hey, Randal,” a deep voice came from behind her.
Roni turned to see Captain Allen approaching, and Randal gave him a nod. Allen looked at her like he was looking through her, an emptiness that felt weird. He’d looked at her the same way the first night she’d seen him adjusting the ropes.
“Hey, Allen, erryt’ing cool?” Randal asked.
“Good, good,” he said slowly.
He veered down the dock toward Liquid Asset. Roni watched him walk to the yacht and then up the stairs. At the top, he stopped and looked back at them. He caught Roni staring and gave her an odd smirk.
“That guy gives me the creeps,” Roni said.
“Ah nah, he an okay guy,” Randal said.
“Maybe to you, to me he is just weird…”
Roni glanced back at Liquid Asset, but Allen was gone. She wondered who the owner of the yacht was and why he would have such a strange captain.
“No dive trip today?” she asked, looking back at Randal.
“I had a early group dis monin’ is all. Ya git da new gals ta come dive?”
“Probably. They should have the glory of seeing you in your Speedo at least once,” Roni teased.
Randal laughed his very boisterous laugh as Roni smiled at him. It still amazed her how happy these people were. If it was an act, they sure kept it up.
“You want to come have a drink with me?” Roni asked.
“I wish. Tina need me to he’p her wif da shop. I promise I would,” Randal said as he squeezed her arm. “I see y’all later, do.”
Roni knew Randal would find them wherever she, Jenny, and Lacy ended up tonight. Randal headed to the dive shop and she turned toward the Dollar Bar to wait. It was pretty empty with just a few people at one of the tables, and she took a seat at the bar. Roe was on a stool behind the bar, talking on her cell phone. Her voice was animated and she moved her hands as she spoke. She winked at Roni and kept talking, speaking rapidly to try and end the conversation.
“I got ta go naw. I got a customer. Okay, okay, I call ya later on,” Roe said before she hung up.
She slid her large bottom off the stool and came forward to the bar.
“My girlfrien’, Mazie. She kin go on an’ on,” Roe said with a smile. “Do I gatta admit I love to run my mouth on da phone. How you, girl?”
“I’m doing well, Roe. And you?”
“I’s so good, I could fly,” Roe said.
Roni got a brief visual and abandoned it quickly. Roe could hardly keep herself upright with those huge boobs. She certainly wouldn’t be able to defy gravity and fly.
“Ya wanna drink?” Roe asked.
“I do, a glass of pinot grigio if you have it. I have some time to kill while I wait for the next ferry. I almost ran back to the house, but thought I’d come see you instead, better company. I think I told you I have three girlfriends arriving in the next two days.”
“Ah ya, here come trouble,” she laughed.
Roe pulled a wine glass from the rack and went about getting it filled.
“You think four girls from New York can be trouble?” Roni asked innocently.
Roe giggled. The little girlishness of it tickled Roni.
“I kin bet.”
“Just a little maybe,” Roni chuckled.
“Oh, I’s sure four gals have no problem wif dat.”
Roe set the wine glass on the bar top. Her hair was always the same, slicked up straight to the top of her head, little beehive bun up top.
“I just ran into Captain Allen on the dock, what’s his deal? Randal says he’s fine, but he’s sort of weird, not very friendly at all,” Roni asked.
“He jes’ full o’ hesef. Thin’ cuz he on dat big boat, he someone. He jes’ da driver. He don’ own na part of it,” Roe said, rolling her eyes in disgust. “He jes’ all puffed out, like a rooster.”
Roni laughed.
“Sort of what I thought.”
Roni checked her watch. It could still be another thirty minutes if the ferry was on time. She hoped the girls were hungry because she sure was. Maybe we can have lunch before we head back to the house. She nursed her glass of wine and hunted for the dollar bill she had stapled to one of the boat flags hanging from the ceiling early in her trip. Even though she knew it was there, it took her a while to find it.
“They ever take these down?” Roni asked.
“Nah, dey keep puttin’ dem on,” Roe said.
“Looks like it. Just the one glass, Roe,” Roni said, pushing her money across the bar. “I’m going outside to sit in the sun. Ferry should be here soon.”
“Yez.”
People were being served lunch in the screened-in porch dining area as she walked through, and the smell of food made her stomach tighten. She noticed that Sally, Devin’s sister, was waiting tables, and Roni flashed back to the night she passed out on the dance floor. It made her smile as she wondered what this next week would have in store for the girls. Once out on the dock, she settled herself on the bench facing the ferry landing. She put her sunglasses on watching Allen move about on the yacht out of the corner of her eye. He seemed too involved in whatever task he was doing to notice her anyway. It seemed to Roni that he liked being a mystery, not really fitting in. When he ultimately disappeared around the backside of the boat, she shifted her focus to the water.
The white bow of the ferry finally entered the harbor. Its green roof perfectly outlined against the blue sky. As she waited for it to reach the dock, her thoughts drifted back to New York, to Grand Central Station. The last place the four girls had gotten together to discuss the trip. They’d sat at a table in the restaurant upstairs that overlooked the station’s main floor. Just a normal day, she’d marveled at the number of people who hustled through the station every hour of every day. She wondered what Devin would think if she took him some place like that. A world away from Green Turtle Cay, a world she’d happily embraced. He’d probably hate it, so many people, moving so damn fast. The ferry captain pulled the ferry in expertly, like she’d seen numorous times. When he jumped off, she realized he was the same captain who had brought her over weeks ago. He started getting the luggage out onto the dock as the passengers filed out, paying him their fare. When Roni spotted the top of Jenny’s blonde head slowly coming forward, anticipation flooded her senses, filling her with happiness. They’re really here! On my little island.
“Hey,” Jenny called as she stepped off the boat.
“Hey,” Roni grinned, getting up from the bench to hug her.
Lacy came off right behind Jenny, a big floppy hat shading her face.
“Hey, girl,” she said, hugging Roni. “We’ve missed you back home.”
Roni accidently knocked Lacy’s hat as she pulled away, and Lacy grabbed it, quickly straightening it. She turned around in a slow circle taking in her new location.
“Well, I can’t say I’ve exactly missed back home,” Roni said, “as you can probably tell by my emails.”
“This is so beautiful,” Lacy said, putting on big round sunglasses.
Lacy was always decked out. She looked put together like a New Yorker, with all the right accessories for every occasion. She was small and petite with shoulder-length brown hair and dark brown eyes. Her complexion was like cream, smooth and light with high defining cheekbones and full lips. She wore a fashionable flower print dress with red strappy sandals that had crystal-like beads on them. Despite the humidity, she looked fresh. It was such a jolting reminder as to how Roni had usually dressed in New York, Fifth Avenue-style. She wondered if she could ever look that way again and feel comfortable. Jenny’s fair skin looked almost whitish compared to Roni’s tan skin. Blonde like Roni with blue eyes, but unlike Roni, Jenny had big boobs. Her sometimes mistaken sister…which Roni thought was funny because they really didn’t look alike.
“Well, girls, we can go back to the house and drop off luggage and then do lunch, or do lunch first,” Roni said. “I assume you’re hungry and thirsty.”
“I’m starving,” Lacy said. “I vote food and drink first, especially a drink.”
“I’m good with that,” Jenny agreed.
“How were the flights?”
“Fine, no bumps,” Lacy said.
“No problem getting to the ferry?”
“No, you gave good directions,” Jenny answered.
“The club is right here, let’s go get us a table where we can relax with a drink,” Roni suggested.
The girls grabbed their luggage handles and followed Roni towards the club, the wheels on their suitcases bumping over the wood decking.
“You can leave them out here, they’ll be fine,” Roni said, opening the club’s screen door. “The island is very safe.”
“Are you sure?” Lacy asked.
“We’re going to sit right there,” Roni said, pointing to a table inside the porch. “And get used to it because you’re not in New York anymore.”
Leaving their luggage to the left side of the door out of the way, the girls followed Roni into the dining area. At the table, Lacy took off her hat and sunglasses, laying them on the empty chair before she sat down.
“This humidity is rough on my hair,” she said, as she tried to fluff her hair up.
“It’s kind of hard on everything, but you’ll get used to it. I hope you both brought casual clothes like I told you. Because right now you’re sort of over-dressed.”
“What?” Jenny questioned. “I’ve got on capris and a shirt. That’s not over dressed.”
“Linen capris, guessing two hundred and fifty, silk shirt, two to three hundred. Sandals, I’m not sure who by, but designer, ditto price. Kate Spade handbag, and I was there when you bought it, four fifty. I haven’t even gotten to the accessories or your sunglasses yet,” Roni teased.
Jenny laughed loudly.
“My, she’s gotten snotty,” Jenny said. “No worries, all my Gap clothes are in my suitcase.”
“Really?” Lacy said. “I don’t have any Gap clothes.”
Jenny started to laugh again and Roni joined in. Lacy looked from one to the other and, realizing they were kidding, she started to laugh.
“Oh my god, you’re already making my side hurt,” Roni said, still giggling. “I’m so glad you guys are here.”
Sally approached the table reservedly.
“Sally, this is Lacy and Jenny,” Roni introduced.
“Hello, Sally,” Lacy said.
Sally smiled handing them menus.
“Kin I git yas somepin from da bar?”
Jenny frowned and Roni chuckled, the accent had obviously thrown her.
“Bottle, chardonnay girls?” Roni asked.
“Sure,” Jenny answered.
Lacy was taking in the exchange with a smile. Sally nodded and headed towards the bar. Roni sat back in her chair and looked at the girls. Lacy giggled.
“I told you, like another language, right? ‘Yas’ wait,” Roni laughed.
“Oh, it’s so nice to get here,” Jenny sighed.
“I can’t believe you have been here three weeks alone. Don’t you miss Mack?” Lacy asked.
“I have my moments. We’ve emailed and Skyped, so it’s not like I haven’t been in touch.”
Lacy had reminded her that she should be missing Mack and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Roni had told them that there had been a fight before she left, but she hadn’t gotten deep into the details. She didn’t want too many questions, or the girls to worry about her.
“I know, I just don’t think I could be away that long,” Lacy said. “I’d miss Kelly too much.”
Lacy Daily was an energy engineer, who was very devoted to her job and her live-in boyfriend. Married once with one daughter, it had lasted twenty years before it ended when her husband had an affair. Extremely hurt she’d thrown herself into her job, uninterested in the idea of dating. After years alone she’d finally met Kelly, another engineer who’d worked on a project with her. Kelly Peterson had also been married once, but there had been no children and he adored having an instant family. The girls often teased Lacy because she analyzed everything, coming up with random facts none of them would even think or care about. They did get amusement out of it, however. When she got on a tangent, they tormented her by calling her Dr.Lacy.
“I could be gone that long,” Jenny said. “In fact, I’m jealous you’ve had so much you time.”
Jenny was extremely independent like Roni and they hung out together a lot. It didn’t seem to bother either of their spouses when they did girls’ night out.
“Here ya are,” Sally said in her small, high voice as she set down the wine. “Ya decided on wha’ ta order?”
She pulled her pen and pad from her apron, poised to take their order. Lacy and Jenny looked blankly at Roni. If nothing else Roni was going to be extremely entertained by the girls’ reactions. Right this moment she felt like Joe, king of the island.
“Is it okay if I order for all of us?” she asked.
Lacy closed her menu, smiling.
“Please do.”
“Okay, Sally, how about one order of fish fingers, one conch salad, peas and rice, and… Oh, what else?” Roni looked at the menu, pondering.
“How about a hamburger and fries? I really am hungry,” Lacy suggested.
“Good, hamburger and fries, Sally, and that’s it.”
Sally wrote it all down, then took the menus and left. Roni took the open bottle and poured them each a glass of wine.
“I see about the accent. You’re going to have to help us,” Jenny said with a laugh.
“Well girls,” Lacy said, picking up her glass for a toast. “Let the fun begin.”
“Let the fun begin,” Jenny and Roni repeated as they touched their glasses together.
Lunch arrived and, to Roni’s surprise, they were able to finish it all.
“Um, I’m better now,” Lacy sighed, relaxing into her chair. “Your emails have been great. Witty. Funny. Sounds like there are some interesting people to meet…along with a horse and a pig.”
“Oh, oh,” Roni stuttered, waving her arms as she tried to talk and laugh at the same time. “Joe bit this guy today. I went to see him on my way to see Devin, and a family was there taking pictures. They’d heard about Joe from the grocery store owner and went to find him. We talked and I took it upon myself to introduce them to Bacon and got them in the yard, and I guess the guy felt safe enough to try and approach Joe.”
Roni broke into more laughter.
“I nicknamed them the Smurf family because they were pale and blonde and wore Crocs.”
Jenny chuckled knowing Roni’s opinion on both.
“Crocs?” Lacy asked. “You mean those plastic shoes, right?”
“Yes, I don’t know why, but people who wear Crocs remind me of Smurfs. You know, the big balloon shoes?” Roni explained.
Lacy got the visual and giggled at her description. Roni was always so good at having a good time. Lacy loved that about her, her ability to loosen up Lacy’s analytical mind.
“Anyway, poor husband Smurf reaches out to pet Joe’s neck, and damn if Joe doesn’t whip his head around and nip him on the shoulder.” Roni laughed, which got them all going again.
“I swear the stuff you’ve told us has to be true because it simply would be too hard to make up,” Jenny said, still chuckling.
“You wait, you’ll have your own stories,” Roni teased. “There will be no lack of stories leaving this island.”
The girls caught up during lunch and then carefully loaded onto the golf cart precariously holding their luggage as Roni bumped down the road towards the house.
“Welcome to Fair Winds,” Roni said as she opened the screen door. “Jen, you bunk with me. It’s the room on the right. It doesn’t bother you that I get up early.”
“Aw, look at this wonderful porch,” Jenny said approvingly.
“Isn’t it great. I love sitting out here having coffee, it’s so quiet and peaceful. It’s made me really enjoy quiet again, you forget in New York. The sounds are just always there.”
Lacy went into the house pulling her hat from her head and looked around. It seemed sparse compared to her New York apartment where every single space was taken up by something. Even with the three of them talking the stillness was evident.
“This is cute.”
“Lacy, you and Tara can share this bedroom,” Roni said pointing. “Both beds are queen-size, so just pick one. I’m gonna make us some drinks.”
“I’d like to unpack a few things if that’s okay,” Lacy called, as she pulled her luggage into the bedroom.
“Me too,” Jenny said.
Jenny took a short stroll around the living area at the back of the house and then checked out the kitchen.
“This is a pretty good size, it’s nice.”
“You two up for vodka cranberries?” Roni asked, as she pulled out three glasses and filled them with ice.
“Sounds good,” Lacy answered from inside the bedroom.
“Yes, please,” Jenny said as she grabbed her suitcase.
Roni pulled the vodka from the freezer and poured it into the glasses, eyeing the amount.
“You hear from Tara?” Jenny called out as started to unload clothes into an empty dresser drawer.
“Yeah, she’s excited. She was a little reluctant to commit originally. She hasn’t done many girl trips. I guess the ones she has, there’s been drama. I told her we don’t do drama. She likes hanging with Michael the best, but I said come on, you have to come.”
She filled the remainder of the glass with cranberry juice and cut a lime, squeezing a wedge in each drink. Even limes were scarce on the island and expensive.
“Hell, no, who wants drama? Get enough of that in real life,” Jenny said.
“What’s on the agenda?” Lacy called.
“Drinking,” Roni said. “Then fun, and more fun.”
“I mean now. Do I put on a swimsuit, shorts, what?”
Lacy walked into the kitchen, looking to get an answer, and Roni handed her a cocktail.
“Depends on how you guys feel. I figured we’d go to the grocery and the liquor store, a tour of town, and then we could go to the beach after that. Maybe to one of the bars tonight,” Roni said.
Jenny came out from the other bedroom and picked up a cocktail.
“You tell us, you’ve been here for a while,” Jenny said. “I’m open to whatever.”
“Okay, then swimsuit with shorts over it. We’ll start with errands and an introduction to this place,” Roni said. “No New York attire, please.”
Lacy and Jenny changed quickly. Roni had been pretty specific in her emails on the dress code: casual, casual, casual. Any night out, it should be casual. Sundress, capris, or shorts, all still casual. Flip-flops, no designer shoe stuff.
“Do we get to see Joe?” Lacy asked.
“If he’s out and about, otherwise we will save that for another day. Ready?” Roni asked.
“I haven’t finished my drink,” Jenny said.
Roni reached into the cabinet and pulled out some plastic cups.
“Go-cup,” Roni said, putting them on the counter.
“All righty then,” Jenny said.
She dumped the remainder of her drink into the plastic cup, while the other girls did the same. They loaded back into the golf cart, and Roni drove out the dirt road, headed toward town.
“So, Green Turtle Club, where we had lunch,” Roni pointed as they passed the club. “There’s a cool bar inside we’ll have to go to later. It’s also the only real shopping on the island, and by that, I mean one shop.”
“One shop. You’re serious?” Lacy asked.
Lacy loved to shop. She could spend hours and hours looking and not even buy much, but she liked nice things, they all did.
“Yep, a whole one, makes it easy. You can’t beat the shopping in New York, you know that. You didn’t come to shop anyway. You came to relax. That’s about all there is to do here,” Roni said.
The cart bounced along down the now partial-paved road, and Roni’s arms shook as she steered, avoiding potholes as she could.
“Ah, and Randal’s Dive Shop is there next to the club. The dive master is the Speedo guy I told you about. We will have to get a trip scheduled once Tara gets here.”
Roni knew she could probably do the drive to town in her sleep. She had even gotten used to driving on the wrong side of the road.
“Are there police? I worry about the go-cups,” Lacy said.
“I think maybe one. Never seen him. I wouldn’t worry,” Roni said.
She laughing silently within, as she remembered that if there was something to worry about, Lacy usually found it.
“That’s Joe’s road,” Roni pointed. “It was just a little past there that I ran into him the first day.”
They crested the hill and, as they descended into town, Roni slowed down. The girls seemed content to listen, so Roni went on with the verbal tour.
“This is it, don’t blink. Here’s the old jail,” Roni said, pointing out the bright pink buildings on their right. “The Blue Bee is down that side street. It’s a tiny bar…the one where the Goombay Smash was invented.”
“Goombay what?” Jenny asked.
“I told you… Oh, look, church, church, church. They have more churches than anything.”
Roni crept down the street, trying to point out everything.
“Goombay Smash is the rum drink everyone makes here,” Roni said.
“Right, I do remember you saying something about it. Randal’s dive trip, I think,” Jenny said.
Pulling into a small parking lot on the left Roni turned off the cart. Jenny stared at the dilapidated buildings on the small narrow street and found them captivating, all the bright colors so whimsical and fun.
“Grocery is there, liquor store there,” Roni said, indicating which building was which.
Lacy noticed that the street ended at the ocean. She was trying to get her bearing on how the island was laid out.
“Direction?” she asked. “Is this it, town ends at the end of the road?”
“No, you can really tell from here, but the liquor store’s the last building on this side, then the road goes to the right and swings around to the water side of town,” Roni said as she got out of the cart. “It’s a one-way loop. Right now, we’re on the backside.”
Lucy frowned and Roni could tell she was still trying to get her direction oriented.
“Let’s get a few things for breakfast, maybe lunch. You want to do dinner home tonight or go out?” Roni asked.
“I vote home,” Jenny said. “We just had a big, late lunch. I could do salad or something and chill.”
“I’m fine with that,” Lacy agreed. “I need some settling-in time.”
“We can’t do salad though. There’s not a lot of produce that comes over, and if it does, it doesn’t look so good. We’ll see what they have, but the store doesn’t carry a lot and it’s very inconsistent. The grocer will talk your ear off if you get him started, so watch being too friendly or we’ll be here awhile.”
Jenny and Lacy looked at each other and laughed. Roni was a take-charge sort of girl and she knew the ropes here. The girls weren’t on an equal footing, and they realized it was best to let her reign.