Femme Tales Page 15

  “The third try is the charm,” she said to herself, deciding on wearing the dress and returning the other two dresses tomorrow.

  She looked at the small shoe collection she had brought with her. She always traveled with more shoes than she needed because she believed it was always more difficult finding the right pair of shoes at the last minute than it was the right dress. She decided on a pair of pointed toe red stilettos that laced up her ankle.

  She gave herself a final look in the mirror then, after a quick dab of scented oil behind her ears and at her cleavage, headed out of her bedroom before she changed her mind again. She decided to walk over to Cass’s villa, then they would walk to the main lobby of the resort where the vehicle she rented would be waiting for them.

  * * *

  Cass took one final look at herself in the mirror and walked out to the living area of her villa to wait for Faith. She was so glad Stephanie had packed for her. She had found a pair of black linen pants and an ivory linen jacket in her wardrobe which had somehow either managed to survive the packing without wrinkling or Serge had had her clothes pressed before hanging them up when he unpacked for her. She paired the pants and jacket with a black silk T-shirt and a pair of black canvas slip-on shoes. At her request, Serge had sent a barber to her room earlier to tighten up her cut. She paced around the living room full of nervous energy wondering why this woman was having such a strong effect on her.

  There was a knock on the door, and Cass practically jumped out of her skin. She looked through the peephole. Serge stood smiling on the other side of the door. Cass almost sighed in relief as she opened it.

  “Hey, Serge.” She stepped aside to let him in.

  “Good evening, Cass. I just wanted to check in to see if there’s anything else you may need for the evening.”

  “No, I’m heading out to dinner with Faith so I’m good,” Cass said.

  Serge’s smile broadened. “I’ll just straighten up a bit and do the turndown service, then I will see you in the morning.”

  “Thank you, Serge.”

  Serge nodded then headed for the bedroom. “Oh, Cass,” he said.

  Cass turned to meet his smiling gaze. “I think you two are good match. Have a wonderful evening,” he said and went on about his work.

  Cass smiled. “Thanks, Serge.”

  A few moments later, there was another knock on her door. Cass was no longer as nervous, but she still felt a slight fluttering mix of nervous excitement in her belly as she opened the door.

  “Hi,” Faith said with a broad smile.

  “Hi,” Cass responded. “You look beautiful and the shoes are sexy as hell.”

  To Faith’s surprise, she felt her cheeks heat in a blush. “Thank you. You look great as well. Ready to go?”

  “Thank you. Yes, let me just grab my wallet and room key,” Cass said, grabbing both from a nearby credenza.

  They left Cass’s villa, walking toward the main building of the resort.

  “I rented a car,” Faith told her.

  “Oh, do you usually rent a car when you’re here?” Cass asked.

  “Yes. When we traveled my mom hated depending on taxis or shuttles. She liked to come and go as she pleased. To explore areas of wherever we were visiting as if we were natives,” Faith explained.

  “Seems like your mother was a free spirit,” Cass said.

  Faith smiled. “She was. Before she got sick she planned to retire here. That’s why her final wishes were for her ashes to be spread at a plot of land she purchased and was planning to build a house on.”

  “Sounds like she had everything planned out,” Cass said.

  “She did. She didn’t want my grandparents and me to have to make all of these decisions so she and the family lawyer made all her end of life arrangements several months before she passed.”

  Cass grasped Faith’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Faith smiled gratefully and interlocked her fingers with Cass’s. They continued their walk hand in hand. When they reached the resort lobby, they stopped at the concierge desk where Faith picked up a set of keys. Then they made their way out the entrance. The only vehicle waiting was a red Jeep Wrangler Sport which they were heading toward. Faith hit the button to unlock the doors.

  She chuckled at the surprise on Cass face. “Not quite the vehicle you expected?”

  Cass laughed. “No.”

  “I told you, don’t let the pretty face fool you,” she said with a wink.

  Cass grinned.

  Faith turned on the radio to find Bob Marley crooning “Don’t worry about a thing…” She smiled. Her mother was definitely with her tonight and seemed to be sending her a message through her favorite song. She briefly looked over at Cass who seemed very relaxed with her head back on the seat, eyes closed, mouthing the words to the song. She turned her eyes back to the road and silently thanked whatever stars aligned themselves tonight to place Cass in her path today of all days when she truly needed the distraction. If it hadn’t been for their chance meeting she would have sat in her room until it was time to complete her task, wallowing in sadness and self-pity over having to say good-bye to her mother one final time.

  It was a short drive to the restaurant, but by the time they reached their destination Faith felt like every bit of stress and tension she had collected over the past few months had simply drifted away with the island breeze. She exited the car, walked over to Cass, and took her hand.

  “Hungry?”

  “I could eat,” Cass said with a grin.

  When they reached the hostess, Faith asked for a table outside. They were seated on a beachside outdoor patio under a palm tree. A live Caribbean music band played, and the ocean was just steps away from where they sat.

  “You don’t get to relax much, do you?” Faith asked.

  “Is it that obvious?” Cass said.

  “Just in the difference from the woman I met earlier to the one sitting across from me now. I could see the tension and stress in the tight way you held yourself earlier. Now your whole demeanor has changed. You look like you’re finally on a real vacation instead of a forced sabbatical,” Faith said.

  “Maybe I needed some divine intervention and the fates sent you my way.”

  “Maybe,” Faith said with a soft smile.

  “What would you recommend?” Cass asked, looking over the menu.

  “Definitely start with the traditional conch salad then either the snapper or lobster. They do both very well,” Faith answered.

  When their server arrived, Faith ordered a glass of wine, the conch salad, and grilled shrimp. Cass ordered a beer, the conch salad, and grilled snapper. Their drinks arrived quickly and Cass asked about Faith’s business as they waited for their food. Cass listened attentively and smiled at the joy that lit up Faith’s eyes when she discussed her work. Cass’s mother always told her that if you’re passionate about what you do then it doesn’t feel like work. Most of the time she felt that way about Pure Music. Of course there were days when she wondered if she had made the right decision in taking it over, but she realized that those were the days Ebony and Stephanie tried to tell her she was trying to take on too much and needed to let the people she hired do their jobs.

  As if reading her mind, Faith said, “I try to keep a balance between the creative and business aspects of what I do so that I don’t get overwhelmed. It’s hard sometimes, but I have a good team to help keep me on track.”

  “Maybe you can teach me a thing or two. I feel like I spend more time putting out fires than I do in the studio,” Cass complained.

  “As a producer, isn’t most of your work in the studio? Doesn’t Pure Music have a business team to handle the day-to-day stuff?” Faith asked.

  Cass gulped a swallow of beer. She had forgotten that she hadn’t told Faith she wasn’t just a producer at Pure Music. “Uh, yeah, but there’s still budgets and negotiations that have to get done.”

  Faith nodded. “I see. I guess that would keep you out of the studio especially wh
en signing new artists.”

  Their food arrived and they enjoyed their dinner for several moments. Faith broke the lull in the conversation by asking Cass about her family.

  “I come from a pretty close-knit family. I’m an only child, but I was raised with a dozen cousins who are more like siblings than cousins. My mom has a brother and a sister, and my father has four brothers. Both sets of my grandparents are still kicking. As a matter of fact, we have a ninetieth birthday party coming up for my dad’s mom. What about your family?”

  “My mother raised me on her own so I don’t know my father’s family. She has a brother and both of her parents are still around as well. She remarried shortly before she got sick, but he turned out to be a con man so we don’t speak.”

  “Sorry to hear that. My mom’s brother is our family’s black sheep so we don’t really keep in touch with him because of some things he’s done. Unfortunately, he’s dragged my cousins into some of his schemes as well,” she said with a frown. “I hope the guy didn’t cause your mom too much trouble.”

  “No, but he’s giving me quite a bit of it.”

  “I know a great attorney if you need one,” Cass offered.

  “Thank you, I appreciate the offer, but our family attorney is handling things very well.”

  They spent the remainder of the dinner and dessert getting to know more about each other’s childhoods, likes and dislikes, and skimmed over their dating histories.

  Cass’s spoon clattered to her plate as she sat back and patted her full stomach. “Wow, I don’t think I could eat another bite of food the rest of the night.”

  Faith chuckled. “Yeah, I think I’ll be doing an extra mile on my run in the morning.”

  “Why don’t I get the bill and we take a walk along the beach before we head out,” Cass suggested.

  “I’d like that,” Faith said.

  Cass signaled their server to pay the bill. Once that was taken care of, they removed their shoes and Cass stood, offering her hand to Faith. “Shall we?”

  Faith laid her hand in Cass’s and stood.

  “Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me,” Cass said, then turned and led Faith away from the table toward where the patio and beach met.

  They walked quietly hand in hand along the shore to where they were far enough along the beach to still see the restaurant but also have a bit of privacy. They halted and looked out toward the horizon. Cass moved to stand behind Faith, wrapping her arms around Faith’s waist, clasping them at her belly. Faith entwined her fingers with Cass’s.

  “I hope I’m not being to forward,” Cass said.

  “Not at all.”

  They stood that way for a few more minutes, then Cass placed her lips near Faith’s ear. “Ever since I saw you on the subway I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, and then there you were on the beach this afternoon as if I had conjured you up from a dream.”

  “Maybe you did conjure me and this is all a dream.”

  Cass placed a soft kiss upon Faith’s earlobe. “If it is then I don’t ever want to wake up.”

  Faith turned in Cass’s arms, leaned forward, and placed her lips upon Cass’s.

  Cass tightened her arms around Faith’s waist as Faith pulled her closer. The kiss deepened as Cass felt Faith’s fingers glide along the nape of her neck, gently massaging. Cass slid her hands along Faith’s back settling along the curve of her behind then she pulled Faith’s hips towards hers so that their bodies meshed together as one.

  After a few moments, Cass slowly brought their kiss to an end, laying her forehead against Faith’s. Both were breathing as if they had just finished a sprint.

  “Wow,” Faith said breathlessly.

  “Wow is right.”

  “Then why did you stop?” Faith asked.

  “Because if I hadn’t we would be lying out on this beach giving everyone a show.”

  “Oh, I guess that’s a good reason.”

  Cass placed a soft kiss on Faith’s forehead then stepped back just enough to wrap her arm around Faith’s waist and steer them back along the path they were walking. Faith placed her arm around Cass’s waist and laid her head on Cass’s shoulder. They walked for a while longer, then Cass’s phone chirped. Without stopping, she pulled it out of her pocket and, seeing who the message was from, shoved her phone back into her jacket pocket without responding.

  “If you need to take care of that I don’t mind,” Faith told her.

  “It’s nothing that can’t wait.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive, although we should probably start heading back. I don’t want to make you late meeting Serge and his mother for your mother’s farewell,” Cass said.

  Faith was touched by Cass’s consideration. “I know we just met today and it’s probably a weird thing to ask on a first date, but would you like to join us? I think you and my mom would have really liked each other so I’m sure she won’t mind if you’re there.”

  Cass smiled. “I’d like to be there for you.”

  Faith steered them back the way they came. “It’s just fifteen minutes from here. I wanted to get there a little early anyway to set up.”

  They made their way back to the restaurant, hopped into the jeep, and Faith drove them a short distance away to an area called Grace Bay Beach. She drove up a lengthy stretch of rocky road to a vacant beachfront lot.

  “I see why you got the jeep. Anything less than a four-wheel drive wouldn’t have made it up that path,” Cass said as they came to a stop steps away from the beach.

  “Yeah, and I wasn’t going to attempt to trek the path in the dark on foot,” Faith said as she got out and walked toward the back of the vehicle.

  She opened the hatch and began unloading. Cass helped her, pulling out some tiki torches, a folding table, folding chairs, a Bluetooth speaker, a cake, plates, cups and utensils, and a bottle of sparkling cider. Following Faith’s instructions, Cass helped to set up the area for what Faith said was her mother’s birthday farewell celebration. By the time they had everything set up, another car was pulling up toward them. A few moments later, they were joined by Serge and his mother, whose name Cass learned was Nadine.

  Right at midnight, their small service began with each telling their favorite story about Faith’s mother. Faith told the Cinderella shoe story and had even brought the shoes which had been in a box in the back seat with her mother’s ashes, then Nadine told her story about how she and Faith’s mother met, and Serge finished with his story about Faith’s mother encouraging him to get his business degree and even helping to pay his tuition.

  After the stories were told, Faith led the small entourage to the shoreline removed her shoes and tied the bottom of her dress around her upper legs. She walked in to where the water just came to her knees, opened the urn, and tossed her mother’s ashes among the outgoing waves.

  Cass watched as Faith stood for a few more minutes, head tilted up toward the sky, tears sliding down her cheeks as she said a silent good-bye to her mother. When Faith’s shoulders began to shake, Cass walked out, not giving a second thought to her pants, and pulled Faith into her arms. Faith’s arms wrapped tightly around Cass’s waist as she buried her face along Cass’s neck and wept for her loss.

  They stood that way until the rising tide nudged them to go ashore. Cass kept her arm around Faith’s waist as they trudged ashore and delivered her to the waiting arms of Nadine who smiled at Cass in gratitude as she gave Faith a motherly embrace and a peck on the forehead. As they walked back to their little camp, Faith grasped Cass’s hand and held it tightly along the way. Upon their return, Faith walked back to the jeep then came back with a large envelope.

  “Nadine and Serge, my mother left one final instruction.” She handed the envelope to Nadine who opened it up, briefly looked it over, and gazed at Faith in confusion.

  “What is this?” Nadine asked.

  “Momma wanted you and Serge to have the property so that you can finally build your vacation in
n. It’s not only this lot but the two neighboring lots as well. Plenty of land to do everything you and Serge dreamed of doing. Instead of worrying about trying to save up to buy land and build out the property, now all you have to focus on is the build-out,” Faith told her.

  Serge took the papers from his mother’s trembling hand and looked them over in the dim lantern lights in disbelief. “But what about the home you two were going to build here?” he asked.

  “That was going to be Momma’s retirement home. I didn’t have any plans to do anything but visit, and I can do that at your inn.”

  Nadine rushed over and pulled Faith into a tight embrace. “I knew God blessed us when he brought you two into our lives all those years ago. Thank you.”

  Faith returned the hug. “No need to thank me. That was all Sabrina Shaw’s doing.”

  Serge wiped away a tear and joined them for a group hug.

  “Okay, enough tears! This is supposed to be a birthday celebration,” Faith said.

  She walked over to her phone, which was connected to the small speaker, pulled up the playlist she created of her mother’s favorite dance music, pressed play, then began cutting the cake. Cass assisted by opening the sparkling cider and pouring glasses for everyone. They spent the next half hour laughing, dancing, and eating cake. Faith could not have imagined a better way to celebrate her mother’s life. As they cleaned up, she looked at Serge and Nadine, her heart filled with love for her Caribbean family. When her gaze landed on Cass, she felt a tenderness she would not have expected so soon after meeting someone. The fact that Cass was cool with their first date ending with a memorial service for her mother showed a depth of compassion Faith was not used to seeing much of these days.

  They said their good nights, and Faith and Cass headed back to the resort.

  “Thank you,” Faith said. “I know this isn’t quite the date night you were expecting.”