Family Reunion (52 page)

Bringing her to the rail he stood her in place, his hand caressing her cheek, he said, "I want you to know, that while your hair is not black…this song always made me long for you." He turned to his men with a nod.

One strummed a guitar, while the other played a harmonica, the cords and sounds were so stirring Lena felt her stomach tighten, goose pimples raced up her arms. Finbar began singing, his voice rolling with an Irish brogue, the words stirring, gripping as the other's hummed hauntingly.

Black, is the color …of my true love’s hair

Her skin so soft… such wonders there

Her lips are l-i-i-ke some roses fair

She has the purest eyes

And the gentlest hands

I love the ground… on where she stands

I - love the ground - on where he stands

Black is the color of my true love’s hair

Of my true love’s hair

Of my true love’s hair

Oh I love my love

And I pray she knows

Yes, I love the ground on where she goes

And still I hope

That the time will come

When she and I will be as one

When she - and I - will be as one

So black is the color of my true love’s hair

Black is the color… of my… true love’s hair

Black is the color of my true love’s hair

Lena turned into Manny's chest to hide her tears, her stomach gripping in sorrow and agony. "I love you…you – are my one true love Lena…please I beg you, know that it's true." Lena turned from him, hiked up her skirt and dashed down the steps past his men and below. Manny leaned on the banister willing to let her go.

They looked up at him, Finbar with a question in his expression.

Manny smiled and nodded.

"Aye…she'ah fine lass... she'll be yours cap'n… no doubt no." Finbar called up with a salute. Manny turned and walked looking out to sea. "You will be mine Ceś alena…whatever there is that lies between us…we'll have done with it…soon."

Later that evening, Manny announced that all should dress in their finest, they were all going out. Everyone knew where, except for Lena as each secretly played a part in the arrangements, and so, with high anticipation, they went to their rooms, dressing for the night ahead.

Manny was nearly dressed in the captain's cabin when someone knocked. He called out for them to enter. He was wearing his all black finery. His pants with a satin strip down the seam fitted him closely but comfortably. A satin black waist-coat showed off the thickness of his muscular chest and still trim waist. The dinner jacket with its large collar lapels of satin and long penguin tails hung on his chair.

"I always thought you were a fine figure of a man and like a fine wine, you improve with age."

Manny blanched closing his eyes as his hands froze in their work at his neck tie. His eyes opened as he took a deep dragging breath. Rising slowly to his complete height from the mirror, he turned his head to see Gloria West leaning back against his closed door. She had come in quietly and was now observing him approvingly.

"What are you doing here Gloria?" Manny asked coldly.

"Aaah Maynard, don't talk like that. You can’t possibly still be angry with me. Plenty of time has passed for that to be long forgotten. Surely you're not sulking still?"

Manny stared at her in amazement.
'How in the world could I have possibly even entertained the thought of marrying this woman?'
He asked himself mentally. Yes, where physical appearance was concerned she was definitely alluring to any man unaware of her true character,
he
was fully aware of it and so she had become hideous in his eyes.

"I asked you, what are you doing here? I don't remember inviting
you."

Gloria sighed,
'My, do I have my work cut out for me.'
"I know, I've gone by the office, and Edmond would tell me nothing of your whereabouts, or of your return from the Virginia delivery. In my search for you, I've found that you've relocated your office to another building and I have even gone by our apartment-…"

"
My
– apartment…
mine
."

"Now Maynard please, the hostile tone is quite uncalled for, the fact that I've been all over looking for you, should tell how repentant I am from my naughty ways." She pouted prettily, having practiced that look in the mirror long enough to know how fetching and soulful it made her look. "It finally dawned on me after a while, that the Princess might be where you were hiding, so, I decided to drop in and see for myself and at last, I was right."

"Well now that you know where I am, why don't you kindly drop back out?"

She ignored his request and pulled herself away from the door as seductively as she could, stating as she did. "I see you're dressed for a formal evening. What is the occasion? Why was I not invited to attend with you? You know how good we look together at social gatherings." She asked sashaying his way, using her vivid blue eyes, which spoke volumes of her want for him.

Manny shook his head with a tired sigh. "Gloria, Gloria West…never in my entire life had I the misfortune of running into anything like you before." She smiled with a devilish sweetness, which showed she really was beautiful. "Misfortune? Come now, it hasn't been that bad. Indeed there are few like-…"

"Excuse me if I beg to differ, there are many like you…performing for the dollar or not…
you
just come at a higher price."

"Perhaps, how many husbands wish their wives were more like me?" She moved in closer to him, her hands skimming gently up his front slowly, as she leaned her body into him. Manny chuckled. "Like a whore you mean? Willing to lay with any and all?"

Gloria pouted, "Don't be petulant Maynard. I've been a good girl since…since, well – I've turned over a new leaf… I have pledged my loyalty to you, faithful to the end – promise and on my honor." She purred.

Manny’s head rocked back with his burst of laughter, "Ah Gloria, honor? You? Please, spare me – I’m sorry darlin’ it doesn't work on everyone, and it certainly won't work with me.”

“
Now,-(He brought his hands up to catch hers as they were about to go around his neck)-, do me a favor, go find another to fill your needs."

"You know, there is no other that can fill me - like you Maynard." She rubbed her breasts against his chest. Manny was still shaking his head and grinning at her failing attempt to entice him. "Come on Gloria, enough, I haven't the time, or the desire, leave it!"

A finely arched brow rose in challenge.

"You? Maynard Webster, with no time or desire? Ah ah ah, I know better, it just takes a lady who knows." She coaxed silkily pulling one hand from his and before he realized her intent, that hand was at his crotch, rubbing him slowly to arouse. She could feel the weight and detail of him, and grew hot just from the knowledge of it. Manny took a deep breath looking down at her almost in sympathy, "You poor thing." Stirred not the least, he cautioned her, "All right Gloria, that's enough now, I mean it!" Just then someone knocked on the door and as he went for Gloria's hand, Hope looked in. She knew her father was partially dressed and stopped in to tell him something when she saw Gloria up against him.

Both gaped at her, Hope's eyes widened as they locked in on the woman's hand and location. She shot her father an accusing look. Manny, stunned by her sudden appearance and the look now on her face said on impulse. "Don't you look at me like that young lady; it's not what you think!" He then pushed Gloria away from him.

Hope entered the room and closed the door behind her, eyeing Gloria up and down distastefully. "Who is this woman daddy!?" She demanded through clenched teeth. Gloria's eyes widened in shock, she turned to stare up at Manny. "Who is this young chit Maynard?! Why is she calling you daddy?!"

His answer didn't come quickly enough.

"This young chit - as you call me, happens to be his daughter, Golden Hope Webster, and I call him daddy, because that's what most daughters call there father! Now, who in the hell - are you? And what are people accustomed to calling you or should I take it upon myself to call you what immediately comes to mind!!"

Manny's mouth fell open so shocked he could only stare, then snapped to as he pointed his finger at his daughter. "Now Hope, you let me handle this!" He ordered, moving in front of Gloria, who side stepped around him to look at Hope.

"You're lying! Maynard has no children, -(She looked up at Manny)-…she is lying isn't she!?"

Manny and Hope both ignored her. "I saw the way you were
handling it, daddy dear! And I don't think your way is exactly wise in this particular situation. This wanton hussy had her hand on your crotch! What was her hand doing there if you were handling it? Seems to me she was the one doing the
handling!
Handling
you
!" Hope accused with her hands on her hips, gearing up for a fight. Manny paled and then blushed, scowling to see his daughter with her hands on her hips, her face and chin set, defiant and firm, looking ready to do serious battle, so much like her mother.

But
he
was
her
father!

"Maynard is this girl your daughter or not! I wish to know?!"

"I told you who I am! Now shut up!" Hope ordered her, and then turned to Manny. "Daddy, tell her who I am so she can shut up!"

Manny turned to Gloria and barked. "She's my daughter! Now shut up!" Gloria gasped in shock. He then turned back to Hope. "And as my daughter you will not order me - or tell me to do-…"

"Daddy, you get this pale face, wanton hussy of a whore out of here, or I'll yank her out by the hair - myself! I will not have my mother see your dilly dallying riff raff on her ship! She just so happens to be on her way here!"

Hope rapidly fired her argument.

"Her ship?! Whose ship?! How dare you! Dilly dallying riff raff!?" Gloria repeated aghast.

"Oh boy, lady, you're asking for it!" Hope warned with flared nostrils.

"
Golden Hope Webster
!!" Manny bellowed, growing impatient and nervous. Right after his bellow he looked up at the door that was now opening. What is going on in he-…" Lena started as she walked in, but stopped as her eyes fell immediately on the other woman in the room, standing beside Manny. She was tall, slender but voluptuous and extremely attractive with gleaming blond hair, sultry blue eyes and obviously more than a business associate. Gloria was also sizing Lena up in a stunned appraisal. Her eyes widened as she glared at the highly fashioned, tastefully adorned, expensively bejewelled ... Negro!

"Maynard!! What in the hell is going on here!!" Gloria raged.

"Daddy you better tell her something, she's pissing me off – I told you to get rid of her!" Hope shouted.

Lena was shocked by her daughter's language and manners.

"Hope!!"

Manny’s collar was feeling tight as he swallowed nervously, tugging on it thinking,
'God is this collar tight around my neck!'

Gloria looked from Lena to Hope,
and back again, surprised more and more by the moment. It was obvious, they were related. She turned to stare at Manny. Who was looking at Lena, wondering was it possible to be worried, and yet, at the same time, enraptured by a vision that positively took his breath away. Seeming not at all bothered by the woman's presence, Lena fashioned her dark leaf green gown that rode low on her shoulders well. The gown was made of velvety satin that clung to her figure all the way down her body, widening just a little past her knees, giving sheer view to her curvaceous figure.

Right below the center of her breasts, was a velvet green bow, which began the gossamer green overlay which in turn circled the lower bodice and discreetly covered her bottom half to the floor. Woven within were shimmering threads of green and gold overlapping criss-crosses in a varying design. The green gossamer silk sleeves fitted her slender arms closely, down to the wrist, with her hands gloved in the same gossamer of her dress, delicately sheer, with shiny threads of shimmering green and gold. At her wrist, a tiny gold colored button fastened them securely, where they split.

To set off the ensemble she’d chosen her emerald and gold necklace and earbobs that Manny had just purchased for her. With her hair pulled back smooth from her face, twirling into a well formed chignon at her nape, she was stunning. Draped over her arm was a velvet green hooded cape matching her gown. Her neck stood slender and graceful, as the emerald jewelled necklace sparkled, bringing out the gold in her eyes. Manny stared speechless, as she took his breath away, standing there cool, square shouldered and exquisite.

Manny felt his heart flip and flutter as in that particular moment and time, Gloria and Hope did not exist. He knew if they were alone, he would walk over to her and with his hands on her shoulders; he'd bend low to inhale the scent of her and find himself instantly aroused. He imagined his lips kissing the bare smooth brown skin exposed across the flat of her shoulder. His lips would travel up the side of her neck, across the front of her throat, and onto the other shoulder, down to the slight.