Rum Punch Regrets (19 page)

She hadn’t even said hello when the familiar voice started in. “I’m in Miami. Should be to you guys by tomorrow afternoon. How’s everything there?”

Abby sighed to herself when she heard Leigh’s voice and subconsciously sat up a little straighter.

“Um, hi, Leigh? What do you mean you’re on your way down?”

Leigh was quiet on the other end of the phone. “My, someone is in a somber mood tonight. What’s your problem?”

Abby took a minute before replying to her sister. She could hear that she was agitated. Leigh’s voice would shake slightly when she was looking for an argument, and she could hear a low rumble tonight.

“Well, Leigh, I was actually going to call you tomorrow or Monday. There are a few things going on down here that I need to clear the air with you about.”

“I’m going to be there in less than twenty-four hours. The real estate agent sent me an email saying someone was there that would be making an offer and Maria has been reporting that the repairs are going well. Is that true?”

Abby was stunned at the news. “Well, I know there have been potential buyers in and out, but when I left this morning -- ” Abby didn’t get a chance to finish, because Leigh cut her off.

“What do you mean, when you left? Where the hell are you? I thought your sole purpose for being on St. Kitts was to help me, Abby.”

But I have been!
Abby fought the urge to scream.

“I decided to take a little break for a night with Ben and a few of his friends. We’re on Nevis. Now, like I was telling you about -- ”

“You’re on Nevis? With Ben? Abby! I get word that someone is almost ready to make an offer and you’re not even there? What about all of the repairs, Abby? How are you being so irresponsible right now? I asked you to help with one thing and you take off?”

Abby was starting to feel her patience with Leigh break
.

“Maria told me just yesterday that it was more than fine for me to take a few days. I think we both know I’m not going to leave her in the lurch!” Abby was pissed. “As for the repairs, everything has been flowing along quite smoothly; in fact, I’d venture to say I’m ahead of schedule. The inn might even be in better shape than when you first purchased it.” The last part Abby threw in more for effect, but she was truly proud of how much attention she was paying to all the small details around the inn. She had hoped Leigh would be happy as well, but wasn’t sure any longer in light of the current conversation.

The other end of the line was silent. Dead silent. When Leigh did speak, Abby could tell she was putting on a show to choose her words carefully.

“Abby, I sent you down there to help
me
get this house taken care of. How the hell can you do anything
I
need you to do if you’re off screwing around on an island with the tenant and his buddies, while Maria and Ziggy are doing all the work?” Leigh sighed heavily. “This truly feels quite typical of you, Abby. I ask for help, you blow it off. Have you really done anything to the inn or am I facing a huge mess?”

Oh, no she didn’t.

“How can I screw around, Leigh? Did you seriously just ask how I could be so bold as to screw around when my dear sister so desperately needed me to do something for her? I ask myself the same thing every day. Especially when she neglects to give me all the information necessary.”

Abby waited with bated breath for Leigh to pipe up. But she didn’t.

“Leigh. I know.” Abby made this statement slow and cryptic on purpose, almost through gritted teeth. She wanted Leigh to feel the impact.

She knew Leigh was still on the other end, but there was no sound, no movement. Nothing.
“Leigh, we need to talk about this. About all of it.”

After what seemed like an eternity, but was actually about ten seconds, Leigh spoke curtly. “You know about the inn. We discussed that, Abby.”

Abby was going to blow a gasket. “No, Leigh! I found a picture. Of
our
father with Ben’s mother and they were together. I know that Ben is our half-brother. And the book . . . he has the same book Dad gave us when we were little.” Abby was upset again. “Dammit, Leigh. I need you to tell me the truth. How long have you known about Ben?”

Abby regretted the way this was going. It was all pouring out over a bad connection. Not ideal, but finally out in the open.

Leigh took a big deep breath in. Abby thought she might have put the phone down because this time the silence went on for what felt like a minute. Abby didn’t want to rush her. If there was one thing she knew about her sister, it was that she did always have a reason for the way she did things. This would be no exception.

“I’ve known about Ben since you were fifteen years old.”

The weight of the statement punched Abby in the heart like a ton of bricks. “Since I was fifteen?” Abby was calculating how long ago that was. “So, for a little over twenty years you’ve known about Ben?!”
Holy. Shit.

Abby could feel the weight of Leigh’s load over the line. It was heavy and sad. “Yes. I’ve known since Dad told me.” Leigh’s voice was quivering. “He told me when he was dying, Abby. Dad told me about his other life when he was dying.”

Abby felt her world start to spin. She wanted to throw up, go to sleep and scream like the lead actress in a horror movie, all at the same time. “Ben would have been seven.”

“Yes.”

“So, Dad kept him hidden . . . ”

Leigh finished Abby’s sentence. “For seven years. Abby, it doesn’t make him a bad man . . . ”

Abby held up her hand to stop Leigh from speaking, even though she wasn’t in the room with her. “No. You don’t get to defend him to me right now. In fact, you, of all people, don’t get to defend anyone. Dad may have hidden him for seven years, but you and Ben’s mom or mum or whatever she’s called, you both kept this from everyone else for the last twenty years? Are all of you insane?”

The normally collected Leigh was finally snapping on her end as well. “No, Abby, I’m not insane! I just wanted to keep the peace. Hell, Mom didn’t need to know her dead husband had cheated on her. And Ben’s mother? She didn’t care as long as Ben was taken care of. She loves him enough for all of us, Abby. And she wanted to keep it that way. But then this situation came up. I never thought it would come out like this. I wanted to be able to tell you, to tell him. It just never felt like the time was right.”

Abby felt nauseated.
Leigh could have told us all a long time ago and we could have moved on. Did she have her reasons? What would I have done if I were in her place?
Her thoughts were tripping over one another in succession.

“In Maria’s email she said a lot had been going on, but that you and Ben were close. Is that true?” Leigh’s voice was hopeful, looking for clues from Abby.

“Well, yeah. I mean, not at first. But finding out you have the same dad kinda makes you war buddies by default.” Abby paused before adding, “I really like Ben, Leigh.”

“Dad made me swear, Abby. He didn’t want anyone to know. In his will, he left me extra money and asked me to invest in this inn. It was something he was already researching and planning on buying for ‘the family.’ I had to honor his wishes and I knew it had a chance to at least turn a profit, helping both you and Ben out in the future.” Abby heard the familiar click of a lighter from Leigh’s end. “I couldn’t lecture him as he was dying that he needed to come clean. He knew Mom wouldn’t understand and that he would be leaving her with so many unanswered questions.” She inhaled deeply.

“So the inn is not just yours?”

“No, Abby,” Leigh answered quietly. “It’s ours.”

Abby was stunned. “I guess I’m just not understanding, Leigh.”

“You don’t have to.” She took another drag off her cigarette, so loudly Abby felt like she was smoking it, too. “Dad left me in charge of it, but La Cantina belongs to all three of us. Carla even pushed Ben to apply to Rhodes knowing I could help take care of him as long as he was on the island. For the last few years, the inn has been packing in the tourists and making good money. I always knew as soon as Ben was done with school, or shortly thereafter, I would sell it, dividing the profit for all of us. I just didn’t plan on it being so soon.”

Abby couldn’t believe her ears. “So the house wasn’t given to you from Ken in your first marriage?”

“No.”

“Why St. Kitts, Leigh? Why here?”

Her sister was silent on the other end of the line. “I honestly can’t tell you the answer to that one, Abby. I wish I had the answer myself. It was what Dad wanted.”

“Why don’t you -- ?”

“Abby.” Leigh’s voice was terse. “I have enough on my plate.”

Hearing the tone in her sister’s voice inspired Abby to change the subject. “Does Daryl know?”

Leigh’s voice remained terse. “He knows now. I had a feeling that you knew, just from the way Maria’s email read. So I told him.”

“And?”

“He’s taking a few days off to re-evaluate our marriage.” Leigh dissolved into tears.

Abby was glad she was sitting down. Her knees felt weak even though she wasn’t using them. “I’m so sorry, Leigh.”

They sat in silence for a long time, Leigh sobbing and Abby just listening.

“So,” Leigh finally cleared her throat, back to business as usual, “you can understand why I’m in Miami. I’m on a plane tomorrow morning that will get me into St. Kitts by the afternoon. I think it’s more than obvious now that I need to come there.”

Abby was nodding on her end.

“Abby, you there?”

“I was sitting here nodding my head.”

Back to her game face, Abby could feel Leigh shaking her head at her from Miami. “I’ve already talked to Ziggy. He’s picking me up when I get in. I’ll be there to help push the sale ahead. It served its purpose.” She let out a long sigh. “That real estate agent there is making me nervous and I just don’t trust him.” She gave another burdened sigh. “At least a lot of this other crap is out in the open now.”

Abby wanted to brace her sister for Ben and all of his questions. “I think Ben is the main person you have to explain things to.”

“I had a feeling. It’s time we dealt with what Dad didn’t. Or time I dealt with what he didn’t.” Leigh was solemn.

Abby felt a small pang of sympathy for Leigh. “If I had had to carry a secret like this for the last twenty years, I have no idea how I would have handled it.” Abby was thoughtful. “I love you, Leigh. Doesn’t mean I agree, but I do love you.”

Leigh was appeased. “I love you, too.”

With that, she hung up, leaving Abby in her romantic cottage alone to sift through the pieces of their conversation. Things were about to come out in the open, and she was glad they’d be able to close the book on this one. Permanently.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Even though Abby wanted to curl up in bed and sleep her way through the night, she opted instead to make herself a rum drink and head down to one of the hammocks the hotel had strung up on the beach.

As she was swaying back and forth between two palm trees underneath the stars, she let herself be lost in thought, drifting through the events of the last few weeks. So much information gathered in such a small amount of time. Her head was spinning.

And now she needed to pack up tomorrow and head back to La Cantina to ready herself for Leigh. On one hand, Abby was grateful for this. On the other, she was happy here on Nevis lying out and relaxing. And of course, there was Andrew. Who was probably off in some cottage getting to know Adrienne a little better. And then there was J.D. They were two vastly different men, who both brought out something in Abby that she couldn’t put her finger on, not quite yet. She rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of her whole situation and took a swig of her rum punch.

There were a few scattered groups along the shoreline, all hanging out and partying together under the stars.
No cares right now,
she thought as she watched them.
These kids are so happy. No clue that the world out there can be so damned twisted. Things can change at the drop of a hat, and we have to bend with them or be broken in the process . . .

Abby found herself wistful at the thought and a little jealous. She wanted to be one of them, without a care in the world. Instead she felt like she had the weight of it on her shoulders.

She was so wrapped up in thought that she didn’t hear Andrew as he sauntered up behind her.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

The sound of his voice made her jump, knocking her off balance in the hammock. “You should warn a girl when you’re sneaking up on her.”

“Wouldn’t have had the same effect, now would it?” he asked, flashing those dark, handsome eyes her way yet again.

“You’ve got a point.” Abby took a drink of her rum concoction. “Where’s your friend?”

“Ben? Or Tracey?”

“Don’t be coy with me, Andrew. I meant the girl.” Her two drinks at dinner and the one she was working on now were taking their toll. She was feeling sassy. “Adrienne.”

“That tart who wanted to get in my pants?” He was grinning at Abby. “How the hell should I know? I left to find you, see if you got back to the room in one piece.”

“You did?” Abby sat up and stared at him in disbelief. “Then why are you here on the beach?”

Andrew laughed at her. “Didn’t take a private investigator.” He looked around. “Beach, resort, gorgeous night . . . you do the math.”

“You’ve got a point, detective.” She wavered for a moment, wondering how much information she should share with Andrew. “My sister called. She’s in Miami and on her way to the island. She’ll be here tomorrow.”

Andrew pulled up a beach chair next to the hammock. “Really? That’s intense.” He watched Abby as she swayed back and forth in the hammock some more. “What happens now?”

“I guess we’ll see.” She smiled shyly at him.

The pair sat in silence for little longer until Andrew spoke up.

“If you want to talk about it, I’m here.” He was leaning forward in his beach chair as he spoke. “I need to be perfectly honest about why I was looking for you tonight.”

Abby cocked her head in his direction. “Why’s that?”

Andrew looked down at his hands, then back at Abby. “Abby, I’d be a liar if I said I came to find you because I wanted to make sure you got back safely. I mean, I did. But, what I really wanted was to find you so I . . . well, so we could hang out some more.”

This perked Abby up. She tried to sit up again but the hammock was giving her grief. She decided to lie still and try to be cool.

“Oh? Really?” Her attempt at sounding coy was coming across more flippant.

Andrew had stood up and was now standing over the hammock, looking down at Abby. Was that expectation dancing in his eyes?

“Yes, but I want to get to know you.” He stopped and cleared his throat. His silhouette was glowing because of the moon behind him.

Andrew was moving closer to her now and she could feel that energy, like a bolt of lightning shooting out and hitting her full on. Only she wasn’t sure what she wanted. She had met J.D., and as much as she hated to admit it, her thoughts flowed there more often than not.

But he’s not here right now,
she thought.
He could have been. And I promised myself I’d stay open. This is being open, right?

Andrew leaned into her, closer to her than they had been yet. She could taste his breath as he spoke to her.

“This whole day I wanted to kiss you . . . I mean, as soon as I got here, there you were and you immediately did something to me.”

Abby could feel her tummy doing those upside-down flips all over again. She found her eyes kept lingering on his perfect rosy lips.

She started to get up, but he stopped her. “No,” he murmured heavily, “that’s not the way I want this to go.”

His right hand was softly stroking her face, as if detailing every inch for his memory bank. He then took her drink out of her hand, placing it on the ground, and picked her up, standing her on her feet in front of him. For someone nine years her junior, he was making up for his age in expertise.

They stood in front of each other, almost nose to nose, as close as they could be without completely touching. His hands were caressing her back, and he began running his fingers through her hair. Abby could only stand there and stare into his eyes, almost scared to touch him back.

When she finally did, she let her hands gravitate toward his arms, and she began to touch him. His breathing was speeding up, and he was almost digging his fingers into her back as he rubbed it. She slowly trailed her eyes up his chest, along his collarbone, meeting his gaze again.

It was at this moment that Andrew leaned in. His lips closed in on hers, so soft and sweet. She could taste the salt air on them as she pressed her body closer to his, letting herself enjoy the moment.

As they pulled away from each other, Andrew smiled sweetly at Abby.

“I’ve wanted to do that since I got here.”

“You just got here a few days ago, silly.”

His eyes were smiling as he looked down at her. “As soon as I saw you, I was smitten. Your smile, your laugh, and the way you move. I hate to sound corny, Abby, but you’re very easy on the eyes.”

Abby could feel the heat rising to her face. Andrew kissed both cheeks.

“You’re blushing.”

Abby shrugged her shoulders. “It’s what I do.” She looked deeply in his eyes, grinning from ear to ear. “That and I just made out with my brother’s best friend.”

Andrew’s face turned serious. “Does that bother you?”

“No, well, actually I can’t really say. This is a first for me. I feel like the lecherous aunt who preys on her nephew’s friends.”

“Except you’re more like a lecherous big sister,” he teased.

Abby swatted Andrew. “You’re terrible.”

He pursed his lips together and kissed her gently on her forehead. “Yes, according to you.”

Abby felt his hands coming up over her shoulders and stroking her collarbone. She closed her eyes, enjoying his soft touch, wishing in some part of her that she felt strong enough to let it go further. She was about to halt their activity when his finger lifted her chin and their lips met again.

This time the kiss was different. It was a feverish rush, looking for answers to quiet questions that hadn’t been asked. Abby could feel her face flushing with more energy and warmth, the electric tingles of her body emitting more heat than she thought was possible. Andrew was clearly feeling the same intensity as he grabbed her waist and pulled her in closer to him.

It was Abby, of course, who pulled away first. Andrew was surprised, but he took her hand in his and smiled at her.

“Now we get to spend the night together in that romantic little room,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

Abby laughed. “Don’t get any ideas, mister.”

Andrew’s face said everything she needed. He kissed her one more time and then led her by the hand back to their room.

Abby knew if she didn’t get any sleep that night, she’d be fine. After all, she could sleep when she was dead.

#

The morning sunshine filtered into the room too early for Abby. She lay there for a moment, wiping her tired eyes. Her tired, swollen eyes, that is.
Crap!
She thought.
That’s what you get from sitting up all night long.

When they had gotten back to the room, the pair curled up on the bed together, talking -- asking questions about each other and playing “get to know you.” Andrew was more than respectful. Granted, there were a few times when they were making out that he pushed for more, but Abby was firm in holding her ground. As much as she had wanted to tear his clothes off, something made her hold back.

She rolled over to see if Andrew was still asleep only to find him gone. As she sat up, she heard the door to the cottage open. Andrew came into the main bedroom, grinning and holding a couple of to-go cups.

“Coffee?” He posed this as a question, but he had already put it by her bed.

She took the cup, enjoying the bedside service, and looked around for creamer.

“You looking for milk?”

Abby nodded. “Well, creamer.”

“You said last night you like creamer, no sugar.”

“I did.” She nodded her head and smiled coyly at him.

Andrew walked back around the bed to Abby’s side. “I was listening, you know.” He nodded at her cup. “Your milk is in there already.” He sat down next to her, scooting her over a bit so he could sit closer to her.

Abby took a long swig of her coffee. As soon as she had pulled the cup from her lips, Andrew’s lips were on hers.

“What’s that for?” Abby asked when they had parted.

“Because I can,” he teased. “You have a problem with it?”

“Not at all,” she replied as she stretched her body, lounging even deeper into the pillows that surrounded her like a cloud. “In fact, I could get used to this whole thing: coffee before I even get out of bed, being served to me by some hot waiter with an even sexier accent.”

Andrew laughed out loud. “You’re funny.” He kissed her forehead and then settled in next to her on the pillows. “Crabby Abby.”

Abby hid her face in her hands. “You caught me at a weak moment. You got a lot out of me last night.”

Andrew leaned over, looking in her eyes and wrapping his long soft fingers around hers in order to pry her hands off her face. “I liked it.”

“Well . . . good. I’m glad I didn’t bore you to death.” She winked at him, adding, “You’re only here for a few more days anyway, so . . . ”

There was a flash of sadness in Andrew’s eyes as he stopped her from finishing her sentence. The smile that was on his face had disappeared. “Let’s not talk about how long I’m here, okay?”

Abby sat up and kissed him solidly. “You’re right. And, I need to head back over to St. Kitts now. Leigh will be in this evening, and I want to make sure we’re ready for her arrival. She’s got answers, and I’ve got questions.”

Abby jumped out of bed and threw on her beach cover-up. Reaching for her phone, she realized it was dead after the marathon conversation with her sister the night before and quickly plugged it in to give it the juice it desperately needed for the day ahead. She grabbed her coffee -- and Andrew -- and they headed over to Ben’s room. She wanted to make sure Ben had fair warning of what was about to land back at home.

The door to Ben’s cottage was wide open. On his pull-out sofa were a few bodies, carnage from the events of the night before. There were beer and rum bottles placed haphazardly or knocked on their sides in all parts of the room. Abby was shocked, not surprised. Just shocked.

“I forgot to tell you, Ben mentioned if we wanted to stop by last night to have a drink, we should.”

Abby found her mouth was stuck in the open position. “A drink or a keg? Wow!” They both stifled their laughter as they crept into the main bedroom.

Entering the main bedroom was like walking into another universe. It had remained untouched, most likely due to Tracey, Abby decided. It was always the girl that stayed on top of things, wasn’t it? And boys were pretty dirty, so Ben was probably drunk and letting everyone do what they wanted.

Yet there was only one body in the bed, and it was Tracey. She was passed out and snoring. Abby swore that she even snored with a Southern accent. Her blond hair was matted on her face as if she had been up running just before they walked in. While they were surveying the scene, the bathroom door opened and a refreshed and clean Ben stepped out.

“Well, good morning. Didn’t expect to see you two when I came out. You’re lucky I got dressed first.”

Abby pointed to the front room. “What the hell blew up in there?”

“Ah.” Ben nodded. “Tracey.” He looked down at the snoring girl snuggled deep in the bed. “I think half the beer bottles that are out there are hers.”

Abby and Andrew both cringed. “She’s going to be feeling it. Make sure you get her some water and food for her to have when she wakes up,” Andrew suggested, slyly pinching Abby’s butt as he said it.

“Good call.” Ben sat down. “I was actually on my way over to get you -- Maria called. Seems the air conditioning blew last night.”

Abby’s stomach turned. “No, no, no . . . are you kidding me? Where’s the phone?”

“She said she’d call Buddy and see if he and his brother Rush could come take a look at it. A couple of the guests were complaining, but it’s not terrible yet.” Ben returned to prepping for the day. “So, what do you guys want to do today?”

“I was already planning on heading back early, but now I really have to go.” Abby took in a big breath. “Can you take me to the ferry?”

Ben looked at Abby and then to Andrew, waiting for someone to tell him why.

“Did you do something to piss her off?” he finally asked Andrew.

“No, you ass.”

Ben looked back to Abby, still waiting.

“It’s Leigh. She’s flying in today so I’m heading back over to meet her -- now I need to get there to make sure the air conditioning is handled or I look irresponsible. ” Abby turned to Ben. “I don’t expect you to cut your trip short, but I thought if you wanted to be there when she arrived, well, then you have the option.”