Tropical Storm (11 page)

Tyrone sank down in a chair and dropped his head into his hands.

Laughing, Cairo went to him and put an understanding hand on his shoulder.

“If it’s any consolation cousin, I feel the same way. I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I was in agony.” He admitted.

“Serves you right!” Tyrone said getting up from the chair. “You’ve lost your damn mind and as your only relative, I feel it’s my duty to make sure such a shocking incident doesn’t happen again.” Tyrone stated before he walked out of the office.

Cairo would never know what he meant.

A few moments later
Tyrone found Storm in the hotel gym, she was sweaty from her workout.

“May I have a word with you?” Tyrone asked, his usual smile absent from his face.

Storm quizzically
arched a brow. “Sure you may have a word. But if memory serves, you decided you and I weren’t going to be friends.” She challenged openly.

Tyrone, who was equally forthright, did not pull his punches. “That’s true.” He admitted honestly. “But I didn’t like you then. I have recently decided to reserve my judgment until later.”

“That’s fine, Tyrone.” Storm said grinning. “Since I already like you, you can follow me to my room. We’ll talk there.”

Tyrone sat down and
waited until Storm threw down her stuff, poured a glass of water and made herself comfortable in a chair before he spoke his piece.

“Where’s your son?” He inquired looking around the room.

“He’s in KP as usual.” She responded easily. “Between the staff and Cairo, I barely see him anymore.” She said with a smile.

Tyrone nodded at this and folded his hands in his lap. “Okay, well now that I know we won’t be interrupted, I’ll get straight to the point. I want to know what are your intentions are concerning Cairo.” He said without preamble.

Storm burst out laughing.

Tyrone just looked at her.

Still grinning, Storm leaned forward. “You came to make sure
my
intentions toward your cousin were honorable? Excuse me for saying so, but what I do or don’t intend to do is none of your business.”

Tyrone was undeterred.

“I’m not sure you’re aware of this, Storm, but Cairo is more than just my cousin, he’s my best friend and I love him. I’m the only family he has. It was me he came to when your marriage ended. I was the one who
encouraged him to get to know you again. Tell me, Storm; was I wrong to do that? I wouldn’t be very happy if you hurt him again.”

Storm’s gaze was direct. “Tyrone, I love Cairo, always have. I’m the only one that can ever make him happy. I made many mistakes in my past, but I have paid dearly for them. He was not the only one who suffered.”

Not trusting her words, Tyrone studied her eyes, before he continued. “I believe you mean my cousin no harm. So let me give you some advice.”

Storm leaned forward expectantly.

“Don’t take no for an answer.” He advised simply.

Storm looked up at him.
“Is that it?” She slumped back into the chair.

He smiled. “Yes, that’s it. Cairo loves saying no. Ignore him the next time he says no to you. It works for me all the time.”

Storm jumped up
and gave Tyrone a hug.

He let her hug him then he said,
“He was wrong about you, wasn’t he?”

Storm didn’t mince words. “Terribly wrong. But I’m as much to blame.”

The two people that loved Cairo the most
now understood each other.

Aside from the horrible night she and Cairo had gone looking for Shane,
Storm had seen very little of the parish. For this reason, she could hardly contain her excitement. It was market day and Tyrone had agreed to let her accompany him. As she walked through the town with him, she looked around her in awe at all the sights and sounds that assailed her. The country parish was devoid of all the tourist attractions that Ocho Rios and Negril offered, but it had its own attractions. Storm had never in her life seen so many people in such a small place. Everywhere she looked there were people selling their wares. Loud and high-pitched voices belted out outrageous prices for the mere necessities of life. When she remembered that the exchange rate of the currency was about a hundred Jamaican dollars to one U.S dollar, the prices seemed cheaper than she’d originally thought.

The Morant Bay shopping center was abuzz with activity. Crisp British accents mingled with the more lilting Jamaican patois and everywhere she went, she heard raucous reggae music. Storm twisted and turned trying to take everything in. Her smile shone bright like the sun and her joy was apparent in every step she took. It was amazing to watch ladies in rough homespun garments balancing great shopping baskets on their heads while school kids in their starched blue and white
uniforms danced in an out of the chaos sipping from their little cartons of sour sop and sugar cane juice.
In astonishment she watched half-naked Rastafarians wielding machetes high above their head to slice through the tops of coconuts and offer up the juice with a simple straw. She saw well-dressed and well-to-do Jamaicans haggling with the street vendors for the best prices. Exhilarated by the sights and sounds, she bombarded Tyrone with questions and tugged on his sleeve incessantly to point out the smallest little thing.

“Look at that!” She yelled pointing to a mini-bus packed to capacity with people. “How on earth is everyone going to fit?” She asked. Then she looked on in awe when several more men jumped onto the back of the bus as it careened out of sight.

Tyrone laughed and said, “As you see, the bus is only half full.”

Storm ran after him still looking back at the spectacle.

Not that it was the most amazing thing she would see for the day. By the time she was ready to go back to the hotel she would have seen many more sights amazing to a woman, who despite her wealth, had never been to the Caribbean; who had never experienced a country so teeming with life and energy, despite the poverty and strife. Storm had to be tugged away as she stared at a Rastafarian family with dreadlocks far past their waists. She listened in amazement to Chinese people who spoke fluent Jamaican patois. She saw “high yellow” Jamaicans with long wavy hair, blue-eyed, Jamaicans with frizzy blond hair, and deep ebony black Jamaicans with their hair in bushy Afros, braids, or intricate cornrows.
She saw school children of every color, from white to the deepest black all laughing and playing together. She had no idea that Jamaica was a country with a wide range of people and cultures. She couldn’t have loved it more.

Laughing loudly, Storm and Tyrone entered the hotel arm in arm. Oblivious to everyone else, they made jokes and reveled in their newfound friendship. Immersed in one another they didn’t see anyone watching them.

“I see you’ve had a good time.” Cairo’s words sounded harsh.

Tyrone took one look at his cousin and seemed to recognize his mood. Unfortunately, Storm didn’t read the signs.

“Yes, we had a great time. She said playfully hugging Tyrone. “Your cousin is amazing. If I ever go back to the States, I’m taking him with me.”

Beside her, Tyrone groaned.

“Is that so?” Cairo asked softly.

“Yes, I mean it, Cairo. Your cousin is wonderful.” She went on with enthusiasm.

“He
is
wonderful, isn’t he?” Cairo agreed his eyes narrowing on Tyrone.

Reading some hidden meaning in the words that Storm couldn’t decipher, Tyrone tried to politely remove her arm from his but
Storm held on for dear life.

“Oh no, you don’t, Tyrone.” She laughed looping her arms back through his. “You’re not getting away from me. You’re staying right here. There are still a million questions I want to ask you.”

Mumbling a quiet prayer, Tyrone stood where he was.

Cairo’s searing gaze rested on their entwined arms. Before she knew what was happening, he pulled her from Tyrone’s side, startling her. “What’s wrong with you?” She demanded snatching her arm away.

“I will not stand by and watch you try to seduce my cousin.”

Storm’s mouth fell open in surprise. She was about to laugh until it dawned on her that he was actually serious.

“Are you mad?” She said incredulously, appalled at his accusation.

Cairo was undeterred. “Look at him!” He said pointing at Tyrone. “He’s already half in love with you. He told me himself that he thought you were beautiful. Are you trying to exploit his emotions?”

Storm looked in Tyrone’s direction and was amazed to see the usually unflappable Tyrone blushing.

Storm felt sorry for him. Tyrone had no such designs on her; he loved his cousin too much. But
Cairo, in his anger had embarrassed him. Storm was angry on his behalf. She turned on Cairo in a temper.

“Look at what you’ve done.” She said angrily. “You’ve embarrassed Tyrone. He’s always watching out for you, always doing his best to make sure that you’re happy and you just humiliated him. Forget what you have accused me of, how could you do this to him?”

At the truth in her words
Cairo’s temper seemed to fizzle out to nothing. Looking apologetically at Tyrone he
crossed the room to his side. He hugged his cousin fiercely.

“Forgive me.” Cairo whispered, shame coloring his words. “She drives me crazy.”

Tyrone was magnanimous as always. “It’s already forgotten cuz. Can I go now?” he asked hopefully.

Cairo waved him away. Tyrone left as fast as his feet could carry him.

The minute he was gone, Cairo turned to look at Storm; his anger appeared to rekindle in moments.

“Look at what you’ve done. I’ve never had harsh words with Tyrone!” She couldn’t believe her ears; he was actually blaming
her
.

Storm planted her hand on her hips. “This is not my fault.” She declared angrily. “It was you who jumped to conclusions.”

Cairo’s grabbed her arm and dragged her to him. “It’s because you’re driving me crazy. I can’t think straight around you. I can’t even
concentrate on my work. What are you doing to me?”

“I’m not doing
anything
; I’m simply
existing. For you, that seems to be enough.”

Cairo looked at her and drew in a deep sharp
breath.

“When was the last time I kissed you?” He asked his face serious. “Maybe that’s what’s driving me senseless.”

Storm glided into his arms. “It’s been far too long.”

Their lips touched and in that moment nothing else mattered. Then
Cairo roughly pulled away and dragged a frustrated hand through his hair. “This isn’t enough. I want more. I want all of you. I don’t care about the state of your marriage. I want to wake up and see your hair spread out across my pillow. I want to feel your body pressed tightly to mine. I want to touch you in places that will drive you wild. I’ve tried to deny myself the pleasure, but I can’t. Tell me you want me too?”

Storm almost
forgot to breathe. She felt her blood slow down in her veins.
Yes!
Yes!
She thought; it was all she had ever wanted, to have him, finally! The look in his eyes promised ecstasy. Oddly, now that the moment was at hand, Storm didn’t know what to do. So she simply stood motionless in front of him.

Cairo ran a hand down the side of her cheek. “Come to the summit with me.”

It was an invitation. Cairo was inviting her to his place, the place that meant everything to him. Suddenly shy, she looked at him from under lowered lashes.

“When?” The one word was forced.

Cairo smiled mischievously. “I would like to say now. But I can’t. As much as I want you, I have to wait. I want it to be special. When you come to me, I want to be able to take my time so I can love you the way you deserve to be loved. Come to the summit tonight, Jessica. I’ll be waiting.”

Storm finally exhaled. It felt like she’d been waiting a lifetime to hear those words.

That night Storm took her time preparing for her evening with the man she loved. She had waited six long years for this. She recalled how many times over the years she sat alone in her bedroom leveled by the memory of the one night they’d spent together. She remembered each touch, remembered the feel and the taste of him so vividly that it played like an X-rated movie in her mind. It was the thought of him and how he had made her feel that helped her through the long lonely nights without him. But the famine was coming to an end. Storm stood up from her dressing table mirror and dropped the robe she was wearing on the floor. Standing partially dressed in a fuchsia bra and panty set, she studied her reflection. One thing was for certain, she wasn’t eighteen anymore. The last time Cairo had seen her naked, she was a mere girl. She was now a woman. She ran her hands down the flat planes of her stomach, still unmarred by childbirth. She slid her palms down the side of her thighs. She felt the subtle strength that running three miles a day had blessedly preserved. She then trailed her fingertips up between the valley of her breasts. She grew warm and wet at the thought that tonight everywhere her fingers caressed; Cairo’s lips would also caress. The mere thought made her shudder in anticipation.

How she got to the top of the summit, she would never know. She didn’t walk. She glided. Her feet never once seemed to
touch the ground. She floated to the top with a delicious expectancy that kept her body in a warm silken
heat. Excitement made her feet fly over the rough terrain as she skipped lightly over rocks and shrubbery. She expected Cairo to be there when she arrived, what she didn’t expect was to find a romantic spectacle planned just for her. High above ground level, what seemed like a million bottle torches flickered in the night casting a warm rosy glow over the clearing. Expensive champagne sat chilling in a silver bucket, sultry reggae music floated on the night air and sumptuous food sat covered in silver platters on a lace-covered table. Thick downy blankets and silk sheets were spread out making a bed of the ground. Amidst the splendor was Cairo: her man. He stood with his back to her, his hands stuffed deeply in his pockets as he looked down over the cliff to
the beach below.

On silent feet, Storm crept over to him and laced her fingers around his waist. Under her hands, she felt his stomach clench and tighten at her touch. Storm rested her head against the broad expanse of his back
as they listened to the waves crashing below.