Free 3 Weeks 'Til Forever by Yuwanda Black

was no stopping it now – and she didn’t want to.
That night was the first time they made love and it was a night Janey would
never, could never, forget.
     
    Driven
by wildly different – but no less important – needs, they came together several
times.  
     
    There
were no more nightmares that night.
     
    “Looks
like we won’t be needing another room at the hotel after all, huh?” Janey said
dreamily as she turned in Redmond’s arms to receive his kiss.
     
    “Fate
is definitely smiling on a brother these days,” Redmond said as he claimed her
waiting lips.
     
    The
storm outside subsided just as they drifted off for a few hours of much-needed
sleep.
     
     “ Muk
saha ka toolah ” (Don’t ever leave me Janey), Redmond whispered in her ear.
     
    Janey
didn’t understand a word of what he said, but in her heart she knew that they
were love words – and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Chapter
12: The Past Comes to the Present
     
    True
to his word, Redmond and Janey were on schedule the next morning. They’d risen
early and hiked the five miles back to the little village where they’d been
yesterday.
     
    Janey
thanked her lucky stars that she was a runner and kept in shape. Redmond was
almost a foot taller than she was and of course, much stronger, but he admired
the way she kept pace with him – even in less-than-ideal shoes.
     
    “You’re
a little ole thang, but you’re strong. I can’t believe how you kept up with
me.”
     
    “I’m
a marathon runner, remember. I’m actually training for my first triathlon,” she
explained further.
     
    “Well
I’m duly impressed,” Redmond said as they turned into the mechanic’s shop. He
dropped a kiss on her nose, then went to find the shop owner.
     
    They’d
taken on the actions of newly minted lovers on the hike, walking hand-in-hand,
smiling, teasing each other and talking about everything under the sun.
     
    The
five-mile trek hadn’t seemed long enough. Janey could walk a thousand miles
with this man, she was thinking as she heard the van roar to life, and it still
wouldn’t be long enough.
     
    On
the road again, Redmond declared that the first order of business was to get
some food. Janey couldn’t agree more, as the lovemaking from last night and the
long walk this morning made her feel like her the wall of her stomach was glued
to her back it was so concave.
     
    With
breakfast done, Redmond drove to her final interview subject’s home. It was a
rustic little cabin, not much bigger than the one they’d spent the night in
last night. Leaning against the small porch were all kinds of fishing gear.
     
    After
introducing her to her final subject, a middle-aged gentlemen who was a deep
sea fisherman, Redmond told Janey that he was going to visit a couple of
friends who lived nearby.
     
    She
told him she’d be at least three hours and to take his time.
     
    Janey spent a glorious afternoon with the sometimes cantankerous,
but always funny, gentlemen. He didn’t seem to get much company and once he
warmed up to her, reminded her of her favorite uncle, who was funny without
trying to be.
     
    “Fish make more sense than most people and they can’t talk … and
you can eat’em if you want,” was just one of the lines in his videoed diatribe.
His face was so serious when he said it, which made it all the more funny.
    He insisted on feeding Janey, much to her waistline’s chagrin.
Grilled pineapple, beans and grilled tuna was served, along with lukewarm
ginger beer.
     
    Janey preferred her beer cold, but Clayton said he didn’t have a
‘frigidaire’ so she’d just have to, “Drink it like it came naturally. What’s
with you Americans and cold drinks?” he shook his head as he asked.
     
    By now used to his slightly grouchy nature, she sheepishly
accepted the warm beer and thanked him. Not for nothing, but the combination of
foods the islanders put together were a pleasure her palette would forever be
drawn too, even if it