Chapter 16
Dean's pov
I was sad that I couldn't take Adajay back to South Africa with me, but I was happy that she and Bartley promise to visit with Adalan. It seem like yesterday when we had first boarded the sea freight and sailed to Africa, we had no intention of returning and neither did I expect to be doing it again. My only regret was not being able to sell the plaza, that would have been a double blow to Antoine. Nevertheless it's still up for sale and a simple phonecall from Adajay will notify me.
Demar gave away two glocks and we payed a low fee to get us pass security without being checked at Port Elizabeth, Cape coast, South Africa and the three trailers were ready and waiting when we arrived. With a promise of giving someone Mr. Obedo ask Demar to a small portion of our food stuffs, that we tell them we had carried away from our business place and wanting to do business here we drive off home.
Having three containers and a cold truck parked on a premises was sure to draw inquisitive eyes. Demar immediately ordered more solars and security things from abroad, he direct the work men to start building the wall around the other premises and the human/animal censors were placed at discreet places around them nightly.
Everyone was happy that we were back safely and Mr. Cleve call his children and tell them that he was okay and that they should tell anyone who ask for him that he has decide to stay in Jamaica. He was worried that he would no longer get his pension and be independent, but he need not worry I got him covered.
When I didn't received a deposit transfer text of a thousand U.S dollars from Adajay's account, I received fifteen hundred weekly or fortnightly. Checking off four hundred million Jamaican dollars had been no easy fete and I still haven't finished counting U.S hundred and fifty dollar bills as yet. I was rich, full stop.
"I can't say I don't like that smile on your face," the voice of Ms. Maize startles me.
"I'm just happy that we all came back safely, I
don't want to have such a dance with the devil again," I tell her.
"I would not want you or anyone else I love to do that," she says looking across to where my mother sat with Mr. Cleve and Mr. Denzel.
They have been talking about their experience non-stop, my mother was still bristling with anger and saying what she had plan to do to Antoine. I am hurt. How can he even think of hitting my mother? Is only the Lord alone who knew the evil and dark thoughts I have harbored against him, because he would have surely joined his bitch Steffanique if he had lay a finger on her or Mr. Cleve.
Where did he get his morals from?
Fucking pestilence
"Cam did call, a check if uno come back and if everything alright. Sey shi start work and Desmond use board build up one board structure around di tent fi keep dem things more secure. [Sighs] I'm kind of afraid for them, especially the children which she says they leave alone with the baby," Ms. Maize tells me.
"I'm going to help her to live somewhere safe and comfortable, but I'm keeping her at a distance. No matter what you're going through you can't take out your stress on people," I say as we reasoned.
Then as if just remembering she says. "By the way, she had ask for two of her suitcase of clothes and Donahue took them to her. She was asking for some other things but I wasn't sure if they were hers so I haven't send them because I did not want any problems."
"Okay," I murmur.
Later that evening me and mummy took out everything else that belongs to Cam, Desmond and his sons. Me and Demar organized the foods in one of the container, checking to make sure all was well and I pack out some food stuff for them. From another container we took out two rechargeable lights and from the cold truck I took out meat kinds.
As I lie comfortably in Demar's arms that night, I tell him that I wish to buy two plot of land for them. He tells me about some that was up for sale over another community and we went to look at it early the next morning. Having made up my mind, I tell him to carry them that very afternoon to start the buying purchase and when he leaves for work me and mummy went over there with the things.
It was the truth, only the children were there and the gate was locked. When I call out their names and tell them that it was me they came out and opened it. Me and mummy spend the day with them looking after the baby and packing out the food stuffs. Cam came home while I was cooking and was surprise to see us, dropping her bag and hugging our mother in tears.
I called her oneside to give it to her privately when I finish cooking. "Cameyon is Desmond's daughter, mi nuh care umuch time yuh bun him wid Ian."
She took a deep breath and look away from me, it's understandable if she still loves Ian but that ship has sunken. "Yuh right, Cameyon is for Desmond but mi did fuck wid Ian one time and mi only a try hustle cause him a guh wey now, dat a if him nuh gone yet," she says.
"Him not going anywhere him 'oman lef' him an' gone," I tell her.
"A which part you hear dat? Cause before wi leave Jamaica him did a look bout him passport and somn," she says.
She chuckles nervously under my scrutinizing gaze as I stare in her face and eyes a minute before dropping the bomb. "Tessanne will be giving birth soon to Ian's son and you better don't try to communicate with him or them anymore."
"What?!" She asks in shock and anguish.
"They have form friendships with and through the chappa dem 'oman dem wey live a St. Thomas, suh consider how yuh want Desmond fi hear, curry, brown stew or barbecue," I added.
She held her face and I could see that what I had just told her hurt deeply. "I hope you like the area Demar took you and Desmond to look at today?" I ask changing to more important topics.
"Yea- yea, I do we do," she says.
"Good, now how much do you get pay weekly?" I ask her.
"Ahmn, call it R700," she replies.
"Tomorrow yuh hand in yuh resignation and I'll give yuh that weekly, because uno caan a leave di pickney dem alone here. Yuh brave fi lef' di young baby alone wid di two pickney dem wey nuh reach fourteen yet," I told her and begin slowly walking towards her tent.
She was happy to see the things we had brought and the curry shrimps and chicken with rice and vegetables I had cooked. Desmond arrived and hugged me and mummy. "Lord Jesus, a fret till a weak!" He exclaims.
We talk for a little while mainly about buying the plot of land and have them move there once it was cleared how they wanted it. Demar tells them that he had ordered solar panels, the convertor and things that is used to set it up. He explains that it's best to build the fence before the house to secure their property and keeping watch at nights for thieves after the building materials were dropped.
It was night when we finally leave and I was sad that they did not have a mosquito netting around their tent and kitchen, but they brought that on themselves so they would have to bare it. Atleast the door way netting keeps the terrible biting insects out of the tent and they have been rotating the rechargeable lights by Desmond taking them to work and charging them.
At home while Mr. Denzel went and delivered water to some places, Mr. Cleve took over cultivating. He dug up another side against the wall and Demar and Donahue had to take home flowers every evening. It had become his hobby and roast yam was joined to the roast potatoes on some evenings, with either cook up salt fish, greens, cabbage or tinners.
By the end of two weeks we had settled in nicely and I begin getting my children's school uniforms. Mr. Cleve started going with Mr. Denzel to deliver water to those who call to purchase, my mother slip back into her washy Lilly habit and Ms. Maize carry out her dream of being a seamstress by sewing every little tear or stretch in everyone's clothes.
Apart from being busy planning and waiting to get the documents to operate a small grocery and clothes store in the town or close to where we live, I enroll my children into school for the coming new year. Things are very different here in Africa and we are all still adjusting to this new way of life.
The house was almost at roof level now and Demar fixed a large piece of canvas to the side that one working on the roof could see among our tent dwellings. I had heard that not all parts of Africa was hot, but I never expected the coolness and most times coldness of the climate here. Apart from the diverse languages I'm getting to learn, it's quite easy to live and feel at home in this amazing country.
I check the time and went out to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.
To be continued....