📍Hanover, Jamaica | Negril
A Few Days Later | Sunday, August 21st
4 PM ⏰
No matter how much my father may judge my mother for what we all refer to as her "uptown ways", Gabriel has never shied away from participating in her antics.
Especially not when his money was on the line.
Ginnal through and through.
He can be even more bourgeois than she, and that is a fact.
"Black tie, or black bowtie?" he asks me, holding up both options.
"Bowtie, it's a gala-type event, right?" I ask, and he nods his head to confirm.
Our third one for the year.
It was tradition for our entire family to attend these hotel galas across the island.
It was good promotion for my dad's real estate business; even more so, it was a great opportunity for my mother to continue to uphold the reputation she so desperately held on to.
A win-win for them, and a night of free food and alcohol for us children.
Cyaa complain bout dat.
"Yeah, then definitely bowtie. It makes you look like money" I tell him, patting him on his shoulder as he smiles.
A dat him love hear.
I walk towards the living area of his and my mother's shared hotel room, scanning the scene for my missing purse.
Chro bombo.
I had brought it up from my hotel room earlier, and it's been missing for the past twenty minutes.
Dior is not an easy purchase, so dis bag betta show up sooner rather than later.
"Mommy?" I call out, elevating my voice so it can be heard throughout the entire space.
"In the bathroom" she replies, and I follow the sound of her voice.
My eyes landed on her small frame immediately, and I was at a complete loss for words at how beautiful she looked in her evening attire.
What a woman pretty.
Celine may not always have the best attitude, but she will always be the best dressed.
Gabriel is a very lucky man.
"You like it?" she asks, referring to her dress, her hand flowing gently over the satin material.
"I love it, you look very beautiful Mommy" I reply with a smile, walking over and leaving a small kiss on her cheek.
"You look gorgeous too, I love it when you wear red, that's your color," she tells me, shifting her attention to her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
She always says this about whatever I wear, and I always appreciate her compliments.
"Mommy me a try find me purse, me bring it up yah but me loss eh" I exclaim, kissing my teeth.
Bag have me wallet and all a me card dem bredda.
"This purse?" Mommy says, revealing my ruby red saddle handbag.
Huh?
I scrunch my brows, and she immediately picks up on my confusion.
"Maxe brought it in a little while ago, he thought it was mine," she says with a shrug, handing the bag over to me.
Likkle germs.
Me know seh him did know a mine.
"Oh okay, thank you for keeping it safe for me" I joke, playing off my sudden annoyance.
Maxe love ramp too bloodclaat much.
Me know him probably thief money outta it to.
"Me aguh find him" I tell her, and she hums her response as I take my leave.
Maxe nuh know me a mad ooman?
Why him love trouble me?
"Oh Maxe-pooh" I sing out his name, silently praying my tone doesn't expose my intentions.
Before I can continue my search, a figure jumps out from behind me, grabbing my frame and placing a hand over my mouth.
Jesus savior...
A yasso di fuckery start.
"Is either yah look fi me fi cuss me, or beat me, which one?" Maxe asks, making me chuckle.
Glad him know.
"Both" I manage to say through his fingers, my voice muffled.
"Then me nah let yuh guh" he declares, tightening his grip around my mouth.
Weh di fuck wrong wid Celine bwoy pickney?
I internally groan, already over the game we had just started to play.
"I'll let you go if you promise not me hurt me...me tek money from yuh purse" he bargains silently, and I can't but to laugh.
Fucka.
Me did know seh him did theif something.
Without hesitation, I bite deep into his fingers, and the scream that exits his mouth is enough to satisfy the rage building inside of me.
He steps back, releasing me from his hold as he tries to press down on his open wound.
Aiii sah.
"Gih me back me money?" I demand, extending my left palm.
He pulls out his wallet with his free hand, returning my bills, and I immediately count them.
"All this over five-thousand dollars? Really?" I scoff, taking in the pathetic expression on his face.
Shameful.
"Me did aguh gih yuh back later" he lies, kissing his teeth.
Yuh brite.
He's whimpering at this point, blood drips slowly from his index finger, and I feel absolutely no remorse for my actions.
Him shoulda know better.
I hate liars, and me hate thief, and Maxe is both.
As untrustworthy as any man pon di street, dats why me nuh too deal wid him certain way.
"Not even aguh cuss yuh, the shame alone should be enough to ruin your night" I smile slyly, turning on my heels as I walk away from him.
I bump into Cyrus on my way back to the living room.
Weh Sarai call him?
Mr. Cold-hearted.
He was still in his feelings about the Lailah's party, and Samir, but I wasn't going to let Cyrus and his feelings disrupt my very happy and adult life.
Him anuh me daddy.
"Unuh ready?" he asks, referring to myself and our immediate family.
"Daddy ready, and mommy soon done..." I tell him.
"Oh, and Maxe aguh ready once him find wah bandaid" I laugh, proud of myself for how I had handled the Maxe situation.
He furrows his brows at my latter statement but doesn't push for more details, shaking it off as if I didn't say anything.
"Why yuh never bring such man?" he asks, taking a seat on the couch and man-spreading.
Cuh yah.
If anuh one bredda, a di next, don't it?
Watch me and him.
"The same reason why yuh nuh tell Robyn bout Sarai," I begin to say.
Murderation!
Him think me neva know?
"Because it's no one's business but my own" I seal the deal, blowing a kiss in his direction.
Like me anuh wah adult just like him...
"Touche" he smirks, nodding his head in amusement.
"Never know yuh did have fire inna yuh muma" he says, clapping his hands as if to mock me.
Ugh.
"Me hate yuh and yuh bredda eesi" I scoff, grabbing the closest pillow to me and throwing it at him.
We love throw things inna dis family enuh.
He dodges it and laughs at my failed attempt.
"Aiii sah, yuh nuh shame?" he asks, adding insult to injury as he picks up the pillow from the floor.
"Cyaa bada wid yuh" I kiss my teeth, rolling my eyes simultaneously.
Our father emerges from his hideout in the bedroom.
"Alright Cohen family, rolling out in under one minute" he exclaims, surveying both Cyrus and I.
My mother soon makes herself present, followed by Maxe, who has now wrapped up his wound.
What a condition.
"Ready to go Cohen gang" my mother announces, mimicking her version of a "gang sign".
It bun me fi her sometime enuh...
"Please, mek we hurry and gwaan before she embarrasses us even more" Cyrus jokes, and laughter erupts throughout our group, excluding Maxe.
Him lucky!
Mommy is the first to exit the room, followed by Cyrus, myself, and then Daddy and Maxe.
"Wahm to yuh finger" I hear Daddy question from behind me, I hear the sound of the room door closing soon after.
"Paper cut" Maxe replies, and I instantly bite the inside of my cheek.
Woi!
Di joke a sweet me man.
Dat will teach him.
●●●
📍Hanover, Jamaica | Negril
The Same Night | Sunday, August 21st
6 PM ⏰
Amina was now public enemy number one.
If I had time to waste on my issues with her, she wouldn't be too happy, but I had bigger fish to fry.
No matter how much I craved revenge, she wasn't my top priority.
This was.
"We hope to start building in Newport soon, word on the street is that DeCosta is going to be selling his sites out there soon," my father says, his voice low, as if he was telling a secret.
In a way he was.
"So you think you'll be able to buy him out?" one of the men in our group asks.
Weh dah bredda name again?
"Mostly likely, but you know these things go, William, they take time" my father replies with a smile.
Dutty William.
Old foot.
Me did a look him daughter but him did have a bagga problem wid dat.
Wonda if she deh yah tonight?
William and my father have been business associates for a few years, they were close.
Well, only when money was considered.
"So Angie, are you guys traveling for the holidays?" my mother asks his wife, changing the topic of the current discussion.
Thank God.
Cause tonight is not the night fi dem find me out.
"I would love to, but—" Angie begins to reply, and I tune her out immediately, the monotony of her voice my stomach hurt.
Her voice boring yuh fuck.
I turn my attention back to scanning the crowd, hoping to spot their daughter.
"Yuh see Christina anyweh?" I direct my question to Cyrus who's standing next to me.
"William nuh tell yuh fi leff him gyal pickney?" he retorts, pulling my body to his.
A dat me ask him?
I pull myself from his hold.
"All I want to do is say hi to her" I lie, ending my statement with a smile.
That, and some other things...
"Lowe di people dem daughter" he warns, extending his pointer finger.
I can never have any fun.
"Wait sorry, I don't mean to cut in, but I have a quick question"
The sound of Amina's voice pulls me back into the central conversation.
Miss High and Mighty.
Couldn't even lend her bredda five grand.
"Yes, Amina, go ahead and ask" our father chuckles, amused by her eagerness.
"Well it was about the properties in Newport, I have a friend who's having some real estate issues up in that area," she says, grabbing everyone's attention.
Which friend?
"Sarai?" Cyrus asks, cutting into the conversation.
Of course, that's his first thought.
Amina glances at him quickly, "Yes, Sarai" she says before turning back to our father.
"Her dad is trying to sell the house she lives in, because the construction company that owns the houses in the development, is trying to buy out all the lots" she begins to explain as everyone listens intently.
What a dirty move...
"Hmmm, do yuh know where in Newport? It's a big area sweetie, yah guh need fi be more specific" our father asks, and Cyrus interjects yet again.
Man love talk bout Alex ooman.
"It's near the DeCosta site, I think it's owned by Campell Constructions," he says to no one in specific.
How him one know suh much?
"You know this friend Cyrus?" my mother chimes in, asking the question we all have on our minds.
He goes silent for a bit.
Mi nah laugh.
"She's an acquaintance, a friend of a friend" he finally says, never meeting our mother's gaze.
Bredda love lie eesi, probably even more than me.
"Anyways," Amina says, breaking the tension.
"I wanted to see if you could give her some advice, she really needs some assistance"
Sarai coulda call and ask Cyrus fi help enuh, him know di business as much as we fada.
She's probably just being stubborn.
Ego aguh kill both her and Cyrus.
Daddy lets out a sigh as if he is racking his brain for an answer, he was hesitant to say yes, and it was clear as day.
"She can come by the office this week if she has some time, I'll see what I can do to help"
Surprised him seh yes.
But a only cause a Amina who ask.
If a did me?
An earsplitting squeal leaves Amina's mouth, and I almost land a kunk upside her head.
Sound like she a dead.
"I'll have my assistant set aside some meeting time," he tells her with a smile.
"Thank you, Daddy, I'm gonna call her right now" she smiles, walking over to pull Gabriel into an embrace before running off to make her phone call.
"Daughters, am I right?" William jokes.
Weh yours deh sir?
Mi still nuh see mi future wifey...
"We have our hands full with our Christina" Angie adds, shaking her head.
"Is Christina here tonight?" I ask without shame, my mother shoots me a glare.
Me nuh care.
"She's not" William replies immediately, losing his smile.
Cuh yah.
"But we do have some good news to share, she's actually been recently engaged" Angie beams, and my mother gasps.
Extra.
Dat neva needed.
"She's in the US visiting her fiance for the summer," William says, locking his eyes on me.
Christina really a cheat pon me?
Me of all people?
"Bomboclaat, unuh want him drop dung in yah?" Cyrus mumbles next to me, clearly amused.
"Oh wow, an engagement! I am so happy for you guys, really I am" my mother gushes, her hand never leaving her lips.
What about me Celine?
"Congrats William" my father exclaims, pulling him in for a handshake.
A family of traitors.
"Can't wait to get our invites" Cyrus declares, sneaking a glance at me.
Between him and Amina, who worse?
Two a dem equal.
Only correct answer.
Angie and my mother have now broken out into a full-fledged conversation about the so-called wedding, and the fathers are back to shop talk.
At this point, I am so thrown off by the whole thing that I do the only logical thing I can think of.
I walk away.
Leaving behind a very confused group, and a very entertained Cyrus.
How me one suh salt?
Cyaa bada.
●●●
📍Hanover, Jamaica | Negril
The Same Night | Sunday, August 21st
9 PM ⏰
Yuh know how long me a look fi wah excuse fi talk to her?
Look at God.
The opportunity just fell right into my lap.
Deeven haffi do to much fi it neither.
Undoing the button on my suit, I pull my phone from my back pocket and dial her number.
It rings for a few seconds before connecting.
"Yes," she says, seemingly annoyed.
"Good evening to you too" I chuckle, slipping my feet out of my dress shoes.
Market mouth rude enuh.
"Weh yuh want?" she asks, and I can just imagine her rolling her eyes.
She aguh cuss me now.
But me nuh care.
Mi miss her.
"Ah suh yuh really aguh talk to me?" I retort, ignoring her question.
She lets out a deep sigh.
"Cyrus, what do you want from me?"
A lot of things...
I ignore her inquiry once again, removing the phone from my ear and requesting to switch to video call.
She declines the request.
I send it again.
We can do dis all night enuh.
"Accept di video call Rai" I declare, my tone demanding.
After a few moments, she accepts it, moving the camera so that it faces her ceiling.
"Mi wah see yuh face," I tell her, throwing my body on the hotel bed, and sinking deep into the mattress.
Tired yuh fuck.
Need likkle sleep.
"No," she snaps, kissing her teeth.
"Why'd you call me? Hurry up and talk cause me have things fi do"
At 9 pm at night?
Mussi aguh see har man.
I hadn't even created my story yet, I only had a few parts of the tale prepared, and I knew she'd find the holes in it.
I hoped that she'd give me more time before she started her fit.
I guess I thought wrong.
"Me neva call yuh fi cuss, suh if a dat yuh wah—" I begin to say, faking my annoyance.
*Beep Beep*
Did she just?
No, she couldn't have...
I lay in there for a moment, completely in shock, my mouth agape.
Maybe this is a prank?
I ring her again, landing in her voicemail box to no avail.
Throwing my phone across from me, I pinch at the bridge of my nose.
Cyaa bada wid her fuckery.
Shoulda never reach out in the first place.
Standing up from the bed, I begin to remove the rest of my clothes from my body before grabbing a pair of black basketball shorts to sleep in.
Suh wah?
She think she can style man now?
All cause she have man fi lay dung next to?
The sound of my phone vibrating on the bed brings me from my thoughts.
I walk over and open the newest message.
Aiii sah.
From: Madgyal 😒
'Doh call back me phone 🙄'
'Especially not at dem time yah...me have a man'
'Doh wory yuhself muma'
'Dat nah ever happen again'
'Trust me 🙂'
Read Now
Kissing my teeth, I place my phone on DND before switching off the screen.
A mussi brighting town she come from.
Me nah run her dung, if a dat she think.
Woulda rather dead before me mek dat shit happen, trust me.
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A/N
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