Jealous because I love you
This is the fourteenth (14th) episode of the love drama, A Stranger At The Door, exclusive to the North Coast Times. In the previous episode (North Coast Times Vol. 19 #35, September 24-30)following a collision between Rohan’s SUV that had got out of control and a Toyota Corolla taxi full of people, near the Hanover/Westmoreland border, an unconscious Rohan was put in the cab of a large pickupand was being taken to hospital in Savanna-la-mar. As he was about to be taken away police officers had come to the scene where at least one person lay dead, the driver of the Corolla was bloodied and four others taken off to hospital. Darcia who had been in the SUV with Rohan as they headed to Negril for a weekend together, now had his head in her lap in the back passenger seats of the pickup. Here is how the episode ended:
Looking out of the window, with her back against the upright of the left back door, Darcia noticed that suddenly there were more buildings, rather than the trees she had been seeing all along. She knew they were coming into Negril.
“Negril,” the driver announced. “We have another 20 miles or so to Sav.”
Then, Rohan rolled his body, his head coming off her lap and she held his head stead. “Annabella, Anna…”
The driver turned slightly. “He’s waking up,” he said, smiling.
Darcia knew immediately that was the name of Rohan’s wife. Annabella.
Now read on
An evening with the stars
By Georgiana White
Annabella was about to leave work in another hour or so when she remembered that she hadn’t heard from Rohan as he had promised. She called his number and it went to voice mail. She wasn’t surprised. He would have been in his seminar then. It was just past four 4 in the afternoon. Once her shift finished or when she got home, she would call him again. She would send him a text. “Love U Darling as always. Thinking about U. Hmmm… good last night.”
She was feeling happy after their evening out on Thursday. Rohan had driven up to Jacks Hill, St Andrew at a spot where they could look out and see the city of Kingston. It was their spot, shared on some of their big occasions. It was there that they had first kissed. So many years ago. At the time he had said that the stars were witness to his love. She never forgot it. The other couples out of their vehicles or sitting inside, meant nothing to her then. She was caught up with Rohan and that’s all that mattered.
When they got there, there were two other cars. A half moon threw small shadows against the rough stones on the ground. She didn’t feel safe initially but he soothe her fears. “You know, Darling, I love you to the tops. And now with your baby, I love you even more.”
He nibbled at her ear. “And you still so jealous?” He asked.
“You know I am jealous because I love you. I couldn’t stand losing you.”
“Stop it,” he said.
Annabella turned and kissed him, as he held her against the passenger door of the SUV. He rubbed her raised stomach, gently, and used his right forefinger to make two taps against it.
A SHARED DRINK
He opened the back of the vehicle and she sat there, beside his small igloo in which he had put wine, other liquor and ice. In pouring himself a glass of wine in a plastic cup he told her that his company was sending him to Montego Bay and that because she would be at work he was going alone. He would be away until Sunday. Annabella told him she would come along and he discouraged her, saying the ride would not be good for the unborn child. “I wouldn’t even have time to see you because we have a convention Friday evening and then Saturday morning I have to go see some contractors about selling wholesale solar equipment to them. I’m going to be too busy.” He said.
Annabella persisted, saying even the ride and the two nights together, after his work would be good enough.
Rohan repeated that the ride would not be too good. “Remember, Anna, you same one say they doctor say you need lots of rest. Don’t bother with no hassle right now. I don’t want anything to happen to my baby.” He touched her again on her stomach and his hand slowly moved downward.
She slapped him playfully on his arm and he kissed her. Annabella clung to him. She was almost as tall as he and, with the weight she was putting on, was nearly 150 pounds now. She ran her hand over her neatly cut hair. It was more of a habit because there was little to push back now after she had stopped processing her hair and had cut it. Now it had been low cut and made into Nubian knots. The wind was cool against her face but she was hot for him. He encouraged her to have one sip of wine. She took it and held it in her mouth. He bent to her as he pulled him down and she pressed her lips against his and spewed the wine into his mouth. “Mmm you know how I feel now, right?” She asked.
Half an hour later when they got back home, the emotions of desire and the need for contact were still overpowering. Annabella embraced him and began kissing Rohan even before he properly locked the living room door. They started there on the sofa and by the time she tore away his shirt, she knew they were in for another steaming evening. “I love you. I love you even more now Rohan.” She said as she reached for him and gave freely.
WRONG NUMBER
She was remembering this now when she called his phone. There was no answer at first then she went back into the living room and sat at the small desk cluttered with her students’ books. She didn’t feel for dinner. She called again. She must have made a mistake, though she had dialed from the stored number. It was not Rohan’s voice. She apologized. “Wrong number,” she said. “Sorry!” She and hung up.
She dialed all the digits, the phone rang, the line was open but there was no answer as she said “Rohan, Rohan? There was still no answer but the line was open. “May I speak to Rohan,” she said.
Then someone answered, she realized it was the same voice, sounding young enough to be a teenager, that had simply answered “Hello, hello,” the first time when she had called and when she had apologized and thought she had called a wrong number.
“Is fine mi fine this phone,” the young male voice said.
“It’s my husband number where is he?” She asked.
“Him gone a hospital.”
Annabella got up from the desk, looked around as if trying to make sense of what she heard. “What. What are you saying? Where is my husband? Let me speak with him.” The words tumbled from her mouth. The arm supporting her body at the desk was shaking.
“Him gone a Sav hospital. Is fine mi fine the phone.” The call was cut off.
Six more calls to the number went straight to voice mail.
Annabella started to walk in circles. She looked up at Rohan’s smiling face, framed, above the desk. Her mind was racing Savanna-la-mar hospital. Gone to hospital for what? But he’s in Montego Bay!
Annabella held her stomach. She was sweating. She walked as if in a trance over to the sofa and plopped herself down in it. She looked up the hospital number. She put a call through. The phone was ringing.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK: Only in the North Coast Times
