They packed five manageable boxes to take to the island. They shopped for three days to make sure they had what they would need at least for the first few weeks. The house has dishes, pots and pans, and linens. The owner claims they only bring food when they come for vacation. American food is very expensive, so they packed favorites.
The owners have grown older and being able to get around is becoming more difficult for his wife and his kids are all grown. Playing on an island is the last thing they are interested in at this point. They sound like brats to Keith and her. So, if they like the place, they will pay him nine hundred a month and keep the place up. Renee thinks that is a good deal that is half of what she pays at her apartment, furniture included.
She took Keith to the airport with her small case they hugged, and she couldn't believe how close they have gotten in the last two weeks. The thought of not seeing him for a week was tearing out her heart as she clung to him. With a passionate kiss and a hesitant release, he left her to catch his plane. He had to make sure that this place was good enough to bring her to. Plus, is this place what he wants? Can he find his mojo at this place and release his Mark Twain, his John Grisham? He needs to find out before he brings her there. She is everything he could ask for in a woman. He just must be what she wants in a man. Would hauling her to some humid place change her mind about him quickly.
Zavier has promised he has several places he can take him to with the same basic set-up in five different countries in his water plane if this one is not right. Renee doesn't know the deal they made for him to cart him around, but it can't be cheap in a plane. Renee is just glad he is willing to go by himself. He must have read her thoughts, or he saw the fear that was all over her face as they talked about the plan. The thought of flying in a small plane and landing on the water in a bunch of third world countries sounds crazy to her. She is looking for adventure not death.
Living on a small island sounds crazy while he writes a book. What was she supposed to do fish and clean house all day? Oh yeah tend a garden. YouTube was calling she had no idea how to grow a thing, but she bought dozens of seeds of any kind of vegetable she has ever eaten. She didn't even have house plants.
On her way home, she rented a small storage room to put all the non-rented crap and extra clothes she has accumulated over the last few months. She paid for the year knowing the clothes would be out dated when she comes back. But the idea of donating sounds dumb at this point. She may hate living in nowhere. Who knows she may have a baby and they will never fit again? She is sure that once she has a baby, she will never be the same. She was not like those tall lanky women who you can't tell they have had kids. She just hopes Keith is not so vane that he can't overlook stretch marks and a fuller figure. She knows she needs to wait two or three more weeks to take the test, but she knows she is fertile Myrtle right now with the injections she has been taking to prepare for the in-veto next month. He has not asked if she was on any type of birth control just like he didn't ask the first time they met. Maybe he is looking to get her pregnant so she would marry him. She would if he asked which kind of surprised her. It hasn't been a year yet since Martin died. If he would sign a prenup both ways she would be fine. She hadn't realized how much she missed a man in her life until Keith came around.
Renee roamed her apartment looking for things to pack to go with her or to storage. She as two more boxes to fill and Bradley will pick her up and take her and her boxes to the airport when she knows where she is going. He seems to be excited that he will be in charge and shared with her his ideas about the dealership when she told him her plans.
She was waiting for Keith's call on their new SAT phone they picked up at the AT+T store yesterday. Hers' is in her pocket waiting for the call. It is quite fancy, but they have only so many minutes a month so they agreed they would use is sparingly. Both are acting as if money is an issue. He hasn't told her how much he has, but then again, she hasn't told him either. She did hear the five million dollar offer for an island so he should have at least ten. Otherwise, he is a fool to spend it all at once and he doesn't seem like a fool. She is lucky she doesn't have to attach herself to a man and be dependent on him for anything. Or maybe he thinks his book will be a best seller.
"Hey Monica, how are you?" Renee asked she needed to tell her sister her plans.
"I'm good what is going on," Monica asked sounding uncertain of this call. Renee doesn't call her out of the blue to shoot the shit.
"I wanted to let you know I'm going on vacation again. I have been seeing a very nice man and he has an island in South America." Renee told her being very vague and deceitful.
"Really that sounds fun. So, tell me about him?"
"We met on my first vacation, and he contacted me with the idea of me going with him on this adventure. He wants to write a book and I'm just excited to have a long vacation."
"Wow where is this place," Monica asked.
"I believe off the coast of Belize."
"You believe? Don't you know?
"Not really he is still trying to decide where we will go. He is out flying around with some realtor to find the perfect place for us."
"Ok, so he doesn't have an island?"
"Not at this second but he will before I fly out," Renee assured her. Again, she is looking for a problem.
"Am I going to be able to get in touch with you?"
"Of course, let me give you the new number. Only call if it is an emergency otherwise, I'll call at least once a week. If the place is big enough maybe you and the girls could come and visit. You'll like Keith he is very handsome and a nice man. He is some fancy attorney from the DC area and is looking for a break from the rat race. He is also paying for everything so don't worry that I'm getting played," Renee offered as a little tidbit of information for her.
"Ok, so when are you leaving? I see you are still using your old phone."
"Yes, until the time runs out and I'm not sure maybe a week or less. We picked out a place on the internet, but he went to make sure it was what he wanted. He said he didn't want to take me someplace that was not good enough for me. He already knows I don't cook or clean, so he has to contend with that too," Renee offered as a joke. She could learn to cook and pick up a broom.
"If he hasn't run good for him."
"Funny, funny but no he is very happy with me as I am with him. He is only thirty-five and very handsome and extremely sexy," she told her thinking about how much she missed him. Her body ached for him, but she wasn't going to tell Monica that. "So, let me get settled and I'll see if there is room for a quick visit and send for you. I wouldn't tell the girls just yet because I don't know what he is going to find."
"Good lord no they would drive me crazy if I even mentioned going on a trip. You know the boys are going to be devastated," Monica reminded her she had three teen and preteen boys too.
"I hear you. Let me see how it is there first. I'm not sure how Keith would do with that many kids at once invading his space." She knew exactly how Martin would react and they would never have them in his house, pool, or not.
"Anyways I'll call before I leave, I just wanted to give you a heads up," Renee told her and let her go she was digging herself into a hole. Monica was going to start pointing out how little she knew about this man. She is right and she will find out whatever she needs to know in the days to come. If she doesn't like him in the long run, she can leave. She can think of it as extreme dating.
Her phone finally rang right as she was giving up for the night. "Hey Babe,"
"Oh, thank God Keith what is going on?" Renee asked she was a nervous wreck.
"Oh sweetie, I'm fine it just took a while to get here. I was collecting the information we would need to live here. Dead of winter and it is in the low eighties with bright sunshine. They say in summer the mid-nineties is all it gets because of the ocean breeze. I'm here at the house it is very nice with a stiff breeze. Zavier assures me that it is not this windy all the time but, in the summer, you would be happy to have the wind. The house is OK it sleeps ten comfortably. The master is huge with a wonderful view of the trees to the ocean. It will take some work to clean it up, but that is all it needs. The power works well, the water tastes Ok. We can use that Brita filter we bought to make it taste better, and the furniture is nice. The island is around two acres of useable space with rocks all around the perimeter with palms as you saw; but lots of other trees with strange fruit and yes room for a garden. I don't know babe I think I'm going to take this one. I saw pictures of some of the other ones and talked with Zavier and I think for what we want this is the best one. We are going to spend the night and tomorrow he will take me back to Vista Del Mar, so I can buy a boat and supplies. So now when are you coming, I have already picked out my feasting spot," he said quietly so Zavier couldn't hear.
"Ok let me have a day to close this place up and get my ticket. I'll call you when everything is ready, and I'll let you know when my plane gets in."
"Perfect I'm excited to see you and I think you will love it here," he offered sounding so excited.
"Ok we are using up our minutes so I'll talk to you tomorrow," Renee told him hoping she would love it there. She dropped a few light jackets in her box in case the night wind is cool. Even in the summer, the night can be chilly well at least to her.
She had a six-month lease on her apartment, and it was up this month. They did jack her rent two hundred a month, but she will be gone so no biggie. Her rent was paid for the month so if the rental place for the furniture needs a few days they can contact the apartment manager for the pick-up. She will set that up tomorrow. She was so excited she didn't think she would sleep tonight, but she would try.
*
Bradley and Chad one of Renee's new hires drove up. Chad brings cars out of the repair area for the customers and washes and readies the new ones for sale. He came along to help with the boxes. Bradley claims his back is bad. So, they loaded the truck for the trip to the airport. She called Monica this morning and told her quickly she was leaving. Once they got to the airport, they loaded a cart with the boxes, and they sent Renee on her way. Even with that load, they couldn't come much further than the door for an international flight.
She had to pay an extra two hundred for the extra baggage, but she didn't mind because this stuff was invaluable to them. They labeled the boxes one to eight and she crossed her fingers that they all made it to Belize. Taking her carry on she made it to the gate and waited with a couple dozen people looking to go relax in paradise. She hopes they find that there. Hell, she hopes she finds that too.
Her nerves were getting to her. What the hell was she doing flying off to a different country to live with a man she barely knew? At least she has money to escape if she wants to, that was a relief to her.
One stop in Dallas and the flight went on to Belize to Vista Del Mar airport. Keith will meet her at the luggage pick-up area. He has supplies and a taxi waiting for her.
She sailed through customs and a man with a happy smile, a scraggly beard, and a tan already met her as she stepped out the door. Being engulfed in a tight hug he held her and whispered into the top of her head. "I have missed you so much," he said sounding breathless and sincere.
"Me too; it is ridiculous how much I missed you," she told him as he released her. "What is with the beard?"
Receiving another smile, he told her, "My attempt to not hurt you and not shave twice a day. She passed her receipts to Keith so he could retrieve her boxes.
You wait here with the taxi, and I'll bring out the boxes," he told her making a quick escape with her ticket stubs and a rolling cart. Scanning the area, the taxi driver smiled as he held the door for her. She approached to stake her claim before someone else tried to take it. She could see the back seat was full of bags and lots of fruit. Some she has never seen before. She hopes they let him taste them before he bought them. Things like papaya smells like dirty socks and she would never try it.
"Hi; I'm Renee," she said sticking out her hand to shake. She figures she had better be friendly in this place.
"Hello, Miss Renee I'm Thomas," the friendly smiling taxi driver said.
"Well, Thomas thank you for helping Keith. I was wondering how we were going to transport all this stuff." Who was a lanky black man with a friendly smile. His cab was an older model Nissan SUV.
"Oh no problem, I gave him my phone number to call me at any time. I will gladly drive you anywhere," Thomas told her still smiling brightly and Renee wondered how much Keith paid him for his help. He has figured out the system around here already.
Keith came out with his cart stacked high grinning he seemed so happy. Renee smiled back he looked so much more relaxed and happier. He must be enjoying the island she figured. Thomas took the cart as he approached Renee. "You hate it don't you," he asked rubbing the stubble.
"I never said that. I've never kissed a man with a beard. It will be different so let it grow," she said cupping his cheek. He was a mouthy man. He had his mouth on something the whole time they had sex. She wasn't complaining she just wondered how it would feel having the hairy mess all over her. She couldn't wait to find out.
They were loaded and on their way, before her fantasy was finished. She hadn't expected the land to be so flat and mentioned it to the driver and received a geography lesson of the country. The further they drove the uglier it got. Flat land and scrub was all she could see and then a line of boats and the ocean beyond. Scanning the horizon, she was looking for their island. All she could see were clouds and gray dots here and there.
Renee got onto the boat and all she kept thinking was what the hell am I doing? She felt herself falling into the same state she was in at the bank. Was this her new coping mechanism catatonic?
Keith helped her into the boat and was talking away and nothing penetrated her brain. All she could see was open water. He was taking her out to sea, and she was just sitting here letting him. She looked back and the shoreline was disappearing before she realized the motor was even going.
"Renee sweetie are you here or have I lost you?" Keith asked because she hadn't said a word in the last five minutes no matter how lewd he got. She lurched to the side of the boat and threw up over the side. The noise of the engine died down and Keith came to her side if nothing else to hold her hair.
"Ah sweetie you get motion sickness," he asked rubbing her back.
"I guess so how much further?" she asked using her shirt sleeve to wipe her face.
"About ten more minutes. In a few minutes, you will be able to see the island. Maybe that will help. Sweetie I wouldn't take you anywhere that is not safe. I truly believe you will love it there," he told her and held her against his chest.
"I'm sorry; I'm so scared, I have never been on a boat before. This is way outside my comfort zone," she told him as if it was an understatement.
"I know baby, but I think you will love it once you settle in. I was scared too, and I flew in on a plane that landed on water. That was exciting," he told her trying to assure her but that just scared her more. She could not imagine flying that low over the water.
She smiled and pulled herself out of her state. The island was getting closer, and she needed to pay attention to where they were going so if she wanted to leave, she could.
"Let me make the trip around the island it only takes a few minutes, and you can see where you are living," Keith said and veered to the left. The ocean was calm and clear she could see fish all around the boat. "As you can see the island is mostly rock," he pointed out as the rocky coastline came into view. Trees and palms grew out of the rocks with roots clinging to the surfaces.
But she must say it was beautiful and as they came around to the far side the rocks were more pronounced, and the vegetation was farther back. "Zavier says it is like this because during storms that side takes the brunt of the storm. The house is made of cinderblocks and is very sturdy and nothing has damaged it yet. We also have storm shutters that roll down. I have them closed right now while we are gone in case someone gets nosey and wants to visit while we are gone."
"Oh goodness I didn't think of that. Do they have a problem with pirates?"
Keith smiled and chuckled, "Not that I know of, we are new, and I was just taking precautions is all. Once we settle in, we will chill out I'm sure."
They made their way around the island, and he pulled up to the dock as if he had done it a thousand times. "Wow, you have that down already. Good for you."
"Thanks, it is easy if the waves aren't too high. Today everything is calm. The man I bought the boat from wouldn't let me leave until I could show him, I could handle this thing. It took half the day and a lot of laughing but I got it," he said as he tied the rope tightly leaving no gap for Renee to fall into. The tide is out he could tell by the amount of sandy beach showing. He was glad it gave the best view for Renee's first time here.
When the tide is in there is no beach. That was something the owner left out. He helped Renee out and started unloading the boxes as she shifted them out of the way eyeing the place as she worked. Once the boat was unloaded, he loosened the rope leaving room for the tide. That guy he bought the boat from was a stickler about that order. Too many people ripped their boats apart, tying them wrong. He is thinking about having a boat lift installed and then they don't have to worry about how rough the water is.