Posts from the “Strangers of the Past” Category

Strangers of the Past: Part XXXI

Posted on 27/02/2013

sflowersjWarren almost swallowed his tongue as he gaped at the three Americans standing in his doorway. He blinked at the sight of the woman flanked between the two men. Same build as Ameya except that her swollen belly jutted out in front of her otherwise slim frame. Her heart-shaped, coffee-colored skin was similar, her pert nose and full lips curled up as Ameya replicated in a softer, maternal form.

Sure he’d seen her in pictures and reconciled that indeed Ameya was a twin but seeing her standing in the middle of his office was mind-boggling to say the least.

He blinked when she raised a shapely brow at him and snapped his jaw in place before dragging his eyes back to Jonathan. “You’re here…” he said dumbly, quietly gesturing to the corner of chairs. Stepping around the desk, he walked over to meet them by the chairs, offering a smile and forcing himself not to gape at Ameya’s lookalike.

She stepped forward and stuck out a hand in front of her stomach, a beaming smile in tow. “My name is Tampa. I’m Hannah’s sister and this big lug’s wife… You must be Warren, Hannah’s boss?”

It took Warren to process all she’d just said even though he knew it already. He quietly took her hand and squeezed it gently before releasing it. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Tampa.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Warren.” She nodded when he gestured to the chairs and took her seat. The two men obediently sat beside her and Warren did the same, taking his seat opposite her. “Now I want to know where my sister is…”

Marcus managed a smile at Warren’s bewildered expression. “She doesn’t waste time.”

“You guys have done enough of that,” Tampa answered easily, smiling sweetly at the stunned tour manager. “I’m sure you have her address and could give it to us?”

“Uh, I don’t think…” Warren started hesitantly, shifting his eyes to Jonathan who merely stared back at him intently. He cleared his throat and returned his gaze back to Tampa whose shapely brows lifted inquisitively.

“You don’t think what?” Tampa urged patiently. “Listen, Mr. Warren… I’m over seven months pregnant and traveled a long way to see my long lost sister who has been missing for almost nine years. Are you going to keep me waiting longer to reunite with her?”

Marcus and Jonathan exchanged a glance as Warren shook his head reluctantly and pulled out a pen to scrawl out the requested address. “I’m sure there are laws against what you just did,” he muttered to Tampa as soon as they exited the tour building.

“You’re welcome,” Tampa sing-songed and hooked an arm under his as they strolled to the waiting car parked at the side of the road. “Let’s go get my sister.”

—

Genevieve gaped openly at Ameya’s haggard expression, her straw hanging from her mouth. Pulling it from her lips and depositing it into the cup, she shook her head. “You’re joshing me right, Ameya?” When the woman merely heaved a sigh and lowered her eyes to her hands, Genevieve swallowed a scoff. “That is… this is…”

“Unreal,” Ameya supplied with a sardonic smile, lifting a trembling hand to her face. Truth be known, ever since yesterday she hadn’t been able to sleep a wink, thoughts of Jonathan haunting her all through the night. She still couldn’t place him anywhere else but those fleeting dreams and the missing parts in her memory were becoming a pestering feeling that wouldn’t let up.

“So he’s Tomas’ father… And your lover,” Genevieve breathed in awe. “Wow.”

Ameya’s cheeks warmed, her body tingling under Genevieve’s words and she scowled against the feeling it stirred within. “All this time and he didn’t say anything to me. I was a fool in front of him, while he knew who I was.” She blinked, feeling the tears gather around her eyes.

“Oh Ameya, do—” she paused as a tentative knock on Ameya’s front door interrupted their talk.

Ameya groaned, covering her eyes. “If that’s Neve, tell him I don’t want to talk to him…” She didn’t want to admit that he was right. That it did no good for her to dig into her past. The misery had settled in and wouldn’t budge even if she tried to push it away.

The knock persisted and Genevieve sighed, hesitantly standing to her feet. “He’s just looking out for you.” She walked up to the door and peered out through the window, ready to give Neve the message. The words froze on her tongue as a cold shiver skittered up her spine. “Mon Dieu…” she breathed sharply.

At the woman’s sharp whisper, Ameya lifted her eyes toward the door. “What is it?”

“You have to come here now, Ameya. Like now.” Genevieve gestured quickly toward the door and Ameya frowned, pushing to her feet. “Oh my God.”

Curiosity and trepidation rolled into one, Ameya shuffled quickly to the door and peeked over Genevieve’s shoulder out onto her front porch. She inhaled sharply as she noticed the two men filling the space in front of her door and before the anger could surge up in her throat, it got stuck as her eyes fell on the petite woman in front of them. Her knees buckled under her as she gaped at her own face staring back at her. It was too late to duck behind Genevieve since the woman’s brown eyes had now collided into hers. Ameya forced out a shaky breath and stepped away from the door. “Open it,” she said calmly although her heart was a racing mess.

Reluctantly, Genevieve shifted to the front of the door and twisted the knob, pulling it open.

Seeing the woman facing her head on, Ameya had to straighten her back and steel her shoulder before she would fall on her knees. Her heart slammed against her chest as the woman’s brown eyes softened on her face. Ameya felt her cheeks tingle under the woman’s warm and familiar gaze, barely noticing the men standing behind her.

This woman with her face didn’t take one step inside and merely stood by the door. Her full lips lifted in a soft, serene smile that Ameya had seen before. “Hello Hannah…” the woman said gently and Ameya’s eyes instantly filled with tears, blurring the vision of the woman standing before her.

<<Part 30 || Part 32>>

Categories: Strangers of the Past

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Strangers of the Past: Part XXX

Posted on 26/02/2013

forestorAmeya bit the inside of her cheek, watching as a series of emotions flit across his face. Her fingers pressed firmly on the mattress, her body tense as she waited for him to speak.

His Adam’s apple bobbed visibly and his lips parted slowly before closing, jaw clenching. “Yes.”

Her cheeks warmed at the simple confirmation and she bit harder on her mouth. “Do I know you?”

His gaze softened on her and Ameya had to fight from looking away. The familiarity in his gray eyes was more than she could handle right now. “Eight years ago, did I know you?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. Her heart picked up speed and she swallowed a gasp when she saw the truth in his eyes.

“Yes…” Jonathan’s baritone voice answered gently, his eyes searching hers.

Ameya lowered her gaze to her tightened fingers curled into fists. “I see…” Sharp intermittent pains jabbed at her chest as she turned her eyes to the sleeping Tomas. Face tingling, she reached for her son and pulled him onto her chest, before starting to stand. A shuffle of feet in front of her stiffened her movement and she clenched her jaw. “I can do it myself,” she said stiffly, not giving Jonathan another glance. Tears gathered at her eyes as she rose to her feet and positioned Tomas on her hip. Without acknowledging the tall white man standing in her path, Ameya steeled her jaw and stepped around him to the door.

“I’m sorry…” Jonathan said just as she pushed open the door.

Ameya straightened her spine, glaring into the dark night in front of her. His apology fell against her shoulders, leaving only an empty, despairing feeling. She didn’t want to hear his apology, she wanted an explanation. Heart throbbing painfully, she stepped over the threshold and pushed past a stunned Marcus and wary Old Man Jonas who had been standing just a few feet from the door.

The tears held at bay released their hold at her eyelids and fell liberally as she trudged down the hill to her car. She drew in her trembling lips to keep from sobbing, blinking at her blurry vision even as she held tightly to Tomas, with Jonathan’s last words echoing in her ears.

Jonathan stepped out quietly onto the front step of the shack and stared ahead at the darkened path down the hill. He had to keep himself from running after Hannah, knowing that she would only balk if he came close. The hardened look in her gaze just earlier was enough to keep him at arm’s length when all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and never let go.

Old Man Jonas snorted disgustedly and stepped around them into his shack, shutting the door behind them.

Marcus sighed heavily. “That didn’t go well…”

Jonathan swallowed hard, his open hands hanging at his sides.

His brother-in-law glanced over at him and shook his head. “Maybe it’s time to try something different.”

The man shifted his morose gaze to him. “What?”

Marcus hesitated only a moment before speaking. “Tampa is coming here.” When Jonathan’s brow furrowed instantly, he held up a hand. “I didn’t tell her. She pressured Hapta to spill the news. Either way, she’s already packing to come here tomorrow.”

Jonathan shook his head, not sure this would do any good for Hannah. “What about the children?”

“I tried to stop her… I’m sure she’ll keep them with her mother.” Marcus rubbed the back of his neck. “If Hannah sees her twin sister, there’s no way she can deny the truth.”

“It’s not about denying the truth, Marcus,” Jonathan mumbled, shifting his worried eyes to the darkened path. “It’s more than that.” He fought a grimace, still replaying the hurt look on her face when he confirmed her fears.

Ameya stared listlessly at Tomas curled in her bed and lifted a fist to her mouth, feeling the sobs push against her throat. She squeezed her lips to keep from crying out and stepped away from the bed, shuffling quietly out of her bedroom toward the living room. Her knees knocked with every move and she had to perch on the nearest surface, leaning forward against the tightness in her chest. The tears spilled freely onto her legs and her fingers. Her body trembled, wracking against the pent-up sobs.

Jonathan Harris was Tomas’ father. She’d had a sneaking suspicion but hearing him confirm it in not so many words was enough to make her heart twist painfully. The soft-spoken giant was the man who she’d loved and who had abandoned her eight years ago. The empty feeling that remained after the sobs had subsided was more painful than before and Ameya squeezed her eyes tightly, sliding onto the floor. She covered her sticky face with her hands.

Those warm, fleeting images of her and Jonathan were from the past, of times when she’d allowed herself to love wholeheartedly. It was obvious from her gleeful laugh and the willingness to fall into those freckled arms that she’d loved him. The question was if he’d really loved her and why he left her?

She winced, recalling the first night she’d woken up to a bare hospital room with unfamiliar eyes staring down at her. She’d curled in, feeling naked and alone. Where had he been? What had Jonathan been doing when she lay there, wondering where she was and who she was?

Her jaw tightened as she thought back to their first meeting in St. Lucia. Jonathan and whoever Marcus was, they knew her then. That meant their fated meeting was planned. They were not tourists. They had come to look for her. Her hardened eyes lifted over her hands and she glared at the wall in front of her. Right now, it didn’t matter why they’d come. She was more than slighted that they pretended not to know her. The tears gathered again and Ameya pushed them away with a frustrated sigh.

—

Tampa’s heart was racing as she stepped under the archway, her eyes frantically scanning for familiar faces amid the crowd of people in the airport. Her heart slammed hard against her chest when she spotted the mismatched couple standing behind the barricade. She hid a smile and waddled over, tugging her handbag over her shoulder. “Hello boys…” she drawled to Marcus and Jonathan who both had sheepish expressions on their faces. “Good to know you still take directions well,” she said, pulling off her bag to hand over to Marcus.

Her husband merely sighed, taking only a moment to stare wistfully at her swollen belly before he accepted the bag. “You really should’ve stayed home… This isn’t good for you and the baby.”

“Where’s my sister?” Tampa asked Jonathan who looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. Her brow furrowed at his wary expression. “What, you haven’t told her yet?”

“Let’s get out of here first,” Marcus reasoned quietly, gesturing to the open gate down the hall. “We’ll meet you over there.” He nudged at Jonathan and Tampa scowled as the two walked ahead of her.

Shaking her head, she walked as quickly as her belly would allow her to cross the barricade and cut off their brisk walk, standing directly in front of her brother-in-law. “What happened?”

Marcus threw an exasperated look to the ceiling. “Tampa, for goodness’ sake, let’s get to the hotel first.”

Tampa frowned at her husband but held her tongue, seeing that Jonathan was in no mood to talk. She bit her bottom lip and let Marcus lead them out of the airport. She shielded her eyes from the bright, warm sun and allowed herself a smile as the warm ocean breeze drifted over her face.

“Where are the kids?” Marcus muttered, sliding into the front seat while she and Jonathan climbed into the back.

Tampa rolled her eyes. “With Mom, naturally. She didn’t even hesitate when I told her you’d found Hannah.”

Both Marcus and Jonathan jerked their astonished gazes to her. “You told your mom?”

“Why not?” Tampa blinked at them. “Of course! She would’ve come too if she didn’t have to babysit for me.”

Marcus heaved a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Oh boy…”

“What is the matter with the two of you?” Tampa shifted her attention to Jonathan who looked like his eyes were about to roll to the back of his head.  “Bro, give me the run down. What’s going on?”

Jonathan sighed heavily and leaned back in the seat, proceeding to tell Tampa everything.

—

“You big clowns…” Tampa muttered scornfully as the cab driver pulled up in front of the yellow hotel building. She reached forward and swatted her husband’s shoulder before stepping out of the car. “I can’t believe you let Hapta come up with such a ridiculous idea.”

Marcus scowled over his shoulder at her before turning to the driver with the cab fare. “What other idea would you have come up with?” He stepped out of the car and closed the door firmly.

She frowned back at him, walking around the cab to meet him on the other side. “Definitely not that I’m a dumb researching team. My God, Marcus. What were you thinking?” She turned to Jonathan and clucked her tongue. “And you let them.”

Jonathan shook his head, closing the door and stepped back onto the brick sidewalk. “That was the only thing we could think of. Why else would we need to see her?”

Tampa wrinkled her nose. “I should’ve come earlier.” She shoved at Marcus’ chest, glaring up at him. “You should’ve told me as soon as you found her.”

“You’d have scared her!” Marcus shot back, glowering down at her. “Even now, I doubt you’ll do much to help the situation. She already knows and is refusing to take our calls.”

“Do you blame her, you terrible liars,” Tampa jutted her hands on her hips. She heaved a sigh, looking over Marcus’ shoulder at the clear blue sky, picturing her sister’s haggard expression. “Poor girl… I want to see her.” She gritted her teeth when Marcus narrowed his eyes at her. “I know I’ll do a lot better than you.”

“You obviously don’t remember who you look like,” Marcus mumbled darkly. “Just one look at you, she’ll hightail out of here in fear.”

Tampa scowled at him. “Okay Smarty-pants. What’s your big idea then?”

Jonathan shook his head and stepped away from them, walking toward the street. He couldn’t stand and just wait until Hannah was ready to talk with him. Now that he’d found her, he didn’t want to leave her alone.

Marcus halted in his retort and jerked his attention to Jonathan’s back as the taller man trudged quietly toward the road. “Where are you going?!” he hollered, scowling when Tampa smacked him again. “For God’s sake, woman, keep your hands to yourself.” He grinned despite his annoyance with her defying him and started to pull her into an embrace. He’d missed her.

“Nu-uh,” Tampa ducked under his arms and started after Jonathan. “Let’s go together, Jon!” she called after him as she waddled to meet him.

Clucking his tongue at his pregnant wife walking over to Jonathan who had slowed down to wait for her, Marcus shook his head and pushed forward to follow them. “This is a bad idea…”

“It’s better than what you’ve done so far,” Tampa threw over her shoulder at him, snaking an arm around Jonathan’s as they walked down to the nearest main street to flag down a cab.

<<Part 29 || Part 31>>

Categories: Strangers of the Past

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