Chapter 8

"Oh I've missed you guys, how you've been?" Ann said hugging Mrs. Fritz.

"Doing well," Mr. Fritz said as he put out his hand to Ann.

"Larry, handshakes aren't working anymore," Ann said, pushing his hand aside, throwing her arms around him.

"We are doing well, more importantly how are you dear?"

"I'm good, was glad to hear you two were here. So how many years has it been? Forty years, give or take?" Ann asked as they sat down.

"Forty four." Mrs. Fritz replied looking at Larry with a dreamy expression.

Mr. Fritz lifts her hand from the table, pulls it to his lips and drops a kiss on the back of her hand. As he releases her hand he asks, "So did you open a Roth yet? Now if you're looking at investing, I have a few somewhat aggressive investments that I sure will payback well in the long run. You're young –"

"For God sake Larry, this is not a business meeting. We haven't seen Ann for better than a year. I want to know what she's been up to, how's her work going on. Not weather she has a four o one set up."

"It's a Roth dear," Mr. Fritz says shaking his head.

"I don't care what it is, were going to have dinner and talk about anything else but four o ones, retirement plans, investment of any sort! And that goes for you too young man," pointing at Terry. "No talk about real-estate or property investments.

Larry looks across the table and mouths to Ann, "Will talk later."

"Margret, Larry. Nice to see you again. Ann..d - Terry if I remember correctly?"

"That is correct, how you doing tonight Mic?"

"Well I haven't lost the plot yet, so I won't complain."

"Doesn't do you any good, nobody listens anyway," Terry said, not sure what Mic meant, but didn't want to insult him by questioning him.

"There you go mate. " He smiled then turning to Ann replied, Ann."

"Mic how you doing today, business good?"

"Ace," He responded bluntly with a quirky face. Then he turned to the Fritz's with a smile and asked. "So what can I get you folks?"

As he took their orders Terry shot a glance at Ann. She smiled at him and mouthed to him, "Some other time." Terry smiled back in acceptance. There was definitely a past between them, and it was obvious it didn't end well. Most break ups don't.

"And you Terry?" Mic asked.

"I'll have to have the calamari. Will you be cooking it?"

"For you I will."

"I'll have the calamari also Mic, thank you." Ann said with a smile.

"As you wish." Mic answered giving Ann a fake pleasant smile.

After Mic walked away Mrs. Fritz commented, "He's still a little bitter?"

"Does it show, "Ann said with a sincere face?

"So you think you'll ever reconcile?" Mrs. Fritz asked.

"I hope so," Ann said with a peaceful expression. "Time will tell."

"So tell me, what absorbing things you been doing Ann?"

"Larry, life's been good. Work has keep me busy, but the rewards are tenfold. I was in Belize last month, it is so beautiful. I found this painting there that a client was looking for…"

Terry felt a dispelling feeling. So there it is thought. The spear that defined the relationship. Friends, those words that pierce the heart, the ones you hope you'll never hear. If she wanted to resolve things with Mic, that put him in the friends status. At least he knew where he stood, and not to let his feelings go farther than they already have. It didn't make sense to him though. All the signs were there. She seemed to want more than friends.

"Don't you think so?" Ann asked Terry.

"Terry?" Ann said, leaning forward to look at him more directly.

"Yes, I'm sorry, what was that?" He replied with a smile.

"Margret and Larry asked if we wanted to go to the other side of the island, see some of the sights, and have lunch." Ann repeated, putting her hand on his wrist.

He looked down for a brief second at her hand on his wrist. He wanted to ask her what the hell was she doing but he keep composure and with a smile said.

"Sounds like fun but I have some things to do tomorrow so I'll have to pass. Maybe some other time, but don't let me stop the three of you from going."

"I said no talk of work or real-estate. I know what you're thinking, you're just like Larry, always thinking about money and land." Margret stated.

It wasn't what he was thinking but it does cover his real thoughts.

"I'm sorry, you caught me. I just have a lot on my mind but I will put them aside till later."

"No need to apologize, nothing wrong with your thoughts drifting to work. But it won't get you far with the ladies." Larry chimed in.

Terry hid his emptiness he was feeling. He would push through with a smile. It would soon be over and he would be back in his room with a bottle of rum and a pack of smokes. He would wrap up the house search with the Fritz's and jump on the first jet airliner to somewhere.

After dinner the Fritz's took a cab back to the bed and breakfast leaving Terry alone with Ann.

"That was fun, I love those two" Ann said looking at Terry.

"Yah it was, their pleasant people. Well, the day has caught up with me…

"Want to go for a stroll on the beach?" Ann asked with a crooked smile.

"It's – been a long day I think I'll go back to my room and relax a bit."

"Oh, ok. So breakfast tomorrow, I'm an early riser. And we could walk on the beach after." Ann said with a hopeful face.

"Well I have a lot to do tomorrow so I don't know if I have much time. You have a good night." Terry said with a nod and started to walk away.

"Stop! Something shifted in the time continuum captain, and I'm not letting you walk away until you spill it."

Terry wanted to laugh at what she said, it was a cute, original expression. But he instead responded, "Fine! Straight up, I think its shit that you let me believe there is something here. Oh wait, there is. Friends! You should have put that out there in the beginning.

"Huh? I don't get it. "What makes you think all I want is friends? I – "Ann stopped in her words. Terry's confusion became clear. With soft eyes and a closed smile she walked up to him, pulled his hand from his side and replied.

"Mics my brother. I'm sorry, I should have….." She pulled lightly on his hand as she slowly backed up. "Let's go for a walk, and I'll explain."

"Margret said Mic asked you to marry him, or at least that you were serious about him. And then you broke up?" Terry responded, planting his feet firm.

"That's true, but that's another Mic," Ann said pulling harder on his hand.

"Another Mic?" Terry said slightly drawing back.

"Everyone's Mic across the pond. Please." Ann said as she grabbed his other hand and pulled with more conviction. I promise, no more mystery, I'll give you all the details of my boring screwed up life."

Terry looked into her brown eyes. His frustration dwindled with every second. There was no question, she was serious. So attempting to lighten the moment he responded. "That must be confusing?"

"It is at times," She said with a big smile.

"So do I have to divulge all my past as well?" Terry said with reservation.

Ann gave him a quirky smile, "That's usually how it works."

He released his hold on the sandy beach and allowed himself to be pulled into Ann's dimension.

"In fifty seven my grandpa came to the Cayman Islands from Liverpool. He had some money saved, and the Island life was calling him. Or so he said," Ann started as they began to walk in the warm moonlit night air of the Caribbean.

"My Grandma says he was running from life and responsibilities."

"Is this something you inherited?" Terry interrupted.

"What gives you that impression?" Ann asked with a parted smile.

"For those of us who are not borne here, on an Island. It seems to serve as a sanctuary – a place to hide from the world." He said looking past Ann to the ocean.

"Sounds as if you know this from experience?"

"Yah, I find peace here."

"Me too," Ann agreed looking up to his tranquil eyes. "So he lived here a year or so as a builder. He lived in a tool shed behind his boss's house for a year. Then the Barasserie came up for sale, he went in partners with his boss. The place need a lot of TLC. He fixed it up a little, made it classier as he says. Five years later he bought his partner out, and put more atmosphere in it. And it really took off, became one of the classier places to have a dinner and a drink."

"Wow, lived in a tool shed."

"He didn't want to waste any money on room and board, He knew he wanted to buy a bar, be a part of the island. When my dad who still lived in Liverpool with my mom. When he turned eighteen and my grandma couldn't legally keep him with her." Ann said with a little frustration. My grandpa tried to get him to come here and help with the Barasserie. He didn't want any part of it, my grandma told him things about my grandpa that wasn't really true. Don't get me wrong, grandpa was a hard person. He was tough, hard worker, and not a lot of – soft feelings. He was a get the business done type of person."

"A hard ass," Terry said looking to Ann.

"Yes – a hard ass, witch my dad, being raised by my grandma. He was a bit of a momma's boy, he was softer. And he wanted to be a musician. He seen the Beatles play at a festival, before they were famous. So he wanted to be a musician, and he did. He never made it really big, only in Liverpool and that area. Now he owns a recording studio in Liverpool and does well, he's recorded for some big names."

"That's is cool, your dad doesn't sound like a bad guy?"

"My dad is a sweet heart, and so is my mom. But they both have that free spirt that wants to do their own thing. That don't work - not when both are."

"It is a recipe for disaster," Terry agreed, as he stopped to dump sand out of his shoe.

"So when Mic was old enough. He moved here with grandpa and helped him. Mic my brother." Ann said with an assertive adorableness oh a puppy.

Terry smiled, holding back the kiss he wanted to score on her lips. A kiss he knew she would embrace. The pull between them was hard to counter. It was full of desire, need. Not sexual, but relational. It had been years since he felt this sort of need to know someone.

"Mic the brother, got it," He replied with a smile that jumped her heart.

She turned away feeling the need to quench his lips in an attempt to deeper know this man. If she were to embrace it would lead to a sexual encounter that her physical women would mistake for what could be much deeper than a sexual relationship. Something she had before she knew what physical needs were about.

"So Mic is older than you?" Terry asked dumping out his other shoe.

"Yes, he is my older half-brother. My dad had an encounter four years before he met my mom. Mic is a product of that."

"An encounter?" Terry questioned.

"Yes – from what little he talked about it, it was not a relationship. I didn't know of him until I was – ten, maybe twelve. It was awhile after my mom and dad separated before I met him."

"That must have been a curious moment?"

"No, actually not. I accepted it as normal I guess you would say. I was raised differently. At least not normal. My mom and dad never married. They had an – I don't know what you would call it. When they were together, they were together. When they were apart, they were apart. I wouldn't see my dad for months at a time. One time a year, a whole year I didn't see my dad. I'm pretty sure they had a huge disagreement that time. They were always like that. And still are. I know they still hook up, I can tell when their together, their happier."

"That's different, it would seem confusing and uncertain."

"Exactly, but their ok with that. It's normal for them," Ann replied throwing her hands out in question. "So Mic and I never really knew each other."

"That explains the animosity between the two of you."

"That and the fact were very different people. He has lived here since he moved here to help grandpa. I haven't called a place home in ten years, and I'm comfortable with that. He's very dependable, I can't say I am. The only thing we have in common is neither one of us has married or had kids."

Terry chuckled, and starred at the sand as a thought passed through him.

"What's the laugh for?" Ann said with a smile exposing her interest in him."

"I'm nothing like my sisters, they're both grounded, stable. Great moms, great wives. I however – I have a hard time staying still. I've always had that, only once in my life did I want to stay in a place forever," He stated unfocused in the darkness of the Caribbean night.

"We have something in common then," She said looking down at the sand passing by her sandals and then looking up at him to find his attention focused on her.

"Yah we do," He agreed, as their hands yoked together.