Jen emerged from the walkway of Kingston Airport into the baggage claim area expecting to meet Cathy, her college roommate. Although they haven't seen each other in ten years, they had kept in touch, at first by phone, now more often by e-mail. They hadn't seen each other in so long for two reasons: They worked at opposite ends of the country, and more importantly, Brad, Jen's (just last week) ex-husband, was jealous of her close relationship with Cathy, and discouraged them from seeing each other.
Although the divorce was relatively amicable, there was next to no intimacy in the relationship for close to two years. When Cathy received the news of the divorce, she immediately suggested that they get together. She suggested the resort in Jamaica, secluded, but in Cathy's words, "Overpopulated with hot men and frozen daiquiris." Jen demurred at first, remembering what a wild woman Cathy could be, but finally gave in when Cathy reminded her that she chose a safe existence with Brad, and look where that got her.
Cathy's flight from New Orleans was supposed to arrive two hours before Jen's, and Cathy would be waiting at the baggage claims area. However, when Jen got to the carousel, Cathy was nowhere to be seen. "Maybe she's in the ladies room, or grabbing a snack," Jen thought to herself. She retrieved her bags, and patiently waited. At first she had trouble seeing or hearing anything through the throngs of tourists and family members coming home. The crowd began to thin, and there was still no sign of Cathy. Time seemed to move in slow motion, but before she could detect it, she was alone in the empty baggage area.
The flight she came on was the last flight of the day, and the reality of the situation set in - no one would be meeting her. She learned from an airport worker that the New Orleans airport was closed for a minimum of 24 hours due to thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. Cathy had made all the arrangements, Jen wasn't even sure of the name of the resort, and in her mind all the resort's names sounded alike anyway. Cathy had rented the car in her name, but even so Jen didn't even know where she was going. She sat on her suitcase in the middle of the deserted waiting area and began sobbing.
"What's the matter pretty lady?" the deep voice whispered in the island lilt. "Can I do anything to help?" Jen was about to wave off the stranger, but when she removed her hand from over her eyes, she saw the man behind the voice. He was tall and the color of burnished ebony. There was a mane of dreadlocks on his head. The bicycle shorts and tight T-shirt emphasized every curve of his buff body.
His most noticeable feature, however, was his bright friendly smile. Jen immediately knew she could trust this stranger. Between sobs, she told him her entire story. He listened with obvious concern. When she was done, he figured out where she was supposed to go and told her that he would take her to her destination, and he was sure that her friend would meet her there the next day. He then introduced himself as Sterling.
Jen told Sterling that she couldn't impose upon him, and that she was sure that she would be taking her out of his way. He told her that he was a part-time cab drive, when he wasn't attending to his pepper plantation. The thought of a cab driver with a plantation of any sort struck Jen as hilarious and she actually started laughing through her tears.
"OK, it's a deal," Jen chuckled, "but only if you show me your plantation."
"It would be my pleasure," Sterling replied and let out a laugh reminiscent of Geoffrey Holder. He scooped up her bags and led her to his waiting car. He put her bags in the trunk and opened the passenger door. "I usually have my passengers sit in the back, but since you're my guest, you'll sit up front with me."
Soon the airport vicinity gave way to the lush tropical flora of the island. The old-fashioned reggae, rock steady and ska coming from the radio lifted Jen's spirits and soon she forgot that she was alone in a strange place. A familiar tune came on and soon Jen and Sterling were singing along together.
After a drive of almost an hour, Sterling pulled over to the side of the road. "Here we are," he announced as he bounded from the car. All Jen saw was a field of waist-high plants with dark shiny green leaves.
"Where are the peppers?" Jen asked. "All I see are plants."
"It's almost harvest time. The birds ate all the visible fruit, so the only peppers remaining are those hiding under the leaves. Come, let me show you." Sterling took Jen by the hand and led her into the field. As they walked through the plants, Sterling lifted the leaves showing the bright yellow, orange and red peppers. "Be careful not to touch them," the Jamaican warned.
Jen was so enthralled with the sight that she really wasn't listening. She reached out to pluck the roundish fruit. In her hand the pepper was wrinkled and looked just like the hat of its namesake. Before Sterling could stop her, she picked another, to see if it also looked like a fancy bonnet. Sterling grabbed the peppers from her hands and admonished her, "These peppers could be very painful if you are not used to them."
As Sterling talked, Jen wiped the sweat from her eyes. Almost immediately, her eyes began stinging painfully. Then her hands, and wherever else she touched herself. She felt like she was on fire.
"The police make pepper spray from these peppers," Sterling told her with concern. "Let me take you to my house so you can wash the pepper off of you. Sterling rushed her through the field to his small house. He showed Jen the shower, and told her that he would get her bags so that she wouldn't have to wear her contaminated clothing.
He returned with her bags, and began to rummage through them looking for a change of clothing. He was fascinated by her wispy lace undergarments, they looked nothing like the utilitarian underwear he was used to seeing on the island women. When Jen emerged from the shower she was amused to see Sterling examining a red g-string and matching demi-bra. "I've never worn those before, would you like to see how I look in them?" Jen asked the startled Sterling. Jen was surprised at her boldness. She also noticed from the bulge in his shorts that Sterling was very much interested.
She took them from Sterling's hand and skipped into the bathroom to put them on. Jen couldn't believe what she was doing. "Why am I doing this?" she asked herself. The dampness between her legs was her answer. She had to admit to herself that she Sterling was extremely attractive. She found his good nature and easy sense of humor quite sexy. And that bulge in his shorts...
