The sudden dissolution of Samantha's marriage had put an end to her well-planned ideas for the future. She was only a few months out of college when she met Todd. He was a lawyer for a prestigious firm, and by all indications he was a sure thing for partner. Todd was focused and determined, driven by a desire for wealth and prosperity. By contrast, Samantha was a bit of a wild child. An outspoken extrovert, she had never been one to shy away from a good party or a sudden weekend getaway to a music festival.
Samantha was also a very sexual being. She'd had many lovers in college, preferring variety and spontaneity. While most of her lovers were men, Samantha had experienced the soft touch of a woman on more than one occasion.
In the beginning of their relationship, Todd seemed quite happy with Samantha's openness towards her sexuality. Her extroverted personality and flirtatious attitude resulted in Todd enjoying the presence of two naked women in his bed on more than one occasion. In fact, when Todd and Samantha were married at a luxurious resort in the Caribbean, one of Samantha's wedding night gifts to her new spouse had been Jennifer, Samantha's maid-of-honor and one of her college lovers.
Over time, however, things began to cool. Once the whispers of a job promotion began to reach Todd's desk, he realized that certain aspects of their lifestyle could be looked at as being detrimental to the image the firm liked to represent. Soon Todd began to stifle Samantha's outward sexuality, telling her that it was for the good of their future. Being in love, and wanting nothing but the best for her husband, Samantha reluctantly agreed.
Over the course of the next ten years Todd continued to climb the ladder at his firm while Samantha played the role of doting, supportive wife. Having graduated from college with a degree in Nursing, Samantha had planned to work in the emergency room of the local trauma center. Todd found the hours too demanding, and asked her to work per-diem instead at a doctor's office. While she continued to work in the field she loved, Samantha found her job to be boring and repetitive. She longed for the action and excitement of the emergency room, but Todd would not budge in his wish.
Then came the day Todd told Samantha that he was filing for divorce. Shocked and stunned, Samantha collapsed to the floor crying. She had sacrificed so much, so many years, for the man she loved only to have him toss her aside. For weeks after the divorce was finalized Samantha went about her daily routine on a roller coaster ride of anger and depression. Then, on her 32nd birthday, Jennifer arrived at her house with a gift. It was a reservation for a week at a beachside resort in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. All accommodations and airfare had been arranged. Samantha was surprised to discover that her flight left the following morning.
Jennifer spent the day with her, helping her pack and prepare. With the help of a few bottles of wine, Jennifer and Samantha spent the evening reliving and reminiscing over their college days. They danced to old songs and laughed at old stories. When the night drew to a close, Jennifer led Samantha into the bedroom and made slow, sensuous love to her. As she drifted off to sleep wrapped in the arms of her oldest lover, Samantha decided that she would spend this trip reawaking certain desires that had laid dormant for too long.
*****
Samantha stepped out the door of her hotel room and walked down the hallway to the stairwell door. The sun was bright, and a gentle breeze blew in from the ocean. Passing the elevator doors, she continued to the stairwell door. Being on the third floor, Samantha had decided when she arrived that she would only use the stairs. She figured that, with all of the partying she had been doing, it would only seem right to try to level the scales with a little exercise, even if it was only a few steps on the stairs.
The sun stung Samantha's pink skin when she stepped out into the parking lot to her rental car. Opting to leave the top up on the jeep, she turned the key and started the ignition. Reaching into her backpack she pulled the folded piece of paper out and began to examine the directions. She hoped that this trip would be as worthwhile as the mysterious woman told her it would be.
Samantha had met the woman in a crowded nightclub the second night she was in town. She took the seat next to Samantha at the bar and introduced herself as Daya. She was a local who had just recently returned from the United States. Samantha found Daya to be a very intriguing woman. She presented an air of confidence and sexuality.
Samantha and Daya spent the evening drinking and dancing. Before leaving, Daya retrieved a piece of paper and a pen from the bartender. After writing on it for a few minutes she handed it over to Samantha.
"What's this?" Samantha asked.
"It's the directions to a local spot that tourists don't go to. It's simply beautiful. You must go before you leave!"
"But, I'm a tourist. Are the locals going to be ok with me being there?"
Daya let out a laugh. "Gatito, you show anyone who gives you shit this paper. They'll leave you alone."
Before Samantha could say another word, Daya leaned over and kissed her. It was a quick kiss, but something stirred in Samantha. The feeling of Daya's lips on hers was intoxicating, and felt as though she could keep kissing her for days. Daya separated her lips from Samantha, then stood up from her stool to leave.
"Have a good time, Gatito!"
In a flash, Daya disappeared into the crowd.
*****
It took Samantha most of the day to find the secluded location on the map. There was more than one occasion where she stopped the jeep in the road and thought to herself if this was a good idea. Each time she came up with a number of reasons to turn back, but Samantha willed herself on. Samantha had decided that this trip was going to be the stepping-off point for a new chapter in her life. What chapter it was, she had not yet decided. Samantha left that to fate.
The jeep came to a stop on a gravel driveway before a large plantation home. A young man stood up from his chair on the front porch and walked up to her driver's door.
"Can I help you? Are you lost?" He asked in a thick Latin accent.
"I'm sorry, a friend gave me directions to this place," Samantha replied as she handed him the paper.
He examined the paper for a moment. He appeared to be reading the instructions, and when he scanned the bottom Samantha could see the look in his eyes changed.
"Daya gave you this?" He asked.
"Uh, yes. Daya. That was her name."
"My apologies, senorita," the gentleman said as he opened her door. He offered Samantha his hand as she stepped out of the jeep, and she accepted it. "My name is Julio. I run this establishment. Allow me to get your bags. I will have a room prepared for you immediately."
"Oh, I'm not sure I'm staying yet."
"Oh no, senorita. You can't drive back tonight. It'll get dark before you get out of the mountains. It's not safe on the roads around here after the sun goes down!"
Samantha thought for a moment. "Well, I guess I'll be staying tonight."
"Very good, senorita," Julio said, smiling broadly. "Please have a look around, and enjoy a drink from the bar. When your room is ready I will find you."