Rum Punch Regrets Read Online Free PDF

looked at Maria, who was smiling at her again.
    “So, Ziggy is telling Ben that he has a new roommate?”
    “Yes, ma’am. He already told him Leigh is going to be selling the place.” Maria watched Abby for her reaction. Realizing Abby was calm and listening now, she went on. “Ben’s studying to be a vet and needs to get done this semester so he can go back.”
    “To the States, right? Leigh mentioned the vet school and finishing up back on the mainland.” Abby asked as she dived into a plate of muffins Maria had placed in front of her . Mmmm, blueberry . . . Better than the Starbucks or coffee truck variety to which she was accustomed.
    Maria nodded. “Maybe he gets done and the house will sell at the same time.” She was prepping ribs with a sweet-smelling marinade. Abby’s nose was tingling with all the new Caribbean spice smells assailing her senses.
    She chewed her muffin thoughtfully, almost with a deliberate slowness because she was tired of speaking. “Maria, is Ben going to be okay with me staying with him? I would not want a ‘me’ living in my house if I were a Ben.”
    Maria’s laugh resonated through the room again. “Abby! Trust me. Tonight you two will have dinner and get to know each other. Ziggy is going to drop you off at Ricky’s down the street. It’s close and it’s quiet. Rum punch and dinner make people happy. You and Ben are gonna be just fine.”
    “Oh I get it, you want me to just get really drunk every night so I don’t care where I sleep, right?”
    “No, girl. No. Your family raised you better than that. Now, you just help me get this place ready today. We keep you busy so you’re not idle, okay?”
    Abby ignored the family comment, especially since the way she felt about Leigh at the present moment was not familial at all.
    “I’ll be glad to help. Just please make sure to shield me when Ben comes in and unleashes the anger of the gods this way . . . Okay? Have him know it’s not my fault?”
    “Girl! Go get changed!” Maria was laughing and shooing her out.
    “Just one thing . . . Ziggy’s accent is Kittian. But yours, it’s different. Where are you from, Maria?”
    Maria and Abby locked eyes, and there was trust. Not that Abby could pinpoint the moment and say it then, but she felt good with Maria. “My mom was from London, and my dad was Kittian. I grew up in the U.S.”
    Maria began to speak, but once again stopped herself. “Just clear out of your room quick and I get Ziggy to put your bags out in the pool house. Guests come and so do Ben soon. We deal with each one as it happens.” Maria started chopping some green onions very efficiently and with purpose. “First, we need to change sheets, open windows, fresh flowers in rooms. You need to be calling the roof repairmen so dey come dis week and get started. Lots to do!”
    Abby could tell she would get nothing else out of Maria until later, and she honestly wanted some busy work to help her sort through all of the mixed feelings she had at the moment. Maybe jumping right in with repairs and doing some cleaning will help me unleash some of this irritation inside, Abby thought. I can scrub some tile and pretend it’s Leigh’s face. She watched Maria as she began chopping some celery and onion together. The way she moved was fluid and poetic. She was about to leave the room when Maria called after her:
    “And, Abby. There is a lot to know here about a lot that you may not know. You can’t be having expectations, girl. None. Day-by-day. Just remember, you are always taken care of.”
    Abby started to open her mouth to ask what it was Maria still needed to tell her, but Maria was chopping furiously. As if she had eyes in the back of her head, she waved her right hand over her shoulder toward Abby as if to say, “Get out.”
    Abby smiled at Maria’s back. She slowly nodded and turned on her heel, unable to shake the feeling of familiarity she had with Maria. This woman was funny and honest: She had gone