Page 15 of Strictly Friends
‘Well, I can’t say we’ve had too many tourists lately, but the plane comes in four times a week and I’m always right there to meet it. Other days, I get some work downtown or I pick up folks from where they’re staying and drive them around the island. If things get real quiet, I keep myself busy doing odd jobs here and there, and helping MissIda out at Paradise Inn.’
‘It’s a shame you don’t get more tourists,’ said Ruby. ‘The island is beautiful.’
‘We’re a long way out, MissRuby, and most folks visit the islands with big tourist resorts. But when people come to Sorrel Island, they fall in love and never want to leave.’
Ruby fought the temptation to ask Zeke if he knew Kenny, but conscious that Jake was listening to the conversation, she held her tongue. She had the name and telephone number of Kenny’s business, and that would have to do for now.
Settle in first, Ruby, and worry about Kenny later.
9
Zeke turned into a side road, and the deep fissures in its untarred surface came as a rude shock after the smooth highway. Ruby clutched her seatbelt as the car’s tyres bounced along the dirt road. Just as she began to question Zeke’s assurances about Paradise Inn, he turned into a gravelled road that led to a wide circular driveway and pulled up in front of a whitewashed plantation-style mansion that could have come straight out ofGone With The Wind. Blooming vines of flowering wisteria climbed its graceful columns, winding around the sides of the house and framing the roof of a wide, shaded porch filled with colourful potted plants.
‘Here we are, MissRuby,’ Zeke announced. ‘This is Paradise Inn. I know MissIda will take good care of you and young Jake.’
Jake flung open his door and was out of the car in seconds, and Ruby quickly followed his lead. While Zeke went to fetch their suitcases from the boot, she stared in wonder at the elegant house, which, even at first sight, was more than worthy of its name. She spun around in delight to take in the beautifully maintained green lawns surrounded by tall trees with widely spread branches. Birds with bright plumage chirruped in the quiet as they darted between the lush flowering shrubs planted around the house, adding to the serene tranquillity of the setting.This place is absolute heaven!
Lost in her surroundings, it took Ruby a few moments to register the small, slightly built woman in a coral-pink dress and an orange sun hat emerging from behind the house. After exchanging a few words with Zeke, the woman walked over to Ruby, pulling off a well-worn gardening glove and extending a slender hand in greeting.
‘Welcome to Paradise Inn. I’m Ida Hastings, and this is my home.’ She beamed as her gaze darted from Ruby to Jake, who had wandered further down the drive. ‘Zeke tells me you and your boy need a place to stay?’
The broad brim of her hat shaded dark, twinkling eyes in a honey-brown face adorned with a sprinkling of darker freckles. Instantly drawn to her warmth, Ruby returned the woman’s smile and shook the outstretched hand.
‘Hello, MsHastings. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ruby Lamont and’ – she broke off and gestured impatiently to Jake, who ran over to stand beside her – ‘and this is my son, Jake. Your house is– it’s simplyexquisite! We’d love to stay here if you’ll have us.’
‘That’s no problem, sweetheart,’ she replied, chuckling at the naked plea in Ruby’s voice. ‘And just so you know, I’m plain MissIda to everyone.’ She gave Jake’s shoulder a gentle pat before adding, ‘Zeke will bring in your bags. Let’s get inside and I’ll fetch you something to drink while we fix up a room for you real quick.’
Ruby tried to place the twang of MissIda’s accent, but before she could give it much thought, the woman shooed them up the short flight of steps leading to the porch and ushered them through tall double front doors into a large hallway lined with indoor plants. Despite its grandeur, the house felt instantly welcoming, the gently whirring fans suspended from the high ceiling creating a pleasantly cool contrast to the tropical heat. The creamy white walls displayed an eclectic mix of vividly colourful contemporary art while the black-and-white tiled floor was spotless.
MissIda excused herself, and Jake ran over to the reception desk close to a sweeping staircase where Zeke stood waiting by their suitcases, his jaw working the ever-present gum in his mouth.
Ruby was so relieved Zeke had found them such a beautiful place to stay that she almost hugged him. Instead, she scrabbled in her bag for the envelope of crisp dollar notes she had exchanged before leaving London.
‘Honestly, Zeke, I can’t thank you enough for bringing us here! Paradise Inn is gorgeous, and MissIda seems lovely. How much do I owe you for the ride?’
Zeke named his price and Ruby counted out the dollars and handed them over with a generous tip. Folding the notes, he thrust them into the front pocket of his shirt and tipped his hat in thanks.
MissIda returned soon afterwards. She had removed her hat and gloves, and was carrying a tray bearing glasses and a full jug. ‘You folks must be thirsty after your trip. Come on into the parlour and have a glass of my special sorrel drink while I fix your room.’
She paused to eye the suitcases by the front desk. ‘Zeke, take those bags up to the Cloud Room and then come get a drink before you go.’
Zeke picked up one of the suitcases and headed for the stairs while Ruby and Jake followed MissIda through a door leading from the hallway into a room with high ceilings and polished dark wood floors. Ruby’s first impression was of a riot of colour; from the brightly woven rugs covering the floorboards to the rich, jewel-toned, overstuffed sofas and armchairs, and multicoloured lampshades. The tall bookcases filled with books immediately gave the large room a warm, homely feel. Amidst all the colour, Ruby’s eyes were instantly drawn to a gallery of framed black-and-white photographs mounted on a wall, and while MissIda set the contents of the tray on to a side table, she wandered over for a closer look.
‘I’m no expert, but these photographs are stunning!’ she exclaimed.
MissIda came over to join her and scrutinised the images with a pensive expression as if seeing them for the first time. ‘Marty, my late husband, took these before we left Louisiana almost forty years ago.’
That explains the accent, thought Ruby, immediately wondering why Marty and MissIda had decamped to this faraway island.
‘What brought you to Sorrel Island?’ The words spilled out before Ruby could help herself, and she flushed with embarrassment. ‘I’m so sorry! It’s none of my business and I’m just being nosey.’
Clearly not offended, MissIda smiled and patted Ruby’s arm reassuringly. ‘Marty took his camera everywhere and he loved taking shots of people when they didn’t know he was doing it. He always said people were more themselves when they didn’t think anyone was watching.’
She pointed to a close-up of a muscular man with a blond crew cut smiling into the eyes of a young woman who was clearly MissIda. ‘That’s the only picture Marty didn’t take himself.’
‘He’s gorgeous,’ Ruby observed with an approving smile. ‘No wonder you fell in love with him.’
MissIda chuckled. ‘I adored him, but Louisiana in the late sixties wasn’t a safe place for couples like us. After Marty quit the army and we had Martin Junior, things got even worse, and we knew we had to get out of the States. One of Marty’s army buddies had told him about Sorrel Island while he was overseas on tour and later Jimmy helped us come out here for a visit. Sorrel Island is a magic place, Ruby, and the first day we got here, we knew this was where we wanted to stay and make a fresh start for our family. We sold everything we had in Louisiana and used Marty’s inheritance from his late uncle to buy the land and build Paradise House. It took us a while, but this house has been my home ever since. WhenMarty died, I changed the name to Paradise Inn and now it’s also my business.’
