Chapter 1
Kofi
IROLLED MY SHOULDERS, trying to relieve the tension tightening them. Every time I spoke to my mother, I came away feeling stressed. I loved my family, but the pressure to go home was getting to me.
Mama squinted at me from the phone screen. "When will you call again?"
She asked the same question every time we spoke, which was once every couple of weeks.
"Soon, Mama. I have to go now."
"I love you, son."
"Love you too, Mama."
I ended the call and got up to stretch. At least, she hadn't asked me when I was coming home. I'd been in America for the last fifteen years, where I'd been studying and working. I'd gotten my degree and done post graduate work in sports medicine and was on the verge of making another life-changing decision I hadn't mentioned to my family.
The cell phone rang, and I picked it up off the table.
Catherine Richmond's name appeared on the screen. She was a client I saw privately and knew she was trouble waiting to happen. She was well-to-do, White, married and on the prowl. I was a resident alien, Black and not looking to get killed by anybody's husband.
"Hi, Catherine. What can I do for you?"
"I'm calling to ask whether we could move our session up to one o' clock. Something came up and I'd prefer not to miss our work out."
"No problem," I said, "I'll see you in half an hour."
My gym bag was already packed, so all I had to do was get dressed and be on my way. While I pulled on my sweats, I thought about the changes I'd need to make in a couple of months if I took up an offer from a good friend I'd met in university.
Kemar's parents had money and he was doing well in his chosen field of finance. He was ready to diversify his interests and was working out the details for of his plan to go home to Jamaica and open a state-of-the-art gym. Kemar invited me to invest with him, but I wasn't sure I wanted to leave the States as yet. I was making good money and enjoying life after years of a work-study-work routine to keep myself fed and clothed, plus send money home to my parents.
I got my keys, picked up my bag and left the apartment, unlocking my Honda Civic Type R as I approached the sidewalk.
Catherine lived twenty minutes away in Pompano Beach, which meant she'd be ready when I got there.
The scenic ride was uneventful and I made it to my destination with a few minutes to spare. The two-story, hacienda-style house stood behind a perfect lawn and garden and had a great view of the waterfront.
Catherine greeted me at the front door and we wasted no time, since she'd already warmed up. I put her through the series of exercises I'd tailored for her and by the time we were finished, she was sweating hard. Her home gym was outfitted with the latest equipment for weight and resistance training and she made good use of everything she owned.
"I'll see you on Friday," Catherine said, reaching up to re-twist her brown hair into a knot once we completed her cooling down exercises.
I was prepared to let myself out, but she walked ahead of me to the doorway of the gym, where her shoulder brushed my chest when she faced me with a small flourish. A fruity perfume masked the odor of her sweat. The fact that I could still smell her meant we were standing too close.
I shifted as if to get past her. "I can let myself out."
"It's no trouble," she said, still standing in my path. Her fixed smile made me think she was deranged, but I knew better.
I wondered what her husband would say if he knew she was playing these games with the hired help. Catherine wasn't exactly obvious about what she was doing but having been in this situation a dozen times before, I knew exactly what she was thinking. I also knew what she wanted.
I glanced at my watch. "I have to go, so ... "
That got her moving, and I went past her, through a narrow corridor and into her living room.
Just in case she came up with any other delaying tactics, I fired up the engine and quickly pulled out of her driveway. The things people got up to when they had too much time and money to spare never ceased to amaze me. I pumped up the volume on the Marley CD I'd been listening to and forgot about Catherine. Friday was soon enough to think about her when I saw her again.
***
AFTER DUMPING MY THINGSinside my locker, I went to the weights room. Gina was the first person I noticed when I walked into the gym where I consulted and did specialized work. She was a half-Chinese girl from Jamaica, or what Americans called Blasian. When I first met her, I thought she was standoffish, but since then we got along great. We weren't bosom buddies, but enjoyed each other’s company. Gina and I talked about various things, including my country and hers.
