Thirteen - Connection

"Hi Ms Alexander, can you treat a driver to a nice juicy fresh salad from Pendy's," Jason said across the parking lot.

"Hah you are the one employed Jason and just came back from a truncated weekend in Negril."

"Yes, thanks to you I could have been relaxing on a beach in Negril, by the way what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be at dinner just about now?"

"That is Alexander business, right now Sienta is hungry and need some food my brother, then to look at that place."

"By the time we eat here and go across the water to my place in Portmore, aren't you afraid the door at home will be locked?"

"I don't understand you Jason, weren't you the one that pushed me out of the car at the Oasis a few days ago? Why would I want to go home tonight, just because my father is here? That is why I am pushing to have my own key."

"Does that mean that I will be bringing you back to Kingston after we finish in Portmore Sienta? I was actually thinking that we could hit a new club I heard that was recently opened in the Sunshine city."

"Are you crazy Jason, you are asking me out, do you want my mother to have my head to be out having a fun time with her toy boy?"

She thought about it for a while and with a sly smile she said come to think about it why not, I need to dance and dance. I can't find another man that makes me enjoy dancing as much. She knew she was lying as Nathan came to mind in an instant. He was off limits but so was Jason. However, Jason was her friend, and she could think of no other reason but to spite her mother right now.

"Sure Jason, let's do that, feed me and then look at the place followed by dancing the night away after all, the night is young and so are we."

Jason could not contain his laughter as the patrons in the store turned to look at the hot mixed couple and some of the women glared at him for his choice of mate.

"What? Am I not allowed to laugh if my woman gives me a joke, isn't Jamaica a free country?" he asked loudly. "Honey, I told you we should have stayed uptown and not come down on the flats."

"Shh! be quiet Jason, next minute they will believe that I am unable to cook and start stereotyping the interracial couple. If he had a regular Jamaica woman, she would be able to cook him a decent plate of food instead of carrying to Pendy's for a meal."

"I am sorry but it's true Sienta, you can't cook to save your life."

"Jason, you are so cruel, have I never given you anything to eat?"

"Yes, I think once you gave me a jam sandwich, but your mummy says that you burn water."

"Jeez, what does my mother really know about me Jason? When I hear about her these days it just makes me want to scream but come to think of it, they both deserve each other. It seems my parents are like two peas in a pod."

"What are you talking about Sienta?"

"Never mind Jason, just feed me."

She had no idea how hungry she was until she realised that she had eaten her off her burger and had reached between Jason's thighs to retrieve the hot fries and shovelled it into her mouth while he was starting the car.

"Sienta," he gasped. "You could have asked I would have given it to you, if you were that desperate."

"I am not desperate. I was just hungry, and the sandwich did not even shake my hunger. I know I should be upset with you Jason because of what you did with my mother, but I find myself understanding life a little better after this evening and realising that there are no absolutes or black and whites in this life. That it is in the grey areas that a lot of the decisions or actions in our lives are based. I was blaming you for taking advantage of a lonely woman that was seeking comfort and not realising that it could have been you that was being taken advantage of and the spinoff to keep your mouth shut was the place in Shortwood."

"Sienta, I am glad that the scales from your eyes have been removed, because I wanted to say something to you for the longest while, I know I should not have allowed it to happen, but the urge got the better of me."

"I know Jason, but you are a man I would not have expected you to have much resistance after all my mummy is well maintained and looks good for her age. That is why I had to confront her about it. You know the result of that confrontation."

"So Sienta, does this mean there can be nothing happening between us?"

"Hell, no Jason, there is no way I could know that my Mummy fixed you up and then be involved with you, no matter how much I liked you."

"Hey, I am from the streets Sienta, and I strongly believe that you should, seek yea first the mother and the daughter will be added unto you."

"Shit Jason, that is a good one, but no way could I feel comfortable being with you in an intimate way. I have managed to focus on the positive things in our friendship and relied on the secrets we shared before this entire thing happened."

"I would not have told anyone else about the experience with your mother, Sienta if it weren't the fact that you are my best friends. It bothered my head for a while until I confirmed your suspicions. I could have denied it and moved on my life, but me and my big mouth, if I knew I had a chance with you Sienta I would have kept my big mouth shut," Jason said.

"Well now you know, Jason that is why I can reach between your legs and take whatever I want and there is absolutely nothing that you are able to do about it," Sienta replied.

"Don't mistake kindness for meekness, anyhow I got an opportunity I would have taken it and I will not promise that I won't try," Jason flashed a smile as he replied.

"Hah so let's talk business, we are almost in Portmore I can't believe we are almost at the toll booth already, I guess the conversation distracted me from noticing the traffic or the distance from Pendy's to here, but how did we really get here so quickly?" Sienta asked.

"I drove through the ghetto Sienta, didn't you notice the zinc fences?" Jason asked.

"I just told you Jason I was just so caught up talking to you that I noticed nothing, so tell me about this place of yours and can't I get a discount on the rent after all I am your best friend."

"I told you already Sienta Alexander don't mistake kindness for weakness, why would I give you a discount as a friend, you are not my woman?"

"Dude if I were your woman, I would not be paying rent to you at all."

"You are not my woman yet. Hah Hah Jason!"

"It's a two-bedroom detached unit with all the bells and whistles that I spent time and fixed it up to my liking with a jacuzzi and a king-sized waterbed ed. I assume that you want it furnished because I have nowhere to move the furniture. The only discount I would give you is the security deposit. The good thing is that my place is near the sea on the back road, and it was one of those cottages that got upgraded as part of that development. It's gated with security," Jason replied.

"I never knew you owned a unit in that upscale development, but I like the idea of a safe and secure community by the sea the sound of the waves can make me relax after a rough day. You know what I saw the online sales videos of that place and I can take your word for it Jason. I will take it. Let go straight to that new club you were talking about earlier," Sienta replied surprisingly.

"It even has a pool, a supermarket a jogging trail and a police post so I know that you will be safe, and the residents are mostly young professionals for the demographics would suit you quite well Sienta. By the way do you realise that we do look fantastic together and could be that young couple living next door.

"Hey, I am not the one who spoiled it remember, my parents want me married to some fuddy duddy guy in a Juice Company and you went and allowed my mother seduce you and ruined any hope of a future with me Jason."

"The thing with life is that we never know what the future might hold so there is nothing wrong if I still held out some hope. I have prayed about it and waited patiently for a response from God."

"What Jason, you actually pray and believe in God?"

"Sienta people make mistakes in their lives, but it does not mean that they are condemned forever, they have a chance to change and obtain their dreams if they work hard at it. Look at me, the car, I am from Whitfield Town, an expensive car and I own an elegant house uptown even if was provided by a 'sugar momma' as a bribe to keep quiet. I have dreamt many nights to being found worthy of your respect and affection Sienta Alexander."

"So, what took you so long Jason to say something, we have been through a lot together and I have watched you grow into a man, cleaning up your image as you educate, elevate yourself from whence you sprang, but I can't get over what my mother did. Plus, if I am to realise my father's dream I must marry up in the society, not down."

"You're full of shit Sienta, the choice is yours, why do you believe that you must give in to the wishes of your parents. Just because that I was told by my grandmother that children should obey their parents so that their days may be long on this earth, and I want to live forever."

"Yes, but you don't have to throw away your life and marry someone you hardly know Sienta."