“What’s wrong, Sarah?” Mrs. Green looked at me with a frown. “You look sad.”
“Oh, I’m fine.” I smiled at her. “I was just thinking about life.”
“Are you still thinking about Laurie and Jo?” She smiled at me warmly.
“No.” I paused. “I get it now. There are many types of love. And sometimes settling for friends is better than nothing at all.”
“Wise woman.” She nodded. “Not many people understand that.”
“Can I ask you something?” I asked her bravely as Harry chatted to his dad about some business deal.
“Of course, dear.”
“Is it hard seeing John the butler every day when you are married to Mr. Green?”
“No, not really. Why?” She smiled at me confused.
“Harry told me about you and him being in love and you only being with his dad because of the money.”
“What are you talking about, my dear?” She looked at me puzzled.
“Harry heard you and John speaking.”
“He heard what? Oh. Oh. Oh dear.” Mrs. Green sighed. “Yes, John and I dated years ago but I fell in love with my husband and left him. Harry most probably heard me telling John that I would always love him as my friend and that I was so lucky to have him in my life. Oh dear.” She sighed. “This explains a lot.”
I looked at her in shock. “Oh wow, so he misunderstood?”
“Yes, he did. As he does reguarly. Harry doesn’t always think through everything before he acts—he’s a bit hotheaded.” She laughed. “But you can help take care of that.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I started.
“I can see how in love you two are, it makes me very happy to see a woman like you adore my son.”
“Yes, I do adore him.” I sighed and looked at him laughing with his dad, his blue eyes sparkling.
“Shall we eat?” She linked arms with me and the four of us sat down at the table.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Harry whispered in my ear after we ordered a dish called saltfish.
“I was just thinking how beautiful it is here.” I gazed out at the pool and the coconut trees surrounding it. “It’s so peaceful.”
“A lot different from New York, huh?”
“Yes,” I murmured. “It’s like another world.”
“Being with you is liking being in another world.” Harry smiled at me tenderly.
“Is this the part where you want me to contact someone?” I joked. “Is it time for me to be a medium?”
“If you want.” He laughed.
“Yeah right. Your parents would think I’m crazy if I started channeling someone.” I grinned at him.
“I don’t care.”
“Yeah right.”
“Go ahead and see.” He winked at me.
“Ok.” I closed my eyes and starting humming loudly. “Uhm, uhm, uhm,” I sang out loudly and opened my eyes. Mr. and Mrs. Green were staring at me in surprise and I rolled my eyeballs. “I am looking for Rasta Ma Farian,” I spoke with a Jamaican accent, hoping that they wouldn’t notice it was different to the Trinidadian accent.
“Sorry what, Sarah?” Mr. Green leaned towards me with a frown.
“I am looking for Rasta Farian lala,” I sang again and Harry poked me.
“Excuse me, I thought you said Rasta Ma Farian before?”
“What?” I tried not to glare at him.
“Are you looking for Rasta Ma Farian or Rasta Farian lala?” He grinned.
“What’s going on here, Harry?” Mrs. Green looked at us puzzled.
“Sarah’s just practicing her acting.” Harry laughed.
“No, I am not. I’m channeling someone,” I interrupted in my own voice. “Oops.”
“Oh good job, dear.” Mrs. Green smiled at me.
“Thanks.” I glared at Harry.
“This is good a time as any, I think.” Harry grinned and cleared his throat. “I wanted to do this with my parents present because I think they thought this day would never come.” He paused and I looked at him in confusion. “Sarah Smith, I’ve never met a woman more quirky, kooky, or annoying. I’ve never met a woman so comfortable in her own skin, who makes me laugh, cry and frown.”
I felt my heart beating fast. Oh shit, I thought. He’s doing his fake proposal. He wants us to break up now, so he can go back to his true love Angelica. My mind blanked on the rest of his words as I tried not to cry and then he pulled the ring out of his pocket. And it was beautiful. A huge princess cut diamond with platinum gold. I loved it and I wanted to cry.
“Sarah Smith, will you do me the honor of marrying me?” Harry beamed at me and I burst into tears.
“No.” I jumped up and looked at his parents’ shocked faces. “No, no, no. It’s over,” I cried out and ran away from the table in tears. I looked back and saw the shock in Harry’s face and I thought to myself that maybe he was the one who should be an actor. He could certainly give me a run for my money. He played the devastated lover part well. I ran through the lobby of the hotel and waited by the elevator, unsure of where to go. I stood there crying and I felt his presence before he said a word.
“Sarah?” His tone was gentle and confused. “I think we need to talk.”
I looked up and saw Harry standing there with a concerned and loving look on his face. He looked manly and I just wanted him to hold me close to him.
“I have nothing to say.” I bit my lip. “I did what you wanted me to.”
“What?” He looked at me like I was crazy. “How did you just do what I wanted you to?”
“You wanted me to say no, so you could play the devastated boyfriend,” I cried out. “Well, now you can. And now you can run to Angelica’s arms.”
“Angelica?” He frowned. “Why would I run to her arms?”
“Because you love her,” I spat out in tears.
“Wait, what?” Harry stared down and me and then hit his hand to his forehead. “Oh my. Oh Sarah. You’ve got it all wrong.” He pulled me into his arms. “It’s you I love, you dope.”
“Wait, what?” I looked up at him through wet eyes. “You what?”
“Come, let’s go sit down.” He grabbed my hand and we went and sat next to the pool. “Oh Sarah!” He kissed me on the lips and I stared back at him in shock. “I love you, Sarah.”