Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
She led the way while the rest of the family trailed behind her.
Troi and Onyx were holding hands, stealing kisses from each other every few moments.
Kian was perched atop his father’s neck, taking in the sights of the market.
Yanna filled the middle with Kas holding onto her as if she’d disappear at any moment.
“Tender ass nigga,” Quan clowned. He was lagging behind the group along with Kalil, walking slowly with a rag covering his forehead.
The night before, he’d made the mistake of mixing tequila and vodka, and the hangover was kicking his ass.
He’d wanted to stay at the villa, stretched out on the plush king-sized bed, but he had to honor his aunt’s attendance request.
“Mind yo’ business, muh’fucka!”
“Kasra!” Layla called sternly.
“My bad, mumma.”
“Aye, something smell good, huh?” Kalil enquired as the smell of flying fish and cou-cou assaulted his senses.
“Hell yea, it does. I think it’s coming from over there.” Onyx pointed out a table that looked like they were selling food. “Y’all trying to go over?”
Kalil, Quan and Kas all nodded, commenting on how they were all hungry. Layla didn’t see how that was possible because they’d all eaten before leaving the house. “Well, come find us when y’all are done stuffing your faces. We’ll be over there checking out some artwork.”
The group split with the guys venturing off for food.
The ladies stopped and purchased fresh tropical fruit before making their way to the area where artwork and handmade jewelry was being sold.
Layla quickly became captivated by a specific artist’s work and stopped to ask questions about a few pieces that caught her eye.
Yanna wasn’t really into fine art and hired an interior decorator for all her home décor needs, so she wasn’t too pressed.
In truth, she was regretting not going with the guys because she could’ve stood to eat again.
Brunch had been filling, but she’d always had a big appetite.
“Ooh, this one is nice. This would look good in the foyer of our house, wouldn’t it?” Troi asked, pointing to a Sheena Rose painting.
“I guess.” Yanna shrugged. “It matches if that’s what you’re asking, you know I’m not really into art.”
“I forget all the art on your walls come from Wayfair.”
“And I’m okay with that. What I really need is a damn phone, there’s no T-Mobile store on this island?”
“I highly doubt it. Besides, I don’t think you lost your phone. It’s probably somewhere in that house. When’s the last time you had it?”
“I honestly don’t even remember. It was either right before we went to the Foreday Jam or sometime during. That’s why I’m thinking I dropped it or something.”
“I still say it’s in the house. I’ll help you look when we get back, and if not, we’ll just get you a new one when we get back to the States.”
“Yea, I’m not that pressed for real. I just know my mumma probably blowing me up though.”
“Auntie will be okay. If she really needs something, she’ll call her sister.” Troi spoke of her own mother. Yanna nodded but knew things were never that easy when it concerned her mother, Janis. “Excuse me, I’d like to purchase this painting right here,” Troi pointed.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I have that same one back home,” a voice called from behind Troi and Yanna. They turned to find a gorgeous woman with an equally gorgeous man holding a painting of her own.
“Oh, yes, it is. I was just telling my cousin how good it would look in our Foyer back home too.”
“We put ours in the family dining room. My husband is from here, so we have a whole collection of paintings from Bajan artists around the house.”
“Oh really? That’s so cool, this is my first time here, but I love it.”
“We come a lot, but yea the island is so beautiful. I’m sorry if this is weird, I didn’t notice it when we first started talking but… you’re Munroe, aren’t you?”
“She is!” Yanna beamed, always excited when her cousin was recognized. Troi still refused to accept that although she may not have been internationally known like Onyx, she was still a celebrity in her own right.
“I thought so, it’s so nice to meet you. Even though it was only the one song, I absolutely loved it and still keep it on my daily playlist. We live in VA also. This is my husband.”
Everyone exchanged pleasantries, making idle chat about Virginia, the island and Cropover while Troi completed her purchase. Layla, who’d been marveling over her painting at the other table, finally came over when Troi called for her attention.
“Oh, I’m sorry. This painting is so beautiful, it had me mesmerized.
.. I ” Layla’s words became lodged in her throat when she finally laid eyes on the couple.
She found the man to be extremely attractive and could automatically tell he had ties to the island.
He wasn’t what had her stuck, however. It was the cocoa skinned beauty tucked protectively at his side.
Her smooth complexion, innocent doe eyes and enamoring smile were reminiscent of someone she once knew.
Coincidences and the smallness of the world weren’t concepts lost on Layla, but this was too much.
It couldn’t be her. However, the longer Layla studied the face of the woman, wondering how neither Troi nor Yanna noticed the familiarity of her features, she knew it was.
The shock of it all rendered her immobile, causing the painting she’d been reveling over to slip from her grasp.
The basket of fruit she’d been clutching under her arm tumbled along with it, causing the crop to splatter at her feet.
“Mumma Lay, are you okay?” Troi questioned, concerned.
After retrieving her painting from the ground, Layla stood and offered a quick smile, gaze lingering on the woman for a few moments. “Oh, um, y-yea, whew, I’m sorry. I’m just a little tired is all.”
“Here, let me get that fruit up for you,” the man offered.
“Oh no, it’s okay, really, I got it.”
“Nonsense. I got it.”
Layla didn’t offer further rebuttal as she let the gentleman scoop up the fruit with his hands and toss them into a nearby trashcan.
“Oh wow, you picked a beautiful painting as well,” the beauty commented, noticing the painting in Layla’s hand. “You know what? It’s funny, but I think that painting is actually a part of a set.”
“Really? I didn’t uh, I didn’t s-see another one that could’ve matched.”
“That’s because I’m pretty sure my father bought it. He’s not into art, but I’m trying to change that, so I picked the piece out for him.”
“Your… your f-father?”
“Yea, he’s around here somewhere… the family was all here for me and my husband’s vow renewal. Let me see if I can find him, maybe he’ll be willing to give up the other piece to your set.”
“No! I mean, uh, silly me… I just remembered I left the oven on back at the house. Girls, we have to go, NOW!”
“Oh no, well it was nice meeting you all.”
“You too, enjoy the rest of your trip!” Layla replied before practically shoving Troi and Yanna away.
She had to find her boys and get the hell out of dodge asap.
She needed a minute to herself to sit down and figure out her next step.
Today had been confirmation that things in her life were about to change drastically.
Not knowing if it would be for the better or worse was the part that nearly scared her to tears.
After their abrupt departure from the market, the group returned to the villa to relax and regroup.
Layla had disappeared somewhere in the villa by herself, while everyone else had ventured out to the pool.
Kalil was still feeling the effects of his hangover and was laid atop an inflatable, aimlessly floating around the pool.
Quan was also in the pool, resting against the sides while he scrolled through his phone.
Troi and Onyx occupied an outdoor daybed; her head rested against his shoulder as he fed her Bajan cherries and mangos.
Each time she bit into a piece of the tropical fruit, he caught the juices with his tongue, leading to sensual kisses.
Meanwhile, Yanna and Kas took residence on another lounger.
Kian was with them, using Yanna’s neck as an anchor to do some sort of swing move he’d seen Miles Morales do.
“Ow, boy, what the hell?” Yanna fussed as Kian locked his arms around her neck and ran up her chest like he was scaling a building.
“Come on, Ki, chill out, man. Look what you doing to yo auntie.” Kas fussed, noticing the red mark he’d left on Yanna’s chest. “You can’t be all rough with the ladies like that, you tripping.
Fine shit like this, you gotta be nice and gentle with, you gotta appreciate it, not abuse it.
” He schooled, placing kisses on the bruised area of Yanna’s chest.
“Ewww!” Kian scrunched his face, finding the act of his uncle kissing on his auntie Yanna to be nasty.
“Aye, don’t be doing all that shit in front of my son.”
“Oh, now you got eyes, Nyx. Like you ain’t just see Boosie Bad ass using me as a human tree.”
“I didn’t see a damn thing, I’m on break. Ki, you playing nice with yo auntie?” Unable to convey his answer verbally, Kian nodded his head. “He said he was being good, Yanna, don’t be lying on my son.”
“Really, Ki? You want me to show your daddy what you did to my chest?” In response to her question, Kian leaned forward and kissed her bruise the same way he’d seen his uncle do. “Aww, see you too much like your uncle already.”
“Aye, back up off my girl, phew.” Kas playfully grabbed Kian up to get him away from Yanna.
“Ugh!” Kalil grumbled, slowly rising from his inflatable. “Y’all annoying as hell, I gotta get out of here. Somebody gave me a flyer for a Cropover party tonight at some bar by the beach. We should go because I’m tired of watching y’all caking and molesting each other.”
“I ain’t really trying to go nowhere. I got a couple things I need to tell Yanna.”