*****
In the brief time we were sitting around the table, I learned that Blake was a DJ at a local club not far from Simon’s house; Rachael was studying at the university and wanted to become a professor; Sharice’s mum and dad both worked in the tax office where they met; and Simon’s dad worked in insurance. The family was big, and the love was shared by all. It was so nice to be filled with such happiness and appreciation around the dinner table. It somehow made me feel like part of the family.
We were just finishing off our soup, when Simon’s mum came out with the jerked chicken. It looked simply delicious. “Here you go, darling,” Caroline beamed, handing me a plate. “Sharice has done a fine job with the chicken.”
With my knife and fork in hand, I smiled at Caroline. “I’m looking forward to tucking in.” She sat down next to me.
“Go on, baby girl. Tell me what you think.”
Smiling politely, I picked up some of the chicken with some rice and placed it in my mouth. The flavours that burst on my tongue were phenomenal. It was spicy, but not overly so. It was sweet, but not so much that it was overpowering. It was wonderful.
“Hmmm,” I hummed in approval as I chewed my food. “It’s jerktastic,” I smiled at Sharice.
Soon, everyone was tucking in. I was so engrossed in eating, I was actually one of the first ones to finish.
“It’s nice to see a girl with a healthy appetite.” Blake winked over at me, making me blush.
“It has to be one of the best meals I’ve ever tasted.”
“Don’t go saying that. You’ll give Sharice a big head,” Simon piped up, earning an elbow from his wife.
“He’s just jealous because he tried it once and he not only burned the chicken, but the rice, too.”
Rachael laughed. “How could you burn the rice, Simon?”
Simon shook his head. “I thought it took longer than what the packet said.”
“Well, you see, here’s the thing. He didn’t read the packet. He just shoved me out of the kitchen and told me he had it all under control. Soon, the fire alarms were going off all over the house, and Simon was running around like a headless chicken.”
Everyone laughed again. “Simon, you’re supposed to cook the chicken, not become a headless one,” Rachael snorted.
Simon looked over at Simeon and I. “You see the level of abuse I have to put up with here?”
“Maybe your family just likes to bring you down to earth occasionally, boss man.” Simeon winked and everyone clapped their hands, laughing.
“Too true, Stephen. Too true,” Blake answered.
The playful banter went on for a few more minutes until it was time for dessert. After the soup and jerked chicken, I didn’t think I had any room left. However, when I saw and smelled the ginger cake, I couldn’t resist.
“I’m really being spoiled this evening.” I burped silently, covering my mouth.
Caroline chuckled. “It’s another one of my recipes from home. I brought it with me.”
“It looks and smells delicious, Mrs. Bradley.”
“Child, you’re part of our family now. Call me Mama Caroline. That’s what everyone calls me around here. It seems to have followed me from Jamaica.”
“I’ve never been to Jamaica.”
Caroline smiled and looked off into the distance. “It’s a beautiful place, Cassie. You really should go one day. There are so many things happening and so many things to do. We had spring festivals, which would last for weeks. So much dancing, so much happiness.”
“Why does that seem to make you sad?”
She looked over to me with a smile and patted my arm. “Nothing gets by you, does it, child? It’s unfortunate, but there are too many killings. Once it got close to home, we had to move. Little did I know that we were no safer here than at home, especially after what happened to Molly.”
I squeezed her arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Life is what it is, dear child. No one can say things would have been different if we had made different choices. Despite what happened with Molly, we have been happy here. Simon has made a success of himself, and Desmond and I are very proud of him.”
“I imagine you are, Mama Caroline,” I smiled.
“You’re a good girl, Cassie. I can tell you are.” Then she did the one thing I was dreading all night. She placed her hand on mine.
I saw her sorrow straight away. Her brother was shot and killed in Jamaica. They were very close and it tore her apart. She loved Jamaica, but that was lost the day her brother died.
Then something else hit. “Mama Caroline, you have to go to the hospital.”