Mystery Island chapter two

   The sky was an amazing array of light blue, pink and yellow as the sunset on the island. The air was warm and inviting, giving the perfect mood for a romantic evening.




   Marla was a very beautiful woman in her mid 30's. She had blonde hair and blue eyes with super long lashes that curled up. She was tall and had a perfect figure that she could attibute a long run on the beach every morning to. She had married a very wealthy oil man who was about twenty five years older. She did not marry him for his money, like everyone assumed. Marla really loved Lawrence Applegate. He was a very caring man who had treated her like a lady, not like someone to just take advantage of. He was a protector of her, a provider, someone who actually cared what she was thinking, being willing to listen.




   It still hurt thinking about him, the way he died with the cancer. She had nursed him staying by his side throughout the whole ordeal. The pain she felt in her heart when he breathed his last breath was a feeling she never wanted to have to feel again. That is why she vowed to herself to never have another serious relationship. From here on out it would just be just playful friendships.




   Lawrence had left her with millions. She never had to worry about money with three houses in different parts of the world and the huge bank account, not to mention the investments that Lawrence had made with his savvy business sense.




   The two talked as they walked down the way to the beach mansion. Marla had decided to live here on the Island because it was where she and Lawrence had spent so many happy moments together.




 “Wow, is this your house?” Jesse said with amazement in his voice.




 “Yes, it is."


 "Do you mind me asking what you do for a living? Are you a celebrity or something?”




 “No, I was married to a very wealthy oil man. He passed away about a year and a half ago. He left me very financially comfortable.” She said with the fond memories of Lawrence filling her mind.




 “I am sorry for your loss, Ma'am.” Jesse said with sincerity in his voice.




 “Let's get something straight, My mama is Ma'am. Since she's not here you can call me Marla, got it?” Marla told him more an order than a request.




 “Yes, I mean, Okay, Marla.” Jesse stumbled over his own words.




 “Now, let's go inside and I will give you a tour.” She opened the front door of the foyer.

 “Natasha” she called as she entered the foyer.




 “Yes, Mrs. Applegate, What can I do for you and your guest?” a young woman who appeared to be German dressed in a black and white maids uniform asked.




 “This is Jesse McMillan. He is going to be staying in the pool cabana for a time. Could you make sure there are fresh linens in the bedroom and in the bathroom for him, please. I am going to give him a tour and then we are going to relax by the pool. If you could get serve our dinner by the pool when you have finished with the cabana, that would be great.” Marla ordered but in a kind way.




 “Yes, Mrs. Applegate, I will take care of it.” Natasha said.




 “Thank you dear, that will be all for now.” Marla said dismissed her and turned to Jesse. “How about that tour, now? Come, let me show you the upstairs first, then we will make our way back down and out to the pool.”




 Marla led the way and Jesse followed. The house was amazing. There were huge picture windows in each room facing the ocean. After they had toured the upstairs and downstairs, they made their way out to the pool. “So, what do you think of it all?” Marla asked as if she were generously interested in what Jesse thought of the place. What could anyone think of the place except that it was amazing. The rich life that most people only dream of having.




 “It is very nice and luxurious. I have never stayed anywhere like this before. Thank you for your generous offer to let me stay in the cabana. I will take good care of the lawn and pool. You want be disappointed.”Jesse promised.




 “Oh, I am not at all worried about being disappointed. You strike me as being a hard worker. I would not have invited you to stay if I felt like there was a chance that I would be let down. You remind me of someone I use to know who just needed someone to give them a chance.” Marla stopped with a far away look in her eyes. She didn't say anymore about the person that he had reminded her of. He didn't want to press the subject, she would tell him more later if she wanted to.




  The two talked well into the night with the pool lights and lights from the boats out on the ocean flickering. Finally, Jesse said , “ I am sad to end this evening. I really have enjoyed your company. But, I am worn out from all the traveling. I think I need to turn in and catch some shut eye.”




  “Of course, You must be exhausted. I just kept rambling on and didn't stop to think about how tired you must be. Please, get some rest and if you need anything at all, let me know. I haven't had anyone here to visit in so long, I guess I got carried away. I apologize for talking your ear off.” She said with here sweet, sultry voice.




  He thought about how beautiful she was in the candlelight. Her hair was blonde and short. Her eyes were the prettiest shade of sky blue. They shined like gems. She kind of reminded him of Marilyn Monroe.




  “I enjoyed talking to you, Marla. You don't need to apologize for a thing. Good night. See you in the morning.” He said to her.




“Good night, sleep well.” She stood up from the lounge chair and walked into the sliding glass door of the living room just off the patio. He turned towards the cabana going inside when he reached the door.




  When Marla got into bed all she could think about was Jesse and how attracted she was to him. She would be the talk of the island once more. Everyone had talked about how she must have married Lawrence for his money with him being so much older than her. Now, they would talk about her entertaining such a younger man at her place. Well, Marla had never been one to care what people thought of her. She did what made her happy and didn't let other people push their views off on her. She tried to go to sleep, but she just kept tossing and turning. She remembered how nice looking her was as he told her about his dream to become a singer. He said that he had come to the island to write his own music. To be inspired by the beauty of the ocean without a lot of distractions.




  Marla wondered if she was going to be a distraction to him. She already knew he was a distraction to her. She hadn't pried into his past like she wanted to. He told her he was from the states and that he had been adopted at birth by great parents. They were missionaries in Zambawe now. He decided to leave there and find a place where he could find himself. He had searched for his birth parents failing to find much of anything out about them.




  Jesse was exhausted and somehow he could not go to sleep. He lay in bed tossing and turning. The bed in the little cabana was comfortable enough. He thought he would have no trouble at all going to sleep, but his mind kept replaying the conversation with Marla. She was such a beautiful woman, warm and kind. He knew that he was a lot younger than her, but she was so easy to talk to and funny. He had meant what he had told her about enjoying their talk. She took a risk allowing some young guy she didn't even know to come stay at her place. He was going to make sure that he did a good job for her to let her know how much he apprectiated her generosity.