Love Thy Neighbour - Annecia Ellies (autobiographies to read .TXT) 📗

to get something to eat as he had a few minutes to spare. Filipe boarded the Airline and was happy for the opportunity to finally experience Tobago. He spent the short flight reading the latest issue of the Caribbean Beat magazine. When the Flight Attendant asked everyone to buckle up to prepare for landing Filipe looked out the window at the little Island below. The aircraft landed and he got off with the other passengers, he saw a number of taxis in the area so he walked up to one and gave him the address on the piece of paper he had in his hands. The driver told him sixty dollars and he went into the car.

Morgan sat in the meeting listening to Mr. Bunting finish his idea of what he wanted in the party. As they spoke he told her he knew her mom and have been to the Bookstore and the bakery a couple of times.

Three of the company’s employees were retiring so the company decided to have a party to celebrate as they were all favored greatly throughout. The gathering will have approximately one hundred and ten persons attending. She saw when Filipe called her but was at the moment discussing the itinerary. Zoe was discussing the menu with Mr. Lawrence and showing him some photos of simple decoration styles which they can use for the event. By the end of the meeting Mr. Buntings was glad he had made the decision to hire the company to do the event for them. They will have to use the available resources in Tobago and that was well enough for him. After the meeting Zoe and Morgan went to Gulf City mall in Lambeau to get something to eat, as they had yet to go collect the decorations and speak with the caterers before they can call it a day.

 

The taxi dropped Filipe at the front of the house. He paid the driver and told him to keep the change. He then walked up to the front door, he looked around for a doorbell but didn’t see any so he knocked at the door. He got no immediate answer, so after about thirty seconds he knocked again. The door swung open and a middle aged woman in a blue three quarter jeans and a t shirt saying ‘what’s up duck’ answered the door. Looking at her face he saw Morgan in years to come. She looks just like she does in the photo Morgan showed him when there in Chaguaramas. Even though she looked like her father a lot, he can see where she got her beauty from. Dawn stood there transfixed, looking at him wondering if it was Filipe or some lost soul looking for directions to the nearby hotel.

“Bonjour Ma’am, I know I’m expected later but…”

“Filipe?” Dawn said amusement showing in her eyes. He was as handsome as Morgan said he was, and those very, very blue eyes were staring at her expectedly.

“Yes Ma’am, It’s …”

“Please, don’t stand there come on inside.”

He stepped inside and placed his knap sack on the floor by the door.

“Don’t leave that there son, bring it inside here.” She said leading him into the living room.

Filipe followed her and put the bag where she told him to. She then stood back and looked him over, from head to foot. Filipe got a bit nervous under her gaze but then relaxed when she gave him a bright smile.

“Please have a seat. I’m sure Morgan was expecting you much later this evening.” She said

“Yes, I decided to take an early flight down instead. How are you er…?”

“Dawn, please call me Dawn. I’m well, I was just about to put some chicken in the oven to bake”

“Please, don’t let me be a bother, I am very efficient in the kitchen so I can assist you.”

“No you will not, but you can come and sit in here and have something to drink while we chat, did you have lunch?”

“I picked up something at the Airport while I was waiting.”

“Well, I will bring you some cake and wine while we wait for this to finish. I’ve been in the garden all morning so I’m now finishing my cooking. Sit there and tell me about yourself. How was your flight?”

“Morgan wasn’t kidding when she said it was a short flight, but it was comfortable.” He chuckled, and her heart leapt in her chest. The very blue eyes laughed as he did and a deep cleft appeared in his chin. His dark brown hair was a bit disheveled as though he just ran his fingers through it. Her daughter sure knew how to pick them, she thought. He told her a little about himself, and when he spoke about his mother she saw the love in his eyes. He told her a little about his work, the magazines and his love for real estate. Somehow Caleth’s name jumped into the conversation and he found himself talking about him as he would a brother he was very fond of. Dawn put a glass of homemade rice wine in front of him with a slice of chocolate cake.

“So how long do you plan to stay in Trinidad and Tobago Filipe?”

“I will be back and forth, I’m always travelling for work so now that I found these beautiful islands I will be here quite often. The Café will be my baby here as I will take a personal interest in it. I have an apartment in the same place as Morgan does.”

“Who stays there while you’re away?”

“I’m hoping that I won’t be away too long at any time so I won’t have to worry about that.”

“Hmm, ok.” She aid nodding.

“What do you want to know about me?”

“Morgan said you met online, and spent some time together when you came down previously. I’m wondering if you’re really interested in her as friends or if it has grown into something more since.”

“I will not mislead you in any way Dawn, the day I met your daughter something inside me clicked. It was as if it was supposed to happen. I told her I’m interested in being more than a friend to her as I like her very much. Very, very much if I may add, I’m glad we’re having this conversation, as it was my intention to come to meet you so you can be assured that I’m not playing with her emotions.”

“Hmm, very well. You seem like a straight forward guy and from what Morgan said about you, I’m glad to meet you Filipe. Tell me more about what you do.”

Filipe gave her a rundown of what has happened so far at the Café and gave her some stories about when he opened the one in New York. He also told her some stories about travelling to Australia and Italy and spoke a little about one of his hobbies, photography. She smiled sweetly when he told her that he played the saxophone.

When he finished Dawn told him, “Any friend of my daughter is a friend of mine Filipe. You look like a nice guy and it’s really great to meet you.

“By the way, what is in this glass you gave me?” Filipe asked her a bit puzzled, heading back to his seat.

“Rice wine, homemade rice wine, it’s just something we locals do here, you can get a variety of homemade wines if you stick around. That is one of my favorite.”

He smiled then said, “I know it’s a wine but for the life of me I couldn’t figure it out. I can swear it’s heading straight to my brain. Don’t you worry, I do plan to stick around for a very long time.”

He finished his cake and drink and they continued chatting for some time.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty Three

 

 

After getting almost everything together Morgan called her mom. Dawn and Filipe had just moved into the living room when the house telephone rang, she arose and went to answer it.

“Hi mom, are you cooking or should I pick something up for later. I know I disabled you by borrowing your car.”

“Nonsense girl, I’m almost done cooking and I can borrow Winnie car if I need to so don’t worry your pretty little head about it, how was it by the way?”

“Oh, it was great, we’re almost through planning. Quite frankly I don’t even think we may have to do anything tomorrow so it will just be to organize the stuff on Thursday and do the actual party on Friday.”

“Oh ok.” Dawn said, then thought about telling her that Filipe was here but decided against it. Instead she said, “I have a little surprise for you when you get here though,”

“Aww, mom, you don’t go through any trouble for me you know.”

“No trouble honey” she said looking at Filipe as he watched a local program, “No trouble at all. So see you later ok”

“I should be there by five or so.”

“Ok, honey, until then, be safe.”

“Bye mom.”

She put the receiver on the hook hanging on the wall and went back to sit.

“Do you want me to take you to where you’re staying? Winnie is expecting you, but just later on. You can stay here if you’re comfortable, or I can take you there if you need to lie down or anything. Morgan will be here around five.”

“Oh, ok, actually I’m comfortable here, thank you very much. I can go by Mrs. Winifred’s house later on when Morgan arrives.”

“Ok, good” Dawn said, then pulled out an old family album for him to entertain himself. She sat and told him about the pictures he looked at.

 

Morgan dropped Zoe off at her friend’s house and told her if she needed her tomorrow she will let her know, if not, she will see her on Friday, they will meet up at the Tourism office. She then left there and went to Penny savers Supermarket to pick up some potato chips, ice cream and some minor toiletries she would need. She also stopped and bought some fruits from a fruit stall on the way. At five minutes to five o clock she drove Dawn’s car into the driveway. She parked, opened the door and went to the back seat to take out the plastic bags with the items she brought.

She opened the door and said “Mom, I’m home”

“I’m in here honey” Dawn shouts and Morgan follows her voice into the kitchen. She put the bags on the counter and started packing the items away.

“What did you cook mom?” she asked

“I baked some chicken, did a macaroni pie, some fresh salad and stewed pigeon peas, hungry?”

“All that trouble mom when you could have rested and let me pick up something from Libby’s?”

“No baby, I didn’t have anything else to do today.” Dawn smiled “I went in the garden to see about some of my plants then came back in and started cooking.”

Meanwhile Filipe, who was still in the living room was fighting to keep his eyes open. He rested his head back and closed his eyes for a moment, which turned into minutes. Dawn said nothing to her, but she waited for the moment when Morgan will realize Filipe was there.

“I better go and Call Filipe to see what time his flight will be leaving.” Morgan told Dawn

“Before you do that, go bring the wares from the living room for me honey.”

“Why are there wares in the living room? Were you entertaining someone mom?”

Morgan walked into the living room, there peacefully seated on the sofa with his head rested back and eyes closed, was Filipe. Her heart pounded in her chest while a smile crosses her face. She looked around for the wares but found none. Carefully she retraced her steps and stood in the kitchen watching her mother wide eyed.

“How long…?”

“He came today about half three. Imagine my shock but I recognized him from the description you gave. He seem like a good enough person dear, but please, don’t rush into things too quickly ok. He seem to like you a whole