Don't call me Daddy (Part III)

Paul H. Williams, Contributor

Peter Livington got two sisters pregnant at the same time, it was said. Jean Cooper, the one he was living with, left him and never returned with the baby, Alexandria Cooper.

Ingrid moved in with Peter, and gave birth to Racquel. When the two separated eventually, Ingrid left Racquel with Peter. Racquel died in a car accident at age 20.

Peter was devastated and kept a room full of her pictures. In that room, he would retreat to drink and mourn.

He eventually learned of Alexandria's whereabouts through Ingrid, with whom he had been in touch.

Many Saturday nights, he went to a north-coast hotel to watch the then 25-year-old singer known as Cutex perform.

Cutex and Peter eventually met, but tension brewed between them. She liked the mid-age man, but he knew otherwise.

One night, after the show, Peter shocked Cutex with the revelation that he was her father.

At his home in Ironshore, St James, Peter showed her the room of the pictures of her half-sister/cousin, Racquel, who had a striking resemblance to her.

The next day, Peter got a call from Lance, his twin brother, to say he would visit Peter the following weekend with his wife from New York.

Peter was thrilled. "Man, I can't wait to introduce you to someone!"

"Finally, you got your mojo back, yes, man!"

"Don't go there, just hurry, and have a safe flight."

"Sure, Mr Mojo."

JOYFUL REUNION

It was a joyful reunion, and when the excitement abated, Lance, still reeling from the surprise, caught up with Peter in his bedroom.

"So, how did you find her?"

"Ingrid, you remember Ingrid?"

"Remember? How could I not? So, where is Jean in all of this?"

Peter looked down on the floor, and then took a drink.

"Where is Jean?" Lance asked again.

"I'm afraid ... ."

"Jean is dead!?

"Yea."

"What!"

"Sorry."

At the same time, Peaches, Lance's wife, entered the room.

"Why so glum?" She queried.

Both men shrugged off the question, and reached for their drinks. While getting up from the bed, Peter asked, "So, what you guys doing later?"

"Anything to put a smile back on your beautiful faces sad sacks," Peaches replied. And the twins smiled as they followed Peaches out of the room.

It was Saturday night and Cutex would be performing, so they decided to go see her.

Peter was upbeat and proud of his singing sensation of a daughter. As he drove towards the hotel, he laughed and chatted about the initial tension between them and the near embarrassments.

Peaches found the story enthralling and asked leading and follow-up questions. Lance was silent and somewhat nervous.

Jean's death had him worried, because Jean had died and could no longer provide him with the 'truth' that he had always wanted from her.

During the intermission of the show, Cutex joined them at the bar. She embraced Lance tightly. "You were fantastic," Lance said in a shaky voice.

"Thanks, Uncle."

CATCHING FRESH AIR

During the second segment, Lance disappeared for about 20 minutes. He was in the parking lot pacing when Peaches shouted, "Your niece is onstage!"

"Just wanted some fresh air."

"Yuh sure you're alright?"

Without answering, he held Peaches' hand and headed back to the show, which ended with Cutex singing We Are Family. It was a happy moment for her.

Back home, in bed, Lance lay motionless beside Peaches, who had fallen asleep soon after they had returned. Jean's death was on his mind. And there was a call that he had to make.

His crestfallen demeanour had not gone unnoticed, but he kept reassuring everyone that he was OK.

Two nights after the show, he met Ingrid at a seaside club on Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay. She had aged more than he had expected. Her brown skin was acquiring wrinkles, and grey hair was intertwined with dark brown extensions.

Ingrid was happy to see Lance, but he was less enthusiastic, giving her only a faint smile. They talked about many things, recalling events and people. It was a 20-year update, and their story, Peter's story, Jean's story, went back to more than that, to the days when they used to play 'games'. And one of the players was now dead.

"She just ran away like that," Lance stated.

"She was afraid to tell him, and dat's why she lef."

"So your involvement with Peter was not the reason?"

"She was upset wid mi, but she was angry wid harself too. Years after, she tell mi wha 'appen, but a couldn't talk. And then you lef the country."

"But I always know."

"How?"

"I just felt the vibes."

"Well, I don't know wha ago happen," Ingrid said, then sipped her beer and looked out to sea.

Lance's heart skipped a beat as he removed a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, and beckoned the waiter.

The remainder of the visit was a drag for Lance, but he pretended to be happy like everyone else. When Cutex called him 'Uncle', he would break out in slight perspiration. When she called Peter 'Daddy', his heart raced.

The seven-day visit went by as a jet. At the airport, there were hugs and kisses, and some tears.

During the ride from Sangster International back to Ironshore, Cutex remarked that Uncle Lance was crying.

"He gets like that sometimes," Peter explained.

Back at the house, Cutex went to get some drink. The evening was warm. As she was going through the living room, she saw Lance's phone on the couch. She put down the glasses on a side table, and called out to Peter. Three times and there was no response.

She dashed up the stairs only to see Peter standing at his bedroom door with a piece of paper in his hand. His face was blank. She moved towards him.

"Daddy!" Cutex exclaimed.

"I am not your daddy, his phone is in your hand," Peter whispered as he gave her the note written by Lance. He then headed towards the room full of Racquel's pictures.