Chapter 1 – Welcome to Sainte-Marie

The Sainte-Marie airport minibus pulled up on the main street outside the community centre.

'Honore centre!' shouted the driver in his Caribbean accent, and two passengers got up. One was a white woman in her mid-thirties wearing tight jeans and a sleeveless smock top, who flicked back the long front of her A-line lob as she descended the three steps to the pavement. The other was a young black man in his late twenties or early thirties in a sports vest, denim shorts and trainers, sporting a blonde, curly, 70s style afro and dark sunglasses.

The driver opened the luggage compartment and lifted out a small brown suitcase, followed by a guitar case.

'You here to entertain us?' he asked the woman, handing her the instrument.

'Yes, I'm touring the Caribbean and I'm doing a gig here tonight…over there I think!' she answered, pointing over at the community centre. Her accent was Scottish.

'How great! We don't get many touring artists coming here!'

'So the centre manager told me when he invited me here. He seemed excited even though I'm just a small time folk singer!'

'You'll find the whole town comes out whenever there's something happening…good or bad!'

'Goodness! So I might get quite a crowd then?'

'I hope so. Good luck!'

'Thank you'

As the woman walked away and took out the map she had printed, the driver turned to the young man.

'It was this one, wasn't it?' he said, picking up a well-used Swiss Gear rucksack.

'Yes, thank you' he replied in a quiet voice.

'Are you local?'

'I have connections'

'Oh well, have a nice stay'

'Thank you'

The driver got back on the bus and drove off.

The woman looked across the road at the closed community centre, looked at the piece of paper in her hand, then approached the young man.

'Excuse me', she said. 'I don't suppose you know where the bar called 'La Kaz' is?'

'Oh now, that rings a bell…it's a while since I was last here'

'OK I suppose I will just have to walk towards what looks like the main recreational area – this way I think? Perhaps I'll see the bar or find someone who knows it'

'Well, I need to find the tourist office to get somewhere to stay so I'll try the same direction!'

'Great, we can go together'

'Here, let me carry that!' The young man took the guitar case from the woman. 'You here to perform?'

'Yes, at the community centre tonight!'

'Great, I'll maybe come along. I have no fixed plans. I'm George, by the way'

'Heather. Nice to meet you.

Heather and George were accosted by dozens of stallholders selling everything imaginable as they approached the very centre of the town.

'Just your size!' a lady selling bandanas said, dangling a bright green one in George's face.

'Um, not today, thank you' he replied, hurrying onwards.

'A good luck charm for your performances?' another seller enquired, trying to sell Heather what looked like a rabbit's foot.

'Maybe some other time!' she smiled, catching up with George.

'Gosh I'd forgotten what a gauntlet this street is!' George remarked 'A lot of the tourists hate it!'

'They're certainly pushy, but I guess they need to make a living' she remarked.

'I guess. Oh, I remember this bar here, Catherine's. Always a favourite…Ah, La Kaz – Catherine's, of course, this is the place you are looking for!'

'Fantastic, I knew it would have to be nearby. Why don't you come over and ask the bar staff where the tourist office is?'

George hesitated before adjusting his sunglasses 'Sure' he decided and followed Heather, seemingly cautiously.

They crossed the road and walked into a small open air bar overlooking the sea, where half a dozen or so locals and visitors were sitting having a meal, or just relaxing and having a drink with friends or colleagues. There was a small bar in the corner and behind the bar stood a middle aged French woman in a bright multi-coloured dress with a yellow wrap on her head over her brown curly hair. There was a sound of clattering dishes coming from the entrance at the far side of the bar where the kitchen must be.

'The email I received said that I should meet none other than the local Mayor in this bar!' Heather told her new companion.

'Wow! You're being wined and dined by the Mayor?!' exclaimed George

'Apparently that's what happens here'

Heather looked around the bar for somebody fitting her schema of a Mayor, or for someone looking out for a visitor with a guitar, but none of the diners or drinkers appeared to be that person.

'Well, I guess I will get myself a drink and wait for the Mayor to appear' she said, putting her luggage down beside a table. At those words the ears of the woman behind the bar pricked up and she came over with a beaming smile on her face.

'Good afternoon, you must be Heather Munro, the singer from Scotland?'

'Yes, that's right. You've been expecting me?'

'Of course. I'm Catherine Bordey. Pleased to meet you'

'Pleased to meet you too, Madame Bordey'

'Catherine, please'

'Catherine. I was told to come here to meet the Mayor. I assume he will be here shortly?'

Catherine's smile faded 'Um…I am the Mayor!' she asserted.

'Oh!' Heather felt very embarrassed at her faux pas and inaccurate schema and began to blush and look down towards the ground 'I'm so sorry…'

'Don't worry, I forgive you. There are not as many women in positions of authority here as there are in Europe but it is changing' Catherine's smile returned.

'That's great'

'Anyway, who's your friend?' Catherine asked, noticing George still standing in the background. He tensed up at the attention.

'Oh, I'm sorry. This is George. We came off the airport bus together' Heather explained.

'Hello George, welcome to Sainte-Marie' said Catherine, shaking his hand.

'A pleasure', smiled the young man, with what appeared to be relief.

'George was looking for the tourist office. Could you give him directions?'

'Certainly, it is just two hundred yards further down the main road, next door to the school'.

'Thank you ma'am. I'll be off to find myself some accommodation'

'You needn't be in a rush. They are open late and I happen to know there are plenty vacancies at the moment. Why don't you both sit down and have a drink and some of my special dish of the day?'

'Wow! You cook and run this place as well as being Mayor?!' Heather exclaimed. 'You must be run off your feet!'

'I am indeed a very busy woman, but thankfully I've got a bit of help in here over the busy summer season'.

George's heart leapt as an attractive young woman of no more than twenty, with long blonde hair in a side pigtail and wearing a short skirt and sandals, came out of the kitchen carrying two plates and placing them in front of a couple sitting at a table overlooking the sea.

'Two more specials please, and two of my special cocktails!' Catherine shouted over to the girl, who attempted to suppress a giggle as she swiftly returned to the kitchen. 'I'll be over again once I've served these customers' she told her guests, indicating a couple that were waiting at the bar.

'Oh gosh, it isn't…' gasped the woman at the bar, looking over at Heather

'You're kidding!' said the man. 'Heather? You're here?'

'Oh…wow…Gemma, Patrick!' stammered Heather.

'You know each other?' enquired Catherine.

'Oh, yes, we're friends. Met in Germany last year' answered Gemma with a smile, as if she was trying to feign pleasure at seeing Heather.

'We were on the Scottish and Irish Folk Festival tour' expanded Patrick.

'So… how have you been?' Heather played along tactfully.

'Great. People in the Caribbean are loving us!' Gemma stated braggingly.

'Good. I've been well received too'

'Well, we were just about to pay our bill and head off for a stroll before rehearsing for our open air gig tomorrow!' Patrick said to wind up the conversation.

'Open air? That should be good. I'm playing in the community centre tonight'

'Maybe we'll come…if we finish on time!' smiled Gemma as Patrick took their receipt and they left the bar.

'OK, well…I guess we should sit down' Heather suggested to George, indicating the table she had claimed.

'Thank you. Friends of yours?' George enquired sceptically.

'Kind of, it's a long story' Heather replied, clearly not wanting to speak about her acquaintances. 'So what brings you to Sainte-Marie?'

'Um…a bit of family research. My maternal grandparents came from this island and I remember coming over when I was little. I was also hoping to research the family tree and meet some of the locals'

'Wow, sounds exciting. My family have always been from the UK as far as I know'

'So are you touring the whole of the Caribbean playing gigs?'

'Just the east side. I would go further if funds allowed'

'And you are travelling alone?'

'For just now. My husband will be joining me on Antigua next week – he couldn't leave at the same time as me due to work commitments. He's a psychiatrist and had appointments and a conference to attend back in Edinburgh'

The girl returned from the kitchen with a tray containing two plates of what looked like curry and two glasses containing liquid as colourful as Catherine's dress.

'I hope you like hot food?' the girl asked setting the plates down.

'I do like curry!' replied Heather

'Or you do now!' laughed George playfully, making the girl smile.

'Let me know if you need anything' the girl walked away slowly, glancing around as Heather and George picked up their forks and took a mouthful of their food.

'Aah!' Heather coughed, swishing what felt like a dozen raw chillies around her mouth, trying not to spit out the food. She gave up and used a napkin for the job, taking a big swig of her drink in an attempt to cool her tongue.

'Oh my!' George, who was used to hot food and expected to be able to handle it better than Heather also gave up. The girl let out the laughter she had been suppressing.

'Do you not like my curry?!' Catherine exclaimed, walking back over with a mock serious face.

'I…yes it's lovely…if you're used to this amount of spice!' Heather stuttered.

'Don't worry, she does this to every newcomer to the island! It's a token of welcome' the girl assured the guests. 'When I tried it I almost went through the roof!' They all laughed and the guests were given some more palatable snacks and a large glass of water each.

When Heather and George had finished eating and drinking, Catherine came over, taking off her apron.

'OK Heather, I will take you over to the community centre to set up now. I've got the key. I'll leave you in the capable hands of my girl Friday here, George, and when I get back she will finish her shift, so perhaps she will walk you to the tourist office? It's on her way home?'

'Sure' said the girl. George could not believe his luck.

'Well, it was good to meet you Heather. Good luck with your gig tonight. Perhaps I'll see you later?'

'Thank you. I hope you can come'. Heather gathered her belongings and followed Catherine.

'Can I get you another drink?' the girl asked George.

'Um…yes please. Another one of those rainbow cocktails would be nice.

The girl mixed George's drink and came over to sit beside him since things had quietened down.

'Are you here for long?' she asked him.

'Just for a week. I'm George by the way'

'I'm Siobhan' she answered, shaking his hand.

'Are you English?'

'Yes, I'm from London. I moved over here with my dad last year and stayed for a few months before returning home for University. I'm now back for the summer'

'Wow! What brought you all the way over here?'

'My dad's a Detective Inspector. He got transferred here after working with his predecessor on a murder case that brought him to London. They did a swap as his predecessor had a love interest back there!'

'Goodness! And how do you like it here?'

'Fine, it's very beautiful. I'm looking forward to having a few days off next week and enjoying the beaches. Anyway, where are you from?'

'I'm from Lucon in the west of France but some of my family lived here before it ceased to belong to the French'

'Oh dear!' said Siobhan, knowing it was the British that took it over. They changed the subject and continued talking for half an hour, with short breaks when Siobhan had to deal with other customers.

Catherine and Heather walked up the steps to the community centre, and Catherine was surprised to see that the door had already been opened.

'Looks like I didn't need my key after all!' she exclaimed, opening the door for Heather.

The community centre was a small hall with a short corridor. To the right was the main hall with a stage at the back and seating set out for around 100 people. To the left was a kitchen and bar area.

'Good evening Herve' Catherine said, greeting a tall, slim, middle aged man in a suit.

'Bonsoir Catherine' the man replied. 'Is this the singer we've all been looking forward to hearing?'

'Yes, this is Heather Munro, all the way from Scotland'

'Pleased to meet you lassie!' Herve smiled. 'I'm Herve Picard, manager of the community centre and head of arts and entertainment on the community council' he said, shaking Heather's hand.

'Of course, we spoke via email. Nice to meet you in person' Heather replied.

'Well, I'll show you where you can tune up and get changed while we wait for the sound crew to arrive. There's a bar through here if you fancy a drink' Herve indicated the small bar room to their left. 'This is Claire, our barmaid and centre assistant. If there's anything you need please let Claire know' Herve indicated a young woman who was washing glasses in preparation for the audience arriving.

'Hello Claire, I wouldn't mind a glass of water if you have a minute'

'Sure, no problem' Claire took a bottle of water from the cool cabinet. 'Would you like ice?'

'Yes please, it is still very hot!'

'You get used to it!' Claire smiled as she put ice in a plastic cup.

'Thank you very much' Heather took her drink and followed Herve out of the bar.

'Well, I'll be getting back to my bar' said Catherine. 'Hopefully I'll catch the tail end of your concert after I close but I hope it goes well anyway'.

'Thank you Catherine, and thank you for supper and your hospitality'

'It's what the mayor does!' she laughed and left the hall. Herve showed Heather to the backstage dressing area and she began to tune up while Herve returned to the main hall to oversee the placing of the final chairs.

George and Siobhan were getting on like a house on fire. As they left the tourist office and headed towards the nearby hostel where George was to stay he said to her

'Thank you for helping me today'

'It was no problem at all' she replied.

'You know I was thinking about going along to Heather's concert tonight. Would you like to come? I don't know if you like folk music?'

'Yeah, that would be fun. Just one thing, though, my dad will probably want to come too!'

'Need a chaperone do we?'

'Not really, he just likes the folk music. He's Irish and there are a lot of similarities between Scottish and Irish folk music'

'Oh well, in that case, I look forward to meeting him'

'Great. See you at the community centre later'

'Bye'