Ocean's Kiss

by Lani Wendt Young

  Daniel's expression was grim. "Keahi?"

  Leila made a face. "Oh honestly! Is that the only word you got out of everything I just said? Didn't you hear all the other deep and meaningful counsel I just gave you?" She was exasperated. "I'm sorry I brought him up but Keahi helped me see a path through the darkness I was lost in. Right after talking to him, I went and organized my hospital bed marriage proposal." She nudged his shoulder. "You know, that incredibly romantic one with flowers and candles and everything?"

  Daniel didn't like hearing 'Keahi' and 'marriage proposal' in the same sentence - but he was sitting there in the moonlight with his very new, very beautiful wife - so he figured he could let that unpleasant issue go. "In my head, I know that blast of power was unplanned. I didn't even know Vasa Loloa could do that to people. Tavake never said. But still, the fact remains that I killed those women."

  "I understand. And it's going to take time for that guilt to fade. Just please, don't let it consume you. Don't let it stop you from enjoying the present. And living for the future. Our future," said Leila.

  "So this doesn't change the way you feel about me?" asked Daniel, hesitant and almost afraid to hear her answer. "You're not...disappointed in me?"

  Leila's eyes widened in disbelief. "No. Of course not. I only wish you’d been comfortable enough to share this with me sooner. If anything, this makes me love you even more."

  "It does?" asked Daniel.

  "Yes. Sometimes, you’re so good, so morally strong and rich in integrity, that it overwhelms me and I'm afraid I’ll never be worthy of the love you offer me. Every time you let me see your hurts, fears and doubts, even your mistakes, those little pieces of vulnerability – you’re entrusting me with your true heart. With all of you. And I feel like, just maybe, you need me as much as I need you. That I can be your strength and refuge - just as you are mine."

  She spoke peace to his troubled soul and he welcomed it. "You are," whispered Daniel. "My strength, my refuge."

  They held each other. And the night sky was a worshipful hymn of adoration that resounded over a sacred ocean of black pearl and shimmering mystery.

  The rest of the week passed by in a dreamy haze. They swam. Ate. Slept. Explored their island paradise. Loved. Talked. Laughed. And loved some more. Daniel's nights were still troubled by dreams of death and despair, but this time, when he awoke, Leila was waiting to share them - to listen if he wanted to talk. Or to be his quiet companion on a long walk down the beach. Or simply to hold him until they both slipped back into sleep. The worst nightmares can be borne when they are shared.

  Neither of them wanted their idyllic retreat to end, but Daniel had a workshop to get back to and Leila's academic future couldn't be put on hold forever. There were only a few months left of the school year and while Daniel had more than one full scholarship for university - Leila still needed to figure out what she was going to do.

  "I don't want this to end," Leila said wistfully as they stood beside the va'a. He held her close and she lay her head against his broad chest, seeking and finding the strong sure beat of his heart.

  He raised her face to his. "Hey, it doesn't have to end. We'll take this moment back with us. Here." He kissed her lips. A giving, taking kind of kiss that was a crashing waterfall and the petal-soft frangipani fragranced breeze all at once. "Every time we kiss." Then he bent to place a single kiss on the erratic wild pulse beat of her heart. "And in here."

  He helped her into the va'a and added, "We can always come back every weekend. There's a few more places I'd like to explore on this island...with you." His eyes were emerald chips of mischief and Leila's laugh scattered across the lilting waves as she splashed water at him. Daniel's idea of 'exploring the island' had involved seeing how many different locations on the island they could make love in, some more adventurous (and some less successful) than others.

  "No way," said Leila emphatically, "I've had enough of sand getting in places it shouldn't and tree-bark burn on my back, thank you very much!"

  Daniel grinned with wicked intent as he started paddling them back to the mainland. "That's fine," he threw over his shoulder, "I've been making a list of suitable locations in your house that I think we really must investigate further. Y'know, now that we're going to be living there allllll by ourselves."

  Leila had forgotten about the new living arrangements. Daniel was closing up his grandparent's house and moving in with her. Simone was moving back home. His excuse, 'to be with my parents for the few months left before I go away to take the fashion world by storm, leaving them distraught without me.' Leila wasn't convinced. She knew Simone wanted to give her and Daniel space but she hoped her marriage wouldn't change her relationship with her best friend. At least not too much. She grimaced at the thought. Another unavoidable part of 'going back to the real world', was figuring out how to interact with their families and friends - as a married couple.

  Enough worrying. Daniel brought her back to the moment with a droll recital of his 'list'. "Yeah, there's all the obvious ones of course...the bed, the sofa, the dining table."

  "What?!" Leila's exclamation was a high-pitched blend of a cough and a choking sound. "The table?"

  Daniel was blasé. "Of course. I checked the bolts. It's very sturdy. It can handle us. I put the laundry room on the maybe list. On top of the washing machine has intriguing possibilities but it's a little small. We'll have to be careful...hmm...now where else in your house did I think would be good?"

  She was scandalized. "You have not been thinking about a list like that!"

  He laughed that golden, sun-filled laugh. "Leila, you have no idea what I've been thinking about..." His teasing was full of tantalizing promise and it sent whip-wire threads of excitement racing across her skin. And distracted her from apprehensive thoughts about the future.

  CHAPTER TWO

  They were back on the mainland and driving into town when Daniel got a call from Okesene. The welders were having an emergency on site and needed his help. Urgently. "Sorry, I have to go to Vaitele where the boys are working. Can we go straight to the workshop so I can grab my gear?" asked Daniel. "This isn't quite how I imagined our homecoming would be. Our first day back and our first time together at your house." An apologetic smile.

  "It's fine. You need to take care of work. I'll wait at the house for you. I want to check on Mama's plants anyway."

  "You sure?" asked Daniel.

  "Definitely. We've got plenty of time for that list of yours," she joked, to show him she really didn't mind. "The rest of our lives in fact."

  When they got to Daniel's place, he rushed their bags inside and gave her a quick kiss before grabbing the necessary gear from the workshop. "I'll try to be done by four. I've got my phone if you need me," he said as he ran down the steps.

  Leila watched him go with a smile that hid her slight unease. This was her first time alone at the Tahi house and even though she wasn't superstitious, she was uncomfortably aware the place had seen a great deal of violence and death only a short while ago. But before she could get too freaked out thinking about it, her phone beeped.

  A text from Simone. Of course. He was probably dying to find out all about the honeymoon...

  Simone: Wea R u?!!

  Me: At Daniel's. U want to know how the honeymoon was. Ha. #notTelling #hotness #love #ChunkHunk

  Simone ignored her attempts to engage in post-wedding banter. Instead, another demanding message.

  Simone:- Is he with u?

  Me: No.

  Simone: Good.

  Me: Why? Wats up?

  Simone: STAY THERE!!!!

  Puzzled, but more amused than worried, Leila rolled her eyes at Simone's melodrama. She went out to the garden and was getting the hose to give the plants a good watering, when the phone rang.

  Simone.

  "Where are you?" he demanded.

  "Hello to you too," said Leila. "I told you, at Daniel's. I'm working in the garden."

  "Get out to the workshop, now. Some
one's on their way."

  "Who...what?"

  Simone interrupted her. "I'm at work."

  "Okaaay?" said Leila. Simone's family owned a grocery store down by the waterfront in town and when he wasn't playing netball, designing a new ensemble or babysitting for his multitude of nephews and nieces – he worked the cash register at the store. Leila hadn't talked to him since the wedding and his brusque tone troubled her. "Simone, is this about you moving out? I told you that wasn't necessary. Me and Daniel talked about it again when we were on the island and we agree, you should stay."

  Simone brushed through her words. "No, puhleaze Leila, watching the two of you pet each other like lovesick cats is not my idea of a good time. Nor is having to blast my stereo every night so I don't have to hear you get freaky. This isn't about that."

  "What is it then?"

  "Stop interrupting and maybe I can tell you?! I'm at the store and a man came in for supplies. He just arrived in the country, he's got a boat docked at the marina. We got to talking and he mentioned his boat needs some repairs, some welding work. I gave him directions to Daniel's workshop."

  "But Daniel's not here. He's on site with the whole team at a fabrication project at Vaitele."

  "Good," snapped Simone. His relief was evident even through the phone.

  "Not good," countered Leila. "I can't help anyone fix their boat."

  As she spoke, Leila heard the sound of a car engine. She glanced over the fence in time to see a rental car pull up to the workshop. "Dammit Simone, someone's here. This must be him." A groan of frustration. "I'll just stay here at the back and wait for him to leave. Once he figures out the place is shut, then he'll be on his way."

  "NO!" Simone's order was so loud, Leila jumped. "Go meet him, talk to him, pretend you work there or something. Act like you know everything about welding."

  Leila was still staring across the yard as she hissed at Simone on the phone, "What the heck are you going on about? What's wrong with you?"

  A man got out of the rental car and stood for a moment, staring up at the workshop sign. He wore khaki shorts to the knee, a white T-shirt and a baseball cap. She couldn't see his face because he had his back to her. But after knocking on the big roller doors without any reply, he looked towards the house. Quickly, Leila ducked down beside the fence, hoping he hadn't seen her. She whispered, "Simone, I'm not in the mood to talk to customers or strangers or potential weirdoes, or all three, right now, okay? I'm gonna hide out here and wait for him to go away."

  "I don't ask you for much Leila Folger Tahi, but I'm asking you now – go meet him. Look at him. Really look at him." There was pleading insistence in Simone's voice and Leila couldn't ignore it. "I saw it right away, but I want to know if you see it too. Or maybe I'm imagining it. Either way, we need to be sure before we tell Daniel."

  "Tell Daniel what?" whispered Leila. She gave a furtive glance over the fence. The man was getting back in his car.

  "Please Leila. Go see him before he drives away," said Simone.

  "Fine," said Leila. "But you owe me." She hung up the phone and muttered a curse word under her breath as she sprinted across the garden, through the gate and over to the workshop.

  The man had started the engine of his car and was ready to reverse when he caught sight of her in his rear view mirror. He stopped the car and got out.

  Leila had a polite smile plastered on her face. "Hi, can I help you..." The words and the smile faded away as the stranger turned so she could clearly see his face. All the air rushed out of her lungs as she stared at him in shock.

  About the same height as her, lean and wiry, with skin tanned golden-brown, he looked to be in his late twenties. Flinted green eyes, an easy smile that she had seen somewhere before... and as she gaped, he took his cap off so he could wipe the sweat off his forehead – and then she KNEW she'd seen his smile before. His hair was brown like burnished coconut wood and it caught with deep red highlights in the sun. He inclined his head slightly as he extended his hand, "Hi, I'm Ronan Matiu."

  Up close, she saw he was older than she'd first thought. Laugh lines crinkled the edges of his eyes and his skin had the weathered look of a man who spent his days in the sun...on the sea...with the biting salt wind for company. "I thought nobody was about. The shop looked all closed up. You open for business?"

  Leila reeled as if she'd seen a ghost but he couldn't be a ghost because he was shaking her hand and he didn't feel like a spirit. Or a specter. Or a figment of her imagination. He was waiting for her to say something. Noting her stunned state, he frowned. Concern. "Miss, are you alright?"

  NO! Leila screamed inside. I'm not alright.

  He was a stranger and yet he was, at the same time, paradoxically, all too familiar. He was shorter and not as ruggedly built, but she knew instantly, why Simone had sent this man here.

  He was Daniel, twenty years from now.

  CHAPTER THREE

  "Miss, are you alright?" the stranger said again as he peered closer at her.

  No, I'm not alright. Because I know nothing will ever be the same again.

  Before she could say something, anything - that would fit the situation - Leila's phone beeped stridently. Demanding. Simone.

  On auto-pilot, she gave the stranger a plastic smile, "One moment please. I have to take this."

  He gave her an easy smile, probably relieved to see he didn't have a basket case on his hands.

  She hit the RECEIVE button and Simone was on hyper-drive. "What happened? Did you talk to him? Did you see it? It's him, isn't it? I was right, wasn't I? What did he say? What are we gonna do? What are we gonna tell Daniel?" Questions, words, like a flock of myna birds all chattering wildly - mirroring the wild chatter inside her head.

  Leila cut through Simone's breathless interrogation. "I'm sorry but our arc welders aren't available for hire right now. They're all in use on another project."

  Simone was confused. "What are you talking about?" Realization dawned. "Ohhhh, he's there, isn't he? You've got to set up a meeting, somewhere Daniel won't find out so we can suss him out first. We have to ask him where he's been all these years and what makes him think he can just show up here now and who in hell does he think he is and he doesn't even deserve a son as kickass awesome as Daniel and I'm soooo totes going to be at this meeting with you and..."

  Leila kept her voice deliberately neutral. "Yes, well thank you for calling. Have a nice day." She cut Simone off and turned back to the stranger with another fake smile at the ready. "Sorry about that."

  "No worries," the man said. He spoke with a hint of a Kiwi accent. "I was hoping to find someone who could do a few repairs on my boat? We had rough weather on the trip over and there's some things that need fixing."

  Leila was trying very hard - and failing - not to stare at him with so much searching intensity. At his eyes, the line of his jaw, that smile, did Daniel have that dimple? The likeness was so uncanny that it unnerved her. It didn't seem right that someone should look so much like her Daniel and yet be a stranger.

  He misunderstood her hesitation. "It's not too big a job. Probably a couple of days' worth of welding. I usually do all my own work on the boat but I don't have the equipment with me." He looked around at the quiet workshop. "So is there someone who can take a look? If not, can you recommend another place I could try?"

  "No, don't leave," Leila blurted. "I mean, yes, there is someone who can look at your boat. Me. I'm Leila, the owner here, the lead welder here at ummm...Daniel's Welding. I can see if it's a job we can take on."

  If he thought it strange that a workshop called 'Daniel's Welding' was owned by a woman called Leila - he didn't show it. "Great." Before he could say any more, a woman spoke from the car.

  "Ugh, it is so hot in here!"

  Leila turned. No, not a woman - a girl. A teenager got out of the car and walked over to join them. Does Daniel have a SISTER?!!! Leila had never considered that possibility and now just thinking about it made her feel ill. A surprise father was bad
enough - let alone a surprise sibling. She took a step back instinctively as the girl greeted her with a warm, open smile.

  "Hi, I'm Kirei."

  Her porcelain fair skin and jet black hair shaved in a buzz cut on one side with a vivid blue streak made her striking. The lace-up combat boots with skimpy denim shorts and an ornately embroidered purple jacket made her an unusual sight on a tropical island. Leila felt extra hot and sweaty just looking at her. Kirei had a fancy looking camera on a strap slung around her neck and she pointed in the direction of Salamasina's garden. "Are those bromeliads I see through the fence? I'd love to get some pics. Would you mind?"

  The man sighed. "Kirei, I'm sure this lady doesn't want strangers going through her garden and taking up her time like that." An apologetic grin at Leila. "Sorry." He looped his arm over the girl's shoulders with casual affection as he teased her. "My niece is a camera junkie."

  Kirei corrected him. "Award-winning camera junkie." She dug her uncle in the ribs with a sharp nudge of her elbow and he laughed. The bond they shared was obvious.

  Ronan Matiu's laugh was a rich golden sound. His green eyes crinkled at the edges and the sunshine caught on his smile. A laughing Ronan looked even more like Daniel. For better or worse, this must be the man Daniel had spoken of with restrained anger and lingering bitterness. Leila took a deep breath. "It's no bother. You're welcome to have a look at the garden. Come round."

  She walked the back way and unlatched the gate with the two visitors following behind her. "These aren't my plants," she explained. "The garden belongs - belonged - to my husband's grandmother. She died earlier this year."