Early One Morning (Love in Oahu Book 1)

by Aubree Lane

  The cars pulled up to the loading zone and David put their luggage into the trunks.

  “Okay kids,” Marissa called out casually but firmly in control of the situation, “time to roll. Backseat, all of you and buckle up. Dad and Terence, you take the car with the kids and we’ll follow behind.”

  The kids piled in without argument, and a few seconds later they were on the road and headed towards Lena’s.

  Terence was amazed how smoothly the introduction went. He glanced over at Larry and saw how tired he looked. The older man let out a ragged sigh and Terence found himself feeling sorry for him. It was going to be another long night, Terence thought. At some point, the adults were going to have to interact with Erika and then it might not go so well.

  • • •

  “Wow!” Sandy yelled when they pulled into Lena’s driveway. She flung open the car door and raced part way down the path. She looked out at the crashing waves and screamed, “You have an ocean! Papa, can we go swimming?” She ran back to Erika and jumped up and down in front of her. “I love the ocean. We have one at home, but it’s all foggy and cold this time of year.” Then she raced around the car to her grandfather. “Can we, Papa? Can we, please?” she begged, grabbing his hands and pleading with her eyes.

  Larry smiled indulgently. “You have to ask your mother, but I’m sure she’ll say yes as long as an adult goes with you.”

  “Erika’s our aunt, can she watch us?” The little girl beseeched, trying to negotiate an outcome that suited her.

  Terence couldn’t help but laugh. “I thought you didn’t want her bossing you around.” He picked up the little girl, swung her up over his head and tried to distract her from her mission.

  Then Erika took up the cause. “I’m a good swimmer. I can do it.”

  He tucked Sandy under one arm and wrestled Erika under the other, then spun them both around till they were dizzy. “When you’re a teenager, we’ll talk about it,” he growled, trying to sound lighthearted and happy. He set the two new besties back down on the ground. “Don’t worry, I’ll go with you. Grab your bags and go find your swimming suits.”

  Jack hadn’t said a word, but his eyes were bright with anticipation.

  All three kids bombarded Marissa and David the moment they arrived. David quickly hauled their suitcases out of the trunk, careful not to bonk any of the kids with the luggage as they crowded around his legs. Jack and Sandy grabbed their rolling backpacks and headed for the house with Erika in hot pursuit.

  They raced past Lena who was halfway down the stairs on her way to greet her guests. “Hang on there,” Lena reversed her direction. “I’ll show you where your rooms are.” When the children showed no sign of slowing down, Lena picked up her pace. “Erika Rose, you hold up!” she commanded, but the kids were already gone.

  Annie walked around the corner, surprised at all the energetic activity. She thought everyone was going to be sullen and quiet, but there was a festive, almost happy, feel in the air. She found Larry standing at the bottom of the stairs smiling to himself. “So it went well,” she said, stating the obvious.

  Larry nodded. “Thanks to the child psychologist Marissa woke up last night begging for advice, but it’s only step one. We have a long way to go. So keep your fingers crossed.”

  Marissa walked in carrying a couple of suitcases. “Hey you,” she called out to Annie with a tired smile on her face. “Congratulations on the engagement.” Without waiting for Annie’s reply she mounted the stairs and trailed after the children.

  Larry followed. “I’d better get up there before I end up with the worst room in the house.”

  Annie patted his back and went to see if any more bags needed to be brought in.

  David pulled two more suitcases out of the trunk of the rental car and placed them on the ground. “Just the person I want to see,” he said softly in her direction.

  Annie thought he must be talking to someone else. She glanced over her shoulder, but she was alone. David never willingly initiated a conversation with her, and Annie was instantly wary. She stepped closer to the car and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Why?”

  “We need to talk in private. It’s about Hannah.”

  Her interest piqued. Not wanting to wait, she scanned the area around them. “We’re alone right now.”

  David made a quick check as well before he continued in hushed tones. “Remember that tip you gave us about Hannah being broke? It’s true. But Larry won’t consider the possibility of paying Hannah off. Marissa is worried we might lose the case.”

  Annie saw where this was leading. “So you think I should put that account of mine to good use and bribe Hannah myself.” She shook her head. “Larry won’t go for it.”

  David winked. “I didn’t think we’d tell him. I didn’t think we’d tell anyone.”

  The front door opened and Terence stepped outside.

  David cut their conversation short. “Give it some thought, and we’ll talk later.” Then he winked at her again.

  Annie was amazed at David’s new found attitude. He was actually being amiable and wanted them to work together. She needed a moment to digest this shocking new development. Everything was out of whack. David was being friendly and enlisting her help, she was finding it a little difficult to know who to trust, and she and Terence were on the outs. The world as she knew it had just spun around on its axis and done a polar shift.

  Terence slid up beside her and kissed the side of her head, but it was David who he addressed. “Is it okay for me to take your kids out in the boat?”

  “Sure.” David picked up the few remaining bags. “Give me a minute and I’ll come along. It will give Marissa and Annie a chance to catch up. After all, they haven’t seen each other in so long,” he chuckled sarcastically.

  Annie watched the two men walk back towards the house. Her eyes were glued to her fiancé’s tight firm derriere. She wanted to bask in the glory of their love, but Terence had barely spoken to her since yesterday and she didn’t blame him. He had to help Erika through this life-changing event, but she was afraid the wall building between them was growing thicker. She had made a monumental mistake talking to Larry before she made sure she was alone, and she was beginning to wonder if Terence would ever be able to forgive her.

  • • •

  The rest of that night and for the next several days everything went fairly well. The kids played together constantly, and since Erika already knew and liked the Wrights, the pieces gradually fell into place.

  Larry spent plenty of time playing games with all three of the children, but he made sure to spend a few minutes, either reading a story or watching a favorite program, alone with Erika.

  Terence watched in silence as his daughter slipped comfortably into the welcoming folds of the Wright family. Every day he lost a little bit more of her. Erika was no longer interested in spending time with her island friends. She had become utterly enthralled with being a part of a real family. Terence began to realize just how much she needed the security, love, and safety that a loyal and devoted family could give her.

  He had done his best, but it was becoming increasingly clear that his best had not been nearly enough. Jealousy and anger raged beneath his calm exterior, but for Erika’s sake he tried to keep it in check.

  Annie tried to speak with him about it, but he had walked away. He knew he hurt her feelings. She thought he blamed her for this catastrophe. He couldn’t deal with her endless apologies. What was done was done. It made no sense to dwell on something you couldn’t change. He realized he wasn’t being a very attentive fiancé, but he needed a little space.

  Not meaning to, he found himself picking small fights just to get her to leave him alone. The strategy worked too well, and last night, for the first time since her arrival, Annie spent the night in the guest room Lena had so lovingly decorated.

  The nighttime solitude gave him the opportunity to rethink his behavior and to come to a few conclusions. One of them was that he had to stop
being a jerk to the woman he loved. He wondered if that smile, which Annie loved so much, would get him out of hot water with her this time. He never wanted to go to bed without her again.

  But this morning before he had the chance to apologize, she informed him she made plans to return to San Diego. She assured him it was temporary. Annie said she underestimated Nathan’s ability to take over for her and that he needed her help. All of her reasons for leaving made sense, but Terence knew the truth. He had pushed her away.

  A few hours after her announcement, when the silence between them grew too much for either of them to bear, they headed over to Lena’s.

  • • •

  Alan was all fired up about wanting to cook dinner for everyone. As far as Terence was concerned, it was about time the dude started pulling his weight. In his eyes, Alan was nothing more than a big hulking mooch.

  “Ladies,” Alan said hooking both Lena and Annie’s arms through his. “I need help with the shopping. I don’t know my way around so you need to come with me.” Alan dragged them out to Lena’s old blue pickup and cajoled the keys out of Lena’s hand. A few moments later, after he had ground the truck’s gears and popped the clutch, the threesome was off and headed to the market.

  Terence wasn’t surprised that Alan was unfamiliar with the area. All he accomplished since his arrival was to lie around on the beach and drink his sister’s beer. The man irked Terence, especially since he noticed how Annie watched his every move as he showered his sister with attention. The occasional rolling of her eyes led Terence to believe she might still have feelings for him. Now she was off shopping with the guy.

  Disgusted with the whole situation, Terence went to the kitchen for a glass of water.

  “How long do you plan on using Annie as a punching bag?”

  Terence swung around and found David lounging in the doorway with his arms firmly crossed in front of his chest. “You’re going through hell right now,” he continued. “She understands that. We all do, but you can’t keep taking it out on her. Erika is Larry’s daughter, not yours. He wants you to stay in her life, but I can’t imagine him standing idly by while you hurt another member of his family. Make no mistake, things might be a bit strained at the moment, but he will always think of Annie as his daughter. Be careful, Javier,” he warned. “You are your own worst enemy right now.” David marched across the room and out the back door, but before he left he added, “You might consider getting some professional help.”

  It was a good thing David had enough sense to leave, because Terence probably would have decked him if he’d stayed a moment longer. But David had only spoken what Terence already knew. Every time he shut Annie out, refused to let her apologize, or walked away when she tried to comfort him, he hurt her a little more. He was practically shoving her into Alan’s waiting arms. The asshole made a show of flirting with his sister, but Lena had warned Terence that she was fairly certain it was Annie who Alan wanted. It didn’t matter to Lena. It had been a long time since anyone had showered her with so much attention, and it didn’t hurt that the man was easy on the eyes. She was having a blast and planned on enjoying herself for as long as it lasted.

  Terence knew his attitude had been self-destructive and counterproductive. He hated to admit it, but David was probably right, a bit of professional help couldn’t hurt.

  He drained his glass and went outside. He planted his butt in a lawn chair out on the lanai and weighed his options. Packing the three of them up and sneaking off in the middle of the night was the most appealing idea he had in days. It would give them time to bond as a family.

  It wouldn’t work, though. They would never be happy always looking over their shoulder and wondering when the axe would fall. When Larry caught up with them, which he undoubtedly would, he would toss Terence’s sorry ass in jail. Terence couldn’t see Annie wasting the next twenty or thirty years of her life hanging around for the occasional prison visit. Alan would love it, though. The bastard wouldn’t have any problem stepping in and taking Terence’s place.

  Realistically, there wasn’t anything Terence could do about Erika. Come June, either Hannah or Larry would take control. Terence could accept it, or he could wash his hands of the whole situation, let both Erika and Annie go, and walk away.

  Walking away from his daughter and Annie was not an option. That left him only one other acceptable possibility and that was to help Erika adjust to her new family, and be there to support her every step of the way. He also knew he needed someone to support him on this unimaginable journey of watching, and somehow encouraging Erika to develop a father/daughter relationship with Larry.

  Terence was fairly certain it wasn’t too late to repair his relationship with Annie. How he proceeded from here on out was going to affect the rest of his life. Terence understood that he had to find a way to live with Larry and find a place within the Wright family. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but for Erika and Annie, he had to do it.

  He also had to deal with a more looming problem. He had to get past blaming Annie for opening the door, which allowed the Wrights to ingratiate themselves into Erika’s life before his allotted time was up. He knew it was an accident. She hadn’t even known Erika was in the house, but it gnawed deep.

  Terence mulled over the mess he’d made of his sorry life for a few more moments, then decided to take David’s unsolicited advice. He picked up the phone and called one of Lena’s brother-in-laws, who just happened to be a therapist.

  • • •

  When it came time to start cooking, Annie took her leave and headed down to the beach. That nonentity feeling was beginning to creep in on her more and more, and not just because she’d played third wheel with Lena and Alan all morning.

  Alan shamelessly flirted with Lena the entire day. He even went so far as to feed her grapes in the middle of the produce aisle. Lena seemed to love the attention, but Annie certainly didn’t remember Alan working that hard to win her over when they were going out.

  Terence’s constant brooding and bouts of temper were beginning to wear on her, but did Alan see that she could use a little tender loving care? No, he just selfishly dragged her along and made her watch as he made time with her future sister-in-law. Right now the two of them were in the kitchen, laughing much too loudly at each other’s painfully unfunny jokes, and being entirely too touchy feely. And they were totally oblivious as to how uncomfortable they were making everyone else around them feel.

  Annie didn’t know what to do about Terence. She hoped that sleeping in the guest room would bring Terence to his senses. Annie prayed he wouldn’t be able to stand being alone and come to her, or at the very least, try and talk her out of returning to San Diego. He hadn’t done either. The writing was on the wall, it was time to go back home and help Nathan for a while. After she spoke with him, it appeared as if he actually needed her. It was evident she hadn’t covered her bases nearly as well as she thought she had.

  She didn’t want to go, but it was the logical solution to their problems. Terence needed time to sort matters out and her presence was just making it worse. Annie had an additional job to complete while in San Diego. She had to meet with Hannah. A deed she was not looking forward to. David had convinced her to use the money she squirreled away to help persuade Hannah to relinquish custody of Erika. Her first inclination had been to respect Larry’s wishes, then David enlisted Marissa’s help and let her in on their little plan. Marissa explained just how difficult it would be for Larry to gain full custody.

  Annie felt this was the perfect opportunity to pay off her debt of gratitude to the family. She hoped the act would help her shake free of the hold Larry had on her. Whether or not it was Larry’s intent, Annie felt pressured to persuade Terence to live in San Diego. Something she was not going to do. She was not going to make an already difficult situation intolerable for the man she loved. Larry was simply going to have to meet Terence halfway, and Annie was determined to do everything in her power to make that happen. She wa
s confident she still held a fair amount of influence over Larry, and she no longer had any qualms about wielding her power. Keeping Terence in Hawaii and in Erika’s life was best for everyone whether Larry understood that or not.

  Terence dropped down into the sand beside her. “What, no music?”

  Annie’s heart soared. Her love had finally sought her out. “I forgot my mp3 player and no one around here has one for me to borrow. What’s with you people?” she admonished playfully.

  Too many misunderstandings had developed between them lately. It was time to let him know exactly where she stood and where she wanted to be. “Before we get into another fight, I was wondering if you would mind helping me set up so I can telecommute with Nathan better. When I get back, I don’t want to leave again for a long time.” She held up her left hand and twirled Grandma Javier’s ring around her finger hoping to remind Terence of how he used to feel. “I’ll pay for whatever computer stuff we need to purchase.”

  Terence closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want to come back after the way I treated you. How do you feel about us moving into the guest room together, and set the lonely room I slept in last night up as your office? I probably have enough parts lying around to connect you with Nathan.” He took her hand and rubbed the ring. “Then maybe you wouldn’t need to leave at all.”

  Annie let out the breath she’d been holding. He finally said all the things she needed to hear, and for the first time in days she thought their relationship might survive. She smiled and held up her right hand. “From this moment on, I hereby decree that the guest room will be referred to solely as our room.” She pushed his body down into the sand and straddled his chest. “I love you, but without Phoebe there to help, Nathan is falling behind and is feeling overwhelmed. I’m not thrilled with the prospect of leaving, but I also don’t think my presence here is helping much. I think we both need a little space right now.”