Not Always Happenstance (Power of the Matchmaker)

by Rachael Anderson

  Easton shifted positions and his forehead touched hers, while his palms still cradled her face.

  “Will you spend tomorrow with me?” he breathed.

  “Yes.”

  Her answer made him smile, and he leaned in for one last kiss before he backed away, keeping hold of one of her hands until it was out of reach. A hint of laughter rumbled in his voice when he said, “Sweet dreams.”

  Lani smiled as she floated back inside. From the window just inside the door, she watched him climb the rest of the hill to the bungalow and glance over his shoulder before disappearing inside. Only then did she realize she couldn’t hear the music any longer.

  Easton was at breakfast early the next morning. Lani paused before opening the door and willed her heart not to skip too many beats when she saw him take a seat next to Pearl. Freshly shaven, he looked handsome and confident and oh so kissable. She didn’t know what the plans were for the day, but she’d gotten up with the sun to catch up on emails and other correspondence so she could be ready to go whenever he was.

  Two women in their early-thirties were staying for two days. They were sitting at an adjacent table wearing lace cover-ups over brightly-colored bikinis. They both kept glancing at Easton, looking him over like he was a decadent chocolate dessert in the middle of a vegetable buffet. But Easton didn’t notice, or pretended not to notice, and kept his attention focused on Pearl.

  Lani’s heart double-skipped at that.

  She opened the door and walked out on the patio. He looked her way and smiled, his eyes warm and focused on her. She smiled back and said, “Aloha” as she handed a steaming mug of cocoa to Pearl.

  “Mahalo, Lani,” said Pearl.

  Lani was about to make her way back to the kitchen when Easton grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a quick kiss—in front of everyone.

  Lani blushed, the women averted their gazes, Pearl smiled, and Easton said, “How soon can l steal you away?”

  “As soon as breakfast is cleaned up. How does oatmeal sound this morning?”

  “Great.”

  Lani turned to the other table. “What about you, ladies? Would you like some oatmeal as well, or I can whip up an omelet or—”

  “Two omelets would be great,” said the one wearing a large-brimmed hat. “All egg whites, with a little salt and pepper and no cheese.”

  “Speak for yourself,” said the freckled brunette. “I’ll take two whole eggs with lots of cheese in mine. If that’s not too much trouble.”

  “But what about—” started her friend.

  “We’re on vacation, Leah. This is the reason we went on that horrible diet in the first place—so we could enjoy ourselves in Hawaii. Remember?”

  Her friend seemed to waffle for a moment before she nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Load mine up with cheese as well.”

  “Still egg-whites only?” Lani clarified.

  More hesitation. Then resolve. “Yes. I can’t bring myself to go off the diet cold turkey, not after all my hard work.”

  Lani laughed, liking the two women despite the fact they’d eyed Easton earlier. Who could blame them, really? Lani couldn’t keep her eyes off him either.

  She returned to the kitchen and found Puna talking to Ahe, who had just arrived with some fresh catch. He plopped them on the counter and wiped his forearm against his forehead before adjusting his baseball cap. His dark hair curled from beneath it.

  “I got some tuna and snapper today,” he said with pride.

  Lani couldn’t resist grabbing his shoulders and giving him a peck on the cheek. Snapper was her favorite. “Mahalo, Ahe. I’ll be making bread tomorrow to return the favor. Any requests?”

  “Banana, honey oat, pumpkin, that kind with cinnamon and raisons, and—”

  “Whoa. I’m sorry I asked.” She laughed. “I meant one request. Not ten.”

  He grinned then rubbed the scruff on his chin with his fingers. “Honey oat.”

  “Honey oat it is, assuming I have any oats left. Easton’s a fan of oatmeal, so I’m going through it a lot quicker these days.”

  His grin vanished, replaced by a scowl. “When does that haole leave again?”

  Lani gave him a look that said Don’t start. Then she put the tuna in the freezer and the snapper in the fridge. Maybe she’d invite Easton to enjoy it with them tonight. “I thought you were beginning to like him.”

  The scowl remained. “He’s okay.”

  Puna laughed. “I think that’s a compliment coming from Ahe.”

  “There’s something about him I don’t trust,” he added. “He’s too… something. It’s like he’s hiding something.”

  Feeling suddenly defensive, Lani said, “Maybe if you got to know him like we do you wouldn’t feel that way.”

  “And everyone hides things,” added Puna, seemingly unconcerned. She pulled a ball of dough from the refrigerator and began rolling it out on the island. “I guarantee even you have secrets, Ahe.”

  He shifted positions and looked away, making no comment.

  “Nobody’s perfect,” she continued. “You just have to find someone whose perfections you love and imperfections you can live with.” Her lips lifted into a smile as she worked. “Kadir, bless his heart, used to forget about everything. My birthday, our anniversary, dinner plans, his birthday.” She laughed at that. “But he never forgot me or anyone else. When I needed him, he was there, and I never doubted his love for me.”

  Lani’s heart warmed. She loved that Puna now spoke about her grandfather without reserve. It was yet another thing she would always be grateful to Easton for—that he’d unwittingly opened a door Lani had always thought would be barricaded closed.

  Ahe watched Lani with a look of worry. “Are you and the haole…?”

  She knew what he was asking, and the question hung between them like the catch of the day gone bad. Lani didn’t want to hurt her friend, but she didn’t want to lie to him either. She flipped one finished omelet onto a plate and shoved it into the microwave to stay warm while she cooked the other.

  “I don’t know,” she said quietly. “I think we might be, but I’m not sure yet.”

  Silence. Ahe was no longer looking at her. He didn’t appear to be looking at anything really, just staring. Lani didn’t know what else to say. She felt like she’d committed a crime she hadn’t meant to commit, but it couldn’t be helped. And now she was left with the consequences.

  Puna slapped her hands together to rid them of some excess flour. “Are those omelets ready yet? I’ll take them out, if you’d like.”

  Lani scooped up the second omelet, slid it onto the plate and handed both to Puna. “This is for the one wearing a hat.”

  Puna nodded and swept out of the kitchen with her purple muumuu swaying around her.

  Lani dumped some oatmeal into the now-boiling water and began to stir. One Mississippi, two Mississsippi, three Mississippi—

  “How about we spend today together,” Ahe said. “We can surf, dive, fish, and—”

  “I can’t. I’m sorry,” she said, her heart breaking for him. She hated this aspect about love—the unfairness of it all. First Derek and now Ahe. Why did their feelings have to go deeper than friendship? Why hadn’t hers? Why did good people have to get hurt?

  When Lani thought about it, it was miraculous that two people of like minds and feelings ever found each other. Of all the people in the world who weren’t right for you, what were the odds of finding someone who was?

  Slim.

  Ahe planted his palms on the counter and leaned in close. “You sure you want to fall for a haole?”

  She shut off the heat and stared at the churning oatmeal. “You’re forgetting that I’m a haole too,” she said quietly.

  He lifted her chin to look at him and shook his head, his expression vulnerable and sad. “You’ve never been a haole to me.”

  No, no, no, she wanted to scream. Why this, why now, why him? Ahe had given up so much for the people he cared about—so much for her. She
couldn’t stand the thought of making him suffer. But this wasn’t something that could be made right with a loaf of bread or even a hundred loaves. It went deeper than she knew how to fix.

  And it felt so wrong.

  Tears leaked from the corner of her eyes, and she pressed them closed. Ahe’s hand left her face, and he pulled her into a burly hug.

  “It’s okay, sistah. You can’t make your feelings be what they aren’t. Believe me, I know.” Then he kissed her forehead, let her go, and walked out the side door, letting the screen door slam shut behind him.

  Lani tried to control her composure, but it began to crumble, breaking into pieces around her. Her body trembled, and the tears came more freely.

  “Everything okay?” came Pearl’s soft voice from the doorway.

  Lani sniffed and shook her head, turning to look at the sweet woman. “I hurt Ahe, Pearl. I didn’t mean to, but I did, and now… I don’t know how to make it right.”

  Pearl set down her empty mug and moved forward, clasping Lani by the shoulders. She seemed to know exactly what Lani was talking about. “I once met a woman who told me there’s a lid for every bucket, regardless of its shape, color and size. I believe that. You need to believe that. When the time is right, Ahe will find his match, and so will Derek. I promise you that.”

  Somehow, Lani believed it. Coming from Pearl, it was impossible not to. She was like an angel who seemed to know the best outcome and helped people find their way. Her coming here and staying here didn’t feel like happenstance anymore. It felt more like Providence.

  “Mahalo, Pearl. For everything.”

  She patted Lani’s arm and offered a smile. “I think my vacation here is about over. I will be checking out next week.”

  Lani’s composure cracked all over again, but she nodded through her tears anyway. “We’ll miss you.”

  “And I you.” Pearl’s hands dropped to her side, and she looked around the kitchen, spotting the rolled out dough on the island.

  “What is Cora doing here?”

  “I think she’s making her amazing coconut cream pie. Please say you’ll join us for dinner tonight.”

  “I would love to.”

  “What about me?” said Easton from the doorway. “Am I invited too? Or will dinner be like breakfast where I’m left alone on the lanai, forgotten?”

  Lani laughed, wiping the last of her tears away. “I’m sorry. I have your oatmeal right here.”

  She turned to lift the pan off the stove, and Easton’s arms came around her waist from behind. He kissed a sensitive area on her neck and murmured, “Everything okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “It shouldn’t be. You forgot to invite me to dinner.”

  “Did I?” Warm and light feelings began to chase out the sadness.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shifted to the side and looked at her profile for a moment before he poked her in the ribs.

  She squirmed away, laughing as Puna breezed in and picked up her rolling pin without a word. Lani noticed that Pearl was no longer in the room. She must have slipped out.

  Easton’s lips lifted into a sly smile, and he folded his arms, his gaze trained on Lani. “Hey, Cora, whatcha making?”

  “A coconut cream pie.”

  “Mmm… I love coconut cream pies.”

  “Then you should join us for dinner. We have plenty.”

  The look in his eyes changed from amused to triumphant, and his grin widened. “I would love to. Mahalo.” Then he reached past Lani to pick up the pot of oatmeal and began preparing it himself.

  Fighting back a smile, Lani passed him the container of brown sugar and murmured, “I was going to invite you eventually.”

  “I know. But now I don’t have to grovel.”

  She smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Too bad. I think it’s pretty endearing when you do.”

  Easton shoved a box of granola bars into his backpack and zipped it closed. His plan for the day included a day trip along the lesser-traveled southeastern side of Maui. Other than packing some snacks and drinks, that’s how he worked. Pick a direction and see where it took him, like a real-life choose-your-own-adventure. No wonder he liked those books so much as a kid.

  But would Lani be game?

  As soon as he told her what he had in mind, Easton had his answer. She peeked into his backpack full of snacks and gave him a pained look.

  “Do you want a grumpy date or a happy date?” she asked.

  “Um… happy?”

  “Then I’ll be right back.” Fifteen minutes later, she returned with a small cooler loaded with freshly made sandwiches and fruit. Her explanation: “I like junk food just as much as the next person, but if that’s all I eat—or if I go too long without eating—I become Scrooge.”

  Easton grinned, enjoying her honesty, initiative, and the adorable way she looked in a baseball hat with her hair pulled back.

  “Good to know,” he said. “Anything else make you grumpy that I should know about?”

  She watched him for a moment before she cocked her head to the side. “Yeah. Guests who leave without saying goodbye.” Even though she’d said it in a teasing way, there was an underlying distrust in her eyes. If this doesn’t work out, is that how we’ll part ways?

  From the get-go, Lani had made it pretty clear to Easton where he stood with her. At first, it was at arms’ length. Then a polite distance away. Now it was much closer. But until she trusted him completely, he wasn’t where he wanted to be.

  “I don’t…” Easton’s voice trailed off. Sharing his innermost thoughts had never come easily to him. He preferred to keep them off the table and out of the limelight. But if he continued to do that, things would never progress between them, and he was finally ready for them to go somewhere.

  He tried again. “You know I don’t want it to come to that, but if it does, I promise that I will say goodbye to you.”

  “In person?”

  He chuckled. “The things you ask of me.”

  The corners of her lips tugged up, but her expression remained sad. “It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone you care about, but better a real goodbye than nothing.”

  Easton wasn’t so sure he agreed with her, but a promise was a promise. He slung his arm around her shoulders and steered her toward his car. “Enough about goodbyes. What do you say about getting out of here?”

  “I say, let’s go.”

  Easton pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead. Then they tossed their stuff in the trunk and off they went. Not long after they passed the pools of Ohe’o, Easton pulled off the side of the road at every shoulder they came across. Once out of the car, they’d either hike up the mountain a ways or pick their way down to the rustic coastline. Each place they stopped, they stumbled across something different and beautiful, like a charming little waterfall or a rocky and barren beach with 270-degree views. They found a sea turtle lounging in a small cove, a little yellow bird tweeting from a low branch in a tree, and a large brown spider that made Lani leap onto Easton’s back.

  “I hate spiders, I hate spiders, I hate them,” she whimpered as he carried her away.

  Easton smiled, content to keep her arms around his neck. “I take it spiders are another thing that make you grumpy?”

  “Not so much grumpy as… they make me feel like I’m covered in ants,” she said with a shiver.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll save you.” He carried her a little farther before setting her down. “You okay now?”

  She rubbed her hands together and watched him warily. “You’re thinking I’m the world’s biggest wuss right now, aren’t you?”

  He grinned and stole a quick kiss, saying, “Well, the prettiest wuss anyway.” Then he tucked some errant hair behind her ear and reached for her hand, walking with her the rest of the way to the car. At the next beach, they stopped for lunch.

  Easton located a large boulder to sit on, and Lani pulled out the sandwiches she’d made
and handed him one. He took a bite and nudged her shoulder with his. “You are an amazing cook. Even your sandwiches taste better than any deli’s I’ve had before.”

  She smiled. “Mahalo, but I think you’re just really hungry.”

  “No. I’m telling you, these are amazing. Did you make these rolls?”

  “Yes, but any talent I have with baking I owe to one of my college roommates. Her parents owned a small bakery, and she taught me how to make everything from doughnuts to bread bowls and pastries. She even shared all her family’s secret recipes, making me promise I wouldn’t pass them along to anyone else. It’s probably why everyone here loves my breads so much—because I can’t share the recipes.”

  He shot her a sidelong glance. “You’ve never given one of those recipes to anyone?”

  She shook her head. “I made a promise I wouldn’t.”

  “Not even Cora?”

  Lani shrugged. “I keep them in a small box in the kitchen cupboard, so I suppose she could use them if she wanted, but she never does. She leaves all the baking to me.”

  “What about your future husband? Would you share them with him?”

  “I would have to call my friend and ask her first,” Lani teased, though Easton got the feeling she really would.

  He took another bite of his sandwich and let his gaze travel across the turquoise and azure blue waters. The sea churned up white cap after white cap, looking as unsteady as he suddenly felt. His father had always advised him to marry above him—to find a woman who would inspire him to be a better person—but now that he’d met Lani, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was too far above him.

  “What else do you like to do besides bake, hike, sing, surf, and manage a B&B?” he asked. “Do you play an instrument?”

  “I’m only so-so on the piano, and I took flute lessons one year in high school before I decided it wasn’t for me. I preferred singing to playing. What about you?”

  “I can strum about five chords on the guitar and that’s it,” he said. “Play any organized sports?”