“I’m game.” By mutual consent, Kaillar was driving, and he located a vacant parking spot and pulled the vehicle over. As they headed for the benches, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to reach over and take her hand in his own.
He felt her start, but when she didn’t try to reclaim her hand, he silently patted himself on the back. He was making progress, or rather, she was making progress. Maybe she’s beginning to trust me a little.
They sat in silent contemplation for many minutes. Kaillar was astonished at the young woman sitting next to him. At the age of twenty-three, she’d dealt with more tragedy in her life, and yet she was still trying to move ahead with the act of living. After hearing her story, meeting her mother, and having spoken to Kalino, he realized that while not ideal, her leaving when she did might have been the best thing in some respects.
“So, I know you were feeling very apprehensive about coming home. How are you feeling now?”
Becca gave him a look, and then shook her head, “You sound like Gracie.”
“Thank you?” he questioned, trying to keep the mood light.
“It’s different than I imagined. I knew that my parents had the wrong idea about what had happened, but things were so tense back then. They were grieving my brother’s passing, and it just didn’t seem to be getting any better three weeks later.
“When Kalino woke up from his coma, and the doctors said that he would make a full recovery, I realized that I needed to do something different if I ever wanted to be able to say that about my own life. I think my leaving hurt my parents.”
“I think that’s probably a fair statement. But as you discovered earlier, your mother didn’t understand that you had suffered an additional trauma no one knew about. I don’t think anyone could have expected you to stay here without some way of dealing with those feelings.”
Becca gave him a rueful smile, “But I didn’t deal with them. I just locked them away. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of it too, until that attack a few months back. It brought everything back and I realized I’d not gotten rid of any of the guilt.”
“Guilt that isn’t even yours,” he reminded her.
“It’s much easier to say that than to believe it’s true,” she replied with a face.
“I get that. Why don’t you let someone else carry the burden for a while?” he suggested, hoping he wasn’t stepping over the line with her.
“What? Why would anyone else want to carry around my burden? One you seem convinced isn’t even mine to own.”
“Because God loves you, and He’s the only one that can take the guilt you’re feeling and turn it around.”
“God again, huh? Gracie went there as well. You really believe in prayer and all that stuff?”
“I do. I’ve seen it work in my life and in others. Look at it this way; you don’t have anything to lose. You did say you believed in God.”
“I do, but I don’t know that I believe He’s the kind of God that takes a personal interest in the lives of his subjects.”
“Not subjects. Children.” Kaillar thought for a moment, and then explained, “God called us His children. Think of him like a Father. One that only wants good things for His children.”
Becca looked at him, and then spoke so softly he could barely hear her, “I’ve never thought of Him that way. I always envisioned God as this powerful being that watched us like we might watch the nightly news.”
Kai smiled at her, “You couldn’t be more far from the truth. He wants to be part of your daily life.”
“Is He part of yours?” she asked.
“Not in the same way He is with Pastor Jeremy, but – Yes. God is a part of my daily life.”
Becca was quiet for a few moments, and then she nodded, “I’ll think about it. For now, the wind is shifting, and the smell of rotten eggs doesn’t do anything for me.”
“I noticed that the odor seems to have gotten stronger. Shall we head back?”
“Yeah. I know my mom said there wasn’t anything she needed help with, but I don’t believe her. I don’t even know what time the service is tomorrow.”
“Let’s go,” Kaillar led her back to the vehicle, and then drove them back down the mountain. He actually felt a sense of relief when green foliage and trees reappeared along the roadway. The devastation done by the volcano was tremendous and yet, as they got closer to the unaffected ground, small plants had begun to push their way up through the charred, hardened lava. The contrast between the black ground and the bright green plants was a great reminder that even though the volcano had destroyed everything in its path, the destruction was only for a time. Life went on, and could flourish even in the midst of such devastation.
He wasn’t aware that Becca’s thoughts were travelling along that same path. Or that she was doing some serious thinking about this God that both he and Gracie seemed to put so much faith in.
Chapter 12
Sunday, early afternoon…
Kalino and Kaillar stood a short distance away from the closed casket containing the remains of Makoa Kahoalani. The funeral service had been brief, and now all that was left was for Becca and her mother to say their final farewells.
“She’s handling this pretty well,” Kalino commented to Kai.
“Yesterday was pretty hard on both of them.”
“I know. Her mom called me after you both left, and wanted to know why I’d never said anything about Dagan attacking Becca that day. I guess I always assumed that they’d figured it out. By the time I woke up, everything had started to settle down with the media, and Becca was gone. I not only lost my best friend, but Becca had been like an older sister to me. Her leaving felt a lot like I’d been abandoned.”
“Didn’t you ever think to contact her?” Kai asked, remembering how she’d explained that she’d left her phone number the same and no one had ever called her.
“Her dad told me to leave things alone. That she needed time to deal with everything that had happened, and I assumed he knew her best. I never dreamed that she would stay away for so long.”
“Well, I know from talking with her two roommates these last four years that she never even mentioned having a brother. I think she thought if she stayed away, she would never have to deal with the pain.”
“That’s not how life works. I remember the first time I surfed Pe’ahi after the accident. I stayed away for almost three years. And then one day about a year ago, I realized that if I wanted a shot at winning the Island championship, I’d have to eventually learn how to handle the big waves.”
“Isn’t that where her brother was killed?” Kai asked.
“Yeah. I watched the forecast, and chose a day where the chances of the waves increasing was minimal. I flew over by myself. I didn’t want anyone to see me fail if I chickened out.”
“What happened?” Kaillar asked.
“I swam out, and then sat on my board for almost an hour before I got the nerve to make a run for the next wave. I watched surfer after surfer get overtaken in that time. Guys I’d gone to school with, and had competed against for years. Not a one of them was successful in riding the entire wave out.”
“Let me guess, that made you more determined than ever to prove that you could do what they couldn’t?” Kai asked with a grin.
“Don’t you know it,” Kalino grinned back at him.
“I’m the same way with downhill racing. Nothing fuels my determination more than watching the skier right before the wipe out.”
“There is definitely something wrong with us,” Kalino suggested with a broad smile.
“No. We’re just competitive. My brother tells me all the time it’s going to be my downfall, but I’m also cautious. I assume you are as well?”
“I’m probably the safest surfer I know who still takes on the big ones. If the waves looks too iffy, I’ll gladly pass and let someone else take it. The object is to score points. Some of these guys would rather ride for
six or seven seconds on a high scoring wave. Not me. I want to go for the thirty second or more ride, on a slightly lower scoring wave. In the end, I score more points, and my parents can sleep at night.”
“What are you two up to?” Stacie asked as she and Becca joined them.
“Not much,” Kai told her, sobering and watching Becca carefully for signs that she wasn’t doing well. Her father had been an island figure, and his funeral had drawn the attention of several reporters from the mainland and Oahu. One of them had recognized Becca, and had been brazen enough to ask her where she’d been hiding. They’d gone on to mention her absence at Dagan’s funeral, wondering if she would mind sitting down with them and talking about that tragic time in her life.
Kaillar had instantly become furious, and had stepped between her and the reporters. His sheer size alone had sent them backing up, and the look on his face had warned them not to press their luck. “Miss Edwards will not be giving any interviews. Now or in the future. Please respect her and her family’s privacy today.”
Becca had given him a grateful look, and then been hustled away by both her mother and Julia.
Kaillar sighed, wishing this ordeal was over for her. “We were just chatting.”
Becca nodded, “We’re ready to go. Mom’s friends should have everything set up back at the house.”
“I’m going to ride back with Kalino,” Stacie told her daughter. She’d seen the careful way Kaillar kept watch over Becca, and was hoping to give them a few moments alone before they were bombarded by friends of her father’s wanting to talk about the man they both respected and loved. It would be a trying afternoon, but also a time to heal and remember the good times.
Kaillar walked her to the car, and then opened the passenger door, squatting down to look into her eyes after she was seated. “How are you really doing, sugar?”
“What is it with you people from Colorado? Gracie calls me sweetie, and you call me sugar. Like I’m a piece of candy or something.”
Kai looked hurt, “You don’t like it?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I just…sorry, I don’t know what I meant.”
Kai smirked, “So you do like it when I call you sugar?”
Becca blushed, “Maybe too much. Kai…I don’t do relationships…I mean, I haven’t in the past four years…”
“Becca, I’m not pushing here. But I think you can tell I really like you. I know you’re leery of men in general because of everything that’s happened, but I won’t ever hurt you like that.”
Becca’s eyes softened, “I know you won’t. I know I kind of scared you the first time we met, but the situation was scary, and when you grabbed me, I didn’t know you and it was so much like the parking garage, and…”
“Becca, stop. You don’t have to explain anything to me. I am amazed at your strength, and I would understand if you never wanted to trust another man, but I’m hoping that’s not the case.”
She studied him for a minute, and then she blushed and dropped her eyes.
“What was that thought?” he asked, watching her cheeks turn pink.
“Nothing…”
“Hey! You can tell me to mind my own business, but don’t lie to me or to yourself. If you don’t want to tell me, I’m okay with that.”
She looked up at him, and then bit her bottom lip, looking uncertain before saying, “I was just wondering how you kissed.”
Kaillar let out a small laugh, and reached out a hand to cup her jaw, “Sugar, how about you stop wondering?” He gave her plenty of time to pull away, but when she only continued to watch him, he dropped his eyes to her mouth and tenderly kissed her soft lips.
He didn’t prolong their first kiss, but backed away so he could see her eyes. “How was that?”
“Better than I remembered,” she said before she could think about it. When she realized what she’d said, she blushed again and told him, “Sorry. I wasn’t meaning to compare you to…”
Kaillar chuckled, “I’m not worried. I know it was good.”
Becca laughed in pretend shock, “Conceited much?”
“No. Just honest.” He stood up, walked around the vehicle, and got in. Once he had the vehicle running, he turned to her, “Your mom’s going to wonder what happened to us.”
“Probably, but I also think she designed it this way. She likes you.”
“How can you tell?” Kai asked as he pulled out onto the main road.
“I can tell. I may have been gone for four years, but I lived here for nineteen before that. She definitely likes you.” So do I. Maybe too much.
Chapter 13
Two days later…
“Becca?” Kaillar called out into the backyard. She and her mother had been getting reacquainted for the last two days, and Kalino had been coming around to keep him company. He really liked the young man, and the pair were already making plans for Kalino to travel to Colorado after the holidays to try his hand at skiing.
With his keen sense of balance, Kaillar was sure he’d be a natural. “Becca?”
“Over here,” Becca called to him. “What’s up?”
“Kalino just called and said there was an outbreak, and you and your mom needed to turn the news on.”
Becca nodded her head, and then she and her mom hurried towards the house. They found the local news station, and watched in growing understanding that Kilauea was on the move again and this time, she wasn’t going to stop before she did considerable damage.
Reports coming in a few minutes ago show that the outbreak is moving considerably faster than in the past few months. Moving at speeds close to six feet per hour, the lava is going to reach Highway 130 by nightfall. Emergency Response Teams are already in the area, and are urging residents to be on alert for possible evacuation.
“What does all that mean?” Kaillar asked, seeing the worry on the two women’s faces.
“It means that if the lava flows comes this direction, all we can do is pack up and leave.”
“Six feet per hour seems kind of slow, doesn’t it?”
Becca walked over to the refrigerator, and pulled a map of the island off the front. “Kai, this is where the lava flow has currently been held up. It’s been building upon itself for the last several months, never making forward progress. This outbreak is off to the side, and moving directly towards Opihikao. Once it crosses the highway, we will only be ten miles or so from its current location.”
“Ten miles seems like a lot…”
“Maybe, but the danger that once it starts moving is that it will gain speed as it finds new land to consume. There is also a slight decrease in elevation, which will aid the movement.”
“Isn’t there anything that can be done?”
Stacie nodded her head, seeming to be unconcerned about the news, “They will install large concrete barriers on the opposite side of the highway to help direct it away from populated areas and residential buildings. It will work in the short term, but if the volcanic activity doesn’t slow down, it will only delay the inevitable.”
“So, is the resort in danger?”
“At the moment, not really. But in three or four months, maybe. Only God knows the answer to that.”
At the mention of God, Kaillar looked at Becca’s mom, “You believe in God?”
Stacie smiled, “I was raised in a very nice Catholic orphanage. When I came to Hawaii, I figured God hadn’t seen fit to keep me with my birth parents, and I could handle things on my own.” She gave Becca a soft smile, “It wasn’t until Kevin’s death that I realized I hadn’t done such a good job. Your father wasn’t raised in a church environment like I was, but he still believed in an Eternal Creator.
“After you left, we both had to do some soul searching. Mine led me back to a little non-denominational church in Hilo. I realized that while I’d left God, he’d never left me.”
“Mom, I never knew you even thought about God,” Becca told her mother.
“I
regret that. I do.”
Kaillar smiled at Stacie, “Becca and I have been talking about her giving her guilt and feelings of sadness for what happened four years ago over to Him.”
Stacie smiled at her daughter, “You won’t regret it if you do.”
Becca sighed, “I’m still thinking about it.”
“Good. Now, I think maybe I need to go have a talk with Julia. We always knew the day might come when the volcano would take back what was hers. We have boxes already in storage, and between the two of us, we’ve got an evacuation plan all worked out.”
“Mom, there’s no need to evacuate right now.”
“I think maybe there is. Without your father, I don’t want to run a resort. A developer gave your father and me a standing offer to purchase the property three months ago. He called me yesterday upon hearing of your father’s death, and told me his offer still stands. I’m thinking I will take him up on it.”
“But what will you do?” Becca asked, confused at how fast things could change.
“Well, now. I haven’t gotten that worked out quite yet, but I will. Now, would you and Kai mind running a few errands for me?”
Kaillar looked at Becca and then answered, “We wouldn’t mind at all.”
Ten minutes later, he and Becca were headed back into the more populated area of the island surrounding Hilo, “So, she really means to sell?”
“It sounds like it.”
“You don’t sound very happy.”
“I guess I don’t like knowing that the resort won’t be there the next time I come home.”
“Are you planning on coming home more frequently?” Kaillar asked with a smile.
Becca nodded her head, “I think I’d like to see my mom more often. With my dad gone, she only has me now. Julia has plenty of family on the island, but my mom doesn’t have anyone.”
Kaillar was quiet for a moment and then asked, “Have you considered asking her to come live in Colorado with you?”
Three Brothers Lodge - The Complete Series Box Set Page 25
