by Eve Gaal
“I saw a coffee machine,” Ron suggested, crossing his fingers behind his back.
“Cool,” Penny said with a smile. “I could go for a coffee.”
* * *
Chapter One-Hundred and Seven
Ilona ran ahead to find Darin. Stephen chatted with Ron about newspapers in New Zealand, and Penny slowly walked behind the two men. Her eyes lingered on another bloody handprint smeared wall in the corridor as she stepped over multiple bundles of wire running from the showroom floor to Darin's office. Cameramen kept zooming by with various types of equipment and Beverly's banana-pineapple waffles and smoked bacon churned and twisted like caged dolphins trying to find the sea. What a nasty place, she thought, avoiding someone with a microphone in his hand.
Stepping into the showroom, lights blinded her vision making her shield her eyes with her right hand. She bumped into a car, and worked her way toward a window, where natural light brought in a tiny bit of clarity. Ron stood near her, and though he said something, she didn't hear what he was talking about. Amplified voices filled the showroom and she felt like she had wandered into a cocktail party instead of a police investigation.
“Penny,” Ron said repeating himself. “I'll get the coffee. Stay here.”
Penny held onto to a fancy tail light on a new model car and tried focusing her eyes and getting used to the cacophony, echoing throughout the vast building. Across the room, she saw the reporter, the man she had met in Darin's office, leaning against another car and holding a microphone close to his lips. In yet another corner of the room, she noticed a group of people encircled by FBI agents. The agents wore black windbreakers over their grey slacks and white shirts. She tried listening to the television reporter, when Ron came back with the coffee.
“Here, Penny,” he said holding out the hot brew. Somehow, in the middle of all that noise, Ron's voice carried across the room and when the FBI agents heard the word 'Penny', they all turned around.
Must be my imagination,she thought, seeing her dad, Tina and John hurrying towards her from across the room. Everything suddenly became a blur of voices, black jackets and movement traveling quickly in her direction, like a magnetic force pulling her into a vortex of spinning color and sound. The showroom appeared to sag, the walls felt like they were heaving and everything began swirling like a whirlpool. She blinked a few times and said, “Ron, I don't feel good.” Then, letting go of the tail light, she reached for the coffee, and passed out.
* * *
Chapter One-Hundred and Eight
Penny's unconscious body went whizzing through Hilo in an ambulance. Ilona rode along, holding her delicate fingers while Stephen and Ron drove behind the emergency vehicle in the white car. Glenn needed the whole story and he begged John and Carl to stay behind for a few minutes.
The auto dealership looked like a Hollywood movie set with lights around the perimeter, and television station vehicles parked alongside shiny new cars. The place teemed with officers, men and women in suits, catering trucks, satellite dishes, amplifiers and what seemed to be enough wiring to circle the earth.
Glenn spoke rapidly into his microphone about a botched drug raid that went completely haywire, when a tourist by the name of Penny Himmel came to rescue everyone at Martin Automotive. Several hostages had been released because of her brilliant response in foiling the suspects, who were now in custody. “Thank goodness, there weren't more injuries,” he sighed, nearing the end of his report. “I myself sustained a few minor but painful injuries. Meanwhile, our heroine is currently recuperating in the hospital. Her demeanor and courage made a tenuous situation come to a smooth, miraculous ending, all without the need for firepower. With a SWAT team available as backup, she unwittingly brought down the worst drug offenders in the history of the Hawaiian Islands. More extended coverage on Operation Penny, when we continue.” Smiling into the camera, he turned off the microphone in order to answer more questions from local authorities.
“Did she know her dad was one of the hostages?”
“No, I don't think she knew he was here.”
“Does she know her boyfriend flew to Hawaii?”
“No, we don't think she knew who the hostages were, but she took care of the events one step at a time.”
“Did she even see any of the hostages?”
“Not all of them. She was busy untying two people in the service drive, while I undid the door for the others,” Glenn said, posing and grinning proudly. “Some sort of an amazing coping mechanism must have kicked in to help her communicate and match wits with the enemy. I was sitting in the owner's office when Penny met the two criminals. Her cool head won in the end, methodically saving innocent lives.” Competing stations were there picking up the national story. It was unfolding, breaking news–with Glenn's face on every channel.
Later on in the hospital waiting room, Glenn did in-depth interviews with John, Carl and Tina. They all spoke about Penny's kindness, her sharp wit and intelligence. When he spoke to Carl, he used a soft, less invasive approach, for a one-on-one special story they were going to air on Christmas Day. His story focused on the strength of character alive in the Himmel family. She was a special hero and the authorities were impressed with her temerity and astounding fortitude. Everyone, including the mayor wanted to know about Penny and how she had become Hawaii's sweetheart. Last of all, Glenn interviewed John for another special he thought the station could milk all the way to Valentine's Day. Glenn knew Anne would be delighted at the way he asked John about their relationship, including actual footage his cameraman filmed of tiny tears on the tip of John's lashes. It was a reporter's dream to capture the inside scoop, by experiencing part of the drama, first hand. He was there. The idea of winning huge journalism awards or perhaps a Pulitzer for investigative journalism, made him feel like a five year old on Christmas morning.
Darin turned to Tina and said, “These people have been calling on my cell.” He handed her a phone number. Under the number it said, Happy and Al. “I guess they know your girl.”
“Thanks, Darin, I'll invite them to the wedding.” She stuffed the note into her purse, and asked, “You'll be there?”
“I want to be there, but with all this commotion–I won't have time to brush my teeth,” Darin said, smiling. “We'll see.” He casually shook hands with an officer and said, “Thank you so much,” before turning back to Tina. “You're a wonderful woman. I'm sorry about everything.”
Kissing his cheek she said, “Don't forget to floss.” It was a way of giving him a final kiss and a way of ending their relationship in a civilized way. She then added, “Save a morsel of good karma and manly dignity by not talking about it.”
“How do you know I'm not supposed to talk about it?” He looked down at his topsiders and back into her eyes. The way she looked at him made him embarrassed, but relief flew at him in the form of an FBI agent who came to ask for his attorney's phone number. “I'll try to be there,” he called out, watching Tina get in a cab. “Tell your artist she's a hero,” he yelled, wishing he could tap into a little of Penny's magic.
* * *
Chapter One-Hundred and Nine
She stood on a mushroom and tried looking over the large rock.
“He's coming, watch out,” she said to the freckled, green and yellow frog.
“Who?” he croaked, in a deep baritone voice.
“I don't know what they're called, but it's big,” she replied sounding worried.
“Who?” he asked again, but this time he sounded angry and scared.
“Four legs, fluffy, white hair,” she replied, straining her ankles and stretching to her full height. When she turned around, she saw the frog hop higher than the mushroom. A rainbow twinkling with prisms of color arched above the grass. Everything smelled like freshly mowed lawn.
“Dog,” the frog said. “Don't worry, they don't like frogs.”
“Do I look like a frog to you?” She asked, putting her hands on her hips before sitting down on the mushroom and dangli
ng her feet over the side.
“You're small. I thought you were a frog,” he said, coming closer. “Hmmm, maybe you're not.”
“I most certainly am not a frog,” she said with indignation. “Do you need glasses?” She asked, crossing her eyes and making a face.
The frog came even closer. “No, but ever since I bumped my head, things get a little fuzzy. So what are you if you're not a frog?”
“I'm important,” she stated, looking immensely significant.
Though he had no idea what a princess looked like, he imagined she was probably a princess. “Frogs are important.”
“Yes, but I'm funny,” she said, smiling and doing a little cartwheel across the large expanse of beige portabella.
“Yeah, yeah, frogs can be funny too. Did you hear the one about the lily pad and the tadpole…?”
“Stop,” she said, this is serious. “All right, I'm loved,” she said earnestly.
“Wait just a darn tooting minute,” the frog exclaimed, “Frogs can be loved.”
“Yes, I guess you're right,” she yawned. Seconds later, she could hear the dog sniffing the other side of the rock. “Oh no, he's here!” She stood and looked across the granite into the dark eyes of a panting poodle.
The dog barked and she put her fingers in her ears. Slipping off the mushroom, she said, “Let's hide over here.”
“I told you, I don't have to hide. I'm fine with this whole dog thing. They're bigger but I can handle it.”
“You're brave,” she said, patting the frog on the back and getting ready to dive under the mushroom if the dog came any closer. A disgusting puddle of drool rolled over the rock.
The frog didn't want her to see the dribble and tried distracting her by saying, “Kiss me.”
“What?” Shocked at his request, she looked up at the dog and back at the frog.
The saliva moved closer. “Just kiss me, hurry.”
She leaned over and planted a small kiss on the end of the frog's nose. Seconds later, a tall good-looking man sat next to her. They were sitting on the grass and he was petting a dog. The rainbow quivered and all the colorful tulips and daffodils surrounding them started to bloom.
“Who are you?” She screamed at the man playing with the slobbering dog.
“If you don't know, Penny, then I don't know what to say.” He looked above the rainbow and into the horizon as if he wanted to run away. “Hey, pooch, you want to go for a walk?” The dog wagged his tail and jumped up and down sniffing the flowers until his tongue was hanging directly above Penny.
She pushed his paw away and tried to make him move, but his hot drool came steaming into her mouth. “Gross,” she screamed, “get away—help–I'm going to gag.”
* * *
Chapter One Hundred and Ten
Groggy and uncomfortable, Penny pushed away the nurse with the oxygen mask. “Get away from me,” she yelled, blinking and trying to open her eyes. Fluttering her pale lashes, she opened them for one second and immediately squeezed them shut. Still worried about dog drool, she wiped her mouth and kept her eyes closed inhaling deeply. The nurse reassured everyone that she was about to wake up.
Six people stood across from the bed in the small hospital room. Some of them whispered to each other, but mostly they were patiently waiting for Penny to wake up. “She'll be coherent in a few minutes,” the nurse said, holding her wrist and taking her pulse. “Come on now, we know you're awake–show us those magnificent green eyes.”
Finally realizing she had fallen out of her dream into a hospital, or maybe she was at home in a local hospital, she wondered if someone had given her drugs. Darin was into drugs. Did they do something to her? The few seconds she had her eyes open she thought she saw her dad, John, Tina and Ron, along with Dr. Okos and Stephen. The idea that her father and boyfriend, Ron and Tina and the nicest couple she had ever met were all in front of her in a hospital made her think that she must have been drugged by those evil guys at the dealership. Maybe it was the coffee? No, Ron gave her the coffee.
“Are you giving me drugs?” she asked the nurse, with a slurred glob of her own spit sputtering from her mouth.
“What?” The nurse didn't understand Penny's garbled speech. She wiped Penny's face and commanded, “Open your eyes.”
Penny opened her eyes and saw John, holding onto the foot of the bed. “Is he really here?” She asked.
“Yes, you have many friends,” the nurse said, backing away and allowing John to take her place next to Penny.
John took her hand into his palm and kissed the top of her hand. “Hi Penny, where have you been?”
“In Hawaii,” she said with a bemused look on her face. Slowly, her dad came up to the bed. “Hi Daddy.”
“Hi pumpkin, I'm so am glad you're all right,” Carl answered.
“What happened?” Rubbing her eyes and attempting to sit up she focused on Tina and Ron standing next to the bed. “Where am I?”
Tina went around to the other side of the bed and picked up Penny's other hand. Everyone waited with smiles as Tina began speaking about the day's horrifying events. “You rescued everyone at a car dealership. I guess Darin was involved in a drug fiasco, and you basically saved the day.”
“I did?” She muttered with a grin. Her pallor matched the hospital sheets, her hair was tousled and bewilderment flashed in her beautiful eyes. She took another deep breath and asked, “But what are you all doing here? Am I still in Hawaii?” Tina and Carl nodded affirmatively and she looked back into John's eyes for some of his down-home, no-nonsense reality. When she squeezed his hand, he squeezed it back and she squeezed it again for reassurance. Penny reached up to his forehead and moved his bangs noticing a scar. She caressed it slightly but returned her hand into his palm.
“We've been looking for you for days,” John said.
“I told them not to,” Carl added.
“What? But why? What made you look for me?” She looked at Ron and said, “I'm confused.”
“I told them to leave you alone,” her dad said.
“Aren't you glad we found you?” John asked, looking sad.
“Of course,” she said, attempting to embrace him. “What I can't understand is why all of you are here.” John hugged her back and made sure she didn't fall out of the bed.
“Because we missed you,” John said in unison with Tina and Ron who admitted, “Because we needed you.”
“We can't live without you,” said Carl, and then John added, “Because I love you.” He kissed Penny lightly and the nurse came back to take her temperature.
“She'll be up and out of here by tomorrow morning. Why don't you all get some dinner? Don't forget, she's been through a lot for someone in her condition. This young lady just needs rest,” the nurse said, looking down at the thermometer, before putting it into Penny's mouth.
Penny waved to Stephen and Ilona, who stood near the door. Tina let go of her hand and walked over to the window. Silently, Carl dragged himself to a chair to sit down. Ron wandered over to Tina and put his arm around her waist. John looked at his watch impatiently waiting for the nurse to remove the thermometer. Finally, Penny spoke to Stephen and Ilona, “Hi, sorry you had to see me like this.”
“Thank God you're fine,” Stephen responded after Ilona waved.
Tilting her face up toward the nurse she asked, “What do you mean my condition, did I get injured?” John had spoken to the doctors and he nodded at the nurse allowing her to pull the figurative cat from the invisible travel bag. He was on a journey and his adventures were only beginning. Did he still think adventures were overrated? Hell no.
The nurse smiled and said, “No, sweetie, you're pregnant. Congratulations.”
* * *
Chapter One Hundred and Eleven
Tina had planned and surprised Penny and John with an impromptu, though slightly prearranged, wedding on sacred Hawaiian soil in Waikoloa. A few small steps led down a rocky walkway where a small green clearing designated the exact spot where King Kame
hameha had been crowned King of the Hawaiian Islands. Unfolding in front of her eyes like her fantasy dreams was a flower strewn horse-drawn carriage waiting to take them to their honeymoon suite. The harpist from Beverly's wine and cheese evenings played enchanting medieval music that seemed to float over the waves into the sparkling, royal blue ocean.
She held onto her father's arm and meandered down the paved path where John eagerly awaited his lovely bride.
“Hi Princess,” he whispered, after Carl let go of her arm.
Her lips felt tied into a gigantic knot. It was exactly like the imagined wedding of her dreams. Even the warm December breeze reminded her of the curtains in her make believe castle. Finally, she figured out what to say. It was Christmas Eve, and she didn't have a single present for anyone. “Merry Christmas, John. I love you,” she whispered back. “I didn't get you a present.”
He took her hand and laughed. “I'm a lucky man, Penny. You and our baby are the best presents I could ever wish for in the whole universe. Merry Christmas to you too.”
Delighted at the idea of marrying her strong, sweet and lovable John, she had quickly embraced Tina's surprising idea about the wedding. The gorgeous dress Tina chose looked fabulous. Seed pearls and satin decorated a renaissance style dress bedecked with white organza hibiscus flowers and detailed cutwork emphasized Penny's lovely collarbone and shoulders. The little bouquet of island flowers quivered in her hands, and she made a mental note to toss them directly at Tina after the ceremony.
Happy read some beautiful Hawaiian poetry and Alevina, Stephen and Ilona all looked on listening to the cadence of the romantic words that blended with the sound of crashing waves. Like the honu or green sea turtles that found their way home, Penny was going home to start a new life with John.
