The Islands

by Di Morrissey

  As they were leaving, Mrs Goodwin drew Catherine aside. ‘Some happy news, my dear. It has been confirmed that Bradley will be returning in two weeks.’

  Mollie was puzzled at Catherine’s momentary pause and the brief look of dismay before her friend gathered herself and gave a bright smile.

  ‘That’s wonderful news. Thanks for letting me know, Mrs Goodwin.’

  Normally Mollie would have probed Catherine about Bradley’s homecoming but Catherine didn’t seem to want to talk about it. Maybe there was trouble in paradise, she concluded.

  ‘So what did you think?’ Catherine edged the car away from the Goodwins’ spotless garden and out into the traffic.

  ‘My God! Worse than I thought. Where have those women been all their lives? Y’know not once did any of them ask me a single question about me. They don’t go anywhere, do anything . . . I mean like you do. I mentioned you had such interesting friends here – thinking of Kiann’e, Lester, Eleanor – and they thought I meant them! Quite flattered they were. I think I’ve boosted your image quite a bit,’ she finished.

  ‘You certainly did. They thought you were such fun, so cute, just darling, what a lovely gal . . .’ mimicked Catherine.

  ‘Oh dear, we sound very catty,’ laughed Mollie. ‘I’m sure they’re all nice girls on their own, back at home. They’re just all out of the same navy cookie cutter. Is that Mrs Goody-win, do you suppose? Cripes, I hope your next commanding officer’s wife is a bit more liberal.’

  Again Catherine felt that flicker, the pang, at the knowledge she would eventually be moving on from Hawaii. More of the same elsewhere, she supposed. ‘I have a terrible feeling that there will be a lot more Mrs Goodwins in my life,’ said Catherine. ‘I just hope I can maintain the distance like I can here. Anyway, we’re not leaving for some time. Who knows, Mrs G might move on, the Commander might retire and we’ll get some groovy, interesting woman in her place.’

  ‘I wouldn’t count on it,’ said Mollie. ‘I’m glad we’re heading over to Aunty Lani’s. I think that’s going to be more my cup of tea. Mug of poi. Whatever.’

  Catherine laughed. Mollie always cheered her up. ‘Pass on the poi. It’s like wallpaper paste.’

  As Catherine knew she would be, Mollie was a great hit with Kiann’e’s family. There was much laughter, dancing, singing and eating. Eleanor dropped by and seemed a lot more relaxed.

  Catherine took her aside. ‘How did your meeting go? You look a bit more cheerful.’

  ‘Well, you can’t help feeling better when you’re with this lot,’ said Eleanor. ‘Though I do feel a bit awkward after talking to my business partner. He is simply not sensitive to Hawaiian concerns over these rocks.’

  ‘They’re just rocks?’

  ‘That’s what he calls them. I’ve been speaking to Abel John and he says all the workmen will walk off the site if the stones are disturbed. Very kapu. There is even the chance that bones will turn up, meaning it was a burial place. No-one wants to disturb ancestral spirits. If they’re disturbed they’ll bring some dreadful retribution down on us. But try explaining that to a mainland investor.’ She sighed.

  ‘I suppose you’re stuck either way, aren’t you? Pleasing the locals, or getting your new wing. Doesn’t seem that you can have both.’

  ‘To tell you the truth, Catherine, I liked the Palm Grove the way it’s always been. I don’t think we should try to compete with the big hotels and resorts. I think we should remain unique,’ said Eleanor candidly.

  ‘There are lots of people who like the magic and the Hawaiian style of the Palm Grove. Those new places are all the same,’ said Catherine, trying to sound optimistic. Just the same, she remembered Bradley’s criticism that Eleanor’s place was a rather run-down old-fashioned style of hotel.

  ‘I hope you’re right. And I wish my partner could see that. Beatrice will get involved soon enough and he will get to hear the other side of the issue,’ said Eleanor, looking rather heartened at the prospect. ‘You enjoy Mollie’s company, bring her over to Kauai next time she visits.’

  ‘Yes, I will. She’s planning on bringing her fiancé back, too.’

  ‘And give Bradley my best when he returns.’

  ‘Thanks, Eleanor.’

  Catherine watched her friend being swept into Lani’s enfolding embrace as they said goodbye. Eleanor put on her straw hat with fresh hibiscus around its crown and excused herself. How strong and determined she is, thought Catherine, but she certainly has a big problem.

  Aunty Lani caught Catherine’s eye. ‘Big things happening over there at the Palm Grove. Eleanor is caught in the middle. And wait till my sister gets involved. There’s no way Beatrice’ll let them build on top of a heiau. Could be an important place.’

  ‘Like what? Are they all different?’ asked Catherine.

  ‘Of course. It could be a burial place of the ali’i, birthing stones for the chiefs, or the stones could have great healing mana.’

  ‘How soon before they find out? The delays must be costing a bit.’

  ‘Could be a story for your paper.’

  ‘I’ll wait till Eleanor lets me know. I think she wants to keep it quiet,’ said Catherine.

  Catherine was surprised at how upset she felt when it came time to farewell Mollie. They hugged fondly.

  ‘Things are going to seem so dull when I get home,’ said Mollie.

  ‘You’re joking. With your great social calendar!’

  ‘Your life is a knockout – look where you’re living for a start,’ said Mollie. ‘And you have such interesting friends. Your Hawaiian friends are just lovely. They seem like family for you.’

  ‘It’s true. But I miss Mum and Dad and Heatherbrae and Parker and my mates, especially you,’ sighed Catherine.

  ‘I’m sorry I missed Bradley, but it’s been good to spend time with you, just like the old days,’ smiled Mollie. She hesitated. ‘Cath, is everything all right in your life? You know you can tell me anything . . . I just get a feeling . . . Bradley, those navy wives, your Hawaiian friends?’

  Catherine quickly shook her head. ‘No, no, not at all.’

  ‘Well, it’s your life, remember. Don’t get locked into something and feel you have to stick with it ’cause it’s the right thing to do. You’re a long way from home, but home will always be there, no matter what.’

  ‘I know. It’s just . . . I was brought up to do the right thing. You know how it is. I’m fine, really I am. Life’s great on the Islands.’

  ‘Even if everything is hunky dory here in the Islands, things might change when you’re someplace else. Bugger doing the right thing, look after number one I say,’ said Mollie firmly.

  ‘Oh, Mollie. C’mon. Bring Jason over when Bradley is here, we’ll have fun.’

  Mollie dug her friend in the ribs. ‘We don’t need those blokes around to have fun! Come back home for a visit before you get posted to Okinawa or the Philippines or some place! Take care.’

  ‘You too, Mol.’

  And she was gone through customs, a colourful figure gripping a straw basket, a large shopping bag and a sealed canister of leis.

  The apartment seemed even more empty and depressing without Mollie. Kiann’e had gone to Kauai for a couple of days to visit her mother, so Catherine rang Lester and suggested that she bring him round some supper and they have a drink on his lanai, eat and watch some TV.

  ‘Haven’t you anything better to do, girl?’ he asked. ‘But I won’t say no to that offer.’

  The next morning was clear, the water sparkling, and in the first hours of the day everything looked just washed from a light shower of rain during the night. After her swim Catherine decided to go to PJ’s and collect her board and have a surf. He’d told her to help herself while he was away and that if there wasn’t anyone in the house, just to push the garage doors open.

  As she approached the house she saw the workroom doors were open and an unfamiliar, beaten-up car painted in wild colours was parked in front. Music was playing. Catherine wande
red through the open back door into the kitchen. A girl was sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal. She glanced up at Catherine.

  ‘Hi.’

  ‘Hi,’ said Catherine. ‘I just came to borrow a board I’ve been using.’

  ‘Go for it.’ The girl continued to eat.

  Catherine turned away and was heading out the door when she heard her name. She spun around to see a smiling, freshly showered PJ standing in the kitchen. ‘You’re back.’ She looked at the girl. ‘I’m sorry to barge in . . . I was going to take the board out . . .’ Catherine felt a little pang of jealousy. Even though there was no reason that PJ shouldn’t have a girlfriend, deep down she realised that she didn’t want to share him.

  ‘Great. I’d come with you, but I just got back from the beach and showered. Have to go downtown for some supplies.’

  ‘I understand. I’ll see you later, I guess.’ She hurried out the front and stood on the lawn taking deep breaths.

  PJ came up behind her. ‘What’s the rush? Is your pal still here?’

  Catherine shook her head. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were back? I just feel a bit strange walking in on you with that girl.’

  PJ started to laugh. ‘That’s Damien’s new girlfriend. He met her in Maui. We’ve only been back a day and I didn’t want to spoil your time with your friend – you said how special she was to you.’

  ‘So were you just going to hang out here and not let me know you were back?’ asked Catherine.

  ‘I figured you’d be around as soon as your friend had gone. You didn’t give me a chance to call you.’ He looked perplexed.

  ‘I would’ve let you know when I was back.’

  She stomped into the workroom to collect the board, now determined to go down to the beach, surprised at how upset she felt.

  ‘Want to have dinner, catch up?’ asked PJ.

  ‘Sure. I’ll bring something. See you later,’ she said, somewhat mollified.

  When she returned from the surf, PJ had gone and Damien was in the workroom with the girl.

  ‘How was Maui?’ asked Catherine.

  ‘Far out. Too bad we had to come back, but there’s a meeting with a possible sponsor lined up.’

  Catherine didn’t want to hang around, she’d wait to get all the news from PJ that evening. ‘Gotta run, see you later.’

  He was sitting on the beach in shorts and a T-shirt with a group of surfers, no doubt discussing the waves in Maui, thought Catherine. She was disappointed he wasn’t alone, but she knew he couldn’t control the people who wandered along the beach, and this part of Waikiki was always a popular gathering spot.

  He saw her coming, carrying a large picnic basket, and stood up. As she reached him, the other surfers were drifting away.

  ‘What are you bringing all that stuff down here for?’

  ‘I thought we might have a sunset picnic.’

  ‘No surfing?’

  ‘I’m not exactly dressed for it, but sure, if you like,’ she said.

  ‘That’s okay. I’m going out early in the morning with the guys to Makaha, anyway. Come along if you like, though the sets out there might be a bit big for you to manage,’ he added.

  ‘Ah, we’ll see. I have to finish some work for the paper for next week’s edition.’

  ‘What’ve you got in here?’ PJ began rifling through the neatly packed basket.

  ‘Hang on, let me set it out. I got us a really nice bottle of wine.’

  ‘Why don’t we take it home then?’

  ‘The sunset, PJ!’ she admonished him.

  He grinned. ‘Right. I know a better place to see it. C’mon.’ He picked up the basket. ‘Where’s your car?’

  As they drove down Ala Wai Boulevard, PJ described his time on Maui, then they turned inland and started to climb up a high hill.

  ‘What’s this place?’ asked Catherine.

  ‘Puu Ualakaa State Park. Very beautiful.’

  He pulled into a lookout where the length of the coastline from Diamond Head to the Waianae Ranges was spread below them.

  ‘You’ve been here before,’ she said.

  ‘Any surfer knows the best places to view the coast,’ he answered.

  They ate the food and shared the wine as they watched the sunset. They didn’t talk but sat there wrapped in their own thoughts. Catherine wished she did this kind of spontaneous thing more often. There were still so many places to discover on the Islands. As the molten glow of the sky faded to indigo, the lights of the city below them began to sparkle.

  ‘I love it here. It’s really magic. I see why you can’t leave,’ Catherine finally said.

  ‘I don’t feel tied to this place. Plenty of other magic islands. I don’t have the history here that someone like Lester has. But I wouldn’t trade this for big city or suburban life, that’s for sure.’

  ‘What are you going to do with your life, PJ?’ she asked. ‘Is it possible to make a living from surfing, making boards, teaching tourists?’

  ‘Anything is possible.’ He grinned. ‘I tend to take things day by day. Keeps life interesting.’

  ‘This has been lovely. I’ve found somewhere new to come,’ said Catherine as they packed up.

  ‘I know the island pretty well now. I’ll take you round a bit if you like.’

  So for the next few days PJ took her places around the island – secret surfing spots, through the pineapple plantations to small towns, to tiny local restaurants run variously by Hawaiians, Japanese and Portuguese. Away from Honolulu, the island of Oahu was diverse – farms, plantations, waterfalls, ravines, valleys, and even a few decent-sized cattle ranches. It was fascinating and absolutely beautiful.

  ‘How do you know these places? I wish I’d known about them before.’ Catherine said.

  ‘I figured we’d get around to it. I don’t want you to think this island is just Waikiki. There’s a lot more to Kauai too, I could show you. But I thought exploring Oahu first might give you some ideas for photos.’

  ‘It sure has,’ she exclaimed. ‘I can find out more about the history from Aunty Lani and Kiann’e.’

  Coming home from one of these expeditions, she was greeted with a phone message from Bradley.

  ‘Hi, honey, you’re never home, so hope you get this message okay. We’ll be docking Friday. Check with the office. The Commander will have the exact time we’re due in. Can’t wait to see you.’

  Julia must have got a message as well, as she rang Catherine.

  ‘Exciting, isn’t it? What are you planning for Bradley?’

  ‘You mean when he gets home? Going out? A dinner?’ asked Catherine.

  ‘No, for his arrival. The girls generally dress up, make a sign, bring leis of course. Susie Mitchell took their dog to the dock last year draped in leis, even though animals aren’t allowed. Of course the kids always make a big deal of the welcome home for their fathers.’

  ‘I see. Well, I don’t have an animal or a child, and I think Bradley would be embarrassed if I made a placard or something. What are you doing?’

  ‘Wearing sexy underwear. Suspenders. Jim gets a giggle out of that stuff. There’s a shop downtown . . .’

  ‘Hey, spare me the details,’ said Catherine lightly. Bradley didn’t indulge in any racy foreplay or seduction. Bradley was, in fact, quite modest. He didn’t like to be seen naked and liked the bathroom to himself when he showered and shaved. And as for making love on the beach . . . No, thought Catherine, I don’t want to go there.

  ‘Well, I heard it’s probable they could be gone again in six weeks time so, as Mrs Goodwin says, it’s nice to make an effort to welcome them home,’ said Julia.

  ‘Do you think Mrs Goodwin wears naughty red lace knickers to welcome home the Commander?’ said Catherine, laughing at the thought.

  ‘Catherine! That’s a dreadful thing to say,’ said Julia primly. ‘I’ll see you down at the port.’

  The morning of Bradley’s arrival, Catherine stood under the shower trying to liven herself up and muster the eff
ort to look excited and happy at seeing him again. She just felt very flat and wondered if Bradley would like her racing out at sunrise to swim and then at sunset to surf. She tidied the apartment, restocked the empty fridge and pantry and put fresh flowers on the table. That’ll do, she thought.

  She saw the cluster of wives waiting and was surprised at how some had turned up in jeans and casual suntops. Other women, like Julia, were in heels and good dresses or fitted skirts and tailored blouses, hairdos freshly coiffured and lacquered. Catherine had opted for a full-skirted sundress with spaghetti straps and small-heeled sandals. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders in soft curls and she’d put a flower in it. She wore the pearl necklace that Bradley had given her for their wedding. She hadn’t paid this much attention to her clothes since he left.

  Catherine stood to one side, holding the orchid and plumeria lei she’d brought for him. There were squeals and long embraces as the men came down the gangplank to the arms of their wives and girlfriends. And then Bradley appeared at the top of the gangplank, surveying the dock. She lifted her arm and waved at her husband, feeling a bit like she did when she’d first arrived in Honolulu from London. She felt unsure, hesitant, shy even, but she could see why she’d fallen in love with this tall handsome man in his crisply immaculate uniform. Bradley beamed and strode down the gangplank giving a smart salute to the officer on the dock. And in a few long strides he was before her, dropping his small bag and opening his arms. He kissed her tenderly and then held her at arms’ length.

  ‘Heavens, look how brown you are! And your hair is longer. You look fit and well. This surfing must agree with you.’

  Catherine was confused. How did he know about her surfing? Julia must have told Jim. Or was it Mrs Goodwin?

  Bradley took off his hat and she dropped the lei over his head. ‘You look good, Bradley. Not as suntanned as I thought you’d be.’