Leilani swiped at her tears. “Even positive people have moments of sadness, Butch. Right now? I don’t just feel sad. I feel broken.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “Then I’ll have to help you feel repaired.”
Chapter 18
Leilani sat in the chapel with her head bowed. Silent tears streamed down her face as she prayed. Why had all this happened? All she’d wanted was to give a young woman a fresh start in life. She’d never felt so punished in all her life. Despite the heartache, she couldn’t bring herself to blame Jinx. It wasn’t her fault. Her heart ached even more for the young woman who slept in a hospital bed a few floors above her. She’d suffered broken bones, bruises, and severe blood loss. The nurses said it was a miracle she’d survived the beating. Despite wanting to see her, visiting hours were over. Since she wasn’t a blood relative, Leilani hadn’t been allowed in the room. She looked up at the sound of footfalls. A tiny smile lit her face as Butch looked down at her, two steaming styrofoam cups in his hand. “Tea?” he asked. “It’s an herbal lemon, but that’s what they had available.”
“Sure.” She accepted the cup and took a sip. “I wouldn’t have expected you to be a tea drinker,” she said after a moment.
“I figure I’m jittery enough without extra caffeine. Herbal tea helps me relax, keeps me sane.” Butch sat quietly for a long while. “Are you okay?”
Leilani took a deep breath and released it. “No, not really. I’m trying to be. But, I’m in for a rough few days as I contact my clients. Some of those pieces were commissioned. Two of them were just waiting final approval. It’s going to be a huge loss, financially speaking.”
“What about emotionally?”
She gave a short laugh. “I’m so far from okay it’s not even funny.”
“Do you mind if I teach you something my therapist taught me?”
Leilani shook her head, “No, I don’t mind.”
“Okay. This might seem kind of weird at first, but it does help.” He took her hands in his. “Close your eyes.”
She complied. “Okay, now what?”
“Imagine a suitcase.”
“A suitcase?”
She could hear the grin in Butch’s voice. “Just trust me, do you have your suitcase?”
“Does it have to be a plain suitcase?”
“No, you can make it as fancy as you want.”
“How about a blue suitcase with a sticker that says, ‘Butch is weird’?”
Butch chuckled. “It’s your suitcase. You can decorate it however you want.” He paused for a moment and she imagined a large blue suitcase. Stickers from exotic places she hoped to travel to decorated the outside. “Once you’ve imagined it, open the suitcase.”
“Is there a million dollars inside?” Leilani asked, enjoying the relaxing sound of Butch’s voice.
“No.”
“Dang,” she said with a smile. “Okay, I’ve opened the suitcase.”
Butch started rubbing small circles across the tops of Leilani’s hands. She tried not to squirm as the simple motion made her feel soft and gushy inside. “Pack the suitcase with all your stresses from the day. Put in the scene at the apartment. Put in any trouble at your rehearsals. If you need to, you can put in the goofy guy who forced you to go ice skating. Just don’t leave me in there.”
Leilani could hardly think with Butch so near. “I suppose I could bring you back out.”
“Have you packed away all your stress?”
“I think so.”
“Okay, shut the suitcase. Imagine locking it tight. And then imagine a closet where you will set the suitcase on the highest shelf.”
“That’s going to be hard to reach. Maybe you could put it in for me?”
His breath tickled her ear as Butch leaned closer to her. “I can help you lift it. Now, open your eyes.” Her heart raced as she found herself looking into Butch’s eyes. She could see flecks of gold and blue mixed in the green. “Feel better?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.
Her voice lodged in her throat, Leilani nodded. “Yeah.”
Butch traced her jawline with a finger. “Good.” He sighed as he leaned his forehead against hers. “You are so beautiful. If we weren’t in a chapel, I would kiss you right now.”
Leilani closed the distance between them with a gentle kiss. “I don’t think anyone will mind,” she replied. She rested her head on his shoulder. He reached around her and pulled her close. “Thanks, Butch. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. Do you have somewhere to go?”
She shook her head. “I really don’t want to go to a hotel. It’s not going to feel any safer than being at my apartment, and it sounds like Officer Good is going to have people in and out looking for evidence. I’ll just stay here tonight. I doubt I’d be able to sleep anyway.”
Butch nodded. “I can stay with you, keep you safe.”
Leilani smiled, the word safe floating through every nuance of her being. “I’d like that. But shouldn’t you get some sleep?”
He tightened his hold slightly. “I won’t sleep if I don’t know you’re safe. So you can either sleep on my couch, or we can stay here. Whatever you want to do.”
She considered his offer. Her grandmother would die if she found out she’d spent the night in a man’s apartment, even if Leilani swore up and down it had only been on his couch. “May as well stay here. I’m sure God can keep watch over us tonight.” She turned so she was facing Butch again. “If you need to go home, I understand.”
Butch kissed her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere. Some guardian angels don’t have wings.”
She smiled again as he shifted so she could be more comfortable. “I’m glad you’ve decided to be my guardian angel. I need one tonight.”
He sighed, pulling her close. “Try to rest, babe,” Butch said, the husky quality of his voice warming her.
“Shouldn’t be too hard,” Leilani said, the exhaustion of the past hours settling over her. “I’ve got hold of the world’s best teddy bear.” She smiled as Butch grumbled something indecipherable under his breath. “Good night, Butch.”
“Good night, Leilani.”
She allowed her mind to wander, trying to keep it to the positive things which had happened. Ice skating with Butch had been enjoyable, even if a little daunting at first. A smile teased her lips. She’d never have guessed he would enjoy figure skating. If anything, he seemed more like the lumberjack type, maybe a hockey player if skates got involved. But on the ice, he moved with ease and grace. She sighed as the tension in her shoulders eased. There was something special happening with Butch. Something that made her wonder if she could convince the man keeping watch over her to go home to Hawaii with her. And if she couldn’t, what would she do when the inevitable time to go home came?
Chapter 19
Butch didn’t know how long he’d been asleep, but the stiffness in his neck and shoulders told him he’d never made it into bed. A strange heaviness pressed against his side and he peered down. His lips lifted into a smile. Leilani slept peacefully against him. He rubbed his eyes blearily before looking around. They were in the hospital chapel, resting on a pew. Knowing he’d never be able to move her without waking her, Butch shifted slightly to get more comfortable. He glanced at a wall clock. Was it really almost four in the morning? Leilani would no doubt want to get to the gym for a workout and he wanted the chance to exercise as well. Then again, perhaps she would rather stay at the hospital until she was sure Jinx was okay.
A nurse walked into the room. She whispered, “I’m sorry to disturb you. Have you been here all night?”
Butch replied, “Yes. We’re waiting to see a young lady named Jinx. She was brought in late last night.”
“Visiting hours won’t begin for another couple of hours.”
“I know.”
“I see. Can I bring anything for you and your wife? Coffee maybe?” the nurse asked.
“Herbal tea would be fine.”
The nurse smiled. “I’ll
bring some right away. If you need to talk to anyone, there is a pastor coming in about an hour.”
“Thank you.”
As she walked away, Butch realized the mistake she’d made. Somehow it disappointed him to realize that Leilani wasn’t in fact his wife. He wasn’t entirely sure how to classify her. Something special had happened with Leilani. He didn’t know how or why, but she’d become a part of his life. The idea of harm coming to her frightened him more than anything he’d ever experienced. His mother would doubtlessly claim that he’d finally fallen in love, but this seemed so much deeper than the heady feelings his mother described. Then again, maybe this feeling of home, of rightness was what his mother really meant. This could be love, couldn’t it?
He started as the alarm on his phone went off. Feeling like an idiot, Butch tried to move around to reach his back pocket where the phone was. Leilani shifted and blinked her eyes. “What’s that sound?”
“Sorry,” Butch said, finally removing the phone and turning the alarm off. “I forgot about that.”
Leilani gave him a sleepy smile. “That’s all right.” She looked around herself. “I guess it would have been too much to ask that everything last night had just been a dream.”
“Everything?” Butch asked with a teasing grin.
“Well, maybe not everything,” she replied.
The nurse who’d come earlier returned with two styrofoam cups. “The waiting room is available if you’d like to sit in there. And the cafeteria will open in about twenty minutes. The patient you’d asked about is resting comfortably at the moment.”
“Is she okay?” Leilani asked.
Shaking her head, the nurse said, “I’m very sorry, but I can’t give out any details about patient health. But I can tell you that she is resting. You’ll be able to visit her at seven.”
Leilani nodded. “Thank you.” She sipped her tea as the nurse walked away. “I suppose I ought to call The Mermaid’s Tail and let Yolanda know why Jinx won’t be coming in today. I’d hate for her to lose her job so soon after starting it.”
“That’s a good point.”
Patting her pockets, Leilani frowned. “Where’s my phone?”
“Didn’t you leave it at the apartment for Jinx to use?” Butch asked.
“Oh, right. I guess it’s either still at the apartment, or maybe Jinx had it with her.”
“In which case it’s either stolen or in a bag of personal effects,” Butch replied. “Here,” he continued, handing her his phone, “use mine. The phone number is already programmed in.”
Leilani grinned. “Oh really?”
“Hey, can I help it if some nights I just don’t feel like cooking?”
“I guess not,” she replied with a giggle. She placed the phone call and explained the situation to Yolanda, promising she’d call again with an update on how Jinx was doing as soon as she could. Then Leilani glanced at Butch. “Do you mind if I call my mom? I just don’t want her to worry.”
Butch blinked, confused by the seemingly backwards logic. “Won’t telling her that the girl you adopted off the streets has been mugged and is now in the hospital, which is where you are, make her worry?”
“You don’t understand, Butch, I always call Mom in the morning. It’s the best time to reach her because she’s such a night owl and I usually catch her right before she’s going to bed. If I don’t call her, she’ll worry. Besides, she already knows about Jinx and is hoping beyond hope that I bring her home with me.”
“So you get it from her?”
“Get what?”
He brushed her cheek. “An incurable desire to make everyone’s lives better.”
Leilani smiled. “Something like that. Anyway, do you mind?”
Butch shook his head. “I’ve got an unlimited plan. Take all the time you need.” He listened quietly as Leilani spoke with her mother, giving her the essential details without going into melodramatics. He had to admit to being impressed. Most women he’d seen wouldn’t have relayed the information so calmly. He’d handled enough insurance cases to see the opposite at work more times than not. He startled when Leilani started to hand the phone to him. “She wants to talk to you.”
“What? Why?”
Leilani shrugged.
Butch took the phone and cleared his throat. “Um, hello?”
“Hello Butch, you’re taking good care of my Leilani, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, not sure why he suddenly felt like a teen caught out after hours.
“Good. She is special, yes?”
Was there a right answer to that question? What exactly did she mean by special? “Yeah, of course she is.” He caught Leilani snickering and smirked at her.
“I want you to call me when she is home safe, understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“All right. Take good care of her and Jinx. Goodbye.”
Butch didn’t even have a chance to respond before the line went dead. “Is she always...”
“Yes,” Leilani replied with a smile.
“Okay then. So, what exactly have you been telling her about me?”
Leilani laughed. “You really think I’m going to tell you?”
“Yes I do, actually,” Butch replied.
“Just that I’ve got a neighbor who thinks he’s a grumpy grizzly bear. And that I’m determined to prove he’s just a teddy bear with sleep deprivation,” she replied with a grin.
“You’re something else,” Butch muttered.
“You and Jinx keep saying that. I’m beginning to think being ‘something else’ is exactly the way people should be.”
Butch chuckled. “Maybe you’re right. In the meantime, why don’t we go get some breakfast? I’m starved.” He took her hand and led her to the hospital cafeteria. “What are you going to do about the artwork?”
“I talked to Mom about it a little. She’s going to contact my clients for me since most of them live on the islands anyway. She reminded me that most will be willing to wait for something new to be done.” Leilani grinned. “She’s pretty much a walking, breathing ball of sunshine.”
“You mean there’s someone in this world more optimistic than you?” Butch asked.
“Yep, and I call her Mom. Pretty awesome, isn’t it?”
He squeezed her hand. “Yes, I believe it is.”
Chapter 20
Jinx felt like she’d been run over by a cement truck as she slowly opened her eyes. An incessant, rhythmic beeping filled her ears. An odd weight pressed against her left arm. Something was pinching her finger, and her nose felt funny. White walls surrounded her. “Am I dead?”
“No, ipo, but you seem to have given it some thought,” Leilani replied.
Slowly bringing the world around her into focus, Jinx looked at her friend. Butch was standing just behind Leilani. Why was he with her? Oh, yeah, they’d gone on that date. Memories of the night before flooded her. “Leilani, your apartment, I tried to stop him...”
“Jinx, relax. Everything in the apartment is just stuff.”
“But your art...”
“As painful as it is to say, is still just stuff,” Leilani replied. “You are far more valuable to me than a few jars of sand.”
Jinx felt tears prick her eyes. “But it wasn’t just a few jars. It was all the jars. All your pieces. I tried so hard to make him stop.”
Leilani gently patted her uninjured hand. “Enough, Jinx. I don’t blame you, and I don’t want you to blame yourself. What happened at the apartment was outside your control. The best thing you can do now is tell the police everything you can so that monster doesn’t succeed in killing you next time.”
Choking on a sob, Jinx whispered, “How can you forgive me so easily?”
Leilani put a gentle hand on her knee. “Because there is nothing to forgive. I’m serious, Jinx. Do not take responsibility for this. It was tragic, it is heartbreaking, but it was not your fault,” she said, emphasizing each word. “In any case, I’ve given what little inf
ormation I could to the police and I would advise you to do the same.”
Jinx hesitated. “I want to, but...”
“If he stays on the street, you will never stop looking over your shoulder,” Butch said. “Trust me, kid, I’ve felt that kind of fear. You shouldn’t have to face it so young.”
“But...”
“How many others are suffering because of him?” Leilani asked. “How many others are stuck in a place they want to escape, and can’t. If you give the police all the information you can, they can put a stop to this. Help the innocent to find real help. You could do that for them.”
A tear slipped down her cheek as Jinx said, “I don’t know if I can.”
“But I know you can,” Butch replied.
Jinx looked up at him in surprise. “You?”
“You’re tough, kid, and you’re strong. You’ve got more courage than I have.” Butch smiled, a genuine smile that made Jinx realize why Leilani thought so highly of him. “And Leilani and I will help you in whatever ways we can.”
“Please, Jinx,” Leilani said, “If for no reason than your own peace of mind, turn in all the information you can. Give the police what they need to get that horrible man behind bars.”
Jinx nodded slowly. “Okay. So, can I leave now?”
Leilani hesitated. “Well, probably not, Jinx.”
“What?”
“Ipo, you have so many injuries...”
“I’m not staying in the hospital,” Jinx said, fear causing her to tremble. The beeping she’d heard earlier got steadily faster. “Hospitals are for dead people. I’m not staying and you can’t make me.”
“Well, I see our patient is awake,” a nurse said, coming into the room. “How are we feeling this morning?”
“Like I want to go home,” Jinx retorted, panic causing her voice to break.
“Relax, sweetie, no one ever wants to stay here,” the nurse said gently. “And I promise we won’t make you stay any longer than we have to. But you’ve lost a lot of blood, and you have several injuries that are going to take a while to heal. Your wrist is broken, you’ve got cracked ribs, and then there are all the cuts and lacerations to consider.”
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