* * *
An hour later, they sat on the side of the rink, taking off their skates and warming up with hot chocolate. “I never really liked hot chocolate much. But right about now, I could go for a second one.”
Cassie grinned. “You should see what it’s like after tubing up in the mountains. The tourists flock to the hot chocolate stands.”
“The only tubing I know is behind a boat.”
“Up at some of the ski resorts, they take the same kind of inflatables, but you ride them down the hills,” Hanna said. “It’s like sledding, only better.” Seeing his blank look, she said, “But I’ll bet you’ve never been sledding.”
“No, I haven’t. But I’d be willing to give it a try.” He took another long sip of his hot chocolate. “I could get used to doing this more often. Maybe I’ll be back.”
He finished untying his skates and slipped out of them, returning his feet to his hiking boots. “So what else do you have in North Carolina?”
“Besides our winter wonderlands?” Cassie said.
“I wouldn’t call it that,” Hanna said. “We don’t want Josh to think we’re like Vermont or somewhere up north. They get the real snow. Down in North Carolina, we usually have to make it.”
“They have to make it, too, depending on the year.”
“Yeah, but we don’t get nearly as many inches as they do. We’ve never been snowbound.”
“Except for that one time we got dumped on. Remember that? We had almost a foot of snow, and everyone made snow forts and had snowball fights. It was great.”
“You must do the same thing, only with the sand,” Hanna said. “Making sand castles and all that.”
“I never liked sand castles all that much,” Josh said. “I feel like, if I’m going to take all that time to make something, I want it to last.”
“Maybe you should be your own boss one day. I could see you doing that.”
He nodded. “Maybe. I thought about setting up my own scuba place, but it just never materialized. I don’t like letting other people boss me around, so it would’ve been nice.”
Cassie looked at him for a moment. Then she nodded. “I could see that.”
Hanna swatted her. “That’s not polite.”
“What? I was just agreeing with him.”
He chuckled. “It’s all right. I think it’s probably true. I mean, I’ve worked for other people, and it’s okay, but I like being the boss. I like getting to decide which risks I take and which ones I let pass me by.”
“But…at the same time, doesn’t it leave you with no one to blame but yourself? If things go wrong?” She held her breath for a moment as he looked at her. She hadn’t meant to refer to his work troubles. She’d just been thinking about the challenges of owning a company out loud, but she quickly realized it could be taken the wrong way.
“I don’t worry about it too much,” Josh said. “You save up money in the good times, you weather the bad times, and if things don’t work out…” He shrugged. “You start over.”
“You must not ‘bet the farm,’ Cassie said. “Otherwise, you won’t have anything to start over with.”
“The money isn’t the critical thing you need to start over,” he said. “You can always get money if you’re willing to work for it. The most important thing is your heart,” he said, tapping his chest. “As long as you don’t get discouraged and keep believing in yourself, you can always start over.”
Hanna wasn’t sure she could do something that drastic, but she couldn’t help but admire him for his confidence and his willingness to do whatever it took to make his dreams work. And she couldn’t help but hope that, maybe, he’d be willing to devote some of his determination into making their connection work too.
Chapter Ten
The next few days changed everything, especially making Hanna dread saying goodbye to Josh. Each day that went by, that knot in her stomach grew a little bit tighter. And finally, today was the day she would’ve had to say goodbye to him if Cassie hadn’t suggested she move her departure date back by a couple days. As it was, she still had only a few days left with him, and she wasn’t sure what she was going to do when the day finally came for her to leave Hawaii. But I can’t move it back forever. At some point, I have to go back. No matter how nice Hawaii was, Coopersville was home.
She lay there for a moment, thinking. Then she heard a few thumps next door. Cassie was packing. She decided she might as well help her rather than stay in bed, fretting about her future. The last few days had been wonderful, with Josh showing both of them around the island and Cassie coming up with all kinds of excuses to leave them alone. She couldn’t imagine a Hawaii vacation being any more perfect, but now, it was almost at an end. But I still have some time. Cassie’s the one who’s leaving.
She got up and helped Cassie gather her things and check out of the hotel. Then she went to see her off at the airport. She couldn’t go very far, as Cassie was about to go through security, so she gave her a hug in the lobby. “See you back home.”
Cassie smiled back, a soft expression in her eyes. “I hope you have fun. I support you on this, no matter how crazy it is to find love on vacation. He’s a great guy, and you’re lucky to have found each other.”
Her words almost made Hanna cry. Her emotions were such a jumble, with her hope that, somehow, a miracle would happen and she and Josh would be able to make it work long-term. But all she could say was, “Thank you, Cassie.”
She nodded, but it seemed she couldn’t think of anything else to say. “I’ll text you when I get home.”
“Okay. Stay safe.”
“I always do.” Cassie gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Just make sure you knock him dead. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. And give him a kiss for me.”
Hanna laughed and shook her head. “Really, Cassie?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
* * *
Not long after that, Hanna was back at the hotel room while Cassie was certainly in the air by that point. She wandered aimlessly around the room for a few minutes, then reached for her phone, fishing it out of her bag. There were a few text messages, mostly from Cassie before she got on the plane, encouraging her again to enjoy her time.
Hanna tucked her phone away, once again reminded how lucky she was to have a friend as supportive as Cassie, a friend who was good natured and fun to be around, no matter how many times she’d changed plans on her.
Hanna decided she’d better shower and start her day, officially. She made her way to the shower, feeling mixed emotions flooding her thoughts. It was hard not to think of each moment as another she’d never have with Josh, but she couldn’t think that way. She had to enjoy their time together, not regret each moment as it passed.
She grabbed her clothes and entered the shower. Her hair was twisted up, and she turned on the warm water. It didn’t take her long for her to strip and step beneath the shower head. Soon, this would be all the warm water in her life—showers and baths—no more rippling ocean, no more balmy beaches.
She let the hot water course over her, remembering the way the ocean had enveloped her, the feeling of Josh’s hand holding hers, guiding her. The feeling of her breath being taken away by the beauty that was around them.
She grabbed the soap. There wasn’t much of the complimentary hotel bar left, but it would last. She only had a few showers left.
She thought of her first date with him—the way he’d smiled as he’d asked her out. She remembered the way his eyes could go from serious and focused to light and confident at a moment’s notice. He was similarly complex, his expressions going from curious to hesitant to confident, with his shyness tucked away, just out of sight. It all worked together to make him who he was, a man who had completely captured Hanna’s interest.
She wanted to know more, to know everything that made him smile. He was a good man, and she was lucky to have found someone like him to spend her vacation days with, even if that was all. He’d made Hawaii s
pecial, and she knew she’d never forget him.
She rinsed herself off one last time and exited the shower. She dried off, lotioned up, and slipped into the dress she’d laid out. She undid her hair, brushing away any snags and leaving it in smooth waves. Then she added a dash of makeup. She looked good, ready to meet Josh and greet the day.
As she exited the elevator, she found him in the hotel lobby with a bouquet of flowers, a mixed bundle, with one or two types she didn’t recognize. The way he looked at her melted her heart, and she couldn’t help but wish that every day could have some of him in it.
“You’re early,” she said with a wink in her voice. “These are beautiful. Thank you.”
“Nothing but the best for you.”
“Such a sweet man.”
“I had to be here to take you out for breakfast, didn’t I?”
“I could always find something to eat. I can manage.”
“I’m sure you can, but it’s my privilege,” he said.
Their eyes met for a moment, and she felt something pass through her. There was always something magical about being with him, something she didn’t want to lose.
She tried not to think about that, tried to ignore the ache that had already started. She didn’t want to spoil the beautiful moment they were experiencing right now.
They didn’t say much as they walked to the coffee shop that he had invited her to toward the beginning of her vacation, when he’d first asked her out. They both ordered coffee and malasadas, her new favorite way to start her morning, but Hanna found she wasn’t very hungry. Even the delicious fried doughnut couldn’t tempt her appetite.
She would miss Hawaii—there was no way around it. It had been breathtaking, and she’d enjoyed every moment of it, every second wrapped up in Josh’s presence with his arm around her waist and that beautiful smile on his face. She loved it, and she wasn’t ashamed to say so. He’d made this vacation perfect.
She took a deep breath. “Thank you. For everything.”
“That covers a lot. So…you’re thanking me for the sand you got in your shoes? And the overpriced hat Cassie said you had to have? And…”
“What I mean is…” She tried to think of a way to put it into words that didn’t sound completely corny. For the looks you give me…the way you kiss… “Everything since I met you.”
For a moment, he was quiet. “I should be the one thanking you, don’t you think?” His smile looked fond and a little serious, and she wished she knew what he was thinking. But for once, she didn’t have a clue.
“We should probably get going,” he murmured. “There’s still a little on this island to show you.”
“Hawaii’s not done surprising me?”
“I think I can surprise you anywhere. Not just here.”
She liked the way that sounded. Was he thinking about coming to Coopersville for a visit? But he’d probably have to save up for a trip like that. She knew what plane fares cost. It had taken her a long time to save for this one, and he’d said that his work was struggling. She couldn’t ask him to risk everything just to come visit.
She quickly finished her breakfast, and moments later, they were out in the sunshine, walking side-by-side. She tried to think of something to talk about—something other than the big thing on her mind—but the fact was they hadn’t been together for all that long. It was hard to imagine that it had only been a little over a week. She could still count the days they’d known each other on both hands. They didn’t have the foundation for a long-distance relationship. The connection, the spark, was there, glowing and bright, but was it enough to last the distance and time? She wasn’t even sure what the time difference was, but she didn’t think they’d share many hours of daylight, much less time to talk and stay in touch.
The most likely ending was them slowly drifting apart. The thought saddened her, but she wanted to remember the good times they’d had, the memories she’d always keep with her—the sweet, whirlwind romance that had taken her breath away. She glanced over to find him looking at her with his carefully-considered expression, like he usually did when he was about to tell her something important.
For once, she couldn’t ask him what was on his mind. She could only wait.
At last, he said, “I was just wondering. You’re from North Carolina, right?”
“Yeah. Born and raised.”
“Well, I was wondering if you could help me get a little insight into the economy. I mean, I know you have an ocean, so…what would people there think of shave ice?”
“Wait, what?”
“Do you think people would like it? I mean, could they get over the whole ‘it’s just like a snow cone’ thing?” He was grinning, and realization was starting to dawn on her, although she could hardly believe it.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“Uh, okay. Yes, I think they probably would be. I mean, you won me and Cassie over.”
“Well, like I said earlier, I’ve been looking to start a business myself, but something not here on Oahu. With scuba diving struggling, I was thinking about going into shave ice.” He was smiling, wider now. “I first planned to do it in Hawaii, but the market is pretty saturated, so…” He trailed off. “So maybe I could consider another market. Somewhere else.”
A business in North Carolina. He was talking about moving, uprooting his life and relocating to where she lived. He was giving their relationship a chance.
“You really mean it?”
“I do. I mean, think about it. Nobody there knows anything about shave ice. It’ll be a whole new market to tap into. To be fair, I’ve considered the mainland before, but now feels like the right time to get serious about it.”
“You got that right. And I don’t know anyone better to do it.”
Her heart was beating so fast in her chest. They had a chance. Their romance didn’t have to end.
She turned and took his hands. She saw the happiness in his eyes and knew that it mirrored her own.
He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was sweet, soft, and wonderful. His hand tangled in her hair, and she gently cupped the back of his head. She felt him press against her, warm and steady, and she imagined he could feel her pulse beating through her lips with how hard she felt it. They could be together, far longer than a couple days. It was everything she’d hoped for, right there, in his arms, and she’d never been happier.
Epilogue
Two years later
“There we go. That’s the last of them.”
Josh set down the syrup bottle. He took the towel he’d used to wipe it off and tossed it in the hamper.
“Took you long enough,” Hanna said. “I finished my half minutes ago.”
He chuckled and crossed his arms. “Not everything is a competition, you know.”
“Oh, I know. It’s just more fun when it is.”
“I cleaned almost all of mine, but I think you skipped a few.”
She turned around. “I did not. The ones I didn’t wipe were flavors we didn’t use today. You know, you keep trying these Hawaiian flavors on North Carolina folk, and some of them don’t pan out.”
“They’re all Hawaiian flavors, technically. That’s what gets people in the doors.” He waved one hand in the air and followed it with his eyes while saying, “Hawaiian Shave Ice. A little taste of Oahu in your mouth.”
“Yeah, I’m glad you left off that last bit on the end before you had the sign made.”
He patted her arm. “I took some good advice from a wise woman.”
“Such a smart man you are, doing things like that. Aren’t you cold?”
He glanced up. “Not really. Why?”
“Because it’s chilly and you’re in shorts.”
He smiled. “But I wear shorts pretty much everyday. As many days as I can, anyway.”
“I don’t know how you do it. Sandals and shorts even in the spring and fall. If the snow wo
uldn’t touch your feet, I’d think you’d be wearing them straight through the winter.”
He shrugged. “I’ll probably convert to mainland people’s clothes one day, but I still like my shorts. Old habits die hard.”
“It’s okay. I think you look handsome in them. Breezy, you know? Not every guy can pull off shorts.”
He raised an eyebrow. “In that case, I’m never wearing pants.”
She nudged him. “You’re crazy, but I love you for it.”
“What else do you love me for?”
“Now you’re just fishing for compliments.”
“Maybe I am. I’ll never tell.” He put all the clean bottles back on display. The customers liked the visual of seeing them all before making their flavor choice.
“I love your work ethic. You came over here just with your savings in your pocket, and now,” she gestured around the shop, “all this. You built it out of nothing but hard work and your Hawaiian breezy charm.”
“You had a big part in this too.”
She clinked two bottles together accidentally. “No, it was almost all you. I just help out part time here and there. You kick me out if I try to do more.”
“Now you’re the one saying crazy things. I don’t kick you out at all. I love when you’re around. It makes my day a little brighter. I just don’t want you to feel obligated to put in the hours I do, especially with your other job.”
She shrugged. “I don’t mind. What am I going to do otherwise? Mall walk?”
“I’m sure Cassie would enjoy seeing you more.”
“She can deal. I see her every few days anyway. We sometimes go out for lunch on my break at work. If I see her any more than that, she won’t spend time with her other friends, and that won’t do. I’m her favorite.”
“That makes the two of us.”
Nice one. “Anything else before I turn off the lights?”
He leaned back against the counter, in front of the cash register. “Speaking of work, I did something.”
Finding Paradise Page 9
