by Rose Smith
“It’s late, Aunt Lane, I’m sure Mikey’s in bed. He has school tomorrow. Anyway, I’m listening, please go on,” Nalani encouraged her aunt. The last thing she wanted her to do was call her mother and torment her little brother.
Like she teased Nalani, Aunt Lane belittled her nephew about being half Asian and half white. And since he was growing up to look a lot like their father, Nalani noticed Aunt Lane treated him worse. She hated her aunt for that. He’d not had to suffer her when their dad was alive. He protected Mikey like he’d protected Nalani from Aunt Lane.
But since his recent death, Nalani’s mother allowed her cruel sister to tease them about their heritage. She’d spoken to her mom, but her mom refused to stand up to Aunt Lane. It was up to Nalani to keep her 12-year-old brother from suffering Aunt Lane’s insults by taking them herself.
Evil doesn’t always come with horns, a tail and a pitchfork. Sometimes it comes in the form of a family member who lives to bully you because of something you have no control over. Her Aunt rambled on. After she determined it was late enough where her mom wouldn’t let Aunt Lane talk to Mikey, she interrupted.
“Aunt Lane, I’ve got to take Shredder out and I still have to shower before I get to bed. I love you, I’ll call you soon.”
“OK, my ‘chinky baby,’ guess I’ll have to let you go. Oops. Sorry,” her aunt giggled. “Anyway, Don’t you go forgettin’ about your Aunt Lane. Call me.”
“I will. Bye.”
Nalani tapped the red dot on her cell screen to close out the call while watching the screen blur as her tears flowed.
~ Chapter 7 ~
The breathtaking turquoise-emerald waters in Hilo Bay gently swayed the mid-sized tour boat. The relaxing Whale Watching Tour gave Wolf and Caroline plenty of opportunity to feast their eyes on the many dolphins and whales playing in the bejeweled waters.
“I can’t believe the massiveness of the whales up close,” Caroline told Matthew as they shared a pair of binoculars between them. She watched in delight from the edge of the ship as one whale blew a spray of water from its blowhole. But even though Caroline seemed happy and engaged during the outing, Wolf couldn’t help notice her mood had shifted.
She’d even forgotten to bring her phone to take pictures to share with her friends. Melancholy through dinner, she barely touched most of her meal. Wolf decided to wait until they went up to their hotel suite to broach the subject.
“A penny for your thoughts,” he smiled at her when he saw her sitting on the couch in their suite, staring into space. He sat next to her and held her hand.
“Did the sketch of the ring bring back scary memories?”
“Not really,” she told him. “I mean it was unsettling—finding her body. But that’s not what was on my mind. I was thinking about my good friend Lisa…Lisa Matthews. We met in high school. Seeing Nalani reminded me of her.
“There was a boy who relished teasing me about being a plain jane. So much so, he came up with a poem…”
‘Caroline is a plain-jane
She has such a dumb name
And you know what?
No one wants to date a Plain Jane!’
“He was the dumb-jock type. He couldn’t even make a poem that rhymed.” She laughed. “Still, I used to dread going to my locker. Everyday before fourth period. He’d meet me there and say that dumb poem. I wanted to disappear into the walls. I hated it. Every body around us would laugh.”
“It is amazing how cruel kids can be,” Wolf said sympathetically. How he wished dumb guys like this jerk could get to know Caroline. She wasn’t one he’d have picked out of a crowd when they’d first met. But—oh—how he would’ve missed out on one of the most beautiful women on the planet. Her beauty shone inside and out.
“One day, out of nowhere, this beautiful blonde whose locker was not too far from mine, lit into him. She was one of the popular girls. She was a cheerleader. I didn’t know she even cared he was teasing me.
“She told him to leave me alone. ‘She’s not missing anything by not dating you, anyway… and you know why. If you don’t want everyone else to know—I suggest you leave her alone.’
“He turned redder than a beet. Never teased me again. I smiled at her. A couple of days later, I gathered the courage to go over to her and thank her. We became fast friends. She told me about the time the guy tried to date her. Said he had terrible breath and she’d told him once when they got in an argument. ‘He thinks he’s God’s gift to women,’ she’d told me. She turned out to be one of the nicest people I’d ever meet. It’s so odd. Because she was pretty and popular, I’d never have thought she would have been nice. Just like because I’m plain, so many guys would never give me a chance. Strange how our world works.”
“You’re not plain, Caroline,” Wolf told her, while he stroked her cheek. He pulled her chin toward him and looked her in the face. You are so beautiful. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
“Thanks, Matthew,” she smiled. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She buried her head into his strong chest and wept for a long time. He didn’t say a word. He let her cry.
Once her sobs subsided, he asked her. “You said someone—a dentist murdered your friend?”
“Yes, but not like you think.” She grabbed a tissue from the box on the coffee table and blew her nose. She got up, walked to the bathroom, threw the tissue in the toilet and flushed. She went back to the couch and told Wolf every thing.
“Even though she was murdered, Lisa’s death wasn’t anything like Brianna Kamehameha’s. Sometimes, I wish it had been. Hopefully, Brianna’s was over quick. Death—murder is never good. Lisa’s death was agonizing. And all because she went to the wrong dentist.” With tears flowing once again, Wolf listened as his wife told him what happened to one of her best friends in high school.
“When we were close to graduating, Lisa became ill. She started getting lesions, and she came down with pneumonia. She had to be hospitalized. That’s when they found out. She’d contracted HIV. No one knew how she’d contracted it. She wasn’t sexually active at the time and she wasn’t a drug user.
“For her—it was a death sentence. She was born with a weak heart. I watched this gorgeous girl go from a vibrant young woman with her life looming in front of her. We’d made so many plans. She didn’t get to live out any of them. Over the next year, she endured sickness after sickness. She withered away to a mere eighty pounds.
“One of the hardest things I had to do as a teenager was walk into her room every day and watch her shrink away. I remember I used to imagine I’d knock and her door and I’d hear her happy, strong voice say, ‘Come on in, Caroline!’
“I’d walk in and the old Lisa—the healthy Lisa would be waiting at the door for me. Waiting with a beautiful wide smile and warm hug. Every time I imagined that—I’d knock, open the door and see all the medical equipment she was tied to. I’d see the hospice nurse. Then I’d see Lisa. My heart would drop every time. During the last days, she slept a lot. But when she was awake, the thing I most hated to see was the sadness in her eyes. She knew she was dying. Dying in the dawn of her life.
“When we were alone, she’d cry and admit how afraid she was of dying. ‘I have nightmares about everybody walking around my coffin—looking at me,’ she’d tell me.
“There was nothing… nothing I could do but watch. I couldn’t help my friend.” Caroline buried her head into Wolf’s chest and sobbed.
This took him back to how she’d needed him when they’d first met. She’d suffered terrible nightmares about their ordeal on the plane and after the break-in. The first time they were alone together, he’d just held her. He was there for her when she woke up from a bad dream. Since they’d married, she hadn’t needed him like that. He didn’t even realize how much he wanted… needed to be there for her. And as much as he loved being a SEAL—going on missions to keep the world safe from bad guys, he loved being there just to hold her.
After her sobs left, she continued. “About a y
ear after death, her parents were contacted by authorities who were looking into a dentist. They were trying to revoke his license. Six of his patients had contracted HIV or AIDS. Lisa was one of the youngest. We had an uphill battle proving it… he almost got away with it. The case stalled for two years until Dr. Yung got involved.
“She went undercover as his dental assistant and was able to prove the man had abhorrent conditions in his practice. He practiced dentistry like he was in the 1800s before medicine discovered sanitation. He had a room of tools he hadn’t cleaned in years. She got pictures of one of the nastiest dental offices anyone had ever seen and gave them to prosecutors. Not only did the bastard get convicted of Lisa’s murder, he had to go to jail. He was out in less than ten years, but he’ll never be able to be a dentist in the US again. It didn’t bring Lisa back, but it was something.
“That’s how I got to know Nalani. She became a good friend to Lisa’s parents. I’d visit them whenever she went to see them. We’d share stories about Lisa with her and show her pictures. She became my hero, and we became friends.”
She laid in his arms for a while, deep in her thoughts. “Oh, Matthew, I’m so sorry. Here we are in one of the most romantic places on earth and I’m a wreck.”
“Don’t you dare apologize for being human,” he tenderly scolded her. “I love it when you share more of yourself with me. Thank you for telling me about Lisa. Sounds like she was a wonderful young lady. I’m so sorry she had to go through all she went through. I’m sad you had to go through it, too. But you know what? I’m proud you stood by her. I bet every time you all shared a laugh or a happy thought—you took her mind off the fact that she was dying. You did do something for her. Much more than you know.”
She looked up at him. “I never thought of it that way.”
“I’m sure she did. Let’s lie down. We’ve got a long day planned tomorrow. There’ll be plenty of time for romance. Tonight I just want to hold you.”
“Thanks, Matthew. You’re about the best husband a girl could ever have. And according to Nalani, you’re quite a babe,” she snickered.
“Oh, go on.”
Caroline fell fast asleep in Wolf’s strong arms. He dozed off soon after. A few hours later he awoke to his wife screams. She gripped his chest and sat up screaming, “help her, please help her!”
“Shh. It’s only a dream, Caroline. It’s ok. I’m here.”
His voice snapped her out of her night terror. She looked at him and shook her head as if she wanted to shake away those memories. She curled her arm around her husband’s neck and rested her head on his chest. She drifted off to sleep while he whispered. “Shh, it’s ok. It’s my job to make sure nothing happens to you. I’ll always be here.”
~ Chapter 8 ~
Nalani looked over the spread on her dining room table. She’d cooked all day. She was excited about entertaining her friends at her Luau.
She’d created three Ikebana (ickēē bah nah) arrangements with purple, pink and white orchids. She lined them in the center of her long table. Even though she and Shredder ate alone most nights, her table accommodated her large family. She’d have barbecues from time to time. Especially when she wanted to keep Mikey out of harm’s way of Aunt Lane.
She’d prepared ham with pineapples and cherries, sweet potatoes and poi. Nalani couldn’t wait for her guests to taste her poi with her special melt-in-your-mouth collard greens. She loved mixing the delicate, creamy tasting purple paste with greens. Shredder cocked his head. Watching her move about the kitchen it was as if he was saying, I don’t know what you’re cooking Girlfriend, but it sure smells delicious!
“Sometimes I wish my hands were as steady when I’m cooking as they are when I’m drilling inside people’s mouths,” she admitted to Shredder. She did a double-take as she could have sworn she saw her huge puppy nod like he was saying, I hear ya!
Nalani had wiped down the sink a third time in her half bath, assuring it sparkled. She grabbed her keys and drove to the Grand and picked up Caroline and Matthew. The doorbell rang about fifteen minutes after they arrived at her house.
“Hi Irene… Makoa, come on in,” she gestured as she opened the door. “We’re in the living room.” Caroline and Wolf greeted the couple as they came in.
“Hey boy,” Makoa called Shredder who had cozied up to Caroline. Tail wagging, he made his way over to Makoa and Irene.“Let’s let him run around out back while we have some drinks on the patio,” Nalani suggested. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have a beer,” joked Irene while she rubbed her pregnant belly.
“One glass of punch coming right up,” Nalani grinned. “You guys want a beer? She asked Wolf and Makoa.”
Both men nodded.
“How about you, Caroline, I’ve got red wine, white wine, beer, sodas?”
“I’ll have a glass of white wine, thanks. Let me help you, Nalani.” Caroline went into the kitchen to help.
They grabbed the drinks from her fridge. Putting them on a tray with chilled glasses, chips and dip, they rejoined Irene and the boys.
“Makoa tells me you’re working on the Blood Moon Murder,” Irene mentioned to Nalani.
“The Blood Moon Murder?” She repeated.
“That’s what the media is calling it. And they’re saying the police are wasting no time looking for the Blood Moon Killer. It’s the talk of the island. And Caroline, I can’t believe you found her while you guys were walking on the beach. Fortunately, the police haven’t leaked that detail to the press.”
“Yeah, said Makoa. We don’t want too many people knowing Caroline got a glimpse of the killer’s ring. We’re keeping that close to the vest.”
“Good,” Wolf said.
“Let’s change the subject,” said Irene. She didn’t want to make Caroline think about her harrowing experience. “Let’s give a toast to Nalani’s luau and to making new friends.” They all held up their drinks and clanked them together. Makoa’s phone rang.
“Excuse me a minute.” He walked out into the yard to take the call. A minute later, he walked over to the table to speak to Nalani.
“Detective Sheldon wants to give me heads up on orders from headquarters. Is it ok for him to come here, or would you rather I meet him at the station?”
“He’s certainly welcome to come here. There’s even plenty of food if he wants to join us.”
“Thanks.” He talked to Sheldon for another minute. “He’ll be here in about 30 minutes.”
“Great,” said Nalani.
“I’ll say,” said Irene. “He is one fine drink of hot chocolate.” She grinned.
“Try having a wife who’s got a secret crush on your partner—and best friend.” Makoa gave her a friendly swat on her back. They all laughed.
“It’s all completely innocent,” she mused.
The dining room table was set up buffet style. Wolf, Caroline and Nalani followed Makoa and Irene inside. They each grabbed a plate and served themselves.
“This spread is delicious and the flowers are lovely!” Exclaimed Irene. The others echoed in agreement.
After they ate, Makoa and Wolf went into Nalani’s living room to catch the end of the football game on TV. The women went back out onto the patio to make small talk. Nalani took out a photo album to show them pictures of her family.
“Here’s my mom and dad and here’s my brother, Mikey. My dad died. He had a heart attack. He was only 54.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Caroline. “He was very young. You all must have been devastated.”
“We were. The thing that bothers me the most is he won’t be around to raise Mikey. Mikey took it hard. He misses him so.”
“Mikey’s a real cutie,” said Caroline.
Nalani’s mother was a delicate Hawaiian beauty. And both could see Nalani got her straight, silky black hair and beautiful eyes from her handsome Japanese-American father.
The doorbell chimed.
“I’ll get it, Nalani,” Makoa yelled from the living room. Abou
t 10 minutes later, Makoa, Wolf and Gage joined the women on the patio.
“Hello, ladies,” Gage smiled a grand piano of a gorgeous smile.
“Hello,” they responded in unison.
Makoa said, “I told Gage you invited him to your luau, but he’d already grabbed something to eat at headquarters.”
“I wish I was hungry,” said Gage. “It smells delicious.”
“It is,” Irene told him. They all chatted awhile then Gage said he had to get back to the precinct.
“Good night ladies, enjoy yourselves.”
“We will, goodnight.”
“Before you leave, Detective, let me box you up a slice of my banana pie. You can have it for later.” Nalani walked him into the kitchen and cut him a generous slice and slid it in a Tupperware container.
“Here you are,” as he reached for the container, his strong hand brushed against her soft flesh. She saw him blush as he felt the same electric spark she’d felt. This was the first time she’d allowed herself to look at him as a man. She had to agree with Irene, he was one fine drink of hot chocolate. She smiled.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Let me know how you like it.”
Makoa and Wolf walked Detective Gage to his sedan to see him off. Then both went back to the living room to finish watching the game.
Back on the patio with her girlfriends, Nalani said, “oh, wait…I have something to show you two. I need your opinions. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll check on the boys to see if they need more beers,” said Caroline. Makoa begged off. He’d offered to take Wolf and Caroline back to the Grand since he’d have to drive that way to go home later. He nursed his one beer.
“I’ll get more wine and I’ll get you more punch, Mom-To-Be. Want another glass of red wine?” Caroline yelled to Nalani who was still the bedroom.
“Yes, I’ll have another,” Answered Nalani.
Caroline rejoined Irene after she refilled the drinks.
