Almost Paradise

by Chris Keniston

  “My sister Emily will be there, too.”

  With a single bob of her head, she straightened her back, folded her hands on her lap, and offered a hesitant smile. “That would be lovely. I haven’t seen Emily since my birthday party.”

  “You’ll like Ava, too. They’re pretty cool. For girls.”

  Her eyes rounded, and then he winked, turning her forced smile into an honest giggle.

  “I’ll pick you up around five?”

  “I’ll be here.”

  On his feet, he looked around the quaint apartment. Once she had a baby, she’d need someplace bigger. Tomorrow they would have a lot to talk about.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Yes, ma’am, I understand. No ma’am. I hope he feels better. Yes, ma’am.”

  Billy stopped at the register on his way to his office and waited for Lexie to hang up. “What’s that all about?”

  “Miss Maplewood. It seems the Deluca boy isn’t feeling well. Has a stomach ache. She’s apologized for any inconvenience and will still pay the cost, but they can’t make the boat this morning.”

  “Did she cancel tomorrow’s booking?”

  “No. Since neither she nor the sister are ill, the woman is hoping it’s something the boy ate.”

  “Let’s hope. The kid’s had a rough enough time. Getting sick can’t help.”

  “I know. Poor kids. Ms. Maplewood said as soon as she could, she’d be coming in to see you.”

  “Okay. Let me know when. Also, I’ll be leaving early today.”

  Lexie’s brows inched up her forehead. “More time off?”

  Sometimes the best comeback was nothing at all. He opted to ignore the question that wasn’t a question and get straight to work. He needed a distraction. The entire night had been spent spooned with a king-size pillow and dreaming of getting close and very personal with every inch of Miss Angela Carson. From the moment he woke this morning, Angela continued to fill his thoughts. So did Joe’s wife, Claire.

  But this situation with Angela couldn’t, shouldn’t, be compared to what happened with Claire. For one thing, this time he wasn’t trying to take his buddy’s place—step into his shoes. Fortunately for everyone, Claire had been smart enough for both of them.

  “I hate math.” Claire closed the checkbook and tossed the red pen onto the table, sending it skidding off the edge to land on the floor with an unimpressive blip.

  Billy turned from the toaster he’d been tinkering with. Claire insisted it was fine, but he was getting tired of charcoal-tinged bread. Since she’d come close to bursting a blood vessel when he’d brought home a new coffeemaker, after the new blender, he decided tinkering was the path of least resistance. “I’m pretty good at math.”

  “Joe used to find my mistakes for me.”

  Brushing aside the small appliance, he considered his options. So far baby steps hadn’t gotten him very far. It was time to lay his cards on the proverbial kitchen table. In two long strides, he was across the room and standing over his best friend’s widow. “Why don’t you let me?”

  “I found the problem. I transposed the numbers on the check to the electric company. Stupid mistake.” She pushed to her feet and seemed surprised to notice how close she stood to him.

  “Claire.” Billy let his hands fall on her arms as gently as he could. Watching her face. Gauging her reaction. “I could do a lot more around here if you’d let me.”

  “You do more than enough. Too much.” She looked up at his face, and he noticed the exact moment she understood he meant more than household repairs.

  Before she could say another word, he leaned down and let his lips meet hers. Tentatively at first, and when she didn’t resist, he pulled her closer, letting his hands touch, his mouth taste and doing his best to make her forget her dead husband. Not that he could forget Joe.

  Easing back, Billy braced himself, hoping he’d done the right thing.

  Claire stared up at him, her gaze steady and unreadable. He didn’t know what to say. Couldn’t tell what she was thinking. This was one of those times when it was better to keep his mouth shut and wait for some direction.

  Finally Claire stepped back. “A lot like kissing your sister, isn’t it?”

  “I’ve never kissed my sister like that.”

  “Glad to hear it.” She laughed, and grabbing the nearby dish towel, she turned to the sink. “How long have you been thinking about doing that?”

  “A while.”

  She nodded her head and began wiping the counter. “Why?”

  Why? How did he answer that one? Because it’s my fault you’re alone?

  A smile on her face, she spun about slowly to face him. “I thought so. Billy, I’m not your responsibility—”

  “Joe would—”

  “Have done the same for you?”

  “Yes, well no. I mean—”

  “What if you were already married? Would you call up another one of the team? Maybe Jim, he’s pretty good looking. Or Doug, I always thought he had a sweet smile. Maybe Matt.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Yes, it is. Someone has to take care of the little woman left behind. Well, news flash. This little woman pretty much took care of everything long before Joe was killed, and she’s going to be just fine without you sacrificing your bachelorhood.”

  “But.”

  “No, Billy. No buts. It’s time we both get back to our own lives.”

  “I’m heading to the store.” The sound of Lexie’s voice in the doorway snapped him forward three years in time. “We’re low on crackers, and I had to chuck the last two pineapples. If the Delucas hadn’t cancelled, there wouldn’t have been enough fruit for all the divers on board.”

  Billy handed her the business debit card. “I’ll keep an ear open for the door.”

  “I’ll let Jonathan know about the Delucas.” Lexie spun about, her hair flying loose, and headed straight for the front door.

  If that woman ever quit, Big Island Dive would be so screwed.

  * * *

  After having tossed and turned all night, Angela gave up on sleeping in and decided the time had come to clean out the pantry. It was the only thing to keep her busy enough to not grab her cell and call her friends, but until she talked with Billy tonight, she wasn’t going to say anything. Once he slept on it and realized what he’d agreed to, he might even change his mind.

  Her head deep in the shelving, she scrubbed at a spot of sticky unknown goo and almost hit her head when her cell rang. Tossing the dirty sponge into the sink, she practically sprinted across the living room to answer the phone and then drew in a deep breath to steady her racing heart.

  “Hello.”

  “Morning,” Lexie said.

  Angela tried to ignore the hollow feeling in her chest as her racing heart fell to the floor with disappointment. “Good morning to you too.”

  “You sound out of breath. You hiding a man under the bed we don’t know about?”

  “Ha, not likely. I was cleaning the pantry.”

  “Why?” Lexie drew the question out into two syllables.

  “Why not?” There was an intelligent answer.

  “Never mind. There are more important things inquiring minds want to know about.”

  Angela sank into the nearby sofa. “It was time for a break anyway.”

  “Well, I’ve only got a few minutes. I’m on my way to pick up a few supplies for the boats. You didn’t call last night. Does that mean you and Billy are now an item? “

  “It means I was very tired after a long day and went to bed early.”

  “Alone?”

  “Of course alone. You’ve been reading too many of those romance books.”

  “More like not enough. Okay, there’s more to this. I know there is. Billy showed up for work this morning, but his mind was definitely somewhere else.”

  “Probably worrying about lawyers.”

  “There is that. But this is different. There’s a

  get-together at Billy�
��s mom’s tonight for his sister Ava. I’ll bring leftovers after, and we can nibble while we gab.”

  “That won’t be necessary.” “Mrs. E won’t mind.”

  “No. I mean I’ll be going too.” “You will?”

  “I haven’t seen Emily since my birthday. Billy invited me.”

  “Yes! Houston we have contact.”

  Angela looked at the phone. “You sound more like Kara every day.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment. Though I doubt my mother would agree my sounding like a Texan was a good thing. She wanted me to go to finishing school in Switzerland.”

  “You’re kidding. Really?”

  “Really. But I don’t want to talk about my mother. I want to talk about you and Billy. This my dear, is progress.”

  “There is no me and Billy.”

  “That’s what Cleopatra said about Marc

  Antony.”

  “Can we please not get carried away here?

  We’re just friends.”

  “I’m pretty sure Grace Kelly said that once about Prince Rainier.”

  “Where do you get this stuff?”

  “You do know Billy has a house big enough for the Brady bunch?”

  There was no way Angela was telling Lexie she not only knew that, she’d been in Mr. Brady’s bedroom. “I don’t want six children.”

  “Whatever.” The beep of Lexie’s key fob sounded through the line. “I’m here. I’ll see you tonight. And don’t dress like a nun.”

  “I don’t dress like a—” The call disconnected.

  Some days she felt like she was twelve years old again, talking boys with her best friends. Right now she was mostly trying not to be nervous. She didn’t want to mess this up. After the disappointing dinner with the handsome but seriously boring Dr. Kenneth Shepherd, whatever Billy offered was more than she’d hoped for.

  But she needed to keep her calm. Not let her imagination run wild. And not think about how she felt with Billy’s hands on her. Oh boy, was it going to be a long day.

  * * *

  The urge to pick up the phone and check on Angela wrestled with the need to make up for lost work yesterday. The same urge resurfaced half a dozen times over the next thirty minutes.

  When Nick finally waltzed into the office, Billy was ready to hand his buddy the books and take the day off again. “I’ve got a private dive class this afternoon with the two guys from Nebraska snorkeling with Jonathan this morning.”

  “At this rate this pool is going to pay for itself sooner than projected.”

  “What this pool is doing is keeping us all too busy.”

  “Growing pains. Everyone has them.” Billy didn’t need to look up. He knew the look Nick had on his face could feel the burning gaze, and today he simply was not going there. “I included Angela in the invitation to Mom’s tonight. You and Kara still coming with Bradley?”

  “We are.”

  “Good.” Billy turned back to the computer screen.

  Nick didn’t move. “Is there something else you want to tell me?”

  “Hm?” He focused on the numbers swimming on the screen before him.

  “About Angela?”

  “No.” He flashed his friend a cheesy smile as the bell over the door chimed. “I’ll get that. Lexie should be back any minute.”

  A tall blonde, only a few inches shy of his over-six-foot frame, turned from a rack of beach towels.

  “May I help you?” Billy asked.

  Bright white teeth beamed from between pink lips forming a picture-perfect smile. “I’m looking for William Everrett.”

  “You found him.” Billy extended his hand to the striking woman.

  “Oh, good. I was concerned I’d be too early.” “In this business the crack of dawn is late.

  What can I do for you?”

  “My name is Magnolia Maplewood.”

  This was Magnolia Maplewood? Billy hadn’t given the woman much thought, but still the name alone had conjured up images of curious fictional characters. Perhaps a Jessica Fletcher lookalike or Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Nowhere had he considered the possibility that Miss Maplewood might be a lanky blonde who could have easily been on the cover of a fashion magazine. When her eyes twinkled and her lips turned into a sweet smile that appeared to hold a secret, he realized he’d been struck dumb.

  “My father had an interesting sense of humor. My sister Heather got off easy. My sister Rose uses her middle name. My brother Forest changed his name legally to John. Friends call me Maggie.”

  “Excuse me. I… Shall we go to my office?” He waved her toward the back.

  “Thank you.”

  To her back he asked, “How’s Adam?”

  “On the sofa watching pay-per-view movies with a bottle of ginger ale and a bag of club crackers. In the care of Bethany.”

  “Then she’s not sick?”

  “She seems fine.”

  When she closed the distance to the office, he called over her shoulder. “First door ahead on your left.”

  Nick looked up. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” Magnolia replied.

  “Nick this is Miss Maplewood.” Billy motioned from one to the other. “This is my partner, Nick Harper.”

  Magnolia extended her hand. “Call me Maggie.”

  When a stifled smile spread across her face, Billy turned to see Nick had the same eye-popping expression Billy must have sported when he realized who she was and almost laughed himself. “Please take a seat over here.”

  With the same graceful flow expected of a model, she eased into the nearest seat. “My business is of a personal nature.”

  Nick put his hands to the desk, ready to stand and leave, when Billy waved him back.

  “I have no secrets. Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of my partner.”

  “Very well.” She opened her purse, rummaged inside the small leather bag, and pulled out a thick envelope. “Have you heard anything recently about the Delucas?”

  Billy nodded. “I know about the plane crash. I was sorry to hear Mr. Deluca didn’t make it, but I’m glad to hear Mrs. Deluca is expected to pull through.”

  Magnolia’s eyes widened momentarily before continuing. “Very well then. As you also know, Mr. and Mrs. Deluca have been vacationing here in Hawaii for many years.”

  Billy and Nick both nodded.

  “The Delucas liked and respected your family.”

  “The feeling was mutual.” Billy offered a meager smile. “I missed seeing the children last year, but they’d always made a nice family.”

  Maggie smiled her agreement. “Mr. Deluca held a great deal of admiration for your father as he watched you and your sisters grow. He was very impressed with the man you became. After he married Mrs. Deluca, she quickly came to feel the same way.”

  Billy shrugged. This praise-fest was getting a bit uncomfortable.

  “Along with them, Master Adam also thinks quite highly of you.”

  “Me?”

  “Whatever time you spent with him on his trips to the islands with his parents made a strong impression. Adam has wanted to join the US Navy like Chief Billy for as long as I’ve known the family. His room is littered with naval posters and maritime decorations.”

  Billy leaned back in his chair, the tense expectations that had taunted him for days slowly easing away. He hadn’t given it any thought, but the last time he’d captained for the Delucas, Adam had stayed on the boat with him and helped with the prep work while his dad dived and his mom and older sister snorkeled. They’d made a game of most things. Billy had taught him words like port and starboard and referred to the john repeatedly as the head. The thing had an obnoxious tendency to stop up, and Adam had been by his side without complaint helping.

  “Since some childhood dreams turn into adult realities, it had been Mr. Deluca’s intention for you to help direct Adam toward the idea of Annapolis. Just in case he doesn’t outgrow his fascination with you and the navy.”


  Wow. “Well, Miss Maplewood if that’s what this has been all about, I’m no ring knocker. Nick here would be the better choice—”

  “Thank you, but there’s more to this situation than a little dream molding. Mrs. Deluca has suffered severe injuries. Besides being hooked up to every medical machine imaginable, she’s also receiving treatment for burns.”

  Burns. Billy drew from deep within to stop from reacting to the prickling sensations skittering up his spine.

  “It is at Mrs. Deluca’s request,” Maggie continued, “that I have brought the children to Hawaii as planned. She does not want the children’s memory seared with any images of her in her current condition. Once the doctors assured us she could expect a full recovery in time, it was agreed I was to bring the children here.”

  Silently, Nick nodded. He’d understand the mother’s protective instinct. Heaven knew Billy understood how a single moment in time could haunt the human soul.

  Magnolia opened the envelope in her hands, removed the pages, and looked to Billy. “Mr. Jed Roberts has been trying to reach you to discuss the situation personally. Mrs. Deluca was very clear in what she wants for the children. I have been named temporary guardian in order to be able to travel with the children and handle any emergency situation should one of the children become ill or injured.”

  Billy nodded. It made sense.

  “She was also very insistent that along with me, the children have a second guardian. A backup of sorts. And that, Mr. Everrett, would be you.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Holy crap. This woman was completely and totally bat-shit crazy. And so was Annette Deluca and any other insane person who thought he of all people was qualified to act as guardian to two half-grown children. Even coguardian was asking too much.

  “Excuse me.” Nick appeared beside Billy, reached over, and retrieved the papers dangling from Billy’s fingers. “May I?”

  “Sure.” He was glad Nick had asked something he could offer a polite response to because the only other words he’d been ready to spew forth were no effing way.