Hula Girl

by Ward Cosio, Lara

  When we finally pull away, she looks up at me and says, “Missed you, Surfer Boy.”

  “Where did you come from, Hula Girl?”

  She smiles at me, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight. “All I know is I’m right where I want to be.”

  Just then, the geyser goes off, and we both turn to look at it. The water shoots high into the air, fanning out slightly. The sunlight is just right to create a rainbow in the spray of water.

  “How’s that for romance?” I tell her, grinning.

  She looks into my eyes. “Total fairy tale, babe.”

  I get all that she means with that. I get that this means we’re really working on being together. That she believes in us. And that we’ll figure it all out.

  “You better believe it,” I tell her, and lean in for another kiss.

  She surprises me by putting her hand to my chest. I watch as she looks around, taking in our surroundings. The wind is whipping the ocean against the rocks. Wandering Tattler birds are making occasional calls. Mercifully, we’ve found a brief time when there isn’t anyone else here. The geyser is bound to go off again, giving us another private show.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  Her smile is beautiful, serene. “All this,” she says, gesturing around us, “and all I can hear is my own heartbeat.”

  I cock an eyebrow. “And is that a good thing?”

  “You better believe it,” she replies and leans in for another kiss.

  40

  Ava

  So, what happened after the fairy-tale reunion at Heart Rock? Did everything just magically fall into place? Not exactly.

  Instead of jumping right into the logistical and practical matters of it all, we reverted to vacation fling mode. We created our own little world, either at his place, or in the water, or at Makai’s. Then, we spent time with his mother, Rebecca, which allowed me to get to know her better. She’s very sweet and welcomed me warmly, especially when she understood that the sudden seriousness of our relationship wasn’t based on an accidental pregnancy. Pika and Hiro have become my good friends, too. So has Makai, though I suspect he loves to play up our friendship as a way to tease Ford since he likes to pretend that he’s just a customer to him.

  It was after almost two weeks of living in the moment like this that we started talking about what our future would look like. Ford was quick to suggest that we work out a way to split our time between Maui and Los Angeles, saying he wanted to take up the offer the Inner-City Music Project had made for him to come on as a consultant. That would require him to be in LA. for a good chunk of time every quarter. I loved that he was showing me that he was willing to compromise. It meant that I wasn’t the only one willing to change my life for our relationship. But I had to figure out what I would do with my career. Unlike Ford’s generous leave of absence policy, mine was finite. I had a total of four weeks before I had to return.

  One lazy afternoon after spending too much time in the sun and ocean, we sought refuge under the shade of a palm tree to let the saltwater evaporate on our skin. I dug my toes into the soft sand and closed my eyes, trying to let the rhythm of the waves and the gentle breeze rustling the palm fronds relax me.

  “Honey,” Ford said.

  “Hmm?”

  “Let’s talk. Time to dig deep. And I don’t just mean your toes.”

  Turning toward him, I cracked one eye to give him a quizzical look.

  “Take me back to why you pursued the law,” he said.

  Ah, so it was going to be that kind of conversation. I knew this lovely state of denial I was living in would have to come to an end at some point. On a deep breath, I realized what it meant to have him initiate this talk, though. It meant he was going to be right there by my side, being my partner and support system as I sorted it out. As I released my breath, I turned onto my side and rested my head on my hand. I was right to have taken that big leap of faith at Heart Rock, the one where I’d trusted that he would care for my heart. He started doing that almost as soon as we met, and he hasn’t stopped since.

  “It was twofold,” I said. “I wanted to have a career that guaranteed financial security, and to also feel like I was having a direct impact on the lives of those who really needed help.”

  “You got the first part. How often did you get to do the second?” He laced his sandy fingers through mine.

  “Not often enough. I mean, the rare pro bono case was the most satisfying, of course.”

  “What if you negotiate with Manny to take the lead on those cases for him? That way the firm still gets the goodwill that comes with those cases, but he doesn’t have to deal with it. And then you can also have the time to study for the Hawai‘i bar exam. You know, just to have the option here.”

  “Why would Manny do that? Keep me on for just those cases?”

  “Because he still needs you. You’re still his conduit to Randall. He may have stepped down, but there’s a lot that he still needs to be involved in. He’s too big of a force to make a clean break.”

  “That’s true.” The more thought I gave it, the more I liked it. I also knew that Randall would back me up. I’d called him a few days after I got here to let him know that I was away but that he could reach me whenever he needed to. When he heard that I had taken a leave of absence, he was delighted that my version of managing the reality of my weakened position at the firm was to withdraw for a time. He chuckled and said that Manny was probably scrambling to cover all the things I had managed to do in the long hours I had put in on a regular basis. And then he told me he’d make sure Manny didn’t push me to return too early, that I should enjoy my time with Ford. “I could plan my trips to LA for when you go, too,” I said, warming to the idea.

  “Perfect. We’ll have a place here and a place there.”

  I smiled. “About that … your place here, well, no offense, but I need a little upgrade.”

  He laughed. “Come on, I know it’s not much, but it’s on the sand. How can you upgrade that?”

  “Well, I was looking into the legality of that real estate.”

  He winced. “I told you it’s not really legit.”

  “Turns out that’s not exactly true.”

  “No?”

  “I mean, it’s definitely not up to code and wouldn’t pass inspections for habitation, that’s for sure. But it is zoned under some odd exception that’s hard to understand. The point is, if your mom’s boyfriend will sell it to us, we can renovate, and we won’t have to live like outlaws.”

  He laughed. “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope,” I said with a smile.

  Leaning forward, he kissed me and I felt the familiar heat in the connection of our lips. This man had done more than make me fall dizzyingly in love with him. He had taught me to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life, including, to my everlasting pleasure, the sensual kisses he gave me every chance he could.

  * * *

  It’s been almost six months now and the renovations are done. This timeline is exceptional given Maui’s famed “island time” which can see projects drag on and on. Pika and Hiro did a lot to help, dedicating themselves to a rigorous schedule motivated by promises of me cooking them Mexican food at the end of each week. What we have now is a 950 square foot place that is more cottage than shack. The outside is painted turquoise, we’ve added a screened-in front porch, created a separate bedroom, living room, and kitchen, and upgraded the bathroom to include an indoor shower. We’ve kept the outdoor shower on the side of the house as an easy way to rinse off the saltwater. Inside, it’s clean and simple, but with touches that reflect who we are, including artwork from both Hawaiian and Mexican cultures.

  Once the last of the workers leaves, we look at each other in wonder. Then Ford takes my hand as we stand with our backs to the ocean and stare at the cottage in front of us. It’s a home. A real home unlike any I’ve had in my adult life. There’s nothing generic about it.

  As I’m thinking about how far I’ve come in less than a ye
ar, I’m suddenly lifted off my feet as Ford picks me up.

  “What are you doing?” I say with a laugh.

  “We have to make it official,” he replies.

  “Make what official? Us living together?”

  He’s always carried me with such ease that I never worry that he might let me slip. It turned out that when he told me “I got you” that first night we were together and he helped me down the rocky inlet, he didn’t just mean at that moment. He’s had me ever since then.

  Climbing the three steps up to our porch, he deftly swings open the screen door and carries me through. Next, he takes me over the threshold of our house before gently lowering me to my feet just as he drops to one knee at the same time.

  “Ava,” he says, and I watch him, paralyzed and wide-eyed. “I don’t have the ring for this because you haven’t taken it off since I first gave it to you.”

  I laugh and looked down at my left hand. The ring he had given me for our faux engagement sparkles. It somehow hadn’t seemed right to take it off. We never talked about what we meant to each other or how we should define us. We just existed, happy and focused on making our lives together.

  “But,” he continues, “I know that you deserve a real declaration from me about what I want from you and for us.” He takes my hand and kisses it sweetly as I inhale a measured breath, trying to absorb everything about this moment. “Who would have believed I found my soulmate all because of a chicken?”

  I laugh and use my free hand to stroke his cheek.

  “I have the feeling that every once in a while, the universe does something right. It worked for your mom and dad. And it’s worked for us. Because, Ava, there is no other woman in the world who can do what you do for me. You have helped me complete this journey I’ve been on to find my sense of self, my sense of peace, again. You are truly my happiness, my love, and the one I hope to have hot sex with for the rest of our lives.”

  “Ford,” I whisper with a smile.

  “Honey, you should know that I really liked it so I put a ring on it. Will you marry me?”

  I gasp. “You do like Beyoncé!”

  “Who doesn’t?” he says with a laugh. “Answer me, though. Will you marry me?”

  There’s no hesitation now as I tell him, “Yes, I’ll marry you, babe.”

  He smiles widely and mimes putting the ring on my finger before I pull him to his feet and throw my arms around his neck so I can kiss him all over his gorgeous face. And then I jump up and on him and wrap my legs around his waist.

  “Time to break this house in,” he murmurs between kisses. “Where do you want to start?”

  I pull away enough to look into his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. Because as long as I’m with you, I’m right where I want to be.”

  That gets a smile out of him. “I love you, Ava.”

  “I love you, Ford.”

  Epilogue

  Ava

  “It’s not too late, you know? You don’t have to do this.”

  I look around at the view as the wind whips loose tendrils of my hair against my face. It’s early morning, just past eight. The full heat and humidity of the day is still an hour or more away. Still, the sun shines down, warming my bare shoulders. There are only a few big puffy white clouds in the otherwise blue sky. Just beyond the red-dirt road and down the cliffside is the blue-green water of Honolua Bay. There aren’t any surfers out there, even though it’s late February and still big wave season. Instead, they’re seated in the backs of the trucks they have strategically parked to create an aisle.

  “I mean it, Hula Princess. Say the word, and I’ll take you out of here.”

  I smile, giving the gorgeous surroundings one more look before focusing on Eli. He’s here along with the other kids from Ford’s music class, and they’re all wearing matching outfits of aqua and white Aloha shirt with khaki shorts.

  “Thanks, Eli,” I tell him. “But don’t you have a job to do?”

  He takes a deep breath and puffs out his cheeks as he glances toward the spot where his fellow musicians are setting up.

  “Forty-five degrees,” I remind him, pulling his hands out in front of him as a reminder of where he should hold his clarinet.

  Although his playing has improved quite a bit since I first saw him perform, he still gets anxious when in front of a crowd.

  Not that this is much of a crowd. It’s purposely a small affair. Turns out Bryce was right about one thing. I’m not interested in a flashy ceremony. What we have planned here is perfect. It’s all about Ford and me being surrounded by the beauty of Maui, and supported by the people we love. In a few minutes, I’ll walk down this makeshift aisle with my mom. I’ll walk toward the ocean, meeting Ford at the arch that Pika and Hiro handcrafted out of driftwood and we’ve had covered with a mixture of hibiscus and plumeria flowers.

  I’m wearing a white dress that has spaghetti straps, a fitted bodice and a flowing chiffon skirt that moves nicely in the breeze and exposes my right thigh at the slit there. I chose it with that in mind, knowing the peek at my leg would make Ford happy.

  I smile thinking of his perfect proposal. It was simple but so suited to us. Just like this ceremony. Although, the part about this not exactly being a legal venue for a wedding isn’t really me. But I’m learning to roll with things. Our service will be brief. Afterward, Pika and Hiro will load the arch into one of their trucks and take it to Melissa’s house. She has a large backyard and is hosting a luau for our reception. The Kalua pua’a—roasted pig—has been in the ground since yesterday. Loads of people from the community have been invited to join in the celebration, and I’m almost as excited to experience it as I am to get married.

  “Mija,” Mama says as she joins me, “you are the most beautiful bride.” Reaching out, she smooths a stray strand of hair behind my ear, just like she’s done for me since I was a little girl.

  My eyes tear up. I’m so glad to have her here. She’s visited twice before this and each time she’s here, I try to convince her to move. But she’s content to give Ford and me the space to focus on building our lives together. Although all that could change, she still none too subtly hints, if a grandchild comes into the picture.

  Kids are definitely in the near future. I’ve got a few things I want to accomplish first, though. I’ll be taking the Hawai‘i bar exam in a few weeks. I’ve decided to try my hand at having my own small practice here in addition to returning to California on a regular basis for the pro bono work Manny agreed to. Everything is falling into place. While I’m still ambitious, I no longer feel the need to set the relentless pace I once did. I understand now that there is a time for everything, it’s just a matter of where you place your focus. And my focus is finally in balance, thanks to Ford. I only wish my father could have met him.

  “Mama,” I ask, “do you think Papa would have liked Ford?”

  She smiles as she thinks about that. “I think he would. I think he’d be impressed by his intelligence—in picking you, that is.”

  I nod and laugh.

  Mama takes my hand in both of hers, squeezing me tight. “He would love that you’ve found a man who loves and supports you for exactly who you are. And who knows? Maybe he had a hand in pushing that chicken into your way?”

  Laughing, I blink rapidly and dab at my eyes, careful not to smudge the light makeup I have on.

  “Wouldn’t that be something?” I say and glance heavenward.

  The music, a variation of the song “Lovely Hula Girl,” starts, and my heart flutters. Ford has had his kids working on this song since before he proposed. I’ve heard snippets of it when I dropped by the music school, but haven’t heard the whole thing. And whereas I thought it would be a simple acoustic version, it seems he’s added a vocalist.

  I laugh out loud in shock and joy when I see that Eli has put aside his clarinet in favor of powerfully emoting the lyrics. The song was our cue that the ceremony was beginning. I put my arm through Mama’s and we start down the aisle. I can’t keep
my eyes off Eli as he sings the title lyrics with surprising depth. It seems he’s completely lost his stage fright. Our small group of assembled guests loves it as much as I do.

  When I reach Ford, he gives me a wink before kissing my mother’s cheek. Mama then embraces me before finding her place amongst the others standing nearby.

  “Did you like that song?” Ford whispers to me.

  I smile and then laugh before cupping his cheeks in my hands and telling him, “I like you. I like you so much.”

  He grins. “Good thing. Because I’m about to officially make you my Hula Girl.”

  “There’s nothing I want more, babe.”

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  I am enormously grateful to these readers who so generously gave me their feedback on early versions of Hula Girl:

  Kathy Aronoff: thank you for sticking with me on this journey!

  Jennifer Hayes: extra special thanks for your attention to detail and constructive comments. I appreciate your encouragement and belief in me - it truly means the world to me!

  Samantha Richman: the read (and re-read!) you did for this book was so helpful. Knowing which parts worked from the reader’s perspective and which needed a little tweaking - along with your fabulous suggestions - was an enormous help in getting this book where it needed to be.

  Karen Cimms: thanks for always having my back and somehow also always finding time to support me. You’re an amazing writer and friend!

  About the Author

  Lara Ward Cosio is the author of contemporary romances that are raw, realistic, sometimes funny, and always feature swoon-worthy men and strong-willed women.

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