“Yeah, me too,” Charlie said. He changed lanes to brighten this otherwise reflective mood by announcing their final adventure for the day.
“Let’s go kick up our heels at the Polynesian Cultural Center,” he said.
“Sounds great,” Diane said. The Polynesian Cultural Center opened in 1963 with a theme park and museum. It featured eight simulated tropical villages, with Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, the Marquesas Islands, and New Zealand all represented. Each village featured performers demonstrating various arts and crafts from all of Polynesia, as well as a lagoon where visitors could take canoe rides. Charlie and Diane arrived in late afternoon with just enough time to jump into a canoe and paddle around the lagoon before the luau buffet opened for a night of feasting and entertainment in song, dance, and celebration. At the end of the night, while walking back to the car, Diane summed up the day.
“This was such a thoughtful selection of adventures,” she said. “Each was so different but special in their own way, and I loved them all.”
“I’m so glad.”
“Now, before you try to whisk me away again tomorrow, I need to let you know I have some paperwork deadlines I have to finish. But let me be in charge of our evening tomorrow. I’d love to fix dinner for you if you’re free to come by my apartment around 6:00.”
“Count on it,” Charlie said. “But what about Jackie?”
“She’ll be spending the night with her boyfriend.” Diane said. Charlie smiled.
“I see. What’ll I do without you till then?”
“That will give you all day to try to think up something to top what you’ve already achieved so far.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he said. He gave her a kiss and watched her go inside.
The next day Charlie made some phone calls. He contacted a retired buddy of his, Capt. Danny Freeman, who ran a helicopter touring business in Oahu, and shared the details of his plan.
“Can you handle all of that?” Charlie concluded.
“Oh, yeah, I can make that happen,” Danny said.
Charlie showed up at Diane’s front door at 6:00 sharp with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of cabernet.
“My, aren’t you thoughtful,” Diane said as she welcomed him inside. The aroma of pot roast filled the air.
“I know that smell,” Charlie said. “That was a Sunday dinner staple around our house.”
“Mine, too,” Diane said. “And since it’s Sunday night, it was only fitting that we keep the tradition going.” She put the flowers in a vase, set it on the table, and gave Charlie a bottle opener to uncork the wine. He poured two glasses and they took a sip.
“If you don’t mind, why don’t you put on a record while I serve up dinner,” Diane said. She pointed to the record player in the living room, where a stack of LPs sat beside it. Charlie sifted through the collection until he found Sinatra’s “Wee Small Hours” album. This classic record was released just two years after Sinatra broke up with Ava Gardner, and revealed his inner grief with such ‘love lost’ melodies as “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” “Glad to Be Unhappy,” and “When Your Lover Has Gone.” Charlie dropped the needle into the record’s groove, and the room filled with the mournful tones of a heartbroken man.
“Can’t you just feel his pain?” Charlie said, as he joined Diane at the table.
“That’s what artists do. They channel their pain into their craft.”
The dinner sent Charlie’s thoughts to his childhood, when his Mom cooked ‘love’ into every Sunday dinner. They moved to the couch to finish off the wine.
“So, what do you have in mind for tomorrow?” Diane said.
“Just bring a jacket and a bathing suit. I promise you, it will be a day you will never forget.”
“Do I meet you somewhere?”
“I’ll pick you up at 5:00 a.m.”
“Where are we going?”
“Ever flown on a helicopter before?” Charlie said.
“No, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like.”
“Just sleep tight,” Charlie said. He gave her a gentle hug and tender kiss, which was now an essential part of their deepening relationship. When Charlie left, Diane called Jackie.
“How’d dinner go?” Jackie said.
“Take a guess. I think I pushed all of his buttons with that pot roast,” Diane said. “And guess what we are doing tomorrow.”
“I don’t know – parachuting into a volcano?” Jackie said.
“A helicopter ride,” Diane said.
“I didn’t expect that. I give him credit for imagination,” Jackie said. “Randy just took me out for ice cream tonight. I’m starting to get jealous.” Diane giggled.
“I’ll have Charlie give your guy a few pointers.”
“Good night,” Jackie said.
“At 5:00 a.m. Charlie whisked Diane away and drove to the Charter Flight hanger at the south end of the Oahu International Airport. A four-seater island hopper helicopter sat on the tarmac while the pilot recorded his flight plan inside. Charlie and Diane entered the lobby.
“Here’s our guy,” Charlie said to Diane as he waved to Capt. Danny Freeman. Dressed in a floral Hawaiian shirt, khaki pants and sneakers, Danny’s laugh lines around his eyes and greying temples gave away his years, but his infectious smile proved that a youthful spirit is ageless. Danny walked over to make introductions.
“Diane, this is Capt. Danny Freeman, our pilot for the day. Danny, this is my girl, Diane Haley.” The two shook hands.
“So happy to meet you,” Danny said.
“My pleasure,” Diane replied.
“Danny here is retired Navy,” Charlie said. “Now he runs his own helicopter tour business, and has agreed to give us a special military discount for a private tour of the secrets of Kauai.”
“Kauai? You mean we are leaving Oahu?”
“Yep. Time to explore a new island,” Charlie said.
“Just the two of us?” Diane said.
“That’s right,” Danny nodded. “This is going to be an off-the-books tour. What we’re going to do today is not in the brochure.” Diane smiled broadly.
“I’m ready,” she said. Danny pointed to the visitor lounge.
“There’s a breakfast buffet table in the lounge. Help yourself. We’ll be leaving in about a half hour,” Danny said. Charlie and Diane helped themselves to some pastries, fresh fruit, and fruit juices, while Danny finished tanking up and going through his pre-flight checklist.
“We’re ready to go,” Danny said. “Climb aboard.” He led them onto the tarmac and over to his rainbow colored four-seater copter. They all climbed aboard, with Diane and Charlie in the back seat and Danny in the front pilot seat. They all donned head phones with microphones so that could listen and talk to each other. Danny revved up the engines, then previewed the flight.
“It’s about a half hour between here and Kauai, so just relax and enjoy the flight. If you have any questions, just speak into your mic. Otherwise, I’ll get back to you when we get near our first stop. We’re gonna tour the Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Waipo’o Falls, and Kalalau Beach.” He double-checked their seatbelts, gave them a thumbs-up and lifted off. Diane squealed with delight at the sensation of flight.
Soon, they left land behind and saw only ocean below. Diane held Charlie’s hand tightly. She could not decide if her stomach was doing somersaults out of exhilaration or sheer terror, but it didn’t matter. The sky was clear, giving them excellent visibility under perfect flying conditions.
“You said you’re helicopter rated,” Diane said to Charlie. “Could you fly this helicopter if you had to?” Charlie smiled and nodded.
“Yeah, if I had to.”
“Good. It’s nice to have back-up just in case,” she said. “Have you ever done this before?” she asked.
“No, not in Hawaii,” Charlie said. “Chalk this up as another first we are sharing together.” The shimmering site of the ocean below mesmerized Diane, and the sense of flight felt so imm
ediate, almost primal and overwhelming.
“I’ve been on airlines and even private planes, but this is a whole new world,” she said.
“We’re approaching Kauai,” Danny said. They saw this northern-most island of the Hawaiian chain grow larger and larger, like a giant green thumb sticking out of the deep blue ocean.
“I’m going to take us around the west side of the island to the Napali Coast,” Danny said. “If you can think of the island as the face of a clock, the Napali Coast runs from the 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock.” They dipped down and flew along the coast close enough to appreciate the lush green vegetation, deeply eroded gorges, emerald green ocean, and stunning views. Diane felt over-awed.
“This is indescribable,” she whispered. Danny lingered along the coast to allow his passengers to take it all in, then moved on.
“Let’s go take a look at Waipo’o Falls,” Danny said. He nudged the stick and flew inland to Waimea Canyon and dropped down for a close look at this thin ribbon of a waterfall, dropping 800 feet.
“There she is,” Danny pointed out the window.
“Wow,” Diane said. “That’s something you don’t see every day.”
“I don’t know – Yellowstone Falls is nothing to sneeze at,” Charlie said.
“Let’s go take a look at the Canyon,” Danny said. They angled their helicopter into Waimea canyon for a close look at the gigantic gorge.
“It’s called the Grand Canyon of Hawaii,” Danny went on. “Isn’t she a beaute.” They dropped deep into the canyon to allow the enormity of the gorge to envelope them.
“So many colors – so many layers,” Diane said. The numerous shades of lush green vegetation mingled with strata of bright red volcanic soil, as if a rainbow and a barber pole gave birth to the walls of this canyon.
“Time for lunch,” Danny said. He carried his small company over to the plateau where all the major helicopter tour companies combined forces to deliver a splendid lunch at a breathtaking destination. By the time they arrived, eight other tour helicopters already parked and released their passengers to enjoy a hearty feast at long picnic tables covered by majestic colorful canopy awnings. The plateau overlooked the distant Pacific Ocean with sweeping views of the Canyon and valley. Over thirty tourists enjoyed a lunch of teriyaki chicken, corn on the cob, pork riblets, and applesauce. Here, strangers became friends, and families made memories. Everyone exchanged cameras for group photos, and wished each other “Ke Akua pu a hui hoe” or in English – “God Bless and See You Later.” Danny collected his special couple.
“Ready for a swim in the ocean?” he said.
“Definitely,” Diane said. Charlie nodded his agreement.
“Let’s go,” Danny said. They loaded up and took to the air for a quick drop down to Kalalau Beach, a very secluded stretch of sand reachable only by helicopter or an 11-mile hike along the Napali Coast. The helicopter gently settled on this remote white strand, where a few dozen hearty outdoor enthusiasts already beat them there. The destination was so remote that bathing suits were deemed optional. Danny looked at his watch.
“We can stay for an hour or so, then we gotta be on our way. If you want some privacy, I’ll go hang out with the park rangers at the water station back in the trees.” Diane gave Charlie a look.
“I’m not quite ready to go native, so just turn your back while I get into my suit.” Ever the gentleman, Charlie smiled and complied.
“All right,” Diane called out as she ran to the surf, “You can look now.” As she dived into the waves, Charlie donned his trunks and joined her. They swam together, body surfed, and even attempted a playful re-creation of the Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr passionate shoreline kiss from the movie “From Here to Eternity.” Lying next to each other, they waited for a wave to roll in, then attempted the iconic kiss, ending up with a mouthful of salt water and a buttload of sand. Danny waved to them from the helicopter.
“We gotta get going,” he called out. They said goodbye to this hidden jewel of a beach, changed back into their travel clothes and took their seats in the helicopter. Danny warmed up the engine.
“Now, as I understand it, we’ve got an unscheduled stop to make before we head back home,” Danny said.
“We do?” Diane said. She looked at Charlie.
“Yeah,” Charlie said.
“Where are we going?” Diane said.
“You’ll see,” Charlie said. The helicopter lifted off the beach and rose high into the sky, then over to Kawaikini Peak, the highest point of the entire island, at 5,243 feet. He set the helicopter down at the summit and invited the two to “Do your thing”. Diane looked at Charlie for instructions.
“Let’s walk over to the plaque that describes this peak,” he said. Holding hands, they walked over to a small granite pedestal with an engraved plaque listing its geologic features. Diane read the inscription, when she turned and noticed Charlie on one knee. He took both her hands into his.
“Diane, I know this is not what either of us expected when we first met, but I’m as certain about this as I have ever been in my life, that we are meant for each other. Marriage is a bond of love that is intended to last our whole life. That is why I know that you are the one meant for me, and I believe that I am the one meant for you. So, I say, why wait another year of dating to confirm what we already know. As sure as I can see forever from this mountain peak, I can look down the corridor of time and know that we are the lovers that songs will be written about for a thousand years. That is why I am asking you if you would do me the sacred honor of marrying me.” Diane’s head swirled with thoughts, questions, and answers.
“You mean now? This minute?” she said. She looked around and half-expected to see a minister pop out from behind the rocks.
“Tomorrow,” Charlie said. “We’ll get our blood tests then go to the courthouse. Jackie can be your witness and Danny can be mine. We’ll say ‘I do’ and make it official. Then, when we both have a block of time, we’ll fly to the mainland and have a reception for both side of our families.” Diane could not honestly think of any reason why she would NOT want to be this man’s wife. She felt short of breath, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Then the words just escaped from her lips.
“Yes, I will. I will marry you.”
Chapter 12
Charlie stood up and took her in his arms. They kissed, a deep kiss of devotion and commitment that sealed this sacred moment for all time. On the helicopter flight back to Honolulu, details suddenly required attention.
“What about a honeymoon?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll check with my CO,” Charlie said.
“What about kids?” Diane asked.
“We’ll adopt,” Charlie said.
“Where will we live?”
“Are you OK with Billings?” Charlie said.
“Sure,” she said.
“Do you belong to a church?” she asked.
“My parents were Congregationalists,” Charlie said.
“Mine were Baptists,” Diane said.
“Close enough,’ Charlie said.
“Are you Republican or Democrat?” Diane asked.
“I don’t know – what about you?” Charlie said.
“I can never tell the difference – I just have a weird feeling about Nixon,” Diane said.
By the time the helicopter landed at the Oahu Airport, they shared every vital secret and confessed every past sin. They felt ready to be baptized. Charlie drove her back to her apartment.
“I’ll talk to Jackie tonight, and then let’s talk in the morning,” Diane said.
“Agreed,” Charlie said.
Diane burst into the apartment.
“Jackie, where are you?” Diane called out. Jackie flew out of the bathroom, where she was tweezing her eyebrows.
“What? What? What?’ Jackie said.
“Charlie proposed and I said yes. Tell me if I’m crazy,” Diane said.
“He what?”
“You heard me. We’re thi
nking tomorrow.”
“I don’t think you can do it that fast. Don’t you need blood tests?” Jackie said.
“Yes – that’s not what I’m asking. Just answer me – am I making a huge mistake?”
“Does he make you laugh?” Jackie asked.
“All the time.”
“Does he get you?”
“Yes - so much it’s scary.”
“Then I say go for it. I’ve seen marriages work with a lot less than that,” Jackie nodded.
“We’re just going to go to the courthouse. We need two witnesses. Will you be one?” Diane said.
“Hell, yes.” Jackie said.
Diane felt so keyed up she could hardly sleep that night. She tossed and turned in bed, tried reading pages from her nursing school anatomy text book, which had always put her to sleep, with no luck. She finally gave up, got out of bed and sat at her desk making out a list of people to invite to their reception when they returned to Billings. Eventually, she let herself drift off thinking of her future life with the man she adored.
Tuesday morning Diane called in sick – ‘love’ sick, she thought, then drove over to the Hilton Rainbow Tower to make sure Charlie still felt the same. She knocked on his door, and he welcomed her in with a hug and a kiss like a starving man at a banquet table. She felt a heat too long denied within her rising up, and she possessed neither the will nor the reason to suppress its surging power. He moved his mouth to her sleek neck, and she leaned her head to invite more of his tingling touch. His lips followed her neck down to her shoulders, kissing, licking, nibbling, each touch electrifying her entire body. Before exploring further, he paused to hang the ‘Do Not Disturb” sign on the door.
“You were gone way too long,” he whispered.
“So, you haven’t changed your mind?” she smiled.
“Can’t you tell?” Charlie said, as he scooped her into his arms and set her gently on the bed. She held tightly to him with both arms and beckoned him. She lifted his T-shirt over his head, and he unbuttoned her blouse. For the next three hours the world around them faded into a distant realm, far from their conscious minds. They knew nothing save the tingling touch of skin to skin, bodies pressed together, the strength of his chest, the soft curve of her lower back, rewarded with sensations they never knew existed. Finally exhausted, they lay in each other’s arms, unwilling to stop but drained of unrewarded urges.
The Sanctuary II: Lost and Found Page 8