Maui Widow Waltz (Islands of Aloha Mystery Series)

by JoAnn Bassett

  Was that a warning?

  “Mahalo, but I only need to speak with her. Would you please ask if I could have a few minutes of her time?” That didn’t exactly jive with the notion of being expected, but she’d already given me a pass on my weak lying skills.

  She escorted me to the same glorious room as before. The yellow walls and furniture seemed to hum in harmony with the approaching sunset. I gazed at the crashing surf and felt a wave of tranquility pass over me.

  “What are you doing here?” Lisa Marie said, startling me. I turned around. She looked more annoyed than usual.

  “I like to meet with my brides each day during their wedding week—to reassure you that everything’s coming together as planned.”

  “You could have left a message with the maid.”

  “Yes, but it’s part of my service to meet with you face-to-face to keep you informed and address any last-minute questions.”

  “I don’t have any questions, and if I did, I know how to reach you.”

  “Good. Well then, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow for your final dress fitting. And please remind your bridesmaids they’ll need to come in as well.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they’ll need a fitting, too.”

  “No. Why do I have to remind them? Isn’t that your job?”

  “Oh, of course. I just assumed since they were staying here with you—.”

  “Well, you assumed wrong.”

  “No problem.” I looked around, but saw no sign of the bridesmaids. “If you’ll give me their contact information—.”

  “Talk to Josie. She has their phone numbers.”

  There was an awkward pause as I struggled to come up with a cheery farewell.

  “Okay, then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh, and on Wednesday morning I’ll be down here about noon to get ready for the rehearsal, and then Thursday’s your big day.” I was chirping like a song bird—nowhere close to my normal ‘I’m in charge’ voice.

  She sighed. “Where’s my crane picture?”

  Ah, so she had a question after all.

  Lucky for me I had an answer. “The girls said they’d be finished folding the cranes by tomorrow afternoon. I’ll pick them up and get them over to the framer first thing Wednesday morning, and he promised your picture will be ready by the end of the day.”

  “What if I don’t like it?”

  “I’ve seen this framer’s work before. It’s outstanding—the best on the island.”

  She squinted.

  “The best anywhere, actually,” I went on. “All my Japanese clients—and those gals are really picky about their origami keepsakes—swear by this guy.” Okay, so I’d had only one Japanese bride who’d used this particular framer. But she’d been pleased, so why split hairs?

  Lisa Marie plopped down on the sofa, and stared out of the huge window to the ocean beyond. She didn’t ask me to join her, but I got the feeling she wasn’t as eager to get rid of me as she let on.

  “You know, I almost forgot,” I said. “I’ve put together a three-day schedule of events for the run-up to the ceremony. Do you want to take a few minutes to go over it?” I pulled a copy from my bag.

  “No, I don’t. Daddy’s having a patio party tonight and I need to freshen up.” She didn’t make a move to get up off the sofa.

  The French doors burst open and Marv Prescott strode into the room. His pale, stubbly cheeks, silly comb-over and darting eyes reminded me of guys featured on America’s Most Wanted. But maybe I was unfairly viewing him through the filter of his alleged reputation.

  “I never forget a name. You’re Patty Sunshine from the airport, correct?” he boomed, extending his hand.

  I didn’t know if he was joking or he’d really mistaken my name, so I went with it.

  “Hello, sir. Yes, I’m the wedding coordinator. I’m just going over final preparations with your daughter.”

  “Please, sweetheart, no ‘sir’ stuff. Remember, I told you to call me Marv, or, as they say over here: dude.”

  “Okay, uh, Marv. We’re pretty much finished here. I understand you’re entertaining this evening and I don’t want to intrude.” I slipped the copy of the wedding schedule onto the coffee table and flashed Lisa Marie a big smile.

  “No intrusion at all,” Marv said. “And yes, we’re having a little cookout. Why don’t you join us?”

  “Thanks, but I really should be getting home.”

  “Why?”

  Uh-oh. Not only am I a lousy liar, but I’m especially feeble under pressure.

  “Uh. Well, I have an injured fireman staying at my house and…” I hoped he’d leap to the conclusion I was sorely needed at home to nurse one of Maui’s bravest back to health.

  “We won’t keep you out late. If your fireman gets hungry, tell him to crack open a can of chili. That’s what those guys eat, right?” He turned and grinned at Lisa Marie. “Puppet, tell your little friend here I never take ‘no’ for an answer.”

  Lisa Marie’s face had taken on the same vacant gaze I’d noticed at the airport. It was as if Marv sucked all the oxygen from a room, and whenever he was around she shut down to keep from suffocating.

  She blinked a couple of times and in a weary voice said, “Of course, Daddy. When you came in I was just going to ask Pali if she’d be able to stay.” She swiveled her gaze to me. “You can, right?”

  I nodded, feeling trapped but intrigued to see the Prescott family dynamic in action.

  The second Marv left the room Lisa Marie leapt off the sofa and stepped in close to me. From the look on her face I half-expected her to grab my shirt, give me a couple of shakes, and tell me to get the hell out of Dodge before her father returned.

  “You promised your fireman you’d be home no later than seven, right?” Her tone mimicked me telling the lie she wished I’d been smart enough to come up with on my own.

  “Seven. Right.”

  “Well, make sure you keep your promise.”

  She left the room, yanking the French doors shut with such force it rattled the glass. The setting sun washed the walls in a rosy glow and the room became perfectly still. Even Lisa Marie’s surliness couldn’t blot out the peace that settled over me. The low swoosh of waves sliding in and out along the beach reminded me of a ticking clock.

  Just three more days.

  CHAPTER 11

  A few minutes later, Josie came in to advise me the guests would be arriving soon and Marv wanted everyone out on the lanai. The immense space was at least the size of a basketball court. It was bordered by a knee-high rock wall on the upper and lower sides and a riprap breakwater on the makai—or ocean—side. The sun perched at the horizon, clouds hovering just above. Rays of sunshine shot up from behind the clouds creating what we kids used to call a ‘Bible sky.’

  A phalanx of butlers, bartenders and servers carrying plates of pu’pus—appetizers—appeared out of nowhere as soon the guests began arriving. I spotted the Blond Squad—the trio of statuesque bridesmaids who’d arrived on Marv’s private jet. They were taking turns flirting with a local-boy bartender who looked like the guy in the Tommy Bahama commercials.

  “Mai tai? Blue Hawaiian? What’s your pleasure, pumpkin?” Marv said, sneaking up and standing so close behind me I could feel his hot breath on my neck.

  “I don’t usually…I mean I…” I stammered like a high school kid at a college frat party.

  “She probably doesn’t drink when she’s on the clock, Marv” said Tina, coming to my rescue.

  “Right,” I said. “And I can only stay a few minutes. I promised the fireman—”

  “What’d you promise him?” Marv said with a lewd chuckle. “You gonna trot on home and light his fire?”

  “Marv, now don’t you be naughty,” said Tina, patting his cheek.

  “It wouldn’t kill her to have one little cocky-tail for the road,” he said.

  “You have other guests I’m sure you’ll want to greet,” I said. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll go over right n
ow and get the bartender to make me something.”

  “Good girl. I knew I’d get you to come around. Good-looking broads can’t resist me.”

  I asked the bartender for a virgin piña colada with extra fruit. He handed me a drink with three cherries, two large chunks of pineapple and a wedge of lime skewered on tiny plastic swords. He added a tiny pink umbrella and a long red straw. The glass was filled to the brim, but all the fruit and hardware didn’t leave much room for liquid. I sipped it slowly. No doubt maintaining a full glass was essential to keeping Daddy Prescott at bay.

  “How long have you and Marv been married?” I said, sidling up to Tina.

  “Not long,” she said. She shot me a guarded look followed by a quick smile. She didn’t appear to be in the mood to discuss family history.

  “Brad’s disappearance was certainly a shock,” I said.

  “Total shock. But to tell you the truth, I was kind of surprised when Lisa Marie got engaged to him in the first place. You know what I mean?”

  I nodded, hoping it would encourage her to continue.

  “They were just so—I don’t know—so opposite.”

  Again I nodded.

  “Now Kevin, he’s more her style. I always thought they were much more well-suited, like best friends, maybe even soul mates. Amicos migliori, as we say in Italian. Back home, the two of them spent way more time together than she ever did with Brad.”

  “Oh?” I said, figuring I couldn’t get away with just giving her another nod.

  “Yeah. With Brad it was always work, work, work. No fun at all. He’d make dates with her but then it was almost always Kevin who actually showed up. They were both real party animals—concerts, dance clubs, movie premieres—”

  “Baby doll,” Marv yelled from across the lanai. I prayed he meant that for Tina and not me.

  “Yes, sweet pea?” Tina shot back, relieving me of the uncertainty.

  Marv motioned her over like a parking lot attendant helping someone back up a car.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to me. “I’ve got to go see what he needs. He’s cute but he’s high maintenance. It was nice talking to you.” She shot me a backward toodle-doo wave as she made her way through the crowd.

  I reached into my beach bag purse and scavenged around for my cell phone. Once I had it in hand, I managed to activate the ‘check ringtone’ mode by touch. It started chiming and I pulled it out, doing my best to appear annoyed I’d gotten a call while I was deep into socializing.

  “Sorry,” I said, although no one seemed to be listening. “I’ve got to take this.”

  I put down my drink and put the dead phone up to my ear, nodding and making uh-huh noises as I made my way into the house.

  “Oh sure. No problem,” I muttered into the mouthpiece. “I’ll be right there.” I slipped the phone back into my bag as I closed the sunroom door. Lisa Marie was at the other end of the room huddled with her bridesmaids.

  “You all need to go up there and get your dresses fitted tomorrow morning,” she said, jabbing a finger at what appeared to be the wedding schedule I’d left for her.

  The bridesmaids shot each other conspiratorial glances.

  “Got it,” they said in sing-song unison.

  “Lisa Marie,” I said, coming up to them. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to leave. If you can think of anything else we should discuss—”

  “There you go again, trying to rope me into doing your job.” She let out a dramatic sigh, ostensibly for the benefit of the bridesmaids. “Pali, I told you from the very beginning I needed a perfect wedding. So if it’s perfect, good. And if it isn’t, well, Daddy’s not going to be very happy with you.”

  As if choreographed, the bridesmaids pursed their lips and dropped their heads. They stared down at their feet as if they were the ones being scolded.

  “It’ll be fabulous,” I said. It came out in one long string—like when you say pleasedtomeetyou. In other words, polite—yes; sincere—not so much.

  “It better be.” Lisa Marie folded her arms. “Right, girls?”

  “Right,” they muttered, still eyeballing the floor.

  “Okay, then,” I said in a squeaky voice. “I guess I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

  When neither Lisa Marie nor the bridesmaids offered a reply, I whispered I’d just let myself out and headed for the foyer.

  “Mahalo for coming this evening,” said Josie, smiling and opening the door. She dipped her head in a quick bow. I bobbed my head in return and asked her to thank Marv and Tina for their hospitality. Then I sprinted to my car.

  ***

  When I pulled in at home Steve’s car was out front. I’d hoped to have Hatch all to myself for the evening so I could clear up a few things, but it wasn’t to be.

  “Hey guys, I’m home.” I dumped my beach bag purse on the entry table and listened. No response. The house was eerily quiet. I crossed the hall and put an ear to the downstairs bedroom door. I wasn’t really keen on hearing sounds of activity taking place on the other side of that door, but I was concerned.

  I waited a few seconds but heard nothing.

  I pushed through the kitchen door to see if maybe they’d left a note.

  “Surprise!” Steve was arranging pupus on a plate. He wore a pineapple print apron over a tank top and cargo shorts. He looked adorable, his well-muscled arms deeply tanned, his hair streaked with natural highlights. “We made a special dinner to celebrate all of us getting back on our feet.”

  “We’re not totally there yet,” I said, then felt lousy when I saw their smiles dim.

  “Well yeah, I’ve still got a few more weeks to go,” said Hatch. “But at least now I’m vertical. And you and Steve will finish up that wedding this week so you’ve got money coming in. I’d say that’s reason enough to celebrate.” He was at the stove, leaning on his crutch, stirring a saucepan with a wooden spoon.

  “Sorry to be a downer; you’re right. I’ve just had a tough day. What’s for dinner?”

  “We have fabulous vegetarian sushi which I’ll admit I picked up at Farrah’s. And a fresh chopped salad. And then,” Steve made a tah-dah gesture toward Hatch’s pot on the stove, “Homemade risotto, shrimp scampi style.”

  “Sounds wonderful.”

  “Hey, it’s late. Where’ve you been?” Steve said. “When I was down at Farrah’s this afternoon, she said you’d left hours ago.”

  I started setting the table. “Like I said, it was a crazy day. It started out easy enough, calling my vendors. The good news is everybody’s coming through. But then I went down to work out and I ended up helping Sifu Doug douse for plague—.”

  Steve gasped in horror.

  “It’s not quite as grim as it sounds. There was a MRSA infection at a karate school down in Lahaina so everybody has to disinfect. It took us a while to scrub everything down, and then I popped down to Olu’olu for a quick visit with Lisa Marie. Ends up, she wasn’t in a bridal party mood, and worse, I got roped into going to a get-together Marv’s hosting tonight. I managed to sneak out after an hour, but I’m beat.”

  “How’s our pal Lisa Marie holding up?” Steve said.

  I shook my head.

  “Let me guess: she’s not on the short list for Miss Congeniality?”

  “Not even close. If I didn’t need the money so much I’d have figured out a way to weasel out of this by now. It’s all a charade. What it boils down to is an incredibly expensive beach party for a snotty bitch in a handmade silk dress. ”

  “Whew, we better get our girl here a jumbo glass of wine—pronto.” Steve pointed to the refrigerator. Hatch hopped over and took out a bottle of Tedeschi Maui Blanc wine, already uncorked. He managed, with just one hand, to neatly fill the three wine glasses lined up on the counter.

  “My favorite,” I said.

  “You talking to me?” said Hatch.

  “Yes, you. And you, too.” I leaned my head on Steve’s shoulder. “Who needs sex when I get to spend my nights with great guys like you?”

&nb
sp; “Was that a slam?” said Hatch. “Just ‘cuz I’m busted-up for a while doesn’t mean I’m a eunuch.”

  “Nothin’ eunuch about you, my man. Nothin’ at all,” said Steve. He clinked his glass against Hatch’s.

  I felt like I’d crashed a honeymoon.

  CHAPTER 12

  I shooed Steve and Hatch out of the kitchen as soon as we finished eating. I told them I had a rule about cooks not helping with clean-up, but really I just wanted some time to myself. I was almost finished with the dishes when the phone rang.

  “Can you get that?” I yelled to Steve. “It’s probably for you anyway.”

  Steve picked it up and after a beat I heard him laughing. Laughing was good. Laughing meant it probably wasn’t a surly creditor or anyone associated with Lisa Marie’s wedding. After a half-minute of conversation the swinging door to the kitchen was pushed open and Steve thrust the portable phone at me.

  “It’s Farrah. She’s talking crazy. I told her crazy calls were best handled by the lady of the house.”

  I crimped the phone between my shoulder and chin. “What’s up?” I said. I wiped my hands on a dish towel, expecting it might take awhile.

  “You need to come down here.”

  “Farrah, it’s almost nine o’clock and I’ve had a really long day.”

  “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t a matter of life and death.”

  “Farrah! If this is an emergency, you should call nine-one-one.” I was getting worried.

  “I don’t think they’d be much help. Besides, it’s not about me.”

  “Who’s in trouble?”

  “Just get down here, okay?” Her voice was tight. “I can’t talk about it on the phone.”

  I told the guys I was headed down to Farrah’s and I’d be back as soon as I could.

  “You need me to come along?” Steve asked. He looked up from the TV with a face that had please say ‘no’ written all over it.

  “No, it’s probably some girl thing. I’ll call you if it’s anything serious.”

  Hatch said, “If it does turn out to be something serious, I’ll be glad to help. Don’t forget, I’m a certified EMT.”

  “Thanks, but knowing Farrah, her life and death emergency will probably require a hug and a big glass of wine more than medical expertise.”