Order vs. Chaos

by Mary E Thompson

  I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “I don’t know, Ada. If she won’t admit it, she can’t want me that badly.”

  “She needs to know you’re not going to bail on her like he did.”

  “Why did she even date him?” I asked, unsure I wanted the answer, but knowing I needed it.

  She shrugged. “He was charming. Said all the right things. And he was interested in her. Sometimes that’s all it takes when you’re lonely.”

  “He took advantage of that. He knew he could play her.”

  Ada sighed, nodding. “I know. She never wanted to see it though. She thought he loved her.”

  My blood fucking boiled at the thought. I didn’t want to imagine Kiana with that fuck-face. “I should have punched him when I had the chance.”

  Ada laughed. “Yeah, you should have.”

  “Did I say that out loud?”

  She nodded. “You did. Maybe next time you see him you will. Then Kiana might trust you.”

  I laughed. “I hope so. It would be worth it.”

  Ada grinned. “She’ll trust you eventually. Just be patient with her.”

  I nodded as Ada waved. She was Kiana’s best friend, so I wanted to believe her. It wasn’t going to be easy to wait though. Not when I knew how perfectly she fit in my arms.

  Chapter Six

  Kapena spent more time than usual on the water over the next few days. I didn’t know if he was avoiding me or not, but it sure felt like it. Hell, truth be told, I was kind of avoiding him. I wasn’t sure I could look him in the face and not blurt out that his sister felt better in my arms than any other woman I’d ever known.

  Saturday afternoon, I headed north to Makalawena Beach, or Maks as everyone else kept saying, to the wedding. The only thing Kiana said to me all week was to make sure I got there early because it was a twenty minute walk from the parking area to the beach.

  I planned for forty-five minutes, so I could take my time and get some extra pictures on the walk. I had no idea what to expect, but when I pulled off the highway onto a road surrounded by lava fields and barely big enough for two cars, I was a little surprised.

  It was an even bigger shock when I found a row of parking spaces with a sign saying to park there for Makalawena Beach.

  And an arrow telling me it was just over a mile to the beach.

  Over an uneven lava field.

  Glad I wore dress shoes for the event.

  I slung my bags over my shoulders and started toward the beach. I stopped a little ways down the path to dig out one of my cameras and took a few shots of the ocean to the west and the view of Mauna Kea to the east. Snow covered the peak of the mountain in direct contrast to the heat at sea level.

  I kept walking, taking pictures every so often. When I hit the sandy beach, I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. The beach was a photographer’s paradise. Soft, white sand, a touch of green outlining the beach with bright flowers in almost all of the bushes, and the black lava field surrounding it all. The bride and groom definitely chose a great spot. The pictures would be awesome.

  I wondered how I beat Kiana to the site as I kept shooting the beach. As obsessed as she was about getting everything right, I figured she’d be there long before me.

  I looked up and down the beach, shooting everything I found remotely interesting, and tried to figure out where they would set up the wedding. It was small, only twenty people, but there still needed to be something. Chairs. Flowers. Hell, a bride and groom.

  I pulled out my phone and saw three missed calls from Kiana. The voicemails were increasingly pissed off until the last one where she said if I wasn’t there, I didn’t need to bother coming back.

  Confused, and a little worried about my job, I started to call her.

  “What are you doing here?” I heard behind me.

  I spun to find Ada walking toward me. She was wearing a long yellow dress that fit her well. The high collar hid her cleavage, but her breasts were still prominent. So were her wide-set hips and her round belly.

  Kapena had good taste in women. If he’d pull his head out of his ass and admit he liked her.

  “I’m here for the wedding. Where is everyone?”

  “Oh, no. Kiki’s gonna flip her shit. This is the wrong beach, Sawyer.”

  “What? How is this the wrong beach? I followed the sign.”

  She shook her head and pointed to the opposite end of the beach where dunes rose up. “You have to keep going. Past the dunes. Come on. She’s probably flipping out by now. What can I help you with?”

  I shoved my stuff into bags as quickly as I could and handed one to Ada while I packed the other. When I was ready, we took off toward the other end of the beach.

  “Come on. We still have a bit to go. This isn’t even halfway from the parking area.”

  “Shit,” I whispered. “She’s gonna fire me.”

  “Not if you pull this off. Make this the best wedding ever, and she’ll have no choice. Kiki likes to work with the best.”

  “She thinks I can’t do it.”

  “And she hired you anyway. So prove to her that you’re the best on the island.”

  I nodded and followed Ada through the poorly marked path. When more trees grew closer and another white sand beach appeared, I wanted to sink into it and thank God for sending Ada my way.

  But there wasn’t time for that.

  “Where the hell were you?” Kiana hissed, approaching us with a grin plastered on her face.

  “He was at the wrong beach, Kiki. Didn’t you tell him where to go?”

  Kiana blanched at Ada defending me, then sputtered, “Of course. It’s not my fault he can’t find his way around.”

  I nodded. “You’re right. I’ll get set up and be ready in a minute.”

  I rushed away from them before she could say anything else to me. When the bride walked down the aisle toward the ocean, I was ready. The camera caught every white tooth of her smile and the steps she took toward the ocean to meet her groom.

  Water swirled behind Ada as she stood at the shoreline with the bride and groom. The ceremony was quick, and the groom carried the bride away from the water onto the softer sand after he kissed his new bride. They laughed and drank and ate the food Kiana set up for them. I took my pictures and tried to stay out of everyone’s way.

  Especially Kiana’s.

  I noticed the bride looking around at one point and wondered who she was looking for. When her eyes landed on me and she smiled, a tingle ran down my spine. She held my gaze as she approached. I lowered my camera and waited for her to reach me.

  “I’m Kristy. You’re Sawyer Carpenter, right?” she asked, her hand extended.

  “I am. You picked a beautiful spot for your wedding.”

  “Thank you. I think I had some help.”

  I nodded. “Kiana is amazing at what she does.”

  “She is, but that’s not what I’m talking about. Do you remember Benjamin Alvarez?”

  My lips turned up and I nodded. “I do. How do you know him?”

  She grinned, her smile lighting up the tiny cove we were in. Her red lipstick had worn off from the kisses she shared with her new husband, but her eyes were bright blue. A bright blue I was pretty sure I knew.

  “He was my brother.”

  “Was?”

  She nodded. “He died in a car accident about a year ago.”

  I felt it like a kick to the chest. “Shit. I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “He was a pretty great guy. Said he had a lot of fun with you. We were debating coming here for our wedding when the last photographer left, but then I heard you were hired. I knew Benjamin brought me to the right place. Having you here was like having a piece of him with me.”

  I nodded, my throat thick and scratchy. I didn’t like emotion any more than the next guy. Which was to say I didn’t like it at all.

  “Does your new husband make you happy?”

  She glanced back at where he was sitt
ing, watching us. It was clear that he knew exactly who I was from the nod of understanding he gave me.

  “He does,” she said softly. “Very happy.”

  “Then your brother would be happy. I didn’t spend more than a couple days with him, but you and his wife were his two big topics of conversation. He adored both of you. Hated being so far away when you were going through your divorce.”

  She nodded. “I hated it, too. But he loved what he did.”

  “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

  “It was hard on all of us. His wife couldn’t make the trip because the kids are in school, but I know she would have loved to meet you. We thought about you a few times but weren’t sure it would have been okay to reach out to you.”

  I wondered how many other families thought about me when their loved ones died. The photographer who swooped in and out of the lives of these men and women but never stuck around. “It would have been fine, but I imagine you guys had enough to worry about. Wow. He was a great guy.”

  Kristy nodded, then nibbled her lip. “I have a question. A favor actually. Do you have any pictures of my brother? Pictures that you wouldn’t mind sharing with me? I know that’s probably a lot to ask, but—”

  “Not at all,” I assured her. “I’ll go through everything I have. Do you want me to include them in the packet Kiana sends you?”

  She nodded again, grinning. “That would be great. Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this will mean to me and the rest of my family.”

  “Of course. As long as I don’t get fired, you’ll know where to find me for a while.”

  “Fired?” she gasped. “Why would you get fired?”

  I grinned. “I was just kidding. Kiana is a great boss.”

  “Oh, good. I thought she was pretty great. I hope she doesn’t fire you. I know how talented you are. And how easily you could do anything you want. She’s lucky to have you.”

  I nodded, wondering if Kiana would ever think the same thing.

  Kristy wandered back to her table. She shared a smile and a hug with her new husband. Her eyes slid closed and her entire body sagged with relief. She was finally at peace.

  Peace.

  Something so special.

  I was honored I could give that to her.

  As the sun began to set, everyone packed up and headed back to their vehicles. Kristy thanked me again and asked me to keep in touch. She hugged me and her groom shook my hand. I promised to get them pictures soon, knowing the ones of her brother were probably more important than their wedding pictures.

  Ada said goodnight and started walking toward the path we’d come down with a bag of trash in her hands. I looked around and realized everything brought in for the wedding needed to be removed. Food. Tables. Chairs. Even flowers.

  “What can I carry?” I asked Kiana, approaching her from behind.

  “Nothing.”

  “Come on, Kiana. I can help. You don’t need to kill yourself for this. Your crew has a long walk to get everything out of here. What can I do?”

  “You want to know what you can do? You can tell me why you were hitting on the bride. On her wedding day!”

  “Whoa, first of all, I do not go after women who are already involved. Second, I was not hitting on her. She approached me. And third, I knew her brother, so back off just a second.”

  We were standing toe to toe, breathing heavily. I became acutely aware of how tiny she was, not even up to my chin. I could have easily tossed her over my shoulder and carried her off the same way the groom carried the bride away. Claimed her as mine. Told all the other men that she was off-limits.

  The need to have her swamped me, knocking me off-kilter. I never needed a woman. Not for more than a night. Not in far too long. What was it about her that had me ready to fight off even her brother?

  I wanted to kiss her again. To seal my lips to hers until she gave up the fight and admitted that we needed to give whatever was between us a chance. I moved toward her, but she stepped back. I let her go, giving in to the much needed distance between us. Her breathing slowed until her chest stopped heaving beneath her light blue dress.

  “I thought her brother died.”

  I nodded. “She told me that tonight. I didn’t know. We haven’t been in touch in a few years.”

  “How did you know him?”

  “An old job. Are you going to let me help?”

  She glanced around as though she forgot where we were and why. Finally, she pointed toward the chairs stacked up. “Chairs. Take some chairs.”

  I snatched three under each arm, making sure I flexed as I walked past her. The sharp intake of her breath made me feel better.

  “Let’s grab a drink,” Jack said when we loaded the last of everything into the trailer behind Kiana’s SUV. She’d already assured me it stayed loaded and in a secure garage. And that she didn’t need any more help from me.

  “Don’t you need to help Kiana?”

  Jack shook his head. “Nope. She does this part on her own. I’ve gone before, but really, it’s a one person kind of thing.”

  “You don’t worry about her being there alone?”

  Jack laughed. “She’s there alone more hours than I’m awake most weeks. The woman has to be forced to leave. Are you just making excuses not to have a drink with me?”

  I shook my head. “Not even a little. I’m just worried about her.”

  “Uh huh. I know that look.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. If you say she’s fine, let’s go.”

  Jack grinned triumphantly. “Follow me.”

  Jack drove south, beyond the airport toward Ke’aloha. I hadn’t explored my new town much, but it was a fun little place. In some ways, it reminded me of Winterville. With a kick-ass beach and a hell of a lot more sunshine.

  We passed the turn toward Kapena’s house and kept going into town. Jack finally pulled into a parking lot next to a bar called Laughlin’s. He waited for me to double check my camera was secure before I met him at the door.

  “This place okay?”

  I nodded. “I’ve never been here, but I’ve driven by a few times. Looks like a cool place.”

  “It is. I come here a lot.”

  We walked in to a dimly lit bar, the clack of pool balls hitting and cheers from a group I couldn’t see momentarily drowning out the tv’s hanging on every vertical surface. Along the back wall was a polished wooden bar that was clearly the owner’s pride and joy. It gleamed under the can lights in the ceiling, outshone only by the display of liquor bottles on the wall behind it.

  Jack headed straight for the bar and two empty well-worn stools. He high-fived the bartender and nodded toward me. “This is Sawyer. He just moved here. I figured I should show him the best bar on the island.”

  The bartender reached over. “Aloha, Sawyer. I’m Ed.”

  “He owns the bar,” Jack supplied.

  “Nice. You have a great place.”

  “Mahalo. What are you drinking tonight?”

  “Anything you have on tap.”

  Jack laughed. “Don’t tell him that. He has thirty-seven beers on tap. You’ll be here for a while.”

  “This is my new favorite place. Let me try something local. Got anything made with Kona coffee?”

  Ed nodded and pulled a tap. He set the mug, with a perfect head, in front of me. I sipped it, knowing I’d be back for more. Ed was gone before I could tell him how good the beer was.

  “Good, isn’t it?” Jack asked.

  “Amazing. Kapena gets this watered down stuff that isn’t that great. I drink it, but I’d rather have something like this.”

  “Kapena has always liked lite beer. I bring my own when I go over there.”

  “If I could figure out where to do some shopping, I’d get my own.”

  “Oh, boy,” Jack said. “You might be hopeless. How long have you been here?”

  “Just over a week. Give me a break.”

  “So in a week you managed to figure out that Kiki was scr
ewing that fuck-knocker, get her and Kapena into a big fight, and twist her up in knots tighter than an Eagle Scout?”

  I choked on my beer when he said the last one. “Why would she be in knots?”

  Jack snorted. “Please. You know you’re hot.”

  “What does that have to do with her?”

  “I didn’t ask you out for a drink so I could spill all my friend’s dirty secrets.”

  “I have no idea what’s going on right now,” I lied, wondering why her two closest friends insisted there was more going on between us than she was willing to admit.

  Jack chuckled at my expense. “I’m getting that feeling. Kiki wants you. She’s never been afraid to go for what she wants when it comes to men, but she’s gun-shy now. Anthony fucked her over good. The problem is you have that same cocky swagger he had. So she doesn’t trust you.”

  “She doesn’t know me. I’m not like him.”

  “I know that. I can see it in your eyes. I’ve always been a sucker for a pair of hazel eyes.”

  I rolled them at him.

  “Fine, no flirting. But I’m not going to tell you everything you want to know about Kiki if I don’t get something out of it.”

  “What kind of something?”

  A slow, lecherous grin curled his lips. “I knew you wanted to know everything there was to know about her.”

  Busted.

  “Don’t worry, hoa. I won’t tell her you want her.”

  I admit it. The guy had a nose for figuring shit out. At least when it came to me he did.

  Or maybe I was just obvious.

  And here I thought Kiana was the only one who knew. Since she was the only one there when we kissed. Both times.

  “Did she tell you?”

  “Tell me what?” he asked.

  I couldn’t tell if he was playing innocent or really didn’t know. Only one way to find out.

  “Did she tell you we kissed?”

  He grinned but didn’t answer. It was suspiciously like admitting he knew and wanted me to hang myself.

  “She kissed me the first time. But I kissed her the other day. She can’t stand me now. She thinks I don’t want her.”