Island Heat: Love Is Forever: The Templetons

by Rebecca Day

  Doc looked humble, as usual. “You would be surprised. I have my weak moments.”

  Jimmy frowned and wagged his finger at Doc. “Do you know what this man did?” he asked Wyatt and Virgil, not waiting for an answer. “He saved my Sarah. I always told her to wear a seat belt, but she never listened. Then, one night, she almost died in a car accident on the Pali. Her car was smashed, and so was she. Luckily, Doc over there saved her. Only he could do it. That’s the kind of influence he is.”

  Jimmy dabbed at his eyes and got right back to business. “Right. So, what kind of beer do you want?”

  “I for one want to start out with three Coronas, Jimmy,” said Wyatt, eager to change the subject.

  “A Heineken for me,” said Virgil. “Just one,” he specified, glancing over at Wyatt.

  “I’ll take a soft drink. I’m the designated driver,” explained Doc.

  “See? Designated driver. What kind of bad influence is that? Three Coronas and a Heineken. The soft drink is on the house, Doc. And so are the peanuts.”

  After Jimmy gave them their drinks, Virgil turned to Wyatt. “Three beers, huh?”

  “What’s wrong with three beers, little brother,” growled Wyatt.

  “Oh, nothing. Nothing. Three is a good number. Right, Doc?”

  “Oh, no. Don’t get me in the middle of this. Wyatt wants to get drunk, and I’m not going to tell him to stop.”

  “You mean, you’re not going to tell him how he’s getting drunk in order to stop thinking about a certain long-haired, long-legged woman who sleeps down the hall from him?”

  Wyatt finished the first beer and picked up the second. “What are you doing, looking at her legs? If you look at Janie’s legs, again, Virgil, I will grind you into dust.” He punctuated his words by poking Virgil in the chest with his finger.

  “Yeah, he’s got it bad,” Doc observed. “Pass me some of those free peanuts.”

  Wyatt chugged the second bottle of beer and then the third, and then he ordered two more. It had been a long time since he had drunk so much, and later he vaguely remembered Jimmy’s Tavern spinning around unnaturally, and him standing on his chair, yelling out, “Watch out Dorothy, a twister is a comin’!”

  He also vaguely remembered being tucked into bed by Doc and Virgil and sloppily telling them he loved to watch Janie wash the dishes and pretend that he was the plates she was rubbing.

  Yeah, it had been a hard week for Wyatt.

  While Wyatt and Janie grew apart, Janie grew closer to Wyatt’s family. Everyone appeared to accept her as a part of his family and deferred to her on all the details of the party. His brothers were at her beck and call for every little thing. Only that morning, James had come over with a pile of vinyl signs that he had made for the party to Janie’s specifications. He waited around the house for her to inspect them.

  Even Miles, who could never be ordered to do anything at all, promised her to clean his room before the party, and when she kissed his cheek in thanks, he bowed his head and turned pink. Pink! Miles!

  As frustrating as her attentions to his brothers and father-in-law were for Wyatt, her attentions towards Sam made him feel like he was on cloud nine. Wyatt spent the past 10 years trying to make his little girl the happiest possible without the benefit of having a mother around. It was no small task, and now when he saw her with Janie, saw her blossoming and loving every minute of having a mother-figure, he realized that he failed to give her what she really needed. Sam needed a mother.

  After Tracy died, Wyatt was too traumatized to even think of dating again. Then, he became wrapped up in his work and in Sam, and he forgot that he could have a personal life. Sure, there were a few, brief relationships over the years, but they always fizzled out when they got a little serious. Wyatt supposed that he thought it was just too complicated to bring someone into his life. He had a lot of baggage, after all. So, he kept any women in his life secret and away from Sam and the others.

  Perhaps he had been wrong. Perhaps he should have found someone as quickly as possible so that Sam could have a normal childhood with a loving mother. Somebody like Janie, he thought, miserably.

  “Oh,” squeaked Keiko in pleasure. “I’m going to put these on my menu. What do call them?”

  “They’re Korean barbequed beef short ribs,” explained Janie. “But I didn’t think you had a menu, Keiko.”

  Keiko’s eyes twinkled. “I have a menu, but I don’t let anyone see it. People don’t really know what they should eat. I see them, and I know. I was thinking maybe I’m a psychic or something.”

  “Food psychic?”

  “Yes! Yes, that’s it. I’m a food psychic. Maybe I should put up that sign in front of the restaurant. I would get more business.”

  Keiko had come over to see how the party plans were coming along. They had spent at least an hour showing her the contents of the party supply closet. She marveled at them all and promised to send three of her great-nephews to come and help set up for the party.

  “These are beautiful decorations,” she cooed.

  “Sam picked them out. I just drove her to the party store.”

  Sam beamed at the compliments.

  “You could be a professional, Sam.”

  Janie agreed. “Yes, I keep telling her that she is a budding Martha Stewart.”

  “Well,” said Keiko seriously. “I think after this party, I’m going to have you come and decorate Keiko’s Café. Perhaps it’s time to spruce it up a bit.”

  Janie choked, holding back her laughter. “Spruce” was putting it lightly. Keiko’s Café needed to be bulldozed and drenched in bleach, as far as Janie was concerned. However, she would never tell her friend that…nothing would cause her to hurt her feelings.

  “Really? I would love to do that,” Sam exclaimed gleefully. “I actually have some ideas.”

  “Me, too. I was thinking purple walls and hot pink cushions on the chairs. What do you think?” Keiko’s eyes twinkled even more with the thought of her restaurant, resplendent in bright color, and she smiled from ear to ear.

  Sam was a little less enthusiastic. “Well, that sounds nice,” she started. “But I was thinking maybe something in blue, like the ocean.”

  Janie let them discuss the interior decorating while she went outside to give the finishing touches to her report on her laptop.

  Despite Mr. Templeton’s maddening personality, rude behavior, and general unlikability, he nevertheless is the greatest marine biologist, dolphin behaviorist, and all around great person for undertaking this worthy project. Not to mention he is the sexiest man I’ve ever met, and I want to…

  Janie quickly hit the delete button. Of course, she couldn’t include any of that in her report, but it sure felt good to write it down.

  “Where’s our island breeze today? I can’t stop sweating.” Keiko sat down next to Janie at the patio table and fanned herself with a Japanese fan.

  “I hadn’t noticed before, but you’re right. No breeze today.”

  “Don’t worry. It will come back.” Keiko leaned back and gave Janie one of her all-knowing looks. “So, it looks like you’re a big help around here.”

  “Well, I’m trying to help Sam out with the party as much as possible.”

  “No, I meant with Wyatt. You help him a lot. He likes having you around.”

  “I think you’re mistaken, Keiko, Janie sputtered. “Wyatt can’t wait to see me go. I cramp his style.”

  “His style? Wyatt has no style, sweetie. Wyatt likes to look at you. He likes you to be in his home, to be with him.”

  Janie wanted to tell Keiko everything: about their kiss, about his regretting it, about his coldness towards her all week. Instead, she just nodded her head and smiled. She didn’t want to hurt Keiko’s feelings and tell her she was wrong, even though she was very wrong, indeed.

  Perhaps Keiko was picking up on their mutual attraction, but she didn’t know the rest, and that was fine for now. Janie was leaving in a few days, and they would all soon forget a
bout her. Unfortunately, Janie didn’t think she could ever forget about these people and this place, which she had grown to care for, deeply.

  Friday morning came early. Keiko’s nephews, Wyatt, and his brothers made quick work of the decorations. The house looked like a party ready to happen. It was smart to get everything set up the day before, Janie thought. Most of the food was prepared, as well. She drafted Morgan to stock some of his resort’s refrigerators with the party food, and he complied.

  “I can’t find my rash guard,” Sam yelled from upstairs, while Janie sipped her morning coffee at the kitchen table.

  “It’s probably on your floor with the rest of your clothes!” Wyatt yelled back from upstairs.

  Wyatt stomped down the stairs and stopped short when he saw Janie at the table. He was dressed in long swim trunks and a black, long-sleeved rash guard.

  “I’m taking Sam surfing,” he explained.

  “That’s nice.”

  “I can’t find it!” Sam yelled again from upstairs.

  “Look on your bed,” Wyatt bellowed. “I found a turkey sandwich on your bed last week! Lord knows what’s on there, now!”

  Wyatt turned to Janie. “Sorry about that. Kids,” he said in explanation.

  He stood awkwardly in the kitchen, looking everywhere but at Janie. After a while, he began to tap his foot, impatiently. Janie was expecting steam to fly out of his head when Sam called down again from upstairs.

  “Found it!”

  “Good! Get down here before the waves go.”

  Sam hopped down the stairs, putting on her rash guard over her bathing suit. “Dad, the waves don’t go away. They’re waves.”

  “You know what I mean, smart aleck.” He ruffled her hair.

  “Hey, Janie. Doesn’t the house look great?”

  “Super! Outside is even better. James’s signs came out wonderfully.”

  “I haven’t seen them up, yet. Dad, can we stop and look before we go out?”

  As Janie and Wyatt left the house, Janie sighed in relief. The house was entirely quiet and all hers. It was the perfect time to do what she had wanted to do since she arrived. Even though the decorations looked great, the house was desperate for a thorough scrubbing. Obviously, men had no idea how to really clean, she thought.

  Janie rooted around under the sink for cleaning supplies.

  “I wish I had a camera,” Miles said suddenly from behind her, the lower half her sticking out from the cabinet.

  “Funny,” Janie answered, coming out of the cabinet with cleansers and sponges in her hands. “But you have perfect timing, Miles. I was just about to give the house a good once over. You can help me with the floors. I don’t think the grout in the bathrooms has ever been properly scoured.”

  Miles looked insulted and as if he would swallow his tongue. “My room’s clean enough,” he muttered.

  “okay,” she allowed. “But you could help me with the rest of the house. Surely your backgammon group could wait an hour for you.”

  “Backgammon group!” He snapped his fingers as if he just recalled something. “Semi-finals today. I can’t let them down.”

  Miles ran out of the kitchen faster than Janie had ever seen him move. “Semi-finals my behind,” she called after him. “There’s no semi-finals!”

  Janie smiled. She couldn’t be angry at Miles. She found his gruff exterior endearing. In fact, she was only teasing him and never really expected him to ever help her clean.

  Three hours later, Janie had finished the kitchen, dining and living rooms. Luckily Wyatt didn’t have a lot of knick-knacks because every surface in the place had been covered in an inch of dust, and Janie never thought she would get done if he had knick-knacks, as well.

  When the phone rang, she welcomed the chance at a short break and answered it quickly. At first, she didn’t recognize his voice. Instead of deep and booming, Wyatt sounded weak and raspy.

  “What’s wrong,” she demanded, fear gripping her.

  “Sam,” he croaked. “She’s had a surfing accident.”

  “My God. Where is she?”

  “Honolulu. The trauma center. I wouldn’t bother you, but she’s asking for you.” Wyatt barely got the last out before his voice caught, and he couldn’t continue.

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Janie sped off in Wyatt’s car towards Honolulu. She drove faster than she had ever driven, and on the small, windy roads of Oahu, it was a dangerous drive. But Janie didn’t care. The only thought on her mind was getting to the hospital as soon as possible.

  She said silent prayers for Sam as she drove. It was unthinkable that something bad could happen to that sweet, wonderful girl. Janie tried to remain optimistic, but Wyatt’s desperate voice scared her silly.

  “I’m looking for a patient. Samantha Templeton,” Janie told the nurse at the front desk of the trauma center.

  “Just a moment.” The nurse looked at clipboard, searching for the name.

  “Janie.” Doc walked up to Janie. Dressed in scrubs, his calm, professional manner made her instantly feel better. Nevertheless, her no-nonsense side came out in force.

  “What’s going on? How is she? Where is she?”

  “She’s fine. She has a slight concussion, but she’s fine.”

  Janie looked into Doc’s eyes. His blue eyes were unlike Wyatt’s. Whereas Wyatt’s eyes were filled with strong emotion, Doc’s were milky, hiding something deep, which Janie doubted she would ever discover.

  He gripped her shoulders. “She’s fine,” he said firmly, sensing her continued concern.

  Janie exhaled, her breath ragged. “What happened?”

  “They were surfing. The surf wasn’t that strong, actually. It was a fluke. The surfboard hit her. She was very lucky. It could have been much worse.”

  Janie let that sink in. She shuddered, involuntarily.

  “She’s in room 113. Come on. I’ll take you.”

  “Janie!” Sam cried out from her hospital bed. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Sam smiled from ear to ear as Janie went to her and gave her a bear hug.

  “How are you feeling?” asked Janie, taking a seat next to Sam.

  “Fine. I wish they would let me leave.”

  Janie looked at Doc.

  “We want to keep her overnight for observation, but it’s nothing serious,” Doc explained. “I’m sure she’ll be out of here tomorrow morning, first thing.”

  “Have you eaten?” Janie asked.

  “Grandpa went to get me something.”

  Just then, Miles walked in. Lines of worry marked his face. He stumbled in, holding handfuls of junk food. “How are you feeling?” he asked, fearfully. His demeanor was totally out of character for Miles, and Janie took pity on him.

  Janie relieved him of his packages and took stock of his purchases. “What’s this?”

  “I got some food for Sam.”

  “Miles, this is not food. These are cupcakes and chocolate bars and gummy bears.”

  “There’s peanuts, too,” Miles said defensively.

  “I stand corrected,” Janie frowned. “okay, here’s what’s going to happen. Miles, go out and get a large pizza, and we can share it with Sam. I’m sure you haven’t eaten. Am I right?”

  “I had a big lunch.”

  “Well, lunch was more than a few hours ago. I’ll see if Wyatt wants some pizza. Where is he?”

  “He’s been pacing the hallway,” Doc volunteered.

  “Miles get two larges, just in case, and I’ll talk to Wyatt.”

  Miles slowly walked to the door, his shoulders hunched over in anguish. Janie stopped him and gave him a hug. “She’s okay, Miles,” she whispered in his ear. “She fine, and she’s happy.” Miles hugged her back, and his body shook.

  “Thank you,” he choked. “Thank you for being here.”

  Janie found Wyatt pacing in the hallway around the corner, just as Doc told her. When she saw his face, she stopped dead in her tracks. Where Doc was calm seriousness and Miles lined wit
h worry, Wyatt was devastated and clearly in shock.

  His pacing stopped when he saw her. They shared a look, which spoke volumes, and Janie walked quickly to him, closing the gap between them. She gathered him to her in a strong embrace. “I know. I know,” she whispered to him, her lips grazing his ear. Janie did know. She understood how important Sam was to him, understood that he was reliving the awful moment when he lost his wife.

  She felt his weight on her, as he relaxed into the embrace, allowing her to comfort him. Time passed. How much, Janie didn’t know, but soon Miles was calling them in to eat the pizza.

  Sam polished off her third slice of pizza, a sign of good health, Wyatt tried to convince himself. He, on the other hand, had been holding a slice of pizza for the past 30 minutes, unable to get it to his mouth. He tried not to think what would have happened if the surf board had done more damage, if Sam had not been quite so lucky.

  He looked around the room. Miles, Doc, and Janie seemed to be in high spirits. They laughed and joked with Sam.

  “I’m just saying it’s a good thing you’re so hard-headed,” Doc pointed out.

  “Yeah, obviously you get that from your father,” Miles commented, throwing everyone into peals of laughter.

  The evening wore on, and Wyatt felt fatigue wash over him. It was contagious. Everyone yawned in unison.

  “It’s time to let Sam get a good night’s sleep,” Doc ordered.

  “Well, I’m staying the night with her,” Wyatt said.

  “Me, too,” Miles chimed in.

  “I said a good night’s sleep. If you all stay here, she’s not going to get any rest.”

  “I’m her father. I will stay.”

  “And I’m her grandfather. I will stay.”

  “Wyatt,” Janie ventured. “You need your rest. You’re overwrought.”

  A sharp rebuttal formed on his lips, but Wyatt decided to remain silent when he saw the honest concern on Janie’s face. If he was honest with himself, he knew that she was right. He wasn’t much use to Sam in his present condition.

  “She’s right,” Doc answered for Wyatt. “I’ll let Miles stay. He can watch over Sam. Not to mention the entire hospital staff,” he added, wryly.