His last words had been “no regrets.” Had he known then he’d be gone in the morning? Lena went downstairs, her heart heavy. They should have spent the night together. That way she’d have been able to keep him from leaving. Or at least known why he left. She’d thought they had time and last night had tried to slow things. Kalani might’ve misinterpreted her suggestion to sleep apart as disinterest.
Maybe there was more to him than she’d guessed. A dark side she couldn’t imagine. Maybe Kalani had decided that being with a woman who drank alcohol was risky even though she’d told him she rarely drank.
When Jake went next door to see the wet mess at Jim and Marley’s, Pepper and Lena loaded the dishwasher and tidied the kitchen. “You seem sad,” Pepper remarked. “Did you and Kalani have a falling out or something?”
Lena could only shrug. “Everything was going so well. I’m surprised he left.”
“Me too.” Pepper looked as mystified as Lena felt. “You guys left the party last night. Where did you go?”
Lena didn’t want to admit she’d given herself to him. “We talked for hours at that grassy stretch above Ironwoods.”
Pepper wanted more information.
“He’s a good kisser.” Lena’s heart felt like it was headed for her feet. “I didn’t realize he was going to leave today.”
Her friend looked sympathetic. “Will you see him on the Big Island?”
“I’m not sure. If he left without a word, that kind of says it all, doesn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Pepper said.
All that day, Lena waited for a phone call, something that would tell her Kalani had considered her feelings when he left. She and Pepper spent the day swimming and talking about the party. Olaf kept looking for Latte, but she was gone too. The caterers had left the appetizers and finger food, so lunch consisted of tiny crab cakes, spicy chicken on a stick, puff pastry with cheese, baked brie with candied walnuts and little fruit tartlets. Pepper joked they needed to do laps in the pool to work off the calories.
The three friends were eating lunch around the deck table, talking about the party, the people, and how much everyone drank, when Jake remembered something.
“Kalani said to tell you ladies thanks for everything. He’ll be in touch.” Jake’s eyes went squinty. “It was early, and I was hungover, but I think he said that last part for Lena. He might have said, tell her I’ll be in touch.”
Lena stared at Jake who was pouring them all another glass of wine. She covered her glass with her hand. “No thanks,” she said. “Do you think he left because he couldn’t handle being around drinkers at Christmas?”
Jake took a sip. “He left because his neighbors all celebrate Christmas together. They take turns hosting and this year was the family with the little kids that consider Kalani an uncle. He had to get back so the keikis wouldn’t be disappointed.” Jake took a big gulp of wine and popped a shrimp into his mouth. “Apparently, the kids left him a message last night about seeing him for Christmas and that made him feel terrible about being here.” Jake said this so flippantly, not realizing that this new information was crucial to Lena’s state of mind.
Kalani probably wasn’t running from the intimacy they’d shared. But why wouldn’t he wake her to explain? Or at least call? Hearing that he went back to Pahoa to not disappoint children, was better than simply avoiding her.
Lena’s Skype call to the children that night was scheduled for eight, but because she didn’t want another problem with the girls being too tired, or otherwise occupied, she’d arranged to call earlier. It was Christmas Eve and she needed to talk to her daughters, not only for their sake but because she’d been fighting off feelings of being rejected by Kalani all day. She needed to connect with her children to remind her what was most important in her life.
* * * * *
At sunset, she set up her laptop on the deck table, so Tammy could see the gorgeous house in the background. If Kalani wasn’t going to make an appearance, Lena at least wanted to show Jake’s magnificent house.
The girls were in front of the screen when the call came through and the sight of their smiling faces warmed Lena’s heart to erase the heaviness she’d been feeling.
“Oh, my sweeties. You look all happy and excited about something,” she teased. “Hmmm. Let’s see. Could it be…”
“Christmas!” both girls cheered.
Lena laughed until Tammy sat down on the couch between the girls and pushed the laptop farther back. “We’ve been having so much fun, haven’t we girls?”
Charlotte started to list all the wonderful things they’d been doing until Tammy interrupted. “And we saw Mommy’s boyfriend in town today.” Tammy made air quotes around the word boyfriend. “He was with a beautiful woman, looking so happy.” Tammy wore the T-snarl. “We thought his friend was very pretty.”
“That was his cousin,” Lena lied.
“She wasn’t his cousin,” Tammy laughed. “Believe me. The girls wanted to meet him, but I said it might be embarrassing for everyone, especially Kalani.”
What had they seen? She couldn’t let Tammy’s bombshell ruin the call with her daughters.
But, ten minutes later, when Lena blew kisses to her daughters and wished them the best Christmas ever, she had a feeling that her Christmas had just been ruined by Tammy. Even if Kalani wasn’t with a beautiful woman, Tammy had seen him and knew that he was not spending Christmas with Lena. That alone felt like a victory for Tammy.
Especially when Tammy had said, “Sorry you aren’t spending Christmas with your wonderful boyfriend, Lena.”
Being pulled into this competition did not sit well with Lena. Why was Kalani in Kona and not in Pahoa with his neighbors? And with a pretty woman? Hadn’t he alluded to not having had a girlfriend in a long time? Could it be that Kalani had a girlfriend and went back to Kona for her? These thoughts made Lena feel ill as she traipsed out to the pool to where Pepper and Jake were having an after-dinner aperitif. The Christmas eve plan was to go to the Ritz to listen to Pepper sing, a wonderful distraction even though the plan originally included Kalani. Now, it would be she and Jake at a table for two on Christmas Eve, listening to Jake’s girlfriend sing. Lena planned to have several glasses of wine.
Christmas morning dawned, and Lena slipped from bed telling herself she had much to be thankful for, including a day with Pepper and Jake. There was no room for a pity party or to think about Kalani. Preparing a feast would occupy most of the morning and Lena had that to look forward to.
With coffee made and cinnamon rolls in the oven, Lena joined Jake and Pepper by the Christmas tree to see Kalani’s presents still there. “Merry Christmas,” she said, wondering if Kalani’s gifts were returnable. “Shall we open presents?” Lena asked.
“Shouldn’t we wait?” Pepper looked at Jake who nodded like everyone knew what they were waiting for.
“What for?” Lena had given Olaf a squeaky toy and he now tore around the room, squeaking.
Just then, Latte bounded down the stairs and headed for Olaf. Lena’s thoughts hadn’t caught up with what she was seeing before Kalani followed his dog down the stairs, whistling a Christmas song.
“Did anyone notice I was gone yet?” he asked happily.
Lena froze. Kalani was back, smiling like he hadn’t run out on her right after they’d made love. Wearing jeans, a Pink Floyd T-shirt, and bare feet, Kalani looked good enough to cover in kisses.
“Coffee’s on,” Jake said cheerfully, like he knew Kalani would be waltzing in the room at eight o’clock. “Get yourself a cup and then we have presents to open.”
Kalani walked straight to Lena, knelt in front of her, took her hands in his and spoke. “Did you miss me?”
She was speechless.
“I had to do Christmas dinner last night with my neighbors. Little children would have been disappointed.” His smile begged for forgiveness.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” she whispered. “Or leave a note?”
> Kalani looked behind to Jake who was making circles on Pepper’s thigh with his thumb. “You didn’t tell her I was coming back last night?”
“I did say something like that. I think. Didn’t I?” He checked with Pepper who shook her head.
“You most certainly did not. You didn’t even tell me, Jake,” Pepper said, looking angrier than anyone should feel on Christmas morning.
Jake looked confused like the part of the message he hadn’t related wasn’t important. “I thought it would be a nice surprise, OK?”
Pepper stood, motioned to Jake and he followed her to the kitchen.
Kalani turned to Lena, his brow furrowed, his eyes searching. “I asked Jake to tell you specifically that I’d return after dinner last night. I planned to be gone only twelve hours.”
Lena looked at Latte, then Kalani. “You came in last night?”
He nodded. “I ate Christmas Eve dinner at three and took the last flight out of Kona last night. Your bedroom door was shut when I got here, so I didn’t want to bother you.”
“I went to sleep early, after my call with the girls.” After the disappointment of Tammy seeing you in Kona.
“I didn’t want to interrupt your snoring.” He tried to joke.
Lena wasn’t smiling. “I worried that you’d had a change of heart. Or thought I rejected you because I wanted to sleep alone. I just thought we had time to go slow, that’s all.” She searched his face and saw sorrow. “Tammy saw you in town with a woman yesterday and held that over me. I didn’t know what to think.”
Kalani rubbed his stubbled face and sat down on the couch beside Lena. “I was with Jilly, my neighbor. I wanted to get gifts for her kids and she helped me pick out toys before we all headed back to Pahoa.” He looked at Lena sideways. “Did Tammy try to say I was with another woman? Tammy knows Jilly and Frank.”
“She inferred that you were being cozy with a pretty lady in Kona.”
“Jilly is five months pregnant. I’m sure Tammy knows that. I don’t have another girlfriend, Lena. Honest.”
“I tried to believe Tammy was just talking smack.” She let out the breath she’d been holding all day. “You’re calling me your girlfriend. That’s good news.”
Now Kalani looked mad. “If I was a vindictive person, I’d be planning something mean to do to Tammy right now.”
“I’ve thought of that, but I believe in Karma, so I just let it go.” A sneaky smile escaped Lena’s lips. “I happen to think having you as my boyfriend is enough to ruin Tammy’s Christmas anyhow.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry if you wondered what the hell happened to me.” His look was soft. “Did you worry I’d skipped out because I couldn’t handle getting close to you?”
She shrugged.
“I need your cell phone number, Baby.” He checked to see they were alone, leaned over and kissed her deeply. “That’s my apology for what you went through yesterday.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her longer, with passion. When they pulled apart they grinned at each other like lovestruck teens. “And that’s to say Merry Christmas. And give you a taste of what’s to come later.”
Latte and Olaf ran out to the patio, both pulling on the toy.
“Why did you take Latte with you?”
“Because the kids on the street love Latte more than they love me. If I’d shown up without her, my name would’ve been mud.” He grinned like a pirate. “I haven’t had a moment not thinking about you since you walked to the hot tub in that bathing suit. I fell hard for you, that night.”
This news made her heart sing with happiness. “I’m falling too.”
Kalani kissed her again. “We are not sleeping in separate bedrooms tonight, just so you know. Snoring or waking up with someone beside me, doesn’t scare me.”
Lena agreed. “I have a window of opportunity while the turkey cooks,” she laughed.
“Let’s get that turkey in the oven,” he teased.
Christmas day was going to turn out deliciously, after all. In more ways than one.
Chapter 8
KALANI
Kalani’s phone buzzed while he was standing beside Lena in the kitchen, peeling apples for pie. Seeing his father’s number, he left the room, not wanting to subject Lena to what might be said on his end.
“Hi Dad.” His voice felt unsure, small, and Kalani knew that his father would notice.
“Merry Christmas, Kalani. Are you back on the Big Island?”
“No, I’m here in Kapalua at my partner’s house.” Their words hung between them tentatively.
Matthew Shipton cleared his throat. “That’s good, Son. I believe I’ve made a mistake.”
Kalani wasn’t sure what his dad was talking about unless it was not letting Kalani into the house the other day.
“I got a phone call from Norma Duff today.”
“What did she have to say?” Norma was the woman who’d hit Kalani’s motorcycle in an intersection, two years earlier, then slammed into a small tree.
“It was an interesting conversation,” his father said.
Kalani held his breath.
“She heard that you and I don’t speak, and wanted to set the record straight about the accident. She admitted to running the stop sign and to hitting your motorcycle. You had the right of way.”
That was true. Kalani took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “She has children.”
“And you knew I would intervene on your behalf.” It wasn’t a question.
“I hoped.” His voiced dropped. “I had to take the blame Dad. She had so much more to lose than I did. That was before I knew I’d lose you.”
“I want you to join us for Christmas dinner tonight,” his father said.
Kalani wanted to but he couldn’t just run out on his friends. Or Lena. “I’m helping make dinner here. I’m with friends and we’re making turkey and stuffing. I’m in charge of the pies and my girlfriend is teaching me how to roll pastry.”
His father chuckled. “That so?”
“I want to have dinner with you Dad, but it would be horribly disappointing for everyone here if I changed plans.”
“I see.”
“Thank you for the gesture.” Would this be the deciding factor on whether he’d ever speak with his father again? He had to keep the conversation going. “I wish I was two people and one of me could join you.”
“I understand. You’ve always been an honorable person, Kalani. I just wanted us to have a long talk, Son. I owe you so much, I now realize. I heard you’re sober now.” His father’s words sounded rehearsed.
“Two years in June.”
“Your brother and everyone will be here for brunch tomorrow if you and your girlfriend want to join us. Maybe we could slip away, walk the property.” His father sounded choked up.
“I’d love to.” Kalani’s eyes filled with tears. Walking the hundred-acre property had always been his father’s way of spending quality alone time with each of his children. A stolen moment with their father. Something inside Kalani let go, like he’d been holding a secret inside for a long time. “I can bring a pie. I’m peeling the apples right now.”
His father chuckled. “A pie would be nice, Son.”
LENA
Christmas dinner was almost ready. The mashed potatoes were in a warming oven, green beans beside them, cranberry sauce jelling in the fridge and the turkey had only thirty more minutes. Lena had set the dining room table with a red cloth and put a string of decorative evergreen down the center with red candles. Jake’s house had gold charger plates and a collection of red tartan napkins that she’d used.
Earlier, while the men went diving off the point, Lena made napkin rings from wire, ribbon and mistletoe while Pepper made another flower arrangement, this time using holly and red ginger stalks.
Everyone was just waiting for the turkey. Kalani had suggested they not sneak away to a bedroom but save themselves for later and Lena had to agree. Tonight’s love making would be slow and sensual, not a qui
ckie while dinner cooked.
Kalani wore his new T-shirt that Lena had chosen for him and Lena was dressed in her most comfortable outfit—shorts and a shirt that said, “Espresso Yourself.” Pepper had on a dress of rhinestones and Jake wore a button-down shirt and tie. They looked like two couples going to entirely different Christmas dinner parties, Kalani laughed.
While the turkey soaked up the last little bit of heat, Lena brought her laptop to the living room for a call with the children. Kalani planned to guest star, especially if Tammy appeared, and seated himself beside Lena on the couch.
When two little faces appeared on the screen, the girls’ excitement was the last ingredient to Lena’s perfect day.
“Merry Christmas, Charley Bear and Audrey Boo,” Lena said happily.
Audrey squirmed in her chair, fiddling with her short hair. “Mommy!”
“Mommy,” Charlotte said. “No offense but next year, I want Christmas with you.”
Lena’s heart hurt to think they might not be having a great time, and she had to remember her girls were safe and probably happier than they looked.
“Did Santa visit you last night?” Lena asked.
In listening to the girls talk about their new toys, Lena realized that Tammy hadn’t blown the truth about Santa. But, she’d had her way in not giving Charlotte and Audrey the Santa toys they’d specifically asked for. The ones she’d left in Tammy’s garage.
“We didn’t get the Kippy Kitchen Set or anything from Jo Jo’s Big Party,” Charlotte said, disappointedly.
“Remember when we saw Santa at the Marketplace? I told Santa about our New Year’s Day second Christmas and I think he might be saving toys for that day.” Lena nodded like this might be the best thing ever. “I might have told him to wait.” She hoped Tammy hadn’t run over those presents too.
Audrey clapped. “Two Christmases is going to be fun!”
“Hi Kalani,” Audrey said, looking all mooney-eyed.
“Mele Kalikimaka, keikis. Sounds like you’ve had a fun day.” Kalani’s smile was enough to make Lena’s heart flutter.
Romancing the Holidays: Twelve Christmas Romances - Benefits Breast Cancer Research Page 51