“Great, I’m anxious to see that piece finished. I have one more cabinet to clear out and clean up, then my part in the kitchen is complete. I mentioned to Chris this morning that I was getting all new appliances, and he said he would buy the refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. I told him he could have them with my blessings for taking them out. Josie chimed in and said she would take the microwave.”
“Wonderful,” said Fiona, “that will save hiring someone for removal and disposal.”
“I told Chris and Josie they could take them anytime they wanted, but the replacements wouldn’t be here for a while. They decided to take the stove and dishwasher this weekend but leave the rest until closer to a delivery date for the new appliances. We all use the fridge and microwave.”
“Everything in the kitchen seems to be falling into place quite nicely,” said Fiona, looking out the kitchen window. “Here comes our glass man. I’ll flag him so he doesn’t waste time being lost.” Fiona went out on the back lanai and waved.
Once inside, Fiona made the introductions and directed him to the dining room where the table sat. “My, this is beautiful. You wouldn’t want to sell it, would you?”
“No, this stays with the house,” said Layla. “Can you make a glass top that will fit into the grooves?”
“Should be an easy job. Let me get the exact measurements.” He got out his tape measure and began measuring. Shortly, he gave Fiona an estimate that she approved, then she asked how long it would take to complete. He told her he had several projects for the Visitors Center but could have this completed and ready to install by next Tuesday. They all agreed that would do, and he left to go to the Visitors Center.
“That was easy,” said Layla.
“He’s very agreeable, easy to work with, and I find his prices quite reasonable,” said Fiona. “All set for tomorrow?”
“I guess so. I’ll leave here early and fix dinner, take a long soak, and relax some. I’m looking forward to a day of pampering and shopping. If you and Ned are available, come back in an hour or so and check out the final display of stuff.”
“We will and won’t it be good to have everything cleaned out?”
“It will, but then, I’ll have to fill the shelves with my own dishes, glasses, pot, and pans. I’m not looking forward to shopping for all that on top of linens and towels.”
“We’ll get Annie and make a day of it. Between the three of us, we’ll be able to get quite a bit accomplished and have fun doing it too.”
“Terrific, we’ll plan that in the near future.”
“I’m going. Ned and I will see you in a couple of hours.”
The drive to the Grand Wailea took about forty-five minutes by the time they parked and went inside. They went directly to the spa to wait for their first appointment. Layla made arrangements at the front desk to pay for everything, adding a nice tip for each procedure. They were directed to changing rooms where they disrobed and went into individual waxing rooms.
Less than thirty minutes later, Layla joined Fiona in the spa lounge for a cup of herbal tea. Layla said, “I do not consider this a lounge, I consider this a recovery room. I’m so sore from that bikini wax, I think this weekend maybe a disaster before it even begins. There were certain areas I told her not to touch with wax. I have my zipper, where I had my cesarean section, and that’s still tender. She was very cautious, but farther down, yikes. It had been years since I had a bikini wax, and that area was quite tender.”
“Don’t worry, dear, you’ll recover fine before you put that area to use,” Fiona said in a casual manner.
Layla shook her head and smiled. “Fiona, have you heard of a Brazilian V wax? I hadn’t, and when the attendant told me what it was, I couldn’t believe someone would have such a painful procedure. She could tell by the look on my face I didn’t want that type of a wax job.”
“It’s called a Brazilian V because those gorgeous Brazilian women with great bodies roam the beach with tiny bits of material they call a bikini. The ones with the string that goes up the crack, hence the Brazilian V. I wouldn’t want one of those wax jobs if I were dead.”
Layla had no idea what that last statement meant and simply said, “My gosh.”
An attendant came out and directed the ladies to their facial appointment.
Afterward, they met again in the lounge, their faces feeling marvelous, Fiona saying, “Like a new baby’s butt.”
“Fiona, being around you is such fun. None of my New York friends ever come up with such fun sayings.”
Next, they had hot rock massages done outside where they could hear the sound of the waves and smell the freshness of the ocean. Following that, they each had a manicure and pedicure, then lunch.
“I need a couple of cups of strong coffee because right now, I’m so mellow I would prefer a nice nap instead of food,” said Layla.
“Glad you said that. I thought I was just getting old. I guess we got overrelaxed, but it probably does one good once in a while. Of course, not too often or we wouldn’t get anything done. Let’s start with a mimosa, then lunch, and finish off with coffee and dessert. Then we hit the shops!”
They visited the shops at the Grand Wailea, then the upscale shops in Wailea. Layla was pleased that she found everything she had hope to find and more. She bought a pair of bronze wedge sandals for both of them that were expensive but simply too fabulous to pass up. It was her gift to Fiona for helping with her pre-Dewey beautification. On the way back to Paia, Layla asked Fiona if she would mind turning the car’s air-conditioning on, even though a nice breeze blew through the windows. Fiona closed the windows and turned on the air conditioner. Once cold air was blowing out, Layla directed all her vents to a downward angle, scooted down in her seat, and lifted her skirt, exposing her newly waxed bikini area to the cold air.
Fiona looked over and started laughing so hard she had to wipe away the tears. “Layla, that’s so funny but clever. Trust me, it will cool down overnight, and you’ll be fine by Friday.”
Fiona pulled into Mr. Soo’s driveway and helped Layla take her packages inside. They hugged, and Layla thanked her for all her help; Fiona thanked Layla for treating her to a spa day and for the new sandals. Layla told her Mr. Soo was taking them out to dinner tonight, then she was going home to bed; she was pooped.
When Fiona got home, she called out, “Ned, let’s have Annie and George over for cocktails and dinner. I’ll nuke some of my spaghetti sauce, boil pasta, and make a green salad. You handle drinks.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“I’ve got a funny story to tell, and I might as well tell it once instead of me telling you and Annie and then Annie telling George. Is that OK with you?” Fiona asked, already getting salad fixings out of the refrigerator.
“Great, I’ll phone them right now.”
George and Annie said they would love to come to dinner and would be over in about fifteen minutes. Fiona got her salad ready, prepared garlic bread for the oven, and was heating her sauce when George and Annie arrived.
“Set at the counter and have cocktails while I work on dinner. I’ve got to share with you the funny moment of the day.” Fiona went ahead and told them about the spa day, then tore into the living room to retrieve her sandals that wowed everyone. Then she said, “Here’s what I really want to tell you. This is so funny.” She told them about the air-conditioning adventure.
Fiona began laughing and tearing up; George tickled at the story, but even more affected by Fiona’s laughter, he began laughing so hard he gulped to catch his breath. Annie and Ned sat stunned.
Fiona looked over at them, saying, “You two, if I had told you separately, you know you would be laughing, but because I’m telling this in mixed company, you’re holding back.”
Ned and Annie looked at each other; they broke out in wide grins, then laughed.
CHAPTER 51
“
Dewey, sit down and eat breakfast. Your plane doesn’t leave until tomorrow, and you’re running around like a kid at Christmas,” said Agnes sternly.
“Agnes, I just want to get to Maui and see Layla. You know, I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“Well, I imagined you might, and you know she’ll say yes, so why are you such a mess?”
“I just want it decided, I want it finalized. There are so many things that can go wrong. Maybe she won’t want to leave Maui and George and Annie and Mr. Soo. Now she’s gotten real friendly with Fiona Keller. Maybe she won’t want to come here to Salt Lake City ’cause it’s a far cry from the balmy weather of Hawaii. Maybe she’s just lonely for male companionship, maybe she doesn’t really feel for me like I feel for her. You know, Agnes, I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.”
“Yes, dear, so you’ve told us numerous times. Here’s an egg-and-cheese omelet, toast, and coffee. Sit, eat, and quit whining.”
“Yes, Agnes,” Dewey said, smiling weakly at her.
Layla was standing outside on Mr. Soo’s front lanai, enjoying her morning coffee, and spotted Annie leaving her house on her morning run. Layla walked down the steps to the street and asked Annie if she had a minute.
“I’ve finished cleaning the kitchen and have the last of the items on the counter if you and George want to go over sometime today and look through them. I’ll have Chris box everything up tomorrow. I also wanted to tell you that he and some of his friends are taking the stove and dishwasher over the weekend. I’m glad they could use them. It saves me having to hire someone to remove and dispose of them.”
“George and I will go over sometime today. How did things go yesterday?” Annie asked, not letting on she had heard everything from Fiona last night.
“The shopping was terrific. The spa experience was very relaxing, except for the waxing. That was painful. All is healing nicely. The redness and swelling has gone down, thank goodness. I was afraid my romantic getaway was going to be over before it began.”
“I’m certainly glad everything is getting back to normal, and that it turned out to be such an otherwise great day. I can’t wait to see your new haircut.”
“I’m hesitant to have someone named Choo Choo Bacca cut my hair. She sounds like a stripper,” Layla said with a concerned look.
“Choo Choo is excellent. My daughter and daughter-in-law took me to Oahu for Mother’s Day one year for a haircut by Choo Choo. It took them three months to get an appointment with her, and it was the best haircut I ever had. It cost $250! The next day I went to my local lady and showed her what Choo Choo had done, and she was able to emulate the cut for a number of years until I decided to let my hair grow longer.”
“Well, I guess I’ll trust her. You know I want to look good for Dewey. It’s been too long since I’ve seen him, and I still had my New York style. Now I’ve gone native.”
“Honey, you could probably shave your head and Dewey wouldn’t care. That man is in love with you.”
“I know, but he deserves someone that looks their best.”
“I’ve got to get back to my jogging. I’ll see you later.”
“Hi, Chris, Josie,” Layla said, announcing herself.
“Good morning. How was your spa day?” asked Josie.
“It was great, very relaxing. Now all I need is some shape to this hair, and I’ll look a bit more feminine. I wanted to let you and Chris know that after George and Annie come over today and look at the items on the counter, they are ready to box up for Chris’s mother-in-law. Speaking of Chris, where is he?”
“He’s over at Fiona’s. She is going with him to rent a sander. She can get him a discount price on a rental.”
“Josie, I don’t like you being here alone. He should have waited until I got here before he left.”
“I’m fine. I know everyone is still being careful, but I think it was some dopers, just random madness.”
“I hope you’re right.”
As Layla and Fiona were in the car driving to Choo Choo’s, Layla told Fiona she had found Josie alone while Chris was at her house. Layla said the sheriff felt the murders were not random but committed by someone local.
“Funny you say that, Ned always felt the same way. I find it hard to believe some local could have any animosity for that lovely couple. They were kind to everyone and extended credit to anyone, especially the kids. From the bottom of my heart, I hope the sheriff is wrong. We’re here,” said Fiona, driving into Choo Choo’s driveway.
Two hours, three cups of coffee, and way too many delicious homemade cookies later, Fiona and Layla were on their way back. Layla’s hair was a soft fluffy cap of sun-bleached blond hair, making her look younger than her age. Layla said she felt cute and sexy at the same time. Fiona assured her Dewey would love the way her haircut had turned out.
When they returned, Annie and George were on the back lanai. Annie yelled as Layla got out of the car, “Come on over, ladies! We’ve got to see how this turned out.”
When Layla got to the top of the stairs, both George and Annie uttered “Wow” in unison.
“Dewey will adore the way you look,” George said.
“Perfect for your face, and the color your hair has bleached out to adds to the effect. Choo Choo has done her magic!” exclaimed Annie.
“Any man would be thrilled to have her meeting his plane. By the time she has on one of the outfits we purchased yesterday and a bit of makeup, she’ll knock Dewey over at first sight.”
“Hi, everyone,” said Ned, ascending the stairs. “Layla, that’s a terrific haircut. It’s just adorable.”
“Thanks, Ned. I guess I have everyone’s approval. Oops, I forgot Mr. Soo. I hope he likes it.”
“I imagine he’s like Dewey. You could be bald and he would say it’s lovely,” said Annie, creating laughter from everyone.
Annie and George invited everyone for a beer, and they all stayed except Layla. She had things to attend to and went on home. She wanted to fix Mr. Soo his favorite meal tonight since she wouldn’t be there to make sure he ate a good dinner for several evenings. George said they would invite him over for a barbecue one night.
Fiona and Ned had finished breakfast; Ned sat at the kitchen counter with his second cup of coffee doing the morning crossword. Fiona walked into the kitchen and poured herself another coffee.
“Fiona, why are you dressed so early? Are you going out?”
“Well, I thought I would just pop over to Layla’s to make sure she has everything for the weekend and put herself together just right.”
“Honey, Layla will be fine. Are you sure you just don’t want to know if all is working?”
“No, I checked on that yesterday. She’s fine in that regard.”
“I believe your motherly side is showing. Maybe you see Layla as the daughter we never had. Layla looks to both you and Annie as mother figures. I remember you told me her parental background, and God only knows she could use some good mothering. Go, my love, check on Layla.”
“I hate it when you analyze me so perfectly. Am I that transparent?”
“Yes, dear, and I find your concern adorable.”
Fiona kissed Ned tenderly on his cheek. “I love you,” she said softly into his ear.
Layla was looking at herself in the mirror, amazed at how different she appeared from yesterday. She smiled, pleased at the transformation. She put pink blush on her cheeks, applied mascara, and was ready to put on lipstick when the doorbell rang.
“Damn!” she said out loud. She threw her robe on and went to the door, surprised to see Fiona standing there, “Fiona, did something happen?”
“No, everything is fine. Honestly, I just came over to be sure you put everything together properly and had everything packed. Ned said you awakened my mothering instinct, and as usual, he’s correct.”
“Come back to my room and se
e what you think of the outfit I’ve chosen to wear.”
Laid out on the bed was a short, strapless, tropical hibiscus print sundress with a soft coral background along with her bronze sandals.
“Perfect, have you got the right undergarments on?”
Layla opened her robe to show off a very sexy strapless bra and matching bikini panties.
“Excellent.”
“So how’s the makeup and did I fluff my hair enough?”
Fiona scanned Layla’s face. “Except for lipstick, coral, I presume, you’ve done a great job. How about earrings?”
“I forgot. Good thing you’re checking on me. I’m wearing diamond studs,” Layla said, reaching to a drawer and pulling out a box holding large diamond stud earrings.
“Amazing, my dear,” Fiona said, going over to Layla and hugging her gently. “Tell Dewey I said hello. Of course, he probably doesn’t even remember me, but I feel like I know him through you.”
“Thank you, Fiona, for caring, and Dewey knows who you are. He says you are indomitable. I’m going to tell him different. You are a lovely, sweet lady.”
After Fiona left, Layla did a final check to make sure she had packed everything and that all was locked up. She went to her car, stowed her luggage, and went to claim her Dewey.
CHAPTER 52
Layla arrived at the private airfield thirty minutes early; she didn’t want Dewey’s plane to land and for him to not find her waiting. Driving onto the tarmac as far as vehicles were permitted, she checked her makeup and hair in the car’s vanity mirror. She tried getting out of the car, but it was too windy and sat back inside to wait. Making herself a nervous wreck, she turned on the radio to try and relax.
A jet the size of Dewey’s smaller one landed and taxied toward the hangars, but it was too far to make out any insignia. As Layla watched, the plane turned off toward one of the other private hangars. She slumped down in the car seat and continued to wait.
“Dewey, we’ll have to start circling if you don’t sit down and fasten your seat belt,” the captain said from the cockpit.
Maui Murders Page 32