Page 96 of Hula Girl

“Take me back to why you pursued the law,” he said.

Ah, so it was going to be that kind of conversation. I knew this lovely state of denial I was living in would have to come to an end at some point. On a deep breath, I realized what it meant to have him initiate this talk, though. It meant he was going to be right there by my side, being my partner and support system as I sorted it out. As I released my breath, I turned onto my side and rested my head on my hand. I was right to have taken that big leap of faith at Heart Rock, the one where I’d trusted that he would care formyheart. He started doing that almost as soon as we met, and he hasn’t stopped since.

“It was twofold,” I said. “I wanted to have a career that guaranteed financial security, and to also feel like I was having a direct impact on the lives of those who really needed help.”

“You got the first part. How often did you get to do the second?” He laced his sandy fingers through mine.

“Not often enough. I mean, the rare pro bono case was the most satisfying, of course.”

“What if you negotiate with Manny to take the lead on those cases for him? That way the firm still gets the goodwill that comes with those cases, but he doesn’t have to deal with it. And then you can also have the time to study for the Hawai‘i bar exam. You know, just to have the option here.”

“Why would Manny do that? Keep me on for just those cases?”

“Because he still needs you. You’re still his conduit to Randall. He may have stepped down, but there’s a lot that he still needs to be involved in. He’s too big of a force to make a clean break.”

“That’s true.” The more thought I gave it, the more I liked it. I also knew that Randall would back me up. I’d called him a few days after I got here to let him know that I was away but that he could reach me whenever he needed to. When he heard that I had taken a leave of absence, he was delighted that my version of managing the reality of my weakened position at the firm was to withdraw for a time. He chuckled and said that Manny was probably scrambling to cover all the things I had managed to do in the long hours I had put in on a regular basis. And then he told me he’d make sure Manny didn’t push me to return too early, that I should enjoy my time with Ford. “I could plan my trips to LA for when you go, too,” I said, warming to the idea.

“Perfect. We’ll have a place here and a place there.”

I smiled. “About that … your place here, well, no offense, but I need a little upgrade.”

He laughed. “Come on, I know it’s not much, but it’s on the sand. How can you upgrade that?”

“Well, I was looking into the legality of that real estate.”

He winced. “I told you it’s not really legit.”

“Turns out that’s not exactly true.”

“No?”

“I mean, it’s definitely not up to code and wouldn’t pass inspections for habitation, that’s for sure. But it is zoned under some odd exception that’s hard to understand. The point is, if your mom’s boyfriend will sell it to us, we can renovate, and we won’t have to live like outlaws.”

He laughed. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope,” I said with a smile.

Leaning forward, he kissed me and I felt the familiar heat in the connection of our lips. This man had done more than make me fall dizzyingly in love with him. He had taught me to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life, including, to my everlasting pleasure, the sensual kisses he gave me every chance he could.

* * *

It’s been almostsix months now and the renovations are done. This timeline is exceptional given Maui’s famed “island time” which can see projects drag on and on. Pika and Hiro did a lot to help, dedicating themselves to a rigorous schedule motivated by promises of me cooking them Mexican food at the end of each week. What we have now is a 950 square foot place that is more cottage than shack. The outside is painted turquoise, we’ve added a screened-in front porch, created a separate bedroom, living room, and kitchen, and upgraded the bathroom to include an indoor shower. We’ve kept the outdoor shower on the side of the house as an easy way to rinse off the saltwater. Inside, it’s clean and simple, but with touches that reflect who we are, including artwork from both Hawaiian and Mexican cultures.

Once the last of the workers leaves, we look at each other in wonder. Then Ford takes my hand as we stand with our backs to the ocean and stare at the cottage in front of us. It’s a home. Arealhome unlike any I’ve had in my adult life. There’s nothing generic about it.

As I’m thinking about how far I’ve come in less than a year, I’m suddenly lifted off my feet as Ford picks me up.

“What are you doing?” I say with a laugh.

“We have to make it official,” he replies.

“Make what official? Us living together?”

He’s always carried me with such ease that I never worry that he might let me slip. It turned out that when he told me “I got you” that first night we were together and he helped me down the rocky inlet, he didn’t just mean at that moment. He’s had me ever since then.

Climbing the three steps up to our porch, he deftly swings open the screen door and carries me through. Next, he takes me over the threshold of our house before gently lowering me to my feet just as he drops to one knee at the same time.

“Ava,” he says, and I watch him, paralyzed and wide-eyed. “I don’t have the ring for this because you haven’t taken it off since I first gave it to you.”

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