Page 97 of Hula Girl

I laugh and looked down at my left hand. The ring he had given me for our faux engagement sparkles. It somehow hadn’t seemed right to take it off. We never talked about what we meant to each other or how we should define us. We just existed, happy and focused on making our lives together.

“But,” he continues, “I know that you deserve a real declaration from me about what I want from you and for us.” He takes my hand and kisses it sweetly as I inhale a measured breath, trying to absorb everything about this moment. “Who would have believed I found my soulmate all because of a chicken?”

I laugh and use my free hand to stroke his cheek.

“I have the feeling that every once in a while, the universe does something right. It worked for your mom and dad. And it’s worked for us. Because, Ava, there is no other woman in the world who can do what you do for me. You have helped me complete this journey I’ve been on to find my sense of self, my sense of peace, again. You are truly my happiness, my love, and the one I hope to have hot sex with for the rest of our lives.”

“Ford,” I whisper with a smile.

“Honey, you should know that I really liked it so I put a ring on it. Will you marry me?”

I gasp. “Youdolike Beyoncé!”

“Who doesn’t?” he says with a laugh. “Answer me, though. Will you marry me?”

There’s no hesitation now as I tell him, “Yes, I’ll marry you, babe.”

He smiles widely and mimes putting the ring on my finger before I pull him to his feet and throw my arms around his neck so I can kiss him all over his gorgeous face. And then I jump up and on him and wrap my legs around his waist.

“Time to break this house in,” he murmurs between kisses. “Where do you want to start?”

I pull away enough to look into his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. Because as long as I’m with you, I’m right where I want to be.”

That gets a smile out of him. “I love you, Ava.”

“I love you, Ford.”

Epilogue

Ava

“It’s not too late, you know? You don’t have to do this.”

I look around at the view as the wind whips loose tendrils of my hair against my face. It’s early morning, just past eight. The full heat and humidity of the day is still an hour or more away. Still, the sun shines down, warming my bare shoulders. There are only a few big puffy white clouds in the otherwise blue sky. Just beyond the red-dirt road and down the cliffside is the blue-green water of Honolua Bay. There aren’t any surfers out there, even though it’s late February and still big wave season. Instead, they’re seated in the backs of the trucks they have strategically parked to create an aisle.

“I mean it, Hula Princess. Say the word, and I’ll take you out of here.”

I smile, giving the gorgeous surroundings one more look before focusing on Eli. He’s here along with the other kids from Ford’s music class, and they’re all wearing matching outfits of aqua and white Aloha shirt with khaki shorts.

“Thanks, Eli,” I tell him. “But don’t you have a job to do?”

He takes a deep breath and puffs out his cheeks as he glances toward the spot where his fellow musicians are setting up.

“Forty-five degrees,” I remind him, pulling his hands out in front of him as a reminder of where he should hold his clarinet.

Although his playing has improved quite a bit since I first saw him perform, he still gets anxious when in front of a crowd.

Not that this is much of a crowd. It’s purposely a small affair. Turns out Bryce was right about one thing. I’m not interested in a flashy ceremony. What we have planned here is perfect. It’s all about Ford and me being surrounded by the beauty of Maui, and supported by the people we love. In a few minutes, I’ll walk down this makeshift aisle with my mom. I’ll walk toward the ocean, meeting Ford at the arch that Pika and Hiro handcrafted out of driftwood and we’ve had covered with a mixture of hibiscus and plumeria flowers.

I’m wearing a white dress that has spaghetti straps, a fitted bodice and a flowing chiffon skirt that moves nicely in the breeze and exposes my right thigh at the slit there. I chose it with that in mind, knowing the peek at my leg would make Ford happy.

I smile thinking of his perfect proposal. It was simple but so suited to us. Just like this ceremony. Although, the part about this not exactly being a legal venue for a wedding isn’t really me. But I’m learning to roll with things. Our service will be brief. Afterward, Pika and Hiro will load the arch into one of their trucks and take it to Melissa’s house. She has a large backyard and is hosting a luau for our reception. The Kalua pua’a—roasted pig—has been in the ground since yesterday. Loads of people from the community have been invited to join in the celebration, and I’m almost as excited to experience it as I am to get married.

“Mija,” Mama says as she joins me, “you are the most beautiful bride.” Reaching out, she smooths a stray strand of hair behind my ear, just like she’s done for me since I was a little girl.

My eyes tear up. I’m so glad to have her here. She’s visited twice before this and each time she’s here, I try to convince her to move. But she’s content to give Ford and me the space to focus on building our lives together. Although all that could change, she still none too subtly hints, if a grandchild comes into the picture.

Kids are definitely in the near future. I’ve got a few things I want to accomplish first, though. I’ll be taking the Hawai‘i bar exam in a few weeks. I’ve decided to try my hand at having my own small practice here in addition to returning to California on a regular basis for the pro bono work Manny agreed to. Everything is falling into place. While I’m still ambitious, I no longer feel the need to set the relentless pace I once did. I understand now that there is a time for everything, it’s just a matter of where you place your focus. And my focus is finally in balance, thanks to Ford. I only wish my father could have met him.

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