Page 31 of Wyatt
“I’ve been seen too much,” said Ulani. “I appreciate the compliment, but they could recognize me. Asa? What about a sailor who looks really young? Maybe someone who can take care of herself, good self-defense skills, but looks like a kid.”
“Hell, they are kids,” he scoffed. “Yeah. Yeah, I probably have a few. Let me gather some names, and we’ll meet here tomorrow. You guys get some sleep. This has been a long day.” Wyatt nodded, looking at the others.
“Fucking right, that’s the truth.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The team was completely exhausted by the time they returned to the house.
“I think we all need a good night’s sleep, and we’ll meet for breakfast,” said Ulani. “I’m going to shower and go to bed.”
“Sleep good, honey,” said Ethan, kissing his daughter’s cheek. “If anyone is up for it, I’ll be up at 0530 for a run along the beach. We have permission from the SEAL training center to run the length.”
“I’ll be there,” said Wyatt.
“Same,” said U-Jin. The rest chimed in, and the run was set. Noa and Carter smiled at them, shaking their heads.
“You kids go ahead,” grinned Noa. “I ran this beach more than I care to remember. I still feel the sand in my shoes. I’ll make sure breakfast is ready when you get back.”
True to his word, Noa heard the door open and close the next morning and rose to start breakfast. He still remembered the amazing cinnamon rolls that Faith would bake for them, as well as the breakfast casseroles, fresh juices, and pots and pots of coffee.
Coffee, he could do. Cinnamon rolls, he could do. Trays of eggs and bacon, easy. He was not about to try for fresh-squeezed juices.
“Good morning,” smiled Kelsey, kissing her husband. “This brings about some good memories.”
“It does, doesn’t it?”
“Also, some that still make me cringe. My behavior to all of you when we first met.”
“Babe, you were confused. You were still young and didn’t understand what had truly happened with your folks. It’s water under the bridge.”
“It sounds like Bethany needs a lesson in that as well. I don’t condone what her mother did, but her father didn’t exactly help her either.”
“That’s what it sounds like. Still, there’s a lot here that needs unpacking for us to get to the bottom of it all.”
Slowly, a few at a time made their way back to the house. Ulani was already on her second cup of coffee, happy to have missed the brutal run the guys did that morning.
Typical of Coronado, the warm summer weather had turned cooler, bringing in the thick fog of the marine layer and colder breezes. She was dressed in sweats and happy to have the extra layer.
“You make all this?” she smirked.
“Does that surprise you?” asked Noa.
“A little.”
“Noa used to cook a lot when we were at home,” said Ani. “My parents put a lot of burden on him. It wasn’t fair.”
“Why? Were you the oldest?” she asked.
“It wasn’t that. They expected me to play pro football. Football was my way off the island and getting an education. That’s all. They wanted to be supported financially. My grandmother understood. Ani followed me to the mainland, and they blamed me for that.”
“I’m sorry,” said Ulani. “I knew part of the story but not all of it. Mom’s mother was your sister, right?” Noa and Ani nodded.
“Hawaii is an amazing place. Beautiful, majestic, magical,” said Ani. “But it’s also steeped in history and culture that doesn’t change easily.”
“There are a lot of places like that,” said Ulani. They both nodded.
“I was happy to be closer to my brother, and I was very happy to have a new sister in Kelsey.”
