Page 83 of One Night in Hawaii

He put the paper down and walked over to us. “What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Nothing. I was hoping we could talk.”

“Dad, this is Shiloh. Shiloh, this is my father.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Ryatt.” She smiled and shook his hand.

I knew Shiloh wasn’t what he was expecting. She was beautiful, but nothing like Ashley or the other women I dated.

“Why don’t we go up?” I suggested.

It was an awkward ride up to the apartment. My parents had made it pretty clear they were not interested in the life I was building for myself in Hawaii. They were pissed I was leaving New York.

“I’m going to go up and change,” Shiloh said. She gave me a quick kiss. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Ryatt.”

My father and I walked into my den. I poured us each a drink and handed him one. I waited for the lecture I was sure was coming.

“Is that why you won’t marry Ashley?” he asked.

“No. I won’t marry Ashley because she was sleeping with Matthew and I have no interest in being with her.”

“And do you plan on marrying that girl?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “She’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. She’s beautiful, smart, and fun. I have never been so happy in all my life. She’s who I want to be with.”

I expected him to point out the many reasons why I couldn’t be with her. Instead, he nodded. “I see. Do you want the ring?”

“Grandmother’s ring?” I asked.

“Yes. It is yours. She left it to you to give to your wife.”

“No,” I said. “Thank you, but no. I already gave that ring to a woman. It’s not something I want to give to another woman. Plus, Shiloh wouldn’t appreciate a rock of that size. She’s a simpler woman who appreciates the beauty in this world. She’s not ostentatious. She’s not going to want a rock that will sink her to the bottom of the ocean. I’ve actually already bought her a ring.”

“You have?”

I was pretty excited about it. “It’s an aquamarine stone with small diamonds around it. She loves the ocean. It’s perfect for her.”

He smiled. “It sounds like you know her pretty well.”

“I do.”

“What’s your plan?” he asked. “I know you’re set on leaving the city, but what are you going to do?”

“Actually, I bought a house,” I said. “For me and her. It’s nothing big or fancy, but it will be ours. She’ll be able to dock her boat and be close to the ocean. I know I’ve disappointed you, but this is what I want. This makes me happy. I’ve never really thought much about happiness, but now that I’ve had a taste of it, I can’t let it go. I can’t walk away from the chance to be truly happy.”

“I understand,” he said. “And the business?”

“I’ll be working remotely. We’re going to be moving the headquarters to the West Coast to make my commute a little shorter. Shiloh’s family lives in southern California, so it will be a good chance for her to visit them while I check in on the business.”

“Sounds like you have everything worked out,” he said.

“I’m not doing this without thinking about it,” I said. “I’ve spent the last couple of months putting all of this together. I know you think Ashley or someone like her was better suited for me, but no. She was not the woman for me. I hope you will give Shiloh a chance.”

He didn’t say anything for several seconds. “We would like to come and visit you in Hawaii,” he said. “We would like the chance to get to know her.”

“Really?” I asked with surprise.

I was expecting anger and the threat of being disowned. I was not expecting him to be willing to accept my relationship.

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