AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know just the place. Fresh Hawaiian cuisine and the food is great.”
“What about Sniper?” She glanced at the back seat, where the pup was snoozing. “I don’t want to leave him in the car.”
“They welcome dogs in the outside seating area, so he’ll be fine. Or, we could do take-out and go to the beach.”
“That would be perfect.” She bit her lower lip. “I’d like to have some nice memories of Oahu if I go home early.”
He fell silent for a long moment. “I know it’s been tough on you. But for that moment of wrong place, wrong time, you would be enjoying every minute here.”
“I...I’m uneasy, even at my Airbnb,” she admitted. “And outside, instead of feeling free to explore the beauty of the island, I find myself looking over my shoulder to see if I’m being stalked.” She laughed. “Not quite the magical experience I expected after dreaming of this trip for years.”
He tipped his head in silent acknowledgment. “What were you looking forward to most?”
“I’ve dreamed of seeing the beautiful beaches I’ve read about, like Lanikai. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Driving up into the rain forests. I’d love to see the big waves along the north shore...” she raised her hands in a helpless gesture. “And so much more. But even if I stayed my full three weeks, there wouldn’t be enough time.”
“The island is only forty-four miles long and thirty miles wide. In a car, you can drive it in a day. Traffic permitting.”
“But that must be driving straight through without stopping to explore. Or hike. Or enjoy the waves. Sort of like the trip to Door County our family took years ago. I wanted to stop at every roadside produce stand, quaint little shop, and scenic view. Jason’s goal was to make it straight up and down the peninsula and return to our hotel in time for his cocktails in the hospitality suite.”
“We should talk about your plans over lunch. Maybe you don’t need to rush away so fast.”
Well, of course she could stay.
But would she feel like a sitting duck?
She couldn’t identify the killer. She had no idea if he knew who she was, much less if he wanted to eliminate a potential witness.
But he could be standing right next to her, and she’d never know it until it was too late.
Her stomach clenched at the thought. She’d arrived just two days ago, but returning to her quiet home in Minnesota sounded better all the time.
Nick slowed the SUV as he approached the center of town, then pulled into a parking spot and pointed out a restaurant across the street. “If you look up their menu on your phone, we can order take-out and be on our way.”
“What are you ordering?”
“It’s a tough decision every time. The red curry, Kahlua pig, and garlic chicken are excellent. But everything else on the menu is great, too.”
“Garlic chicken for me, then. With a Coke.”
“And the red curry for me.” She tried to hand him her credit card, but he waved it away. “This day is on me. It’s just nice having company.”
He tapped the order into his phone, waited for the confirmation, then leaned against his seat. “So tell me, what did you want to domostwhile you’re here?”
“Whatever I can,” she said with a little shrug. “The kids were young when their father died, so I held a full-time job and raised them on my own. I could never afford this kind of trip back then. But this is my chance. Bree is a college student in Chicago, and Adam—”
Nick looked over at her when she hesitated over the right words. “He’s your son?”
She nodded. “He’s...had more than his share of troubles.”
“I’m so sorry,” Nick said quietly.
He didn’t press for anything more. But it had been such a long time since she’d talked about Adam with anyone that it felt as if a dam had finally broken free and her words just began to flow.
“Jason always demanded perfection, and Adam struggled with that. A lot. When I tried to intervene, he just grew more rebellious, and by late high school, he was running with the wrong crowd. He’s been in counseling. In and out of drug rehab. Now he lives with various buddies who are on that same path, and nothing I’ve tried has changed anything.”
“I can’t imagine what that was like.”
“He’s legally an adult now and has cut off all contact with me. I still pray for him every single night.” She sighed wearily. “It was a challenge to my faith when nothing ever got better over the years. Now, I pray and try to just hand everything over to God. He’s in control. Not me. But...I still worry.”
