Epilogue

 

One Week Later

 

The hula competition ended last night with a gigantic luau and pig roast, presided over by none other than the Great Hawaiian Cook-Off winner, Chef Veggie Bear. A smile tipped my lips at the name. His brisket had been selected as best in-house by the spectators who stuck around after the dramatic scene with Jarrett. Since the judges don’t want any biases, they don’t tell the tasters what samples are from which chefs. This year their rule was important. People would have been biased toward Sawyer since he had to stab my crazy ex-boyfriend with his coveted chef’s knife to save me.

It turns out they loved his spicy, yet tangy, brisket on a Hawaiian sweet roll soaking up the juices. Along with bragging rights, the ten-thousand-dollar pot went to Kupid’s Arrow, and was immediately donated to the Community Table. It was enough money to cover meals for the next two years, maybe longer if they invested it right. Chef Stick in The Mud even agreed to cook together with Sawyer for one of the meals, and Sawyer will reciprocate on Oahu. Even though I was lying in a hospital bed in pain, I couldn’t have been prouder of Sawyer for his accomplishments in the kitchen, and for doing what he promised he’d do. To protect me regardless of how far he had to go to do it.

His knife was confiscated and he had to go to the station and make an official statement. Since Jarrett survived the surgery to his liver, he had to face charges in Minnesota and Hawaii for attempted murder in the first and second degree. Knowing he was going away for life regardless of a trial, he decided to confess and take a plea deal. His sentences would run concurrent, but not until he got out of the looney bin. Doctors believed he was a paranoid schizophrenic who had never been diagnosed. They would treat him and then decide if he was capable of being in the general population of inmates. If he wasn’t, he would remain in the mental institution for the criminally insane for at least twenty years. After the twenty years were up, I didn’t know what would happen, but the judge and lawyers assured me he would never be allowed to contact me again, and by the time he leaves the hospital, if he leaves the hospital, he would never be living independently. I decided to put him out of my mind right then. If I didn’t I was going to lose my mind looking over my shoulder constantly. I didn’t want to live in fear, and I decided to take my life back the moment his bullet tore into my hip, again.

Fortunately, this time the bullet was a fragment and only ripped apart the soft tissue, not the bones. It hurt a bit more than a bee sting, and it caused the nerves in my leg to flare up. Now, a week later I’m back to normal as long as I don’t put any pressure on the hip. Jarrett’s cowboy boot caused a large bone contusion the doctor was initially concerned about. He was worried the contusion would keep blood from reaching the bone and cause it to die. Thankfully, after bed rest and a second CT scan on Wednesday, the contusion was smaller and he was confident it would resolve. I’d been seeing the massage therapist to keep the blood flowing above and below the hip every day. It was a way to make doubly sure I’d be able to walk down the aisle when I married my soulmate.

I enjoyed the luau last night, but when it ended we were exhausted. Sawyer and I fell into bed at nearly two a.m., slept in, and shared brunch before he left to get dinner started in the kitchen. He’s usually off on Sunday nights, since the kitchen is closed, but apparently, due to the large number of guests for the competition, they’ve decided to offer a simple buffet. I would go down in a few hours to eat, but for now, I would enjoy the quiet and work on scheduling for the daycare workers. There was a knock on the door before I could sit down, so I called out I’d be right there and limped to the door with my crutches. I peeked through the hole and gasped when I saw whom it was.

I threw the door open. “Mom, Dad!” I cried, throwing myself at them. They grabbed me and held me tightly, their warmth familiar and comforting as I hugged them. “What are you doing here?” I asked, ushering them into the apartment. I followed them in and closed the door. They didn’t have luggage with them and looked relaxed and rested.

My mom took my hands and held them tightly. “We had to come see you. I hope you aren’t mad, but we had to see for ourselves you’re okay.”

I hugged her again, rubbing her back. “Of course I’m not mad. I’ve missed you both terribly,” I admitted, wiping my eyes. “I wish you weren’t in Florida. It’s too far.”

My father nodded and took my hand. “We agree, which is why we moved here yesterday. We wanted to come see you, but the competition was so extensive we couldn’t get near the place. We decided to catch up on our rest and come see you today when the grounds had cleared.”

“Why didn’t you call me? My gosh, I would have come and got you at the airport.”

Dad helped me sit and I propped the pillow under my hip. “Gideon sent a car and put us up in a hotel by the airport until we could get over here. He’s coordinating our relocation and found me a position in the school district as a special education teacher in the elementary school.”

I had my hand to my chest. “You’re going back to teaching?”

He nodded, a smile on his lips. “I’m tired of administration. It will be nice to be back in the classroom. I retired from Miami as administrator and accepted a half-time position here. I’ll work for a few years and then retire in paradise. Hopefully, by then, I’ll have a grandbaby to spoil.”

I put my arms around his waist and held him. “Wouldn’t that be something? I can’t wait for you to meet Sawyer. He’s amazing, and you’re going to love him.”

My mom patted my shoulder. “He is amazing, because he saved your life. We spoke with him on Facetime a few weeks ago, so we’ve met him virtually. I can’t wait to hug him, though.”

I glanced between the two of them. “You did? Why?”

My dad sat next to me on the bed. “He wanted to ask my permission to marry our daughter. After visiting with him, I met you through the eyes of the man who loves you. I gave him my permission readily. Has he asked yet?”

I swallowed hard and lifted my hand slowly. “A few weeks ago, and I said yes.”

My mother gasped when she saw the ring. “It’s gorgeous. Is it a rose?”

I nodded. “He’s special, mom. He’s always thinking about my needs and how to make things easier for me.”

My dad leaned in close to inspect the ring. “We hadn’t heard you said yes.”

I sighed sadly. “I wanted to tell you in person, and with the craziness of the last two weeks—” I held up my hand, paused, and took a breath. “I’m lying. I was scared to tell you. After everything that happened with Jarrett, I was worried you’d think I was moving too fast. Maybe I am, but this time I know he’s the one.”

Dad put an arm around me and rested his forehead against mine. “We know, sweetheart. The last year hasn’t been easy for you. I’m not upset. Jarrett might have been a simple mistake if it weren’t for the fact he was mentally ill. Women date men all the time and break up all the time. Usually you each move on, find someone new, and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, Jarrett wasn’t able to move on. He’s out of your life now and we’re back in it. I can’t wait to walk you down the aisle.”

I threw my arms around him. “Me either. Thanks for coming, daddy.”

Mom tapped my shoulder. “We should get going if we’re going to make it into town and back before dinner.”

“Into town? Do you need help moving over here?” I asked.

Dad patted my back. “No, we’re all settled in on the third floor, at least for a couple of days until our apartment is ready.”

Mom stood and pulled me up. “I’m taking you shopping for a new Valentine’s Day dress. This is your first with Sawyer and you should make it one to remember!”

“He’s working. I won’t even see him until late,” I said as she herded me toward the door, my purse over her shoulder.

“Late smate. Once you see him you’ll be glad you have a new dress.”

We climbed on the elevator and she kept chattering a mile a minute. I was thrilled they were back in my life, but what the heck had Dad fed her? She was talking nonstop and gesturing around wildly. The last thing I wanted to do was go shopping. I kept my eye on her as she threw her arms around, laughed, and hugged me happily. Whatever had her so excited wasn’t clear, but for the first time in too long, she was animated. After the accident, she couldn’t muster excitement about anything, so even though I didn’t want to go shopping, you can bet that’s exactly what we were going to do.

 

 

When Mom and I strolled back through the door of Kupid’s Arrow, laughing like school girls, it was nearly four. We’d shopped, had our nails done, were talked into a mini makeover, and even got a trim and a style at the mall. For the first time in a long time I was myself again, not a scared, trembling shell of the person I used to be. Mom talked me into buying three new dresses; two I could wear for work. The other dress was way too formal for even a Valentine’s Day date, but since Kupid’s Arrow is always holding special events, I decided it wasn’t a bad idea to have something perfect for those occasions. Besides, it looked and felt amazing, and I wasn’t going home without it.

Halfway through the afternoon I got a text from Sawyer asking me to meet him for dinner on the beach at six. I found it odd, since he was supposed to be working, but I decided I wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, and agreed to be there. My mom and dad planned to spend a quiet evening in their room together, catching up on sleep after all their secretive planning since December. It turns out when Dad said he was ‘thinking’ about retiring, he already had. He and Mom wanted to come to Maui and surprise me, and they certainly did. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning when Sawyer and I could meet them for a late breakfast.

I had the formal dress on, the silver sequins shimmering in the light of the bedroom as I turned one way and then the other. The pylons of the brace couldn’t be hidden, but the dress flowed from the waist down to my ankles, covering most of it. I bought a pair of ballet shoes today to match the dress, since I have to wear shoes with the brace, and tennis shoes aren’t exactly formal. I fluffed my hair and freshened up my lipstick before I smiled at myself in the mirror. It was time to go spend my first Valentine’s Day with my love, in our favorite place, Kupid’s Cove.

As I crutched to the elevator my mind wandered to the first time I met him, his hair spiked from his hat, his coat pristine, and his eyes concerned. We shared many more meals and much more laughter over the months I’ve been here. This would be the first meal of the rest of our lives. I even hoped he didn’t have to cook it, but chances weren’t high. He’d been gone from my apartment for barely six hours and I already missed his warmth and tender touches. I couldn’t wait to tell him about my parents moving here. I’m praying he and my dad hit it off because they could both use a win when it comes to family. My dad always wanted a boy, but I was all they could ever have. Sawyer has been without a father for a lot of years, and I could sense there were plenty of times he missed a father figure in his life. I stepped off the elevator and noticed Tim, the doorman, holding it open while my mom and dad stood waiting, my dad with a red rose in his hand. He waited for me and when I reached them, he took my crutches and gave them to Tim, then settled the rose in my hand. They each took an arm and I glanced between them. 

"Mom? Dad? What's going on? I have to meet Sawyer for dinner."

Dad patted my hand. "We know, he asked us to escort you." He laid a kiss on my cheek. “You’re gorgeous. You’re going to steal his breath away.”

We strolled down the green carpet to the sand where another red rose lay. Dad stooped and picked it up, handing it to me before directing me to the right to a part of the beach unused by the guests. "Are you having dinner with us?" I asked, still confused.

"No, dear," Mom hushed. "Sawyer asked us to help you to the beach while he's finishing dinner. He knows you have a hard time in the sand."

It all made sense and I relaxed a little bit into their arms. "I'm still in shock you're here," I sighed. "I've missed you more than I thought possible."

Dad stopped to pick up another rose and handed it to me, which I took. "We missed you too, baby girl. It's why we're here. We're tired of missing out on your life."

Another rose lay in the sand and this time I bent to pick it up. "What's with the roses?" I asked, peering through the darkness. I could make out shapes, but nothing else. 

Mom giggled, something I've rarely heard since my childhood. "It's Valentine's Day, silly. Stop asking questions and enjoy the romance."

Right, it's Valentine's Day. Enjoy the romance, Rosie, I scolded myself. 

Every ten feet another rose lay until a total of six were clenched in my hand. When we got close enough I could see a table for two on the beach, set with fine china and candles flickering in the light breeze. Music played and the moon shone upon the table in a perfect beam from the water. 

"Wow," I whispered, Hawaii’s beauty breathtaking for a Midwesterner like me. 

Movement caught my eye and Sawyer stepped from the shadows, dressed in a tux with a black bowtie. His hair was perfectly coiffed and his cuff links shimmered in the light. He held his hand out when we arrived and Dad laid my hand in his. 

He kissed my cheek and patted Sawyers shoulder. "Take care of my girl, son."

"I will sir, and thank you for doing the same all these years."

Mom kissed my cheek too and her chin trembled. "It's been a long road to walk but we know she's in good hands now. Have a wonderful evening and we’ll see you tomorrow."

"Thanks, guys," I whispered as they linked arms and headed back down the beach toward the resort.

He brought my hand to his lips to kiss. “You take my breath away. This dress is sweet and sexy to the point I can’t take my eyes off you.”

He dragged me to him and rested his hand on my butt, his other holding my face for a kiss. “Happy Valentine’s Day, my beautiful Rose,” he whispered.

“Same to you, my handsome Veggie Bear,” I said, resting my head on his chest as he laughed.

“I’m never going to live the name down.”

I stared up at him, my eyes seeing nothing but his handsome face and his eyes sparkling like the ocean on a sunny afternoon. “I love the name. What I love more is how you got the name. You aren’t too manly to let a little girl call you Veggie Bear, which can’t be said for a lot of men.” I caressed his face. “One day, when the time is right, I know you’re going to make the best daddy.”

A smile spread across his face and he lifted the angel from my chest, squeezing it in his hand. It was a gesture he had come to do frequently, as if he was recognizing we had a child already and would never forget him. He kissed me again, his lips as warm as the Hawaiian breeze. “When I think about you holding our child for the first time, I see myself crumbling right to the floor. Children are gifts women give to men which we rarely deserve.”

I hugged him as he danced with me in the warm sand. “Guys have a little something to do with making babies, hon,” I said, teasing him a little.

“We do,” he agreed, holding my back so I was pressed against his chest, “but, you see men have the easy part. We contribute when all we feel is absolute and complete pleasure. Women do all the hard work, and pregnancy is painful and tiring. Just sayin’.”

I lifted my head to his and he kissed me then, the pace frenzied and deep. I wanted to be as deeply seeded in him as he did in me, but we were constrained by our earthly bodies. Our souls yearned to be free and kept us crushed together, soaking up the taste of each other.

He tore his lips from mine and held my face. “Dinner will be here in a few minutes,” he said, as his eyes turned dark and hooded.

“What did you make me this time?”

“Well, you see a little bird told me your favorite dish in the whole world is smothered chicken on a bed of Minnesota wild rice,” he answered.

I put my hand to my chest. “Mom?”

He shook his head. “Kate. I asked her what you ate the most when you worked together. She didn’t even have to think about it.”

I laughed, my head nodding. “I ate it all the time because it was fast and easy to make. I haven’t had it since I left Minnesota.”

“Your taste buds are about to explode then. Keep in mind, Chef Veggie Bear made a few modifications to the recipe, but I’m confident you’ll love it.”

I grinned, rubbing my hands together. “I would expect no less, but I have no qualms. It will be the best version I’ve ever had. Speaking of Kate, and my mom, it seems you’ve been keeping some secrets from me,” I said, patting his shoulder.

He had the good sense to look sheepish. “Okay, so I may have talked to them a few times, but Kate swore me to secrecy. I wasn’t going to be the one who ruined a surprise as big as your parents moving to Maui.” He was waving his hands in front of him and I grabbed them, holding them to my chest.

“I’m not mad, Sawyer. I’m teasing you. I spent a lot of years with Kate. I’m pretty sure I know you weren’t given a choice in the matter. And you know what?” I asked and he shook his head, his body relaxing. “I’m glad I didn’t know. You don’t get a lot of really good, happy, lifechanging surprises in your life. I’ve gotten two, and I feel lucky to have both you, and them, here with me now.”

He laid his lips on mine in a gentle understanding of my words, then bent and rolled his pants up. I noticed he wasn’t wearing socks or shoes for the first time, and now his tux pants were at his knees. He knelt and tugged my ballet slippers off, leaving the brace on, but scooping me up into his arms. I grabbed him around the neck and squealed. “Sawyer, what are you doing?”

“Taking you to the surf,” he answered, his lips on mine. “It’s been too long. The brace can get wet, right?”

I nodded instead of answering, our lips joined again in a languid song of love. He lowered me to the surf, the water brushing over our feet, warm and soft. He took my hands and in the light of the moon I saw his eyes flash dusky as he gazed at me.

“You don’t know this,” he began as we stood together, two tiny entities surrounded by one bigger than anything we could fathom, “but when I met you, I was a mess. I was drinking too much, popping antidepressants, and sinking into a depression many worried I would never escape.”

I slipped my hand behind his neck and tugged him to me, resting my forehead on his. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He pulled away and took my hands again. “I was ashamed, but I also didn’t know how. You’ve gone through hell and back, and there was no way I was going to blubber on about feeling lost in this big world.”

I rubbed his cheek, his lips searching out and finding my thumb for a kiss. “There’s no competition when it comes to emotions, Sawyer. Was it the loss of your parents?”

It was his turn to take my face and caress it. “Partially, but it was also the loss of me. When they died, suddenly I had no connection with anyone on this planet. I have no family and no one I could turn to when the pain got to be too much. Maybe I’m a weak man—”

“No,” I interjected. “Emotions don’t make you weak. They make you human.”

He shrugged and nodded. “I’m definitely human, with emotions and weaknesses I was ashamed of, until I met you. It was Kate and Gideon who noticed me coming apart first. They convinced me to speak to a grief counselor and to stop drinking. When Kate brought you home, she came to me and handed me a piece of paper.”

I cocked my head. “What was on it?”

His thumb ran across my lips. “It was a dietary sheet from your hospital. They sent it with Kate to help you heal with the proper nutrition. When she handed me the paper, I suddenly had a purpose again. I wasn’t just feeding rich vacationers who wanted to gorge themselves on succulent lobster and thick, juicy steaks. I was responsible for the health and well-being of a sick and injured woman, who had no defense against the outside world. I made your first meal as a comfort meal, not worrying about how much protein was in it, but after I delivered it, and met you, I was a goner. I stayed up until two a.m. that night making a menu for the next month. I followed the guidelines from the hospital, while planning meals you’d find comforting. When I went to bed for the first time in years I had a reason to get up the next morning. I had to cook you breakfast.”

My chin trembled and I held his hand to my chest. “I had no idea.”

He shook his head and leaned in, kissing my lips once. “You were too out of it for a few weeks to know what was going on around you, but I didn’t care. I got up each morning and jogged to the kitchen. I would focus on your face as I whisked eggs or pancake mix, never tired, sad, or depressed. I had a reason and you were it. I did the same thing at lunch, and when dinner came and the kitchen was a harried mess of orders, we stopped it all to make your entrée. Slowly, over the next few months, you didn’t need my homemade meals as much, but as you healed, so did I. I discovered things about myself I never knew because I didn’t want to search too deeply. I was always the emotional boy and young man, and to be honest, I kind of wondered if I was gay. I was emotional and fearful of girls, but at the same time wanted to protect them all.”

I smiled and rubbed his chest. “Being gay isn’t a bad thing,” I said.

He squeezed my hand and nodded. “I know, but I guess what I’m saying is that didn’t feel right either. I was adrift and had to figure out who I was before it was too late. When I met you, all the little parts floating around inside me found each other. They collided as they pieced themselves together and I like to think the piece of the puzzle that was missing, was hope. For the first time in my life I wasn’t thinking only about myself. Growing up the way I did was tough. I didn’t have a choice but to think only of myself because if I didn’t, I’d be dead. It wasn’t an easy life, but I see now, you were the end of my rainbow all along. I love you, Rose, more than you’ll ever understand.”

I kissed his hand and gazed into his honest, tear filled eyes. The surf broke over us and we both smiled at the same time, the feeling of outside forces trying to move us, but not succeeding, wasn’t lost on us. “I love you, too. I could say you did the same for me, but now, listening to you bare your soul, I understand how many times you saved my life. Day after day you brought me food. Even when I never uttered a word, you were kind and loving. You always found a way to touch me tenderly without scaring or hurting me. I noticed, I don’t want you to think I didn’t, and your touch always calmed me. I would wait for mealtimes, knowing it was a chance to feel your touch again. In hindsight, as each day passed, I noticed you changing. I can’t describe how, because physically you were already handsome, but you still changed. You exuded the look of a man who took care of himself. Kate mentioned one day a few months ago how much you’ve turned your life around. I didn’t ask questions, because it wasn’t any of my business. Now I see she was telling me, without telling me, you needed me as much as I needed you.”

He grasped my face, planting a kiss on my lips. “Absolutely, beautiful. Kate is astute when it comes to matters of the heart and she knew. She saw it in my eyes every time I carried the tray into your room. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she orchestrated this whole thing.”

I laughed softly and the sound carried across the waves. “I’m ninety-nine percent sure she planned this all along. After all, this is Kupid’s Cove.”

“Ke’aloha. It’s Hawaiian for love is all around us,” he whispered.

I nodded, a tear tracking down my face. “I love you more than I ever thought possible when I arrived here. I was a broken, beaten, shell of a woman who didn’t know how she’d go on. I’d lost everything. My child, my dignity, my mobility. I didn’t stand a chance of being normal again. Then you came along and protected me. First with your food, making sure the muscles I had left were strong and healthy. Then with your companionship. You kept me safe while showing me I was worthy of love. You weren’t pushy or impatient, but you were determined. Then, when my worst nightmare became real life, you vowed to never let him hurt me again. When push came to shove, you didn’t hesitate when what needed to be done went against the grain of who we are. I know we’re going to go through hard times, anger, frustration, sadness, joy, pain, happiness, and loss, but through it all we’ll grow stronger each day because we’re each other’s better half. When we met, we connected, and while our physical bodies were hands off, our souls were already holding hands. I can’t wait to marry you, Sawyer, and be one with you, forever.”

His hand cupped my cheek and his thumb rubbed away the tear on my face. “I think we just did,” he whispered. “Maybe we don’t have rings or a minister, but this is Kupid’s Cove and getting married on Valentine’s Day is kind of what we do.”

I laughed, nodding as I bit my lip. “Just ask Kate and Ellie,” I winked.

“Maybe our anniversary won’t be February fourteenth, but as far as my heart is concerned, that’s the day we will celebrate becoming one. I will cherish the words you said in my heart forever, and remember them when times get tough.”

“For better for worse,” I whispered.

“For richer, for poorer,” he followed.

“In sickness and in health,” I said, my voice cracking.

He cradled my face in his hands. “To love and to cherish, till death do us part.”

“Amen,” I whispered.

“By the power vested in me by the holy spirit and the spirit of the islands, I now pronounce you my wife. I may kiss the bride,” he finished.

His lips were on mine and the kiss was anything but a proper first kiss. I was drowning in him, his tongue overtaking mine, and his hands caressing every part of me. When the frenzied kiss stole our breath, we broke apart, our chests heaving.

I rested my head on his chest, gazing up at the night sky sprinkled with stars. My hand sought out, and found, his face, holding it so I could stare into his clear, happy, endless blue eyes. “Ke’aloha, my love, now and forever,” I promised.