Janie found an ancient waffle maker in the dark recesses of a bottom cabinet, and she was teaching Sam how to make waffles. Miles, for some reason – perhaps because of the promise of homemade waffles – was staying home for breakfast. It was the first time in at least six months that Wyatt could recall his father-in-law eating breakfast at home.

Wyatt poured himself a tall glass of orange juice and placed it on the table while he zapped some bacon in the microwave. While it was cooking, he turned to take a sip of juice and found Miles chugging it. Wyatt watched as Miles emptied the entire glass. “I know I’ll have to take an antacid, but it sure was good to drink orange juice again,” Miles said and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt.

“That was my juice, old man.”

“Silly of me to think that you would pour me a glass. Would you like me to move my old body, unbend my arthritic knees and struggle to the fridge to get you some more juice?”

“Sorry I mentioned it.” Wyatt poured himself another glass. The microwave beeped, and he gingerly took two slices of bacon and put them on a plate in front of Miles. He kept the rest for himself, which he ate one by one while sitting on the kitchen counter.

“Are you trying to kill me? I can’t eat bacon!”

Wyatt practically roared in frustration. He hopped down from the counter and moved to retrieve the bacon from Miles. “Sorry. I thought I was being nice.”

Miles shoved a slice of bacon in his mouth. “Just kidding. I love bacon,” he said with his mouth full.

Wyatt pictured punching Miles in the face. The image was very satisfying, but he refrained from going through with it. As much as Miles was a royal pain, he would do anything for Wyatt and Sam, and he knew it. So, Wyatt put up with his antics.

“Hey, Sam,” Miles called out between bites. “What have you got planned today? Anything special?”

Sam poured syrup over some prepared waffles and handed them to Miles. “Well, I was thinking. Janie is leaving in a couple of days, and she hasn’t really gotten to do any tourist things.”

“You know that’s true, Sam. I hadn’t thought of that,” Miles announced, loudly.

“That’s okay, Sam. I’ve had a great time. I don’t need to do anything touristy.”

“But it’s fun! We could go to Waikiki and buy some t-shirts and souvenirs and stuff. Dad would come too, of course.”

Janie glanced over at Wyatt. She looked like she needed saving. “Sam, I think that’s a great idea, but we’re all very busy. I’m sure Janie will survive without an ‘I love Hawaii’ t-shirt.”

“But it would be fun. We could walk around Waikiki and get some shaved ice.”

The idea of shaved ice and a walk around Waikiki with millions of tourists was not attractive to Wyatt, and Janie looked doubtful, as well.

“You know what, I think that sounds like a great idea,” said Miles.

“What?” Miles was the last person that Wyatt thought would extol the virtues of a night of tourist activities. Normally, he hated tourists and was loud about his distaste for them. In fact, he hated people, in general.

“You heard me. I think you guys deserve a night out on the town, and it sounds like a lot of fun. Sam, I could really go for one of those ‘I love Hawaii’ t-shirts. Do you think you could pick me up one when you’re out?”

“Sure!”

“Wait a minute,” Wyatt interrupted. “What do you mean you want a t-shirt? What do you mean, ‘it sounds like a lot of fun?’ You don’t like fun.”

Sam gave Wyatt her best puppy dog look. “Dad, I’m not allowed to do anything I like since I got that concussion surfing with you. Wouldn’t you please go with me? I think it will be fun.”

Wyatt couldn’t resist his daughter’s puppy dog look. He glanced over at Janie, who looked like she was ready to crack, too.

“okay. We can go,” Wyatt said.

Sam turned to Janie. “Is that okay with you?”

“Of course, I should probably get some presents to bring back to people at work, anyway.”

“Great. Let’s leave around six tonight.” Sam sat down and took a big bite of waffles. “Oh, these are yummy!”

It wasn’t nearly as bad as Wyatt had thought. The crowds were not out of hand, and the excitement of people on vacation in paradise was infectious. Wyatt could feel himself getting lost in the simple joy of walking down the street with his daughter and the woman he was crazy about without a care in the world except the need to find cheap, tacky souvenirs.

Sam wanted to be the conductor of the evening, and Wyatt and Janie allowed her to take the reins. She seemed to enjoy playing the tourist, and Wyatt wondered if she had secretly wanted to do this for a long time. Perhaps she used Janie as an excuse to spend a night in Waikiki. Wyatt made a mental note to spend more time with Sam, doing things she chose.

It wasn’t a shock that she was tired of night-after-night at Keiko’s Café. If she wanted to do other touristy things, he would do it with her. After all, she was growing up, and soon she wouldn’t want to do anything with him. At least that’s what he always heard about teenagers. They hated to be with their parents. When Wyatt was a teenager, he had no time for anybody. He was already deep in his own studies about marine life and was counting the days until he could get away to college.

Wyatt took a long look at his little girl. She walked arm in arm with Janie, her face upturned and discussing something in some secret girl language that was foreign to him but perfectly understandable to Janie. The sound of Sam’s flip-flops slapping her heels as she walked counterbalanced the chatter and the occasional giggle.

Sam wore her usual uniform of shorts and a t-shirt, a tank top this time. He noticed that it was pink, another message to Wyatt that she was growing out of her tomboy stage. He didn’t know how he felt about that.

“Look, a photo booth! Dad, I’ve never gone in one of those. Can we?”

Wyatt took out his wallet. “Sure. Go ahead and get in.”

Sam entered the booth behind a black curtain, but after a second, she peeked out. “Aren’t you guys coming in?”

Janie caught Wyatt’s eyes with a questioning look. He hadn’t thought of them all in the booth, but he was willing to go along with it if Sam wanted to. Wyatt put his hand out, waving Janie in. “Ladies first,” he said.

Inside the booth, the three hovered around a small stool. There was little room for the group of them. Sam sat in the center, and Janie and Wyatt stood over her, their faces smashed up against each other. A flash went off.

“I guess this isn’t too bad,” Wyatt said. He carefully maneuvered his body so that he could hold Janie’s hand. Another flash went off.

Janie turned to him. “It’s a good thing I brushed my teeth,” she whispered, her face up against his.

“Not to mention the shower,” he whispered back. He longed to kiss her, but with Sam there, he managed to hold himself back.

“Aren’t these pictures the best?” Sam held up the strip of photos. “I especially like this one,” she said, pointing to the photo of Janie and Wyatt looking into each other’s eyes and thinking about their morning.

“What’s next?” Janie asked, deftly changing Sam’s focus.

“How about a lei?”

Sam picked out the tackiest and largest leis in the store, but since they were only $3.00 (because of age and ugliness), Wyatt didn’t protest.

“Let’s show her how it’s done, Dad.” Sam placed a lei over Wyatt’s head, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “okay, Janie. Now, you do me.” Janie copied Sam’s technique. She placed the lei over her head and gave her a kiss. “Now you, Dad.”

Wyatt gave Sam a hard look. It was starting to dawn on him what the evening was all about. He had the sneaking suspicion that his only daughter didn’t want to have quality time with her father. Instead, she was trying to manipulate him, and he didn’t appreciate it.

Wyatt placed the lei over Janie’s head and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Sam looked ecstatic, but Wyatt was fuming. Janie looked uncomfortable, as well.

“I think we deserve a drink on Waikiki Beach. I hear it’s very romantic.” Sam practically skipped in the direction of the luxury hotels on Waikiki Beach. Wyatt and Janie followed at a slower pace.

“Sorry about this, Janie.”

“It’s not your fault, Wyatt.”

“She’s my daughter.”

“And a great daughter, she is, too. I think we should just follow along and let her have her fun.”

“If you say, so.” Wyatt didn’t think they had much of a choice, but he worried how the evening would end. Sam’s little matchmaking attempts were increasing in size and impact.

Sam walked directly to The Love Nest bar at a five-star hotel directly on the beach. The bar was large and lit only with Tiki torches. Impossibly loud make-out music played in surround sound. An entire side of the bar was completely open to the beach, letting in the ocean breezes. Bamboo and rattan furniture covered the interior, making walking difficult. Scantily dressed young people roamed the bar, either in couples or as singles, looking to become couples. A few people had their mouths locked together, and they looked like they were getting a jumpstart on their night. Wyatt felt the urge to cover Sam’s eyes.

As if reading his mind, she turned to him without breaking her stride through the bar. “We’re almost there.”

“Oh?” Wyatt asked. “You come here often, young lady?”

Sam ushered them out to the beach to a rather isolated table and chairs. “I think I heard Uncle Morgan talk about this place before.”

“And he reserved a table for you?” Wyatt picked up the reserved sign from the table and waved it in front of Sam’s face. The color drained from her cheeks.

“Gosh. I think I’m ready for a pina colada,” Janie said, taking her seat.

“That sounds good,” Sam said, sitting. “I’ll have one, too.

A waiter arrived before Wyatt could give Sam a piece of his mind. “A pina colada for the lady, a virgin pina colada for the other lady, and I’ll have a beer. Whatever is on tap.”

The table fell silent, and they sat awhile with only the noise of the water, the other bar patrons, and extraordinarily loud Barry White music crooning from inside.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to the ladies room.” Janie turned and walked back into the bar.

Left alone at the table with Sam, Wyatt decided to get to the bottom of what was going on. “Spill, Sam.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. What’s going on tonight? The evening out, the photo booth, the leis, this.” He waved his arm, taking in the bar.

“I just thought it would be fun.”

“Samantha Jean Templeton!” Wyatt roared, menacingly.

“I wanted you guys to have a romantic evening. That way Janie would stay with us forever. I know you love each other.”

Wyatt sighed. His beautiful daughter looked desperate. Wyatt’s heart broke for her, but she had to understand the reality of the situation.

“Sweetie,” he began. “You’re right. I do like Janie, and I think she likes me, too.”

Sam smiled. Wyatt suspected that an “I told you so” was poised on her lips.

“However,” he continued. “Janie is leaving in a couple of days, and she has not given any indication that she wants to stay here or even postpone her return. And besides, even if she wanted to, a relationship between Janie and me is impossible. Do you hear me? Janie and I cannot have a serious relationship!”

Sam looked shocked and horrified, but he realized with dread that her attention was not directed at him. Instead Sam looked past him, her eyes wide. Wyatt turned slowly and saw Janie standing behind him. By the look on her face, it was obvious that she heard his tirade. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she ran back inside.

Wyatt’s stomach lurched. What had he done? He watched her run away, and he couldn’t help but think that his happiness went with her.

“Go after her! Dad, go after Janie!”

“I can’t do that, Sam.”

“Go on! Tell her you love her. I know she loves you, too.”

“Sam, please stop. It’s complicated. You don’t understand.”

Sam grabbed Wyatt by the waist and hugged him hard. She choked on her tears. “I love her, Dad. She was going to be my mom, and we were going to have a great family. I know that if you just tell her you love her, we can be a happy family together. I know we can. You and Janie are perfect for each other.”

“Sam, Janie is going to go back to Washington in a couple of days, and she’s going to bring back her report, and they are going to cut off funding for my Project. You know what that means? Janie was sent here to help the government take back the dolphins. They will be put back into military use, and my life’s work will be over.”

Sam tilted her face up to him. Her cheeks were stained with tears. “Did she tell you that? Did she tell you she was against the Project?”

“No, not in so many words, but I know how these government agencies work, Sam.”

“Did she tell you that she didn’t like the dolphins? Did she say she liked them better in the military?”

Actually, Janie only ever told Wyatt how impressed she was with the Project, and Cindy’s illness proved how devoted and caring she was towards the dolphins. For the first time in two weeks, Wyatt wasn’t sure of Janie’s motives. He didn’t know what was in her report.

“Let’s go find Janie.”

It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. The masses of people on the streets of Waikiki had multiplied while they were in the bar. Wyatt held onto Sam’s hand as they ducked and dodged through the crowds, searching for Janie. They jumped every time they saw a woman with long hair, but after a couple of hours, they began to think that their mission was impossible.

It was a surprise, therefore, when they finally spotted her sitting on a bridge over the Ala Wai Canal. She was no longer crying. She had a rather calm expression on her face, and she didn’t seem surprised to see Wyatt and Sam standing there, finding her miraculously in the large, bustling city.

“Janie, I’m so sorry.”

“I know.”

Wyatt exhaled, preparing in his mind what to say next, but when it came time to speak, he could only say three simple words. “I love you.”

“I know.” Janie smiled, and her eyes twinkled at him. Relief flood through Wyatt’s body.

“I love you, even if you want to give the dolphins back to the military. We’ll find a way to make our relationship work even if you ax the Project.”

 “What?” Janie stood up straight. Her eyes shot daggers at Wyatt. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Your report.”

“Wyatt Templeton,” she began. “For a gorgeous, brilliant, wonderful man, you are an idiot and a real jerk!”

“What?” He stood, honestly confused.

“For your information,” she said, punctuating her words with her finger, poking Wyatt in the chest. “I’ve already submitted my report, and it’s a glowing account of your work and a recommendation for double funding. And I don’t want to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT, I’m a very good scientist and report-writer, and so you’ve already received unofficial backing. You should be getting the official reply in a couple of days. I didn’t tell you anything because I’m not supposed to, and since I’m a consummate professional…” Janie stopped and sighed deeply. She turned to Sam and put her hand out. “Come on, Sam. Let’s go.”

Sam went to her and took her hand, and they walked away from Wyatt.

Wyatt stood still, unable to grasp everything that Janie said.  All that he had assumed about her was totally wrong. She was not a hatchet man. In fact, she was a supporter of his work, and she requested that he receive double funding, a request that the government had already agreed to.

Wyatt felt an initial rush of euphoria. The woman he loved was indeed perfect. Not only was she smart, beautiful, funny, and kind, but she was also a partner for him in his work. He recalled the days spent with her at the lagoon. She learned quickly and was a valuable asset to the Project. Having a partner showed him that his working alone during the past years was not adequate. With Janie, the dolphins received much better care.

If she continued with him, there was no stopping him. Once the dolphins were freed, he and Janie could pass on their knowledge to others and help dolphins around the world. Perhaps the government would be willing to hand over more recovered dolphins for them to rehabilitate. The opportunities were endless with Janie at his side.

Janie at his side.

Janie in his bed.

A life with Janie was almost too good to be true. It was like winning the lottery. Waking up every morning with her in his bed, eating dinner with her, making a family with her, and seeing the joy in Sam’s eyes as she grew up with the mother she always wanted.

Wyatt kicked himself, mentally. What a fool he had been and how much time he wasted. Now, Wyatt had to figure out how to get Janie back, if she would ever consent to loving and staying with a fool. One thing was certain, Wyatt would do everything in his power to get her to accept him.

Janie didn’t know where she was going. She pulled Sam along, as she power-walked up and down the little side streets of Waikiki. Conflicting emotions and swirling thoughts left her unable to focus on anything in particular.

Wyatt told her he loved her, something she had hoped for but didn’t dare wish for outright. Wyatt thought she was the enemy, there to destroy his life’s work. How dare he? After spending so much time with her – so much intimate time – how could he make such a huge mistake about her character?

Wyatt said he loved her. The thought sent a wonderful shiver through her body.

Janie allowed herself to think about a life with him, the man who she loved. I love him. It was the first time she admitted it to herself. She pictured living her life with him, waking up every morning with him, working with him during the day, helping him to raise Sam – who she had grown to love, as well – and perhaps raise another child. A child of her own.

Janie stopped in her tracks. She touched her belly gently and wondered at that kind of wonderful future.

“Let’s go see a movie,” she said to the bewildered Sam.

They began walking again. After a while longer of Janie tugging Sam in one direction, she stopped abruptly. “Where is a movie theater?” Janie asked.

Sam escorted Janie to a nearby theater. They stood outside the box office and read through the list of films. They were early or late for each movie. It didn’t matter to Janie. She wanted to be distracted. She wanted to settle her thoughts and emotions and center herself again. She also wanted a large popcorn with extra butter topping.

“How about that one,” Sam suggested. “It’s a musical and a love story.”

“Interesting, but I was thinking something with lots of cars blowing up.”

Janie approached the ticket taker. “Excuse me, is there a movie with lots of action and cars blowing up?” Luckily, there was such a movie playing, and even though they were 15 minutes later for the beginning, Janie bought two tickets.

After a long visit at the concession stand, Janie and Sam sat high in the back of the theater where they would be free to talk.

“Gummy worm?” Sam offered.

Janie declined. “Thanks, but I’m a popcorn person.”

They sat for a few minutes, chewing on their snacks and watching cars race after each other on the screen.

“Do you love Dad?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to marry him?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to be my mom?”

“Yes. Very much.” Janie turned to her. “I would be very honored.”

Sam pulled at a gummy worm. “I’m so happy.”

“Me, too,” Janie said and realized that it was the truth. Janie was very, very happy.

“Janie? What are we doing at the movies?”

“We’re making your dad sweat a little. He thought I was going to denounce the Dolphin Freedom Project?”

“He thought you were a ‘hatchet man.’”

Janie harrumphed. “’Hatchet man.’ I wish I had a hatchet right now. I would show him.”

“Janie? Can I have some of your popcorn?”

“Of course, sweetie. You can have as much as you want. Hey, Sam, guess what.”

“What?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Janie.”