Christel climbed from Evan’s Jeep and knelt to tie her sneakers a little tighter. “This was such a good idea,” she said as she straightened. “I haven’t been hiking for months.”
“I’m looking forward to it to,” he said. “Hope this wasn’t too early for you.”
“No, not at all. I love early mornings.”
They’d chosen the Waihe’e Ridge Trail, a five-mile round trip hike with smashing valley views and a winding path through a vigorous forest of guava, kukui, swamp mahogany, and Cook Island pines. With the trail gaining about fifteen hundred feet at the pinnacle, most trekkers started no later than eight in the morning to avoid the clouds that inevitably rolled in later in the morning, diminishing the view.
They walked about five hundred feet in blissful silence, taking in the beauty of their surroundings, when Evan turned to Christel. “So, I want to know more about the big proposal.”
Christel smiled and spilled the details of how the Briscoe family had gone out for pizza, then participated in a scavenger hunt. The final clue led them to Makena Cove.
“I love that beach,” Evan said. “I think it’s the way the stretch of sand is bordered on either side by lava rock croppings. Gives an epic…and yet intimate feel.”
“Yes, it was the perfect place for a wedding proposal.” She explained how surprised Aimee was when she discovered the rest of the family hung back and Shane took her hand and led her to a bucket perched out in the sand. As they neared, Uncle Jack flipped a switch and a circle of tiny white lights illuminated the area. “Uncle Jack and Aiden went out ahead of time and set everything up. They buried a lengthy electric cord beneath the sand. When it was time, a battery-operated power source did the trick.”
“Clever,” Evan commented. “I don’t think I’d have thought of all that.”
Christel felt her heart rate pick up as the path grew more steep. “Uncle Jack can build anything, fix anything, and tinkers until he finds a way to jury-rig any contraption—even magical lighting on a remote beach.”
Evan laughed. “Good to know.” He took the towel draped around his neck and wiped his brow. “So, when’s the wedding?”
“I’m not sure. What I am sure of is that there’s a little tension building. Shane and Aimee are considering something simple, perhaps on that same beach with Uncle Jack officiating. He’s allowed as a boat captain and a licensed wedding officiant.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“Mom is urging him to reconsider and hold a more traditional ceremony at Wailea Chapel. While she acknowledges it is Shane and Aimee’s decision, she’s hoping Elta will marry them. I think she’s afraid her best friend, Alani, will be hurt otherwise.”
“Ah, yes. I see the problem.”
“Mom will back off, of course. She’s not one to push and push. She’s much more subtle. She’s so gracious about not taking her advice or recommendation that you feel guilty.”
They both laughed.
“No matter what the final decision ends up being, you’ll be my ‘plus one.’ You will come with me to my little brother’s wedding?” She knew a surgeon’s schedule was never carved in stone. Evan could easily get called for an emergency. She’d certainly understand. When he’d cared for Shane, she was extremely grateful for his attention.
“I’d like that. I don’t often admit this, but I love wedding cake. The bigger, the better. And all flavors, though I love strawberry champagne with buttercream frosting the best.”
Christel burst out laughing in spite of herself. “Really? Evan, you are filled with surprises.” She turned and looked at him in wonder. “You are the most interesting man I’ve ever met. Truly.”
“So, you think we’re good together?”
“Epic,” she said, smiling.
They rounded a bend in the trail. “Whether my brother weds on the beach or in a chapel, there will be cake. I can promise you that.”
They entered a portion of the trail that was canopied with trees and foliage. Long strands of moss hung from limbs several feet up in the air. Christel was reminded of a scene in the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy and her companions entered the haunted forest. Those images still creeped her out, even as an adult. Just like this portion of the trail.
Her only hope was knowing this dreadful dark didn’t last long.
Several switchbacks just ahead led to the crest of a hill known as Lani-Lani. There, a small wooden deck with a picnic table would be waiting. The views were grand from that location.
Christel picked up the pace, hoping to exit this portion of the trail as quickly as possible. Evan was close behind, whistling a tune made popular by Green Day—"Time of Your Life.” Another thing they had in common. Growing up, she had all their recordings, and played them often.
Suddenly, her foot slipped on a pebble. Before she could catch herself, she went down and her ankle turned, sending a bolt of pain shooting up her leg.
Evan rushed to her side. “Christel, are you okay?” His voice was filled with concern, especially when Christel’s eyes teared up.
He threw off his jacket. “Don’t move,” he ordered. “It may be broken.”
She almost laughed, and would, if the pain wasn’t so severe. How handy to fall and break your leg with an orthopedic surgeon by your side.
Evan carefully maneuvered her into a position where he could examine her injury. He removed her sneaker and sock and looked at her ankle. It was already swollen to nearly twice its normal size and was turning a very unhealthy shade of purple. His fingers gently probed and pressed, ever so slightly.
Christel grimaced and tried her best not to protest.
He finally looked up. “Well, we won’t know if it’s broken until we get an x-ray.”
“Broken?” Christel teared up even more at the idea of a fracture. Worse? How would she possibly get off this mountain with an injured ankle? The swelling and intense pain signaled she certainly wouldn’t be walking back to the car.
She looked over at Evan and groaned miserably. “What a mess. I can’t believe I did this.” Her voice betrayed the calm she was now trying to portray.
“Accidents happen,” he said. “Believe me, I often see much worse. We just need to get you back to the car and to the ER so I can get those x-rays.” He assured her everything would be fine. He had a plan.
Evan warned her to try not to move that ankle. He bent and scooped his arms under her knees and around her back, positioning his hands to keep her steady.
Christel turned horrified. “Evan, no! You can’t carry me. I’m too heavy.”
He closed his eyes and smiled. “You let me be the judge of that.” He lifted her from the ground, the effort appearing far easier for him than she estimated it would be.
“You’re allowed to grunt. I won’t take offense,” she teased, even though the movement caused her to wince.
Suddenly, they heard thunder. “Oh no,” Christel moaned as she craned her neck for a look at the sky. Anyone who spent much time on Maui knew brief rain showers were typical in the higher elevations, hence the thick, green foliage. Thunder and lightning were rare and often signaled a torrential downpour was on the way. Storms like this could appear out of nowhere, carried in by warm trade winds.
“Looks like we’d best get moving,” Evan said. As an afterthought, he added, “I have a first aid kit in the car.”
Before the words were out of his mouth, the first drops fell. Big ones pelting the ground with force and coming at a quickly increasing rate. They both knew that at any moment, the sky would open and they would get soaked.
Evan picked up the pace and jogged until he reached the place on the trail covered with the canopy of trees. The limbs and thick foliage would provide protection to some extent.
“Over there.” Christel nodded toward a location tucked near a large boulder bordered with large ferns, where the ground was mossy. Overhead, dense, closely-packed strawberry guava limbs helped complete the shelter.
Evan hurried to the spot. He ducked and gently placed Christel near the rock. “You good?” he asked, looking concerned.
She nodded. “I’d be better if I could walk and you didn’t have to carry me out of here.” The initial pain had subsided but was replaced with a throbbing that made her eyes water.
Another crack of thunder rang out, startling both of them. Large droplets quickly followed, pounding the ground outside their makeshift shelter.
“Are you comfortable? I mean, notwithstanding that angry ankle.” He settled himself into a spot next to her. “Are you cold?” Without waiting for her response, he slid his arm around her and pulled her close.
Christel sighed and leaned against his shoulder, appreciating his strong muscles and the way he smelled. It had been a long, long time since a man had taken care of her. She was so used to playing custodian over Jay’s life, she’d nearly forgotten how it felt to lean on a man for support, knowing he would be there for her.
Emotion clotted her throat. Evan was smart and strong and dependable. There was no mistaking he cared deeply for her. She felt the same.
Christel curled up next to him, traced her fingers down his strong forearm. He responded by silently lifting her chin and kissing her so gently, she filled with wonder.
She let her eyes drift closed and listened to the rain, trying to absorb this moment, wrap herself in it like a warm blanket.
Loving Jay was like flying—adventurous flying without taking a breath—through the air, weightless. Reckless. From early on, he consumed her and never let go. In the end, he’d ripped her soul into tiny bits.
Evan had glued her back together.
She was safe.