Larry walked out of the bathroom freshly showered and ready for bed. He slipped under the covers next to Elizabeth, who was laying with her eyes closed. Larry pulled the covers up and turned the bedside light out. Elizabeth could hear his breath fall and rise, and her heart stirred as it always did when she felt his closeness. She reached over beneath the covers and laced her fingers through his.
“What’s on your mind?” Elizabeth said, knowing from just the sound of his breath that something was bothering her husband.
After a few moments’ silence and a long exhale, Larry spoke. “I am still thinking about the way Daniel saved Michelle. I am so appreciative. And,” he stopped and gathered his thoughts. “I feel bad for treating him so poorly before. I know that I wanted Michelle to marry Kana, and still do. But I know that is not what her heart wants. Daniel seems like a real gentleman and really seems to care for Michelle.”
Elizabeth stroked her husband’s hand softly and let him talk. “It’s almost too bad that he’s engaged. I mean if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t be opposed to Michelle dating him, even though he comes from a less than honorable family.”
“I think it’s a person’s heart, not a person’s heritage that really matters,” said Elizabeth. Her heart began to swell with gratitude for the softening of Larry’s. “God doesn’t judge us by our prestige or ancestry, so who are we to judge others?”
“Maybe you’re right,” Larry conceded. “Maybe I’ve been too judgmental.” Larry took a long breath and then exhaled before he spoke again. “It’s just that I don’t know how to show my love for Michelle. I love her, I just don’t know how to show her that I do.”
Elizabeth smiled in the dark. “Why don’t you start by telling her that you love her?”
“I don’t know,” Larry said gruffly. “You know I’m not good with words. I will probably mess it up.”
Elizabeth rolled over onto one arm and looked across the moonlit room to her beloved husband. “Larry, it breaks my heart that you don’t let Michelle into your life. I love and respect you so much, and I know you want to show her your love. But sometimes people need to hear the words.”
She saw his face harden in the dim light but decided to keep going. “And now, especially now, she needs to know that she is loved and accepted by us.” Larry blinked twice and looked at Elizabeth with a question in his eyes. She went on. “She’s been carrying a heavy burden of guilt. Coming back here was not easy for her, with her boyfriend breaking up with her and then especially, especially ...” Elizabeth fought with the words. “Especially because she is pregnant.”
Larry’s face portrayed contempt as he turned away and looked straight up at the ceiling. “How could she screw up her life so badly,” he said, not believing that his little Michelle had betrayed him and broken his heart again. “How could she disgrace us so much? Doesn’t she ever think about anyone other than herself?”
Elizabeth sat up straight and looked down at Larry. “She is your daughter Larry. She is not a disgrace, and she didn’t screw her life up. She made choices. Some of them good and some bad. Now, if you want to ever have a relationship with her again, you will put yourself in her shoes and remind yourself that she is your daughter. You need to be there, we all need to be there for her. We are family and that is what family does.”
Larry’s tension began to fade as Elizabeth continued. “God forgave you for all of your wrongs. So you need to forgive Michelle for hers and love her unconditionally, just like your heavenly father loves you.”
The Holy Spirit convicted Larry’s heart, and he could feel his pride soften. “I know that I’ve probably been too harsh on Michelle. I’ve missed her so much Elizabeth.” He turned his head, looking at Elizabeth with glistening eyes. “I have lived with the guilt of chasing her away for all of these years. And I have missed her terribly. But I only want what’s best for her.”
“I know,” said Elizabeth, smiling gently at her husband. “But giving her the best means not only being a good caretaker, but loving unconditionally.”
“You’re right,” said Larry. “I will try. I know that’s what I should do, and I will try to be more understanding of Michelle. I want to build a better relationship with her and my grandbaby. I will try.” Larry grabbed Elizabeth’s hand in his and kissed her gently on the forehead before rolling over and falling asleep.
Morning came quickly, and Daniel rose to the glorious Hawaiian sunshine. He grabbed his bag and took one last look out the window to the ranch below. The view was amazing and he was sure going to miss it. And he knew that wasn’t the only thing he would miss. The smell of Kona coffee and Kahili’s cooking hit him at the top of the stairs. Yep, he thought. A few more things he would miss when he was gone.
“Good morning!” Kahili greeted him with a plate of eggs, ham, pineapple and toast. “Eat this up. There’s a mug full of coffee for the trip and a sack of snacks.” She giggled and pointed to the table where his goodies awaited.
Daniel smiled and bent down to give Kahili a big hug and kiss. “Thank you. Thank you for everything!” George entered the room as Daniel sat down to eat.
“Well, son,” said George smiling. “Ready to go back to good ’ole California, huh?” He patted Daniel on the back and sat down next to him, filling a cup with the delicious Kona coffee.
Daniel smiled with a mouthful of food and just nodded at George.
“Well, we sure will miss you around here. I mean all of us ... especially that girl ...” George smiled devilishly.
Daniel finished swallowing his food and wiped his mouth with his napkin. He didn’t want to be too obvious and wished Larry wouldn’t either. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass Michelle if she walked in. “Yes, me too,” he said.
“Yep,” George went on, lifting the steaming cup of coffee to his mouth. “That Bella is sure gonna miss you!” He put the cup to his mouth and sipped, winking over the steam to Daniel.
Daniel shook his head, feeling like a fool. Yeah, that Bella, he laughed to himself. He finished eating as Kahili and George made small talk. Larry appeared behind George and the room fell silent. He sensed the awkwardness and decided he better just bite the bullet and speak now.
Larry walked around the table to where Daniel was sitting. “I’ve arranged for Ano to take you back into town to catch the bus to Honolulu.”
Daniel stood up. “Thank you, sir,” he said, hoping to end their relationship on a good note.
Larry reached down, fixed a cup of coffee but didn’t leave his spot in front of Daniel. He brought the coffee back up and shuffled his feet before he spoke. “Daniel,” he said, using his name for the first time since he’d met him. He shifted his eyes back and forth, feeling nervous and anxious as he spoke. “I know I haven’t been the easiest person to get along with ...”
George laughed out loud at that, and Larry shot him a warning glance. Then Larry turned back to Daniel and looked at him. “I know I haven’t been the easiest to get along with ... but I can see now that you are a good guy. I wish you the best in your career and want you to know that you are always welcome to visit the ranch whenever you are in Hawaii.” Larry reached his hand out to Daniel.
Trying not to show his surprise, Daniel took Larry’s offer and shook hands. He smiled warmly and said, “Thank you, sir. I appreciate your hospitality and all you and your family have done for me.”
With that, Larry let go of Daniel’s hand and disappeared out the back door. George looked up at Daniel over his coffee cup and just smiled with his eyes. Putting the cup down, he said, “Well, miracles do still happen!” Then he got up and said his goodbyes to Daniel before he too walked out the back door.
“We leave in ten minutes,” Ano’s voice came booming in from the front porch.
Daniel spun around to see where exactly he was, and instead, almost knocked Michelle over again. “Oh, I’m sorry.” He laughed, catching himself from falling. He stopped and looked down at her, again mesmerized by her beauty.
“Good morning,” she said playfully. She looked past him to his bag on the kitchen floor and her mood changed. “Oh, you’re leaving,” she said as if she didn’t know.
His heart skipped a beat. She knew he was leaving today. But darn, he hated seeing any hurt in her gorgeous eyes. “Yes, gotta get back, you know.” He stood fixed in place, not wanting to move any further away from her than he had to.
“Well,” she said slowly, looking up at him. “Well, thank you,” she wasn’t sure what she should be thanking him for.
He saved her from the awkward moment, “Thank you for your hospitality.” Why was he sounding so formal? He was so nervous and didn’t want to say these words to her. There were so many other words that he wanted to say instead. But now was not the time or the place. Would there ever be one? he wondered.
“Yeah, of course, I mean after all the trouble you took to get your ticket back.” She smiled.
Daniel remembered that was what had started this all—his ticket. It seemed like weeks since he had thought about that, but it had only been days. So much had happened that he couldn’t wrap his head around it all. “I mean, the festival, the hike, the talks, the foal, the waterfall,” he paused. “Especially the waterfall,” he reached out and touched her hand.
Michelle wanted so desperately to ask him to stay. She didn’t want him to go. She didn’t want him to let go of her hand. But she knew she had to release him. Lilo had told her to be Godly and right now, Daniel was still engaged and was expected back in California. She forced herself to let go of his hand. “Thank you for saving my life!” she added, trying to keep the mood light.
“I had a great time Michelle,” said Daniel, his eyes gazing intently into hers.
Michelle stared at him, unable to look away. “I did too. I will be sad to see you go ...” Tears welled up in her eyes and Daniel took her into his arms, hugging her gently. Michelle smelled like everything beautiful in Hawaii, the surf, the flowers, the pasture, the mountains, the waterfall. Daniel inhaled her deeply hoping he could take it all back to California with him.
Michelle quickly pulled back, not allowing herself to succumb to her emotions. “Well,” she said, stepping away quickly. “Give me a call sometime or come visit the next time you’re back in Hawaii.” Why did she say that? He was getting married. And she lived in California! Her head was spinning, and she had to get away. Just being near him brought all her emotions to the surface. And she would not let herself be hurt again. Daniel was nothing more than a friend. A kind, handsome, sweet, thoughtful friend ... who she had fallen in love with.
Daniel watched Michelle disappear into the kitchen. He didn’t want to let her go but was glad she left. If they had stayed embraced for another second he wasn’t sure he would ever make it back to California. California ... Kimberly’s face appeared in his head and all thoughts of Michelle vanished. His demeanor immediately shifted from casual and relaxed to clinical and rigid. He originally had come to Hawaii for work. But now it felt like a vacation and the real work was waiting for him back in California.