Chapter 9 #2
“Yeah, I guess. But I shouldn’t have been complaining. Honestly, getting you back to shore was actually one of the easier rescues I’ve had.”
“I should have seen the signs about the current. It was my first day on the island, and I’ve only ever experienced the Pacific from the other side. I had no idea water could be so blue. It distracted me, and I behaved like a dumb tourist.”
Koa flinched at the words. “I really shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. Truly. Not only for telling the story but also for the way I didn’t apologize when I should have,” Koa said, making Mia think that he dwelt on that day nearly as much as she had.
His sincerity was hard to deny. Especially because he was now proving the kind of man he actually was.
The kind who made sure a little girl had lunch.
The kind who respected his grandma enough to allow the woman he’d had an unfortunate encounter with move into his home.
The kind who didn’t make a big deal about it and helped move said woman into his home.
“And I’m sorry I didn’t see the signs,” Mia admitted again.
Koa shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. What you did was an honest mistake. I made a choice to say words I wasn’t proud of.”
Koa’s eyes were filled with a kindness that stole Mia’s breath. She blinked, unable to make sense of all she was feeling. This was just an apology from a near stranger. So why did she feel like her entire world was changing?
She looked out the windshield and saw the curtain over the window closest to them drop. They’d had an audience. But it made sense that Tutu was curious about why they hadn’t left yet.
“And I feel foolish about what I did. Maybe I don’t need to apologize for my ignorance, but a thank you is necessary and long overdue.
I was so scared out in that water, and you saved my life, so thank you,” Mia said sincerely, her eyes still on the house because there was no way she could look at Koa as she spoke.
“You’re very welcome.” Koa paused. “So we’re good?” Hope filled his voice.
“More than good. If anything, I owe you for saving my life,” Mia joked, needing to lighten up the moment.
Koa laughed, the rich sound filling the cab and her heart. “Let’s just call it even.”
“It’s hardly even, since all I did was say thank you, but it sounds good to me.” Mia couldn’t help her smile.
Koa pulled out of the driveway as Mia warned her silly heart to take a break from twitterpating. Yes, Koa seemed amazing. And yes, they were now on friendly terms.
But that’s all they could be. Even if by some wild chance Koa was interested in her in that way, one didn’t date their across-the-hall neighbor.
Not when they shared a kitchen. Every relationship Mia had ever been in had failed.
Sure, some people found forever with one person, but so far that hadn’t been in the cards for Mia.
And maybe it never would be. So if a relationship wasn’t forever, there would be a messy break up, and then she’d have to move, and she had nowhere else to go… she just couldn’t take the chance.
For a few moments as they drove, Mia let herself feel that undeniable pull toward Koa…and then she locked it away.
This, whatever she felt for him, could never, ever be.
By the time they got back to Koa’s home and now Mia’s new home, Mia had her heart and head in sync. Maybe she’d watched a little too carefully when Koa’s muscles had flexed while he’d carried both of her heavy suitcases at once, but she was only human.
They’d quickly unloaded all of Mia’s possessions into her new room before Koa had left her alone.
She had been unpacking her second suitcase when she heard a knock on her open door.
Mia looked up to see Tutu’s smiling face. “Dinner stay ready whenever you are.”
Mia shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t impose.”
Tutu laughed. “Imposing is something you do on the mainland.”
Mia grinned. That sounded like the Hawaii she’d come to love. “But I can make my own dinner.”
“I know you can. But why would you when I already when make ‘em?”
Mia couldn’t argue with that, so she left her unpacking for later and followed Tutu into the kitchen.
Mia couldn’t help the visual sweep she made of her surroundings, a little bereft to find them Koa-free.
She was being foolish. She should be glad Koa wasn’t here, not sad.
“Serve yourself however much you like,” Tutu said as she pointed out the bowl next to the rice cooker. “Just fill it with some rice and pour the stew on top.”
Mia’s stomach growled in appreciation. The tantalizing aromas of browned beef and savory vegetables had filled the air ever since Mia had returned, and she’d wondered what Tutu was having for dinner. Little had she known she’d be a lucky recipient as well.
Mia used a rice spoon and gave herself a couple scoops of rice before moving to the stew pot.
“I’ll be sure to leave plenty for Koa,” she said, even as she kicked herself for speaking about him. The stew pot was huge. Of course, there was plenty left for Koa. It was a flimsy excuse to find out where Koa had gone, and she was weak.
Wait, what if Koa had a girlfriend?
The terrifying thought landed in Mia’s mind and now she couldn’t shake it. Naturally, he did. The man was a catch.
“He’ll be grateful. My beef stew stay one of his favorites,” Tutu said as she filled her own bowl with rice and stew. She set her bowl down at the table and then went to the fridge to take out a pitcher of water and an open Tupperware container of something Mia couldn’t identify.
Tutu offered Mia the pitcher and Mia filled two glasses of water, giving one to Tutu. Then she dug into her stew.
“Oh, my gosh, Tutu,” Mia groaned.
Tutu laughed.
“I’ve never had beef stew as delicious as this,” Mia said before shoveling another spoonful into her mouth.
It was probably best that Koa wasn’t here to see her eat like a barbarian. Not that it mattered what he thought of her since he surely had a girlfriend.
“You gotta make sure da meat cooks long enough that it melts in your mouth,” Tutu said before pointing to the Tupperware. “It’s even better with sweet onions.”
Mia wasn’t about to question this woman who’d made the best stew she’d ever tasted and she took an onion piece, crunching on it after a bite of stew. It was strong, but Tutu wasn’t wrong. Somehow the dinner became even better.
“So how long you been on Maui?” Tutu asked between bites.
Mia stopped her shoveling to answer the question.
“And you’re one teacher at Makalani?” Tutu asked.
Mia nodded, swallowing the bite she’d taken before saying, “K.J. is one of my students.”
Tutu smiled. “How come Maui?” she asked.
Mia had heard enough of the pidgin English many on the island spoke to understand the question. Words were often left out of sentences so instead of saying why did you decide to move to Maui? It became how come Maui?
“I guess lots of little reasons. But one day, I got the idea in my head, and it wouldn’t leave. Now I don’t want to imagine living anywhere else.”
Mia hadn’t ever shared that with anyone. Nat had gotten little bits and pieces, but besides Nat, no one really cared why Mia had left the mainland. And no one seemed to care what had brought her to Maui, until Tutu.
Tutu nodded, silver whisps of hair coming lose from the bun secured high at the back of her head. “You came here for one reason. God will show you soon.”
Mia’s body warmed, the truthfulness of Tutu’s words like a missile to her soul.
But enough about Mia.
“Have you lived on Maui your whole life?” Mia asked.
“I grew up on Molokai,” Tutu explained.
Mia felt her eyes go wide with interest. She didn’t know much about the island just west of Maui other than it was home to many native Hawaiians, and they didn’t want that to change.
“Lots of my ohana is still there. But my Samson got one job working at the Sheraton when we was twenty. He was one hard worker, my Samson. Like Koa.” Tutu smiled thinking about her loved ones.
“I danced hula until I got pregnant with my first baby. Then I stayed home raising our babies, and Samson drove to the west side every day. It was a good life.”
Mia nodded, thinking about the love that must have filled their home. The home was still full of love, but Mia imagined it must have been even more so when Samson had lived here with his sweetheart.
“I just wish Koa could have that kind of life too. Both his brothers stay married and have kids. Koa was so close.” Tutu paused tilting her head as she stared at Mia.
Mia lifted her napkin to her mouth, wondering if it was covered in stew. Tutu’s intense study of her didn’t make sense.
Tutu’s eyebrows lifted. “You look like her,” she said, shaking her head. “That’s why….” Tutu smacked her leg in realization. “You look like Talia.”
Mia felt a knot in her throat, suddenly recalling the conversation in Puka’s that first day on Maui. She’d heard most of the conversation fairly well but some parts had been lost due to the sounds of the restaurant around her.
But now she remembered—he’d said she looked just like his ex. The woman Koa had been about to marry.
That couldn’t be good.
Mia wanted to pry. What had happened? Why didn’t Koa marry her? Where was Koa now? Did Koa have a new girlfriend?
But she kept all of those thoughts in her head, because she would have sounded overly curious at best or in love with Koa at worst if she asked any of them and instead tried to smile. “That’s quite the coincidence,” she managed.
Tutu nodded before standing and beginning to clean up dinner.
No! Mia wanted to scream. This couldn’t be where they ended this conversation. She needed to know more.
Mia took a calming breath. No, she didn’t need to know anything more.
In fact, she already knew more than she should.
She and Koa had had no future before this conversation and after…
well, things were even more impossible. Who wanted to date someone who looked exactly like their ex? Mia knew she didn’t.
So she stood as well, taking her dishes to the sink and then started to wash.
Tutu gently tried to move her out of the way but Mia wasn’t having it.
“You cooked, I clean,” Mia said matter-of-factly.
Tutu smiled. “I think I gonna like having you here, Mia girl,” Tutu said before escaping to the couch.
Mia smiled over at Tutu, sure she was going to like being here as well. Tutu had shown her so much consideration. And the home already felt like a place she belonged. The place she needed to be.
As long as she could keep her feelings for Koa under control.