Chapter 6
Chapter Six
T he taxi wound its way through Honolulu’s busy streets as Helen watched palm trees and storefronts blur past her window. She reached for Mel’s hand, squeezing it gently. “Thank you for agreeing to this,” she said softly. “We both needed a break from playing detective.”
Mel smiled. “You’re right,” she said. “Though I keep thinking about that man in the suit yesterday and his phone call.”
“Ah!” Helen pressed a finger to Mel’s lips. “No mysteries today. Just us, the ocean, and hopefully some beautiful views.”
The taxi driver chuckled from the front seat. “First time on an Oahu harbor cruise?”
“Yes,” Helen replied, grateful for the distraction. “We’re hoping to see some whales.”
“Good timing,” the driver said. “Lots of activity in the channel lately. Just yesterday, my brother-in-law’s tour saw a mother and calf.”
Helen felt excited at the prospect. She glanced at Mel, whose expression had finally softened, and she hoped that meant the mystery of their anxious neighbor was fading. For the day at least. The morning’s decision to step away from their amateur investigation had been the right one. They were supposed to be on vacation, after all. The harbor came into view, a forest of masts and rigging stretching toward the cloudless sky. Their boat, the Island Princess, waited at the end of the dock, its white hull gleaming in the afternoon sun.
As they paid the driver and gathered their things, Helen couldn’t help but notice how Mel’s shoulders had already begun to relax. “It’s beautiful,” Helen said as they made their way down the dock. The air carried the smell of tropical flowers from the nearby lei stands. The late morning light danced across the water in diamond patterns, while seabirds wheeled overhead, their calls mixing with the distant sound of boat horns. Palm fronds rustled in the steady trade winds, casting shifting shadows across the sun-bleached dock planks. Everything felt perfect. “Now this is more like I imagined.”
Mel adjusted the bucket hat Helen insisted she wear against the bright sun. “Are you saying you want to spend more time on the water?”
“Not necessarily. I’m saying getting away from it all and seeing something beautiful is more what I imagined when we planned this trip,” Helen replied. “Before we got caught up in, well, everything…” She trailed off, remembering their promise not to discuss the mystery.
“Before we got distracted,” Mel finished with a smile. “That’s all that’s happened.”
“True,” Helen said with a sigh as they approached the gangway where a young crew member greeted them with a warm “Aloha” and checked their tickets. Looking for seats on the open deck, they found an elderly couple standing close together at the rail at the back of the boat. The woman wore a flowered muumuu and a broad-brimmed hat, while her husband sported a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts.
Something about their comfortable togetherness made Helen smile. “I’m Martha,” the woman said, noticing Helen’s attention. “And this is George. We’re celebrating our fiftieth anniversary today.”
“Congratulations,” Helen replied warmly. “I’m Helen, and this is Mel. We’re celebrating too, though it’s only because we are together on vacation.”
Martha’s eyes twinkled as she looked between them. “Sometimes just being together is worth celebrating,” she said. “George and I learned that early on, didn’t we, dear?”
George nodded, patting his wife’s hand where it sat on the boat’s railing. “Best lesson we ever learned.”
The ship’s engines rumbled to life as the crew prepared to cast off. Helen felt Mel’s arm slip around her waist, and she leaned into the embrace. “Fifty years,” Helen murmured. “Can you imagine?”
“With the right person?” Mel replied softly. “Yes.”
The simple words made Helen’s heart ache a little. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like to meet Mel when they were younger. Turning to look at her partner, Helen found such depth of feeling in Mel’s eyes that it took her breath away. The mystery of their neighbor, the pale man in the suit, all of it faded away in that moment.
As they pulled away from the dock, the captain’s voice came over the speakers, welcoming them aboard and pointing out various landmarks. The afternoon sun sparkled on the water, and a fresh breeze carried the salty ocean air. “Look,” Martha said, pointing at the water near the boat. “Spinner dolphins.”
Helen watched in delight as sleek forms cut through the waves, occasionally leaping and spinning in graceful arcs. “They are beautiful.”
“Yes indeed,” George said. “Life gets complicated enough without missing the simple joys.”
Helen nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. It had been easy to get caught up in mysteries and concerns, forgetting to appreciate the beauty right in front of them. She thought about their neighbor, about all the questions still unanswered, but for once, those thoughts didn’t take hold. Instead, she focused on the warmth of Mel’s arm around her waist, the sound of waves against the hull, and the way the afternoon light sparkled on the water. Today’s experience was why they had come to Hawaii. Not to solve mysteries or right wrongs, but to be together, to make memories.
“You’re thinking deep thoughts,” Mel said quietly.
“Just appreciating the moment,” Helen said, resting her head on Mel’s shoulder. “And the company.” The boat rounded a point, revealing the full majesty of Diamond Head rising against the sky, making everything even more magical. Helen’s heart felt full. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Mel said. “Thank you for making me take this break.”
Helen smiled, knowing that tomorrow they would probably be back to their amateur sleuthing, trying to understand what was going on with their neighbor. But for now, on this perfect Hawaiian afternoon, they were just two people in love, sharing a moment on the sea.
* * *
Mel found herself relaxing into the gentle rhythm of the boat. The salt spray occasionally misted her face, and the warmth of Helen against her side grounded her in the present moment. She watched a frigate bird soar overhead, its forked tail adjusting to the wind currents with effortless grace.
“The whales often come through that channel,” George was saying, pointing toward a deeper blue stretch of water. “Something about the currents there attracts them.”
Martha leaned forward suddenly. “There! Did you see that splash?”
Everyone turned to look where she pointed. At first, Mel saw nothing but endless blue, but then a distant spout of water shot into the air. “Oh,” Helen gasped beside her as a massive dark form breached the surface, water cascading off its body as it crashed back into the sea. The sight was magnificent, raw power and grace combined in a way that made Mel’s heart race. The entire boat erupted in excited chatter.
“That was a big one,” George said. “Probably a male, based on the size.”
Mel felt Helen’s hand touch her shoulder. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Helen whispered, her voice filled with wonder. “Thank you for coming with me today.”
The simple gratitude in Helen’s voice made Mel’s throat tight with emotion, and she knew how lucky she was. After decades of putting her job first, of keeping people at arm’s length, she had found someone who not only accepted her peculiarities but seemed to cherish them. The whale breached again, closer this time, and Mel took in all the details—the distinctive pattern on its fluke, the barnacles clinging to its massive form. She found herself wanting to document everything, to preserve this perfect moment forever.
“You’re doing that thing with your jaw,” Helen said softly, and there was a playfulness in her voice.
“What thing?”
“That thing when you’re mentally taking notes,” Helen replied, covering Mel’s hand on the railing with her own. “Just watch, dear. No need to catalog everything.”
Mel laughed quietly, appreciating Helen’s perception. “Sorry. Force of habit.”
“Don’t apologize,” Helen said. “It’s endearing.”
The boat’s engines had been cut to idle, allowing them to drift quietly in the whale’s vicinity. “You know,” Martha said from where the couple stood nearby. “George and I met on a boat not unlike this one. Though it was off the coast of Maine, and we were looking for seals, not whales.”
“How lovely,” Helen replied. “Was it love at first sight?”
George chuckled. “Not exactly. I got seasick and spent the first hour hanging over the rail.”
“But he was so embarrassed and sweet about it,” Martha added, patting his arm. “And he still asked me to dinner afterward, even though he could barely look at food.”
“Sometimes the best love stories start unexpectedly,” Helen said, giving Mel a meaningful look. Their first meeting last summer started with Mel rescuing her when Helen became lost using the GPS trying to find Mel’s campground. Mel remembered how beautiful Helen looked that night and how nervous Mel felt around her from the very start.
A collective gasp from the other passengers drew their attention back to the water. The whale had come even closer, rolling onto its side as if to get a better look at them. “Magnificent,” Mel breathed as the whale slapped its massive pectoral fin against the water, sending a spray that reached the boat’s deck. Several passengers squealed in delight, but Mel barely noticed the cold mist.
She was too captivated by Helen’s expression of pure joy. “I never thought I’d see something like this,” Helen said. “I feel so lucky.”
Mel nodded, understanding exactly what Helen meant. She felt it too and as the boat’s engines rumbled back to life, Helen looked in her eyes. “Penny for your thoughts?”
Mel pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Just thinking about the future,” she said honestly. “And how lucky I am to have someone to share moments like this with.”
* * *
As the boat made its way back toward the harbor, Helen felt a deep contentment settle over her. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the deck, and the breeze off the water had grown cooler. She watched as other passengers began gathering their belongings, many still chattering excitedly about the whales they saw.
“I suppose we should start getting ready to go too,” Helen said reluctantly, not wanting the magical afternoon to end. “Though I hate to break this spell.”
Mel squeezed her hand. “We can always come back before we leave. Maybe see those whales again.”
“If we’re not too busy solving mysteries,” Helen teased gently, though she kept her voice low. She noticed how Mel’s expression flickered briefly at the reminder of their situation back at the resort. “Hey.” Helen touched Mel’s cheek. “I didn’t mean to bring that up. This afternoon has been perfect just as it is.”
Mel smiled. “You don’t have to apologize,” she said. “It has been perfect, but a part of me is ready to get back and check on things.”
The boat’s wake created a gentle rocking motion as they turned into the harbor entrance. The late sun caught the windows of the waterfront buildings, turning them to gold. Helen found herself studying the easy way Martha and George moved around each other as they gathered their things, anticipating each other’s needs without words. It reminded her of how she and Mel were beginning to develop their own rhythms and patterns. “You know another thing that I love about you?” Helen asked.
Mel raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“How no matter what else is going on, you can be completely present in moments like this. How you let yourself just be.”
A slight blush colored Mel’s cheeks. “Only with you.”
“Would you like to walk along the harbor before heading back?” Helen asked. “Maybe find somewhere nice for early dinner?”
“That sounds perfect,” Mel agreed as the gangway was being secured. As they reached the dock, Helen breathed in the mixed scents of salt water, tropical flowers, and grilling food from nearby restaurants. “Are you hungry?” Mel asked as they began walking along the harbor’s promenade. The setting sun painted the sky in spectacular shades of orange and pink.
“A little,” Helen admitted. “Though I’m enjoying this too much to rush into dinner.” They passed various shops selling everything from tacky souvenirs to high-end art. Helen noticed how Mel’s stance had relaxed completely, her usual alertness softened by their peaceful afternoon at sea. A street musician played slack-key guitar nearby, the gentle melody floating on the evening breeze.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Mel asked, echoing Helen’s earlier question.
Helen smiled, squeezing Mel’s hand. “I was just thinking about Martha and George,” she said. “About how lovely it must be to share fifty years with someone. To know each other so completely.”
Mel stopped their steps. “I know we don’t have fifty years,” she said softly. “But we’re making a good start.”
The simple statement made Helen’s heart swell, and she leaned in for a kiss. “Yes, we are,” she said. “And I adore everything about you.”
“Including the detective parts?”
“Especially those parts,” Helen said as she started them walking again. Even though it was not yet evening, the sunlight grew softer, and lights on the beachfront hotels came on. “You know, when I first agreed to this vacation, I thought we’d spend our days on the beach and our evenings having quiet dinners. I never imagined we would end up playing detective.” Mel tensed slightly beside her, but Helen continued quickly, “But I wouldn’t change it. Any of it. Because it’s perfectly us.”
“Even if there turn out to be dangerous parts?” Mel asked, her protective instincts showing through.
“Even those,” Helen confirmed. “Because I trust you to keep us safe. And because I love seeing you in your element, even if you’re supposed to be retired.” A group of tourists passed behind them, their excited chatter in what sounded like German adding to the international atmosphere of the harbor. “Now, should we find somewhere to eat? Maybe somewhere we can still see the water?”
“Yes, let’s find something,” Mel replied. “Tomorrow we can go back to being amateur detectives, but tonight, let’s just be us.”