Chapter Twenty
Early on Christmas morning, Alexandre arrived at JFK. He found the gate for Hawaiian Airlines, rummaged in his backpack, and pulled out his laptop. In February, he was presenting the last of his zebrafish research at a conference. Better to work on his slides now, rather than in O‘ahu.
Alexandre was so engrossed in editing his presentation that he jumped sometime later when Luc nudged his sneaker with his own. “Hey! Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Luc leaned down to embrace him. “How was yesterday with Mom and Dad?”
“Nice. We had the usual dinde de Noel and listened to Handel’s Messiah.
” Alexandre had missed his mom’s traditional French holiday dish of roasted turkey and chestnuts.
Last Christmas, he’d eaten a sad turkey sandwich in his office while waiting for his data analysis to run on his clunky old laptop.
“How was Christmas Eve with Ali’s folks? ”
“Also nice. Lots of appetizers, wine, and Mariah Carey.”
“That sounds like Ali and Mei.” Alexandre craned his neck, trying to spot them.
He hadn’t seen Mei since the bachelor/bachelorette.
He’d called and texted several times and hadn’t been surprised to receive her brief, overly upbeat responses that hinted at how not okay she was.
Still, Alexandre hadn’t felt right offering to drop by or joining Ali and Luc for a visit. “How’s Mei doing?”
“A little better these last few weeks. She’s still working all the time, but not like at Thanksgiving.”
“I still can’t believe that happened.” Alexandre had gotten chills when Luc told him Mei had skipped out on the holiday. It sounded way too familiar.
“Right? Kind of reminds me of someone.” Luc shot him a pointed look. “Speaking of, you’re not going to be doing zebrafish stuff this whole trip, are you?”
“Please. My workaholic days are behind me. Wouldn’t you agree?
” Alexandre couldn’t believe how well he’d taken to teaching.
He actually enjoyed being in the classroom.
Even more improbably, he’d maintained his work/life balance.
He still didn’t work on weekends. He was running and biking nearly every day.
He’d even spent a few weekends hiking and camping.
“You have been good,” Luc admitted. “Glad you’ve been dating, too.”
Alexandre shrugged bashfully. He hadn’t told Luc he’d only started dating because he’d felt foolish about his feelings for Mei. His plan had mostly worked. He’d had fun and his dates had taken his mind off Mei. For a bit.
“Alexandre! Merry Christmas!” Ali and Kaia appeared before him.
Then he spotted Mei. Her cheeks were thinner and paler. Her hair lacked its usual sheen. But even bearing the scars of the last couple of months, she was more beautiful than Alexandre remembered. Mei smiled shyly. Alexandre’s heart sped up as he walked over to embrace her.
“How’ve you been?” Mei’s familiar lemon-coconut scent teased his nose.
“Hanging in there. Taking it day by day.”
“That’s all you can do.”
A voice crackled over the intercom. “Hawaiian Airlines passengers in zone two are now welcome to board.”
“We’re next!” Ali said.
Alexandre consulted his boarding pass. “I’m zone four.”
“We couldn’t get seats together. You two”—Ali nodded at him and Mei—“are a few rows back. Stop by if you want to help entertain Kaia for ten hours.” She squeezed Kaia affectionately, and they walked to the gate.
Alexandre and Mei exchanged a smile. When their zone was called, Alexandre shouldered his pack and reached for Mei’s suitcase.
“I got it,” she protested.
“It’s okay.”
Inside the plane, tranquil ukulele music lilted through the cabin. Footage of green mountains and white sand beaches lit up the seat-back screens. Mei touched Alexandre’s shoulder, sending warmth down his arm. “I can’t believe we’re going.”
At their row, Alexandre offered Mei the window seat. She slid in while he stowed their luggage, then dropped down beside her. Their two-seater felt like an intimate nest. Mei’s arm brushed against his. We probably look like a couple going on vacation. Alexandre nervously fiddled with his seat belt.
Mei pulled out her phone. “I’m going to deal with some work emails.”
Alexandre hid a frown. He was hoping to catch up more.
As the plane taxied down the runway and rose into the air, Mei stared out the window.
“How’s the view?” Alexandre asked.
“It’s fine. We’re still over Queens.” She was back to reading on her phone before Alexandre could say anything.
Queens. She was probably thinking about Joey. Or unhappy holidays as a kid. Alexandre took out his laptop. If Mei wasn’t interested in talking, he might as well work, too.
An hour in, as flight attendants began the meal service, Mei yawned and stretched.
“What are you working on?” Alexandre asked.
“A deck recapping the holiday pop-ups we held in twenty cities.” She turned her laptop so he could see photos of bright yellow shipping containers outfitted as stylish lounges. They were packed with people dancing and laughing.
“That’s amazing.” Alexandre would never be a Livin fan, but he was impressed. The pop-ups looked like they belonged in a movie, or an architectural photo exhibit. “I can see how much time and energy went into that.”
“Thanks.” Mei smiled ruefully. “I know how you feel about Livin. I haven’t forgotten what we spoke about, either. I just haven’t been able to think about other jobs.”
“You don’t need to explain. You’ve had too much going on. I can also see how cool projects like that make it hard to leave.”
“How’d your semester go?”
“Surprisingly well.” Alexandre let himself savor the relief he felt every time he thought about his first semester.
“It’s a new challenge, taking everything I know and trying to make it interesting and useful for undergrads.
My students are all bio majors, so they’re into the material.
” He let out a short laugh. “And now that I’ve had some time away from it, I’m seeing that I don’t miss some parts of research. ”
“Like what?”
“Like my job hanging on every study. I’m not trying to put a positive spin on inconclusive results or applying for grants I know I won’t get.
I’m also not tied to a lab with live animals.
You’d think I wouldn’t be feeding zebrafish twenty years into my career, but you’d be surprised.
On weekends and holidays, someone had to make sure the experiments were still running and that the fish were alive. ”
Mei laughed. A warm glow spread through Alexandre. This was the first time he’d seen her light up since her bachelor/bachelorette.
She inclined her head toward his laptop. “So what are you working on? Lesson plans?”
Alexandre stifled a groan. “No. Believe it or not, I actually kept my work/life balance all semester. I’m not doing anything New Paltz–related on this trip.
” He angled his screen toward Mei. “I’m writing a research paper to present at a conference.
One of my Oregon colleagues was supposed to do it, but he’s stuck in Spain with visa issues. I’m filling in for him.”
“Wait, it’s a research paper? For Oregon? I thought you were done with that.”
“I am. Sorry, I’m not explaining this well. My former colleague salvaged the last of my genetics data and got it accepted at a zebrafish conference. The findings aren’t groundbreaking or all that interesting, but every publication helps the lab.”
“What do you have to do for the presentation?”
“Write a paper, create slides, make a poster about the study, and present it in Cleveland the first week of February.”
“A poster?” Mei chuckled. “I’m picturing elementary school science fairs with solar system dioramas.”
Alexandre laughed. “I’ll have my baking soda volcano ready.” He clicked on his poster. “I always forget how weird it sounds to people outside of academia. But every conference has a poster hall where scientists can learn about the latest research.”
“Well, if you want any branding help to make your presentation pop, I got you,” Mei said before turning back to her laptop.
· · ·
Alexandre worked for the next nine hours. Mei did, too. By the time the plane approached O‘ahu, Alexandre was cranky, yet deliriously excited. He’d nearly finished his article, presentation, and poster.
“Ready for vacation?” he asked Mei.
“Almost.” Her eyes were bloodshot with fatigue.
The captain’s voice sounded over the loudspeaker. “Well, folks, there’s a thunderstorm over Honolulu, which will make for a bumpy ride in. Please fasten your seat belts and remain seated. Mahalo.”
“Thunderstorm!” Mei exclaimed.
“Hopefully it’s just passing.”
The plane made a rocky descent. In the terminal, they reunited with Ali, Luc, and Kaia, then took a cab to their beachfront Waikīkī resort. Rain splattered the minivan’s windows. Alexandre peered out. He couldn’t see anything beyond the streetlights and highway.
“We all have ocean views,” Luc said once they’d gathered in his room for a quick Christmas dinner of sandwiches, chips, and cookies from the lobby convenience store. “We should be able to see the water tomorrow.”
· · ·
The next morning, rain poured from the sky. Alexandre checked the forecast. The storm was likely to last all day.
Alexandre had read up on O‘ahu and compiled a detailed list of beaches, hiking trails, snorkeling spots, kayaking outfitters, and surfing schools to check out. None of those activities were doable in a downpour.
We’ll think of something, Alexandre told himself as he rode the elevator down to the hotel’s breakfast buffet. Luc and Ali would find some way to entertain Kaia. Maybe he and Mei could rent a car and drive to an art museum, then get lunch.
At the restaurant, he found everyone at a table. Alexandre ran his hand through his hair and took the seat beside Mei. She barely looked up from her phone. Alexandre frowned. He spotted Livin’s logo and some kind of flowchart on her screen.
The waiter arrived with glasses of water. “Storms like this happen maybe once every four to five years. Usually showers come and go quickly.”
“Just our luck,” Mei said. “I guess I’ll catch up on work today.”
“We’ll probably watch movies,” Luc said. “You’re all welcome to join us for a Disney sing-along.”
Back in his room, Alexandre stood on his balcony, searching for any break in the clouds. All he saw was a black sky and sideways rain.
This was not how he expected to spend his vacation: alone in his hotel room.
Alexandre eyed his running shoes. The resort had a sizable fitness center; he could work out for a bit.
Then he saw his laptop. Even though his presentation no longer had much impact on his career, he still wanted to show up strong.
This paper would likely be the last to bear his name.
Everyone he’d worked with would be at the conference.
I’ll just give everything a final polish.
Alexandre made himself comfortable at the small round table in the corner of his room.
Hours later, his phone buzzed. Everyone was going downstairs for dinner. How was the whole day gone?
Alexandre met Luc, Ali, Kaia, and Mei at the hotel’s beachfront restaurant. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors remained sealed against the storm.
Beside him, Mei appeared bleary-eyed in an oversized cotton sweater, her hair pulled back in a loose bun.
“Were you working?” Alexandre asked.
“All day. You too?”
He grimaced. “Yeah.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his brother and Ali exchange a look.
· · ·
On Monday morning, the sky was as dark as night. Rain lashed the balcony doors. After breakfast, Alexandre eyed his laptop, then got down to work.
At three, the rain slowed to a trickle. Alexandre stepped onto the balcony. Angry storm clouds floated north, leaving behind a blue sky. The ocean sparkled. Waikīkī’s high-rises glistened in the sunlight. Lē‘ahi’s green volcanic crater rose proudly in the distance.
“Wow,” Alexandre breathed.
He texted the group chat.
Who’s up for the beach? Meet in the lobby!
He slipped on his flip-flops and raced downstairs. Ali, Luc, and Kaia exited another elevator a moment later. Alexandre’s phone buzzed with a reply from Mei.
Ahhhh, I just need to wrap something up. Will join soon!
Alexandre met Ali’s eyes as she frowned and pocketed her own phone. “Should one of us get her?”
Ali bit her lip. “Let’s give her a few minutes. Maybe she’ll surprise us.”
The four of them strolled out of the hotel. The soft golden sand of Waikīkī Beach stretched out before them. Blue water lapped the shore. Palm trees rustled overhead. Alexandre grinned at Luc. He’d never been anywhere so tropical.
They waded ankle-deep in the cool surf. All of Waikīkī had the same idea. People streamed onto the beach, laying down towels and bounding into the ocean.
In the distance, a set of gray clouds approached from the south.
Alexandre groaned. “Great.”
“Let’s enjoy this while it lasts,” Luc said.
And they did. Alexandre relished the sunshine on his shoulders, the warm breeze on his neck. He held Kaia’s hands and lifted her high above the gentle waves. They splashed in the surf until the first raindrops sent them scurrying back to the hotel.
Mei never made it out.
· · ·
That evening, Alexandre and Luc waited for their dinner order in the foyer of a takeout seafood joint. The scent of fried shrimp made Alexandre’s stomach rumble.
“So Ali and I have a mission for you,” Luc said.
Alexandre raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“Get Mei away from the resort. She’s beyond burnt out. She needs to be unplugged and fully occupied with other things so she can recover. Which is where you come in.”
Alexandre could think of a few ways to fully occupy Mei, none of which he cared to share with his brother. He’d certainly entertained a few fantasies involving nudity and secluded waterfalls. But he’d never make a move if Mei wasn’t in the right headspace.
“Go hiking,” Luc was saying. “Drive around the island. The North Shore beaches are supposed to be sick.”
“I can do that. What about you, Ali, and Kaia?”
Luc smiled, bemused. “You think we’d get a lot of hiking done with a three-year-old? Anyway, you need to get out, too. You’ve been consumed by zebrafish stuff since we got here.”
“It was raining! What was I supposed to do?”
“Go to a museum. Visit a brewery. Read about Hawaiian history. Work out—”
“Okay, got it.”
“I’m serious. You’ve even stopped shaving. I’m having flashbacks to the intervention.”
Alexandre ran his hand over his scruffy chin. Yeah, he’d been working. But only because of the rain. He turned back to Luc, about to retort, then softened at the concern in his brother’s eyes. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Good.” They sat for a minute, then a smile played at Luc’s lips. “So what are you thinking for tomorrow’s adventure with Mei?”