Chapter Thirty-Two
Kelly
“Ted, we still have another hour. Don’t you know it’s Sunday?” He whined at this, nudging me even harder.
“Okay, okay,” I said, as I unwrapped myself from the sheets and swung my legs over the side. I reluctantly got up and went to grab Ted’s food bowl. I filled it with food and then made my coffee.
I looked out the windows and saw that the sun hadn’t quite risen yet. I walked over to the sofa and plopped down, turning on the TV for some background noise. I checked my weather app and saw that the sun was supposed to come back out today after a week of rain.
“You know what, Ted? We can go for a nice, long hike today. What do you think about that?” Ted wagged his tail from where he was hoovering food into his mouth. “We just need to wait until the sun is fully up. So maybe in an hour. Then we might be able to make it home before lunch.”
I lay sleepily on the sofa, sipping my coffee, wondering for the millionth time what Reese was doing today.
I tried checking her social media, but she hadn’t posted anything since she left.
Her last post was a picture of us on Christmas, my arms wrapped around her, a small smile on her beautiful face.
I daydreamed about her for so long that before I knew it, the sun was beaming into my eyes. “That’s our cue,” I said to Ted.
I grabbed his leash, and he spastically started to jump around and claw at the front door. I opened the passenger side of my Tacoma, and he jumped right in, taking Reese’s spot. How long would it be before I didn’t think of that side as hers? Maybe I needed to get a new car.
Ted and I took off for Mānoa Falls. It was only about three miles round-trip, but it had some hills for Ted to run on, and I bet he would love to get in the water.
My head was foggy at first as Ted dragged me to keep up with him. When we reached the waterfall, I let him off his leash, and he swam around excitedly. I smiled at him, loving how happy he looked.
I took off my shirt and dipped into the water, shivering for a second as my body adjusted to the chill. It felt good to get out and move my body. To feel alive again after being in such a dark place.
Yes, I had lost the love of my life. But I could start over again. I was lucky to be living the life I had now. I had a great family and a career to be proud of. I would never meet another woman like Reese, but maybe there was still someone out there for me.
Liar. I was going to die alone. But I was okay with that.
After drying off in the sun, we ran back to the truck, and by the time we reached it, Ted was panting. I gave him some water, and he gratefully slurped it down.
I was on autopilot on the way home, thinking about all the errands I needed to do before the work week started tomorrow.
I was almost to my house when I slammed the brakes and came to an abrupt stop. Ted flew forward, and I put my arm out to stop him from hitting the dashboard.
“What the—” I saw a little silver Prius parked in my carport. I took a deep breath and realized that it must be Beth. I had seen Beth around, especially since she had started working some shifts at the diner.
I parked my truck on the side of the house so I wouldn’t block Beth in. I opened my door, and Ted leaped over me, not waiting for me to open his side. I saw his body disappear towards the front door as I leaned over to grab his harness from the passenger seat.
“Ted!” her voice sang out, and if I hadn’t already been sitting, I might have dropped to my knees just at the sound of her voice.
I sat up and saw Reese standing in my doorway.
Her hair was in a messy bun, and she was wearing leggings and the OSU hoodie I had let her borrow months ago.
It was clear she had just gotten off a plane because no one would wear leggings in this humidity.
Seeing her now, my memory and the photos I had didn’t do her justice.
She was more beautiful than I’d ever seen her.
Ted was jumping and licking her. She wrapped her arms around him for a hug, and he rested his head against hers as if he were home.
I was halfway up the driveway when she finally saw me. She stood up straight, her golden eyes fixed on me, but she stayed silent. I approached her slowly; if I went too quickly, she would disappear. She might not even be real. Maybe I had finally lost it, and I was just imagining the whole thing.
“Hello, Kelly,” an angel's voice spoke to me.
“Reese?” I asked in complete disbelief.
“I know I’m probably the last person you want to see. But I got the news, and I had to see you.” Up closer, her eyes looked pained and puffy, as if she had been crying.
“Reese,” I stepped closer. “What’s wrong?”
Her eyes welled up, and tears spilled over. I lost all composure at the sight of her tears and closed the distance, pulling her into my arms.
“I’m...so...sorry," she said between sobs. “I came as soon as I heard.”
As soon as she heard? As soon as she heard what?
Before I could ask, she squeezed me tighter. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when it happened. I should have been here.”
Now I was worried. “Ku’uipo, what are you talking about?”
She cried even harder at this, shaking her whole body. “Beth told me the news.”
I couldn’t resist kissing her temple out of habit, smoothing her hair. “Shh, it’s okay, Reese. I’m right here. You’re safe with me.”
We stood there for several moments until she reached up to wipe her eyes. She cleared her throat as she looked up at me, her eyes like melted gold.
“I’m sorry, Kelly. I came all this way to comfort you, and I’m the one being comforted.”
Her words completely baffled me, and she must have seen the confusion in my eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Beth called me.” She looked up at me, checking for any signs that I recognized what she was saying. “She told me that Tutu died.”
What the fuck? I had talked to Tutu last night before bed, promising her that I was coming to family dinner today.
“Where did she hear that?” I asked.
Reese’s eyebrows knitted together, and she pulled back just slightly. “Beth called yesterday, and I booked the first flight back so I could be here for you. Is Tutu not dead?” I could see relief starting to surface through her frustration.
“Not that I know. Let’s call her,” I said as she dropped her arms completely from me, crossing them in front of her. I was hoping with every ounce of my body that Tutu was alive and well, but God, did I hate how Reese was already turning away from me.
I dialed Tutu’s number with the phone on speaker. The phone only rang twice before she picked up.
“Aloha?” Tutu’s voice rang out loud and clear.
“Oi, aloha, Tutu. It’s Kelly. Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.”
She let out a mischievous little laugh before replying. “I’m doing great. Anything exciting going on with you?” Reese and I exchanged a glance.
They set us up.
“Nothing. I’ll see you tonight. We need to talk, though.”
“Is it about that animal you are growing on your face?” Tutu replied, quick as ever.
My cheeks reddened, and I quickly said, “No, Tutu. But I’ll see you tonight.”
“Kelly?” Tutu was straight-up giddy now.
“Yes?”
“Do bring Reese, will you?” She hung up before I had a chance to answer.
I was swatted in the chest before I could say anything.
“Was this all just a trick? Some ploy to get me to come back to Hawaii?” She started to stomp towards the Prius, and I ran after her.
“Reese, wait!” She didn’t stop, so I put my hand on her driver’s side door to block her from opening it. “You were set up, but not by me. I had no idea those two were in cahoots.”
She kept her back turned to me, with my body framing hers. She paused for a moment, simply breathing, before I sensed her relax against me.
“Ugh,” she groaned, rubbing her temples. She took several deep breaths before speaking again. “I know you wouldn’t do this. Freaking Beth! She lied straight to my face. And Tutu was in on this! I can’t believe—”
“Reese,” I cut her off. “What are you doing here?”
She didn’t turn around as she said, “I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know how much Tutu means to you and your family. And your family deserved my condolences.”
“Look at me,” I said again, and this time she turned around to face me, our faces mere inches apart. “What are you doing here?”
She looked deep into my eyes and then around my face. “That beard does look like a dead animal,” she finally said.
I laughed, “Join the club. Everyone wants me to shave.”
“I liked the Top Gun mustache. I could get on board with that. But the crazy mountain man beard doesn’t suit you.” She smiled at me, and I swear, I died a little right then and there.
“I knew you had a thing for the ‘stache.” I smiled back, unable to hide how happy I was to see her. “But why are you here?”
I didn’t think she would reply. I was waiting for her to shut down and shove me away. To tell me she was leaving again.
Instead, she took a deep breath. In and out.
“I’m here,” she said at last, “because someone once told me I needed to be brave. Only I could save myself. And he was right. I think I was waiting for someone else to come along and tell me that it was okay to live. But I needed to be courageous enough to do it. To take that leap. I’m here, Kelly, because I want to be brave with you.
I love you, Kelly Iona. I think I always have. ”
Reese stepped forward, gently placing her lips on mine. I melted into her as all the stress of the last few months disappeared.
She pulled away, and my eyes opened wide.
“That is, of course, if you still want to do this whole life thing with me,” she smiled shyly.
“It was always you.” I didn’t hesitate. “It will always be you.”