Chapter 36

After choosing a movie they planned to take his Escalade because Akaliiani wanted to leave her car for her brothers to use once they got done cleaning up the hall. Arriving at the coffee shop they picked up the entertainment section of two different papers from the stack at the door.

Over cups of coffee they discussed the merits of the movie selections. They easily narrowed the choices down to four that neither of them had seen and then they had a problem because the four that were left were all great choices. They reluctantly eliminated 'King Arthur' and 'The Butterfly Effect' which left them with 'Phantom Of The Opera' and 'National Treasure'.

"I've heard great things about both of these movies," Liiani offered.

"So have I," AJ admitted. "I've never seen a bad Nicholas Cage movie and Phantom is a timeless story." He thought for a moment and then said, "You know there is no reason we can't see both of them. We just need to pick one for tonight and then see the other later in the week."

"That's perfect!" she agreed and pulled a coin out of her purse. "How about 'heads' for Phantom because of his face, and 'tails' for National Treasure?"

"Fine with me," he nodded and watched her flip the coin.

"Tails!" Akaliiani announced. "National Treasure here we come!" she smiled.

"What about Phantom on Thurs? Isn't that your next evening off?"

"It is," she told him, pleased that he was keeping track of things like that.

They checked show times for National Treasure and then quickly paid for their coffee so they wouldn't miss the start of the show.

Both of them were pleased with their choice of show and were debating favorite parts all the way to Akaliiani's house. Finally the conclusion was that it had been a great movie one worth seeing again when it came out on video to catch any details they had missed.

As AJ pulled into her driveway she told him that she was really looking forward to seeing Phantom on Thursday.

"How about dinner at Callisto's before the show? I could come over straight from work if you don't mind the uniform?"

"I like you in uniform," she told him releasing her seat belt and sliding across the seat to caress his cheek.

Lowering his head they shared a tender kiss before the backyard light was turned on. Liiani groaned, pulling away and threatened, "They treat me like a teenager! I will kill which ever one of them did that!"

AJ chuckled, "I might know a lawyer or two that could defend you if you get caught!"

"Good," she sighed and then said, "I'll see you Thursday," as she slid out of his Escalade.

He had intended to spend Sunday doing yard work while Akaliiani was spending time with her family before some of them had to leave town, but that wasn't what ended up happening.

Gerald was the first to call informing him that he was expected at the big backyard BBQ bash that afternoon. When AJ questioned Gerald and found out that the 'big bash' was just the Benet family he tactfully tried to get out of it. He didn't want to cause the same tension as there had been at the party the day before. However, he might have been too ambiguous about attending when Gerald ended the call by saying, "See you at noon!"

He was just about to call Akaliiani and explain why he didn't feel that he should show up when his phone rang again. This time it was David Benet on the line. "Dad told me how you felt about coming today," David began after the 'hello's' were out of the way.

AJ was thinking 'so I did get through to Gerald' when David continued, "I wanted to let you know that everything has been cleared up. Nicci spoke to Francesca last night and discovered that she had been the one projecting her own feeling of abandonment from the father that had not been in her life on to you and Francesca. Your daughter set her straight on the situations between the two of you and I guess also gave Nicci an earful for not telling Francesca all these years how she had felt about both father's in question. They plan on having a long talk soon, but in the meantime the air has been cleared and both Nicci and I would really like you to come today."

To be continued…..