Chapter 30
Although the night hours had become small morning hours by the time he got home, Steve found Malina still awake, sitting outside in her usual spot, working on her computer. They sat in silence mostly. He informed her that the journalist who asked for an interview is a local woman, no record of any kind, working on her carrier as a journalist. Malina told him that she read some of Moani's articles and liked them. As a result, a decision was made that Malina will call her first thing in the morning and schedule an appointment.
"I'll leave you the car. Danny can pick me up." Steve said wondering if he should find a better solution to the transport situation.
She asked him about work. He told her about Danny and a confusing case that they had, that he couldn't even begin to describe.
Steve asked if she ever thought about going back to dance as a carrier. Malina told him that combining martial arts and gymnastics with ballet means her body had lost the elegance that ballerinas are required to have.
In the silence she thought about her lectures and he thought about the ring in his pocket. He got someone to get it, thinking that he'll return it if it's not perfect. But the moment he laid eyes on it all he wanted to do is give it to her. The ring was hers. It was study, yet feminine. Elegant, yet imperfect. Unique, yet understated. It was created for her.
In the morning as he looked at her rosy cheeks he knew that that was the place. That bed had become their safe, alone place. A place where the world existed but could be pushed out in a second. He moved the ring from his bedside stand and placed it under his pillow. As he watched her wake up he wondered how to start so that he doesn't freak her out again.
"You know, some day, when we're both old and wrinkly, and I need you to give me a little push to help me get out of the bed, and then I come over to your side to give you a little pull to help you out of the bed," he started and she giggled at the idea "I will still make fun of you for freaking out the way you did the other day."
She turned to him and said "As long as you don't freak me out like that ever again, I have no problem with you holding what has already been over my head forever."
"Hmm… Forever has to start somewhere. I thought, maybe, our forever could start right here… maybe right now." He took out the box and watched her. She kept smiling as she observed the box. He flipped the lid revealing the ring.
"Oh my goodness." She said. "Steve, that is gorgeous."
He took it out of the box "I hear the type of ring is vital. I heard it from someone who has nothing to do with any of this…"
"Are you…" She whispered.
"Asking you to marry me?" Steve said. "I am."
She smiled, breathing heavily "Yes." She said, her voice weak, her hand shaking. He placed the ring where it always belonged. It seemed that uniting the two completed her hand and completed the ring.
She stared at her own hand as if she had never seen it before. He said "Are you okay?"
"It's so perfect… I just…"
Steve laughed. "Relax. You're in good hands, I promise."
She nodded "I believe that. I really do. I only wish I knew why." She looked at him trying to find the answer.
"Give it time. In time, you'll know why. It'll become completely clear." Steve said.
"And…You know this means we won't have to keep sneaking around." She said raising her eyebrows.
"Oh no… I think we should keep sneaking around."
Malina laughed "I knew you liked that."
"What's not to like?" Steve said. "But, we do still have like half an hour…"
Good times makes minutes go very fast, so the breakfast was started later than usual. Malina had a story prepared in case Sofia wondered; she and Steve got chatting over their morning coffee and it led to an engagement, but she didn't need the story. Sofia was late appearing from her room on the account of getting a message from Sam inviting her out and making the plans.
Malina phoned the journalist.
"I have an opening at two thirty today, but if that's not good for you, I can move things around." Moani said excited by the opportunity.
"Oh no, two thirty works for me." Malina replied surprised that Moani was so excited.
Just as Malina finished the conversation, Sofia came down. It took her less than five seconds to spot the ring and start cheering. She hugged them both.
"But, of course, this has nothing to do with me. I am just happy for the two of you. Seriously. The first time I saw the two of you sitting on that bench in the garden, I swear I thought you were just… Made for one another." Sofia said relieved to get that off her chest.
"This calls for a celebration. How about we all go out to dinner tonight?" Steve suggested.
"Dress up!" Sofia exclaimed.
Malina smiled and agreed with a nod.
"Cool. Sam called me to hang out with her today. I could get something new and special for the occasion?" Sofia said.
"Oh, that means I should also go shopping." Malina said.
"I could get something for you too." Sofia suggested.
"I knew there was a reason why I had a daughter." Malina smiled and kissed Sofia. She was confident that Sofia will pick out something nice, she's done it numerous times before.
Chapter 31
Sam had her nose in a book when she got a message from Sofia asking if they could hang out again. That was the only message that could pull Sam away from the invigorating read. Although she had plenty of time, she decided not to risk running late. A good book was a guaranteed way to lose track of time.
Lou was pleased to see that Sam and Sofia were getting closer. It wasn't just that Sofia had a positive effect on Sam with her stories of war, but also because she was Steve's daughter. Lou felt like this was helping make the girl feel like Hawaii was her second home.
"Oh my goodness!" Sam exclaimed at the breakfast table looking at her phone. "Uncle Steve and aunt Malina just got engaged."
"Let me see." Lou said taking the phone from Sam. "Oh good on them. I knew it. Rene, check this out." Lou went to show his wife the news.
Sam sat, eating her cereal, smiling at the romantic story and then realised that Sofia also asked if they can go shopping for dresses. A question that Sam did not give a response to.
"Dad! I need my phone." Sam shouted heading the same way her father went.
Sam suggested they meet earlier because she knew a great dress shop in town. She said they could still meet at the mall and that she could drive them to Doll Up Doll.
Even though this meant that Malina would have to spend more time at the Citrus coffee shop waiting for her interview with Moani, she agreed to the change.
When they met at the parking lot Sam congratulated Malina and offered that she too comes to the dress shop with them.
"Oh no, thank you." Malina replied.
"Mummy doesn't like shopping." Sofia added.
"It's not… I just don't have the patience for it. Looking at a million things and never finding what you want is just not how I define pleasure. If I have to settle, then I might just as well buy the first thing I find. Right?"
"Mummy makes a list of what she needs, she goes out, buys that, and that's what she calls shopping." Sofia nodded at Sam.
"Well, it makes sense to me." Sam said. "In fact, why do we like shopping?"
"Oh no, don't go down that road." Sofia grabbed Sam's shoulder. "Do not go down that road."
They had a laugh, made plans to meet back at the mall at six, and then went their separate ways.
Malina found the café extremely pleasing. She sat on the balcony observing the passers. Ordinarily, in a situation like this she would be doing her work or guessing locals from tourists as she had done in other places closer to home. But today, all she could think about was the ring on her finger and if anybody had seen it. Do they know what it is? The idea of pushing Steve out of the bed because he can't get up on his own due to old age made her smile. She tried to hide the smile worried that people around her would think she's crazy. But then she pictured him moving slowly around the bed, over to her side, she's sitting, waiting for him to give her a hand made her laugh. Laughter was harder to hide and she spotted a number of people looking her way and smiling. She felt embarrassed.
Sam and Sofia played music in the car, driving towards some car park close to the beach and only ten minute walk from the Doll Up Doll shop. They judged the lyrics, not only on the grounds of good or bad, but also how well they worked with the melody. A number of songs sparked a memory that the girls shared.
The shop was a boutique full of unique dresses. Some were beautiful, some ugly, some crazy and other's 'completely wild'. Sofia wanted to try as many as possible. Sam went along with it and soon enough the shop keeper got involved and took part in their little game.
Sofia chose two dresses; one for herself and another for her mother. It was a tough decision and she was very proud to have eventually made it.
"Sofia, we've spent over three hours in the shop." Sam said laughing. "I am starving. Let's get something to eat."
"Great, how about we drop this off in the car and then we can grab a quick bite. You do not want to be late to meet my mother." Sofia said hoping that Sam won't notice her 'food issues'.
They left the bags in the car and walked for about fifteen minutes to a fast food truck. Sofia kept telling herself that it's food time in hope that once they get the food, she will just eat like 'a normal human being'. It worked. Sam did not notice anything.
On their way back to the car they laughed about something it was hard to tell what. By that stage, everything made them laugh. They didn't even notice when a black van pulled up nearby. Three people in masks, dressed in black jumped out. One grabbed Sofia by her torso and two grabbed her by the legs. Sam stood frozen. Sofia managed to free her legs, kick the two and free herself for the person who had their arms around her arms. She turned to run, calling out Sam's name, but one of the abductors caught her. She managed to kick the woman across the face leaning on the guy who caught her, but it wasn't enough. They pushed her into the car and drove off before the door was closed.
Sam stood paralysed as the van sped off and a couple of passers run towards her. Their presence helped her snap out of the shock. She took out her phone.
"Dad! They took her! Dad! Sofia! They took her!" Sam wept.