Note: YES, I'm still alive and YES I'm so sorry for leaving you all hanging for so long! It has been a very complicated year to say the least. I have had this ending on my mind for months, I just could not find the time or the energy to finish it. Thank you all for the concerns in your messages and reviews. I'm glad that 2021 is almost over! LOL. Thank you for being loyal and patient. My readers are the BEST! Sincerely... ALOHA to you ALL !
Chapter Seventeen
Luke Turner could never seem to catch a break in his pitiful life that was going nowhere, so when he was approached at the bar by Bryce, he considered this his 'big break'.
All he had to do was get hit in the face a couple of times. No sweat, he'd been hit in the face lots of times over the course of his thirty-two years, and most were his own fault for 'shooting off his big mouth' just like his old man used to say after he'd hit him, but now he was going to get paid big bucks for doing something that came naturally, shooting off his big mouth.
He chuckled as he took a drink of his beer while he sat at the bar.
"What are you so happy about?" Clint asked him as he closed the door on the mini dishwasher behind the bar.
"I just landed the most lucrative deal you can imagine. I'll be buying the bar rounds of drinks on Saturday night."
Clint rolled his eyes as he wiped off the bar a few seats down from Luke. "Ok, sure you will."
"You wait and see," Luke argued. "And you should be nicer to me, because I might even tip you big."
"You've been coming in here for the better part of what, three years, and I don't think I've ever got more than a couple of quarters from you."
"Beer is expensive," Luke argued.
"Then why don't you drink at home, it's cheaper."
"That's no way to talk to a patron. I could take my money someplace else."
"Go ahead," Clint chuckled. "I should have 86'd you from here after that fight you got in two years ago."
"But you didn't, so just quit harping on me and get me another beer."
Clint looked over at him, "You've already had four and it's only one o'clock, pace yourself Luke."
"Get me another one," he said, slapping five dollars on the bar.
"Look," Clint sighed, "just because you're my wife's little brother doesn't mean I can't and won't cut you off. Besides, I thought you were working down at the harbor."
"I was," Luke said, "but like I said, I found something more lucrative."
"You're not involved again with that guy, are you? I'm not bailing you out again Luke, I don't give a shit what my ole' lady says."
"No," he lied, "I quit gambling after last time."
But the truth was he didn't quit and he did owe money again, but with this new deal he had in the works, he could pay off his debt and have enough left over that could support him for at least a year without working.
He glanced at his cell phone, waiting anxiously for the text to, telling him where his mark was located. The rest was up to him.
He smiled over his good fortune, all he had to do was provoke some guy and take a couple of punches in the face. Easy money from his point of view.
…
Mandy stretched her arms over her head and smiled down at the test laying before her.
She leaned over and picked up her backpack as she stood up.
She went to the front of the room with the #2 pencil and test in her hand, dropping the paper in the basket with the other tests and the pencil in the same cup she had retrieved it from at the beginning of class.
She came out the classroom door and met up with two local Hawaiian male students that were talking at the end of the hall.
"Hey guys," she said to them. "What did you think?"
"Shit," one of them said as they all went out the glass doors to the outside. "That sucked. I don't know." He turned to Mandy, "What did you put for, who published the first journal of Experimental Psychology?"
"William Wundt, why, who did you choose?"
"Crap, I choose James."
"Me too," said the other guy.
"Oh," she replied, knowing without a doubt that it was Wundt. She'd gone over the flash cards with Steve ten times, knowing most of the answers on the test.
"You aced it," the one boy said as they approached the parking lot.
"I'm sure you guys did too," Mandy replied. "You always think you did terrible and then you do well."
"I hope so. I need at least an 82% on this test to get an A in the class."
"You'll get it," Mandy encouraged. "Did you use flash cards? They help me so much."
"No, not really. There was a party Saturday night at the Hula house. I didn't have time to do them."
Mandy laughed, "God you sound like my brother. Party over anything else."
"You should come to one," the other boy said.
Mandy laughed again, "I'm too old for frat parties, besides," she smiled across the way as she saw Steve walking toward her. "I have better things to do with my Saturday nights. Hi," she said to him as he got closer.
"Hey," Steve replied. "How was the final?"
They kissed each other hello before she replied. "Good. I think I did well."
"Of course you did." He looked at the two young men. "Hey guys, what's up?" he acknowledged the two men, having met them before.
"Hey man what's up?" they both did a fist bump with him. They both had secret crushes on Mandy but neither one would dare speak it verbally, nor did either think they could compete with Steve.
"We were just heading out," one of the boys said. "Talk to you later Mandy."
"Good seeing you again," the other said to Steve.
"Later guys," he replied.
"Bye," Mandy said and then looked at Steve. "And what do I owe the pleasure of this surprise?"
He moved close to her, putting his arms around her waist. "I had Danny drop me off. I took the rest of the day off so we could celebrate the end of your first semester."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, "That's so sweet. What are we going to do?"
"I thought we could take that drive up to the North Shore and watch the sunset on Waimea, maybe grab some dinner at Turtle Bay. I also arranged for us to stay the night at a buddy's rental that is vacant right now, it's right on the beach. I even packed an overnight bag for you so we could leave right now. What do you think?"
She smiled at the unexpected surprise. "I love it! And I love you for putting it together," she replied with a kiss.
"I love that you love it and I love even more that you love me."
He slipped the backpack off her shoulder and slung it over his, putting a hand on her back as they walked to her car.
Bryce watched from a rented white SUV a couple of rows over as Mandy handed Steve her keys. He popped the trunk and set her backpack inside and then held the passenger door open for her as she got in.
"Geez," Bryce huffed, "he's laying the chivalry on a little thick. She's so naïve'."
He started his car and began to follow them, keeping a safe distance, but couldn't help noticing the body language between them even while driving. Either McGarrett was laying it on thick, or he truly did feel something for her.
…..
The drive to the North Shore took about forty-five minutes. Bryce trailed behind them wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses so as not to be recognized by Steve or Mandy, but was pretty sure the vehicle following behind them was the last thing on their minds as they chatted and laughed several times from what he could see.
He looked in the directions that Steve motioned to as he drove, wondering what it was that he was pointing out to her. Some kind of Hawaiian history he assumed, knowing he had been born here.
They seemed at ease with each other. He recalled being in limos with Mandy as they went to and from events or dinners, they seldom spoke. They were usually on their phones.
He questioned that thought, recalling him being on the phone and her staring out the window, thinking back how he used to hate when she would get into those 'deep thought' moods. She seldom had anything interesting to say anyhow, but with McGarrett she couldn't seem to keep her mouth shut, wondering what it was about this guy that made her open up and become so chatty. The college courses were another thing that baffled him. She had mentioned it to him once before and he could not understand the ridiculousness of that idea at her age.
As they crossed the bridge into Haleiwa on the North Shore, Bryce looked around, appalled by the scenery of the small town which had uninviting shops with T-shirts and surf boards for sale on the front stoops.
He wasn't surprised that McGarrett had brought her here. It was old and seemed run down. A poor section of Hawaii he assumed, not appreciating the history nor understanding the rugged décor that was not, nor did it want to resemble Waikiki in the least.
The town was not run down, it was an artists and surfer's dream and they respected it and took care of it, not wanting the tourists to come and stay longer than a day or two. They couldn't stop them from visiting, enjoying their cash, but to live there you had to respect the code and the Hawaiian culture, otherwise you would always be an outsider, and treated as such by the locals who knew and cared for one another as the native islanders had been doing for generations.
Steve turned down a street between two tall overgrown bushes toward the beach.
Bryce slowed down as he passed the street, seeing that it was actually a long driveway that led up to a small single-story house.
Both Mandy and Steve got out as he watched them walk to the back of the car.
The car behind him honked and he looked in the rearview mirror seeing an old pickup truck with two surfboards coming over top of the cab from the back.
They honked again and he moved forward a couple of houses until there was room to park and pulled over. He got out and quickly walked back to the overgrown bushes, peering around them as he watched Steve and Mandy go in the house, arm and arm.
Steve held a small suitcase in his other hand which meant they were probably spending the night.
Bryce went back to his rented SUV and pulled out his cell phone, texting Luke Turner.
…
An hour later Luke came in the bar that was located in the Turtle Bay Hilton. The golf resort was a few miles up the road from where Steve and Mandy were staying and the atmosphere was a little more Bryce's style compared to the strip mall bars in the town of Haleiwa.
Luke spotted him and came over to the table he was at and sat down.
"Hey. So what's the plan?" Luke asked him.
"Plan?" Bryce responded, looking at him appalled, "I'm paying…" he began and then leaned forward, whispering, "I'm paying you good money to make your own plan."
"Ok, ok," Luke replied. "Calm yourself. Are they staying here at the Turtle Bay?" he glanced around the room. He'd been here before, not in the bar or as a guest, but as a pool cleaner when he worked for a pool company in Honolulu. He could never afford to drink there let alone stay there.
"No," Bryce said, taking a drink of his scotch and water. "They're at a house not far up the road."
"At a house. How am I supposed to pick a fight with him there?"
"You wait for them to leave the house," he said sarcastically.
"Yea, I guess I could maybe catch him on the beach tonight if they come out."
"You need witness," Bryce scolded him. "I told you that." He began to doubt this person's ability to do the job he'd hired him for.
"I thought I just needed to get him to hit me? I didn't know I had to put on a show too?"
"Of course, otherwise it would be his word against yours. You need witnesses saying that he provoked you and then attacked you. We discussed the details already, why do I have to go over them again?" Bryce said annoyed.
Luke thought about a couple of local surf guys that he knew that he was sure would be more than willing to make a couple of bucks and put away a haole all at the same time. "If you want witnesses, it's going to cost extra."
"I'm already paying you $10,000."
"If you want witnesses it's going to be another $1000."
"Fine," Bryce said between gritted teeth, "but I want it done soon. Soon!" he repeated more adamantly.
"I hear ya. I'll get it done in the next 24 hours, don't worry."
….
Mandy stood on the lanai of the rental house, overlooking Sunset Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The afternoon tide rolled in as the waves tumbled over the sand. In the distance she could see a group of surfers bobbing in the water, waiting for the perfect wave to ride ashore.
Steve came out the open sliding glass door, admiring the view of the woman not the beach. She was perfect in his eyes, even from behind.
He came up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist, speaking softly into her ear.
"I love you."
She felt the words flow through her, tingling all of her senses. She turned her head, seeing his lips, whispering back before she kissed him.
"I love you, too."
The kiss was warm and enjoyable, making her feel even more giddy.
She turned her face back toward the water and gasped, seeing his free hand held out in front of her, holding a small blue velvet box in the palm of it.
"For you," he said to her.
She hesitated for only a moment, being instantly blinded by the tears that filled her eyes.
"I love it," she whispered softly.
Steve chuckled over that, "You haven't even opened it yet."
"It doesn't matter," she said, taking it from his hand and turning her body, wrapping her arms around his neck. "It could be a gumball ring and I would love it and wear it every day with pure joy and pride."
He laughed, "You are easy to please Amanda McKay."
She leaned back and held the box between them. "Not McKay for long," she smiled, opening it up.
He watched her reaction, hoping it would be the one he wanted. If it were someone in her previous crowd giving her an engagement ring it would probably be six carts and not the two that he was offering, but it was all he could afford and then some. But he was happy with the purchase, hoping she was too.
"Oh my god," she whispered. "It's so beautiful." She looked up at him with new tears in her eyes, "It's exactly what I would have picked out."
He let out a small breath of relief, "Are you sure? If you want to exchange…"
"Never!" she countered. "Never, never, never. It's mine forever. It's perfect."
Her reaction was better than he had hoped for, filling him with the same excitement and happiness that she was feeling.
He took it out and slipped it on her left hand, admiring it on her delicate finger.
"It looks good."
"Thank you," she replied.
"Let's go celebrate," he suggested. "We can talk about dates."
"Yes," she replied with sparkling eyes, "I can show off my new ring," She reached up and kissed him, "and my handsome new fiancé."
….
"Here he comes," Luke said to his companions as they stood a few cars down from Mandy's car
There were three local men that he had hired to assist in the attack, one seemed semi-interested as he texted his girlfriend on his phone, the other lit a cigarette and picked at a scab on his elbow from a scrape with some coral the day before while surfing. The third was the one that seemed most interested in the job. All of them wore tank tops and board shorts and ABC store flip flops on their feet. They were being paid a thousand dollars to just witness the event and claim Luke was attacked by the guy. Seemed simple enough, although they hesitated knowing Luke far too well and demanded to see the money first before they agreed.
Steve put an arm over Mandy's shoulder as they walked from the restaurant to her car. "Do you still want some shaved ice for dessert?" he asked her. "I think Matsumoto's is open until eight. Best shaved ice in Hawaii. But don't tell Kamekona I said that. He'd put a hit out on me."
She laughed and pretended to zip her lips. "Yes, I want some, and your secret is safe with me."
"That's why I like you, you always got my back."
The smoking man took a step closer to the man in question as they approached, getting a clear view, reaching over smacking his buddy on the shoulder that was still busy picking his scab. He looked up as his friend motioned to Steve.
"What? No way," the scab picker said. "Hey Brah, is that the dude you wanna shake down?"
"Yea," Luke said, feeling his adrenalin begin to pump, picturing all that cash in his hand. "That's him and his old lady. I'm going to start on her to get him going."
He turned just then to give them further instructions but all three were walking away without a word said to him.
"Hey!" Luke called out, catching up with them. "Where are you going?"
The third one turned to him as the other two kept walking. "Do you know who that is?"
Luke looked back over his shoulder at Steve and Mandy. "Yea, he's some douchebag that going to make you an easy grand. Who the fuck cares who he is?"
The man laughed and took a step back, "He's kamaaina here in our community. Not with us but with people we know and you don't fuck with kamaaina. We're out." He turned and the three of them kept walking, neglecting to tell him that he was also a cop.
"Hey," Luke called out in a loud whisper, "what about the money?"
"Kamaaina dude," one of them replied "My life is worth more than a grand."
"I need witnesses," Luke said to no avail as the three of them disappeared around the corner towards the beach.
"Shit," he grumbled, looking back at Steve and Mandy as they stood by her car.
Just then another couple came out of the restaurant. Luke smiled to himself, seeing them as his witnesses, free of charge.
"Hey!" he called out as he approached Steve and Mandy.
They both turned seeing Luke but neither one recognized him as someone they knew, nor did either of them think he posed a threat.
Steve instinctively stepped in front of Mandy, greeting him, "Hey," he replied, wondering if he was going to ask him for a jump, or perhaps some spare change.
"Can I get a lift back to town," Luke asked, assuming he would say no.
If he would have had his truck or been alone, Steve thought he might have agreed, but he wasn't about to give a stranger a ride with Mandy with him.
"Sorry buddy, not tonight, can I call a ride for ya?"
"Don't be stingy man," Luke argued, "just give me a lift."
"I already said no but if you need it, I'll call someone if you give me a number, but that's my only offer."
"Don't be a dick," Luke provoked, glancing over at his witnesses that were getting ready to get in their car and disappear. He needed their attention and Steve to get mad enough in the next three seconds to hit him.
He slammed his fist on top of the car, causing a loud bang and then looked at Mandy. "Maybe she can suck my dick while you drive."
Steve stepped forward ready to give him what he was asking for, but the reaction from Luke in the next second set off all sorts of alarms in his head.
Luke saw it coming and braced himself, his face contorting to take the blow that he knew was going to hurt, perhaps even knock him out.
Steve held back, getting the strong feeling that this guy was expecting to get hit, and by the harsh, and now what he considered provoking words, was almost hoping to get hit.
"Who are you?" Steve asked him, his voice low and threatening.
Luke looked past him, seeing his witnesses start their car and drive away. His opportunity this time was gone. He went to make a departure when Steve grabbed him and turned his body, pushing him against the car.
Mandy let out a gasp, still reeling over the confrontation and unprovoked insult.
"Who are you?" Steve demanded again. "I know you aren't just some Joe Shmoe looking for a lift, you're looking for a fight? Why?"
"Get off me?" Luke wiggled.
Steve reached in his back pocket and took out his badge, setting it on the hood of the car in front of Luke's face. "We can talk about it right here, or we can talk about it down at the local police station. You got one second to make up your mind."
"What the fuck," Luke yelled. "You're a cop? No one told me you were a cop!"
Steve grabbed him by the arm and whipped him around, slamming his back against the car, "Who is no one?"
All Luke could think about was the money he was going to lose now that this job was a bust. "I'll tell you," he said, licking his bottom lip, "for a thousand bucks."
Steve stuck his forearm against his throat. "Why don't you tell me for free and I'll spare you the hassle of picking all your teeth up off the ground."
"You wanna hit me?' Luke asked, almost a little too eager for it. "Go ahead, hit me. I dare you. Hit me!"
Steve pushed back off of him. "What the hell is this? You're begging for it. Why do you want me to hit you so bad, huh? Or who wants me to hit you? What kind of edge are you looking for to get punched by me?"
Mandy felt a cold chill run down her spine. She reached in her purse for her phone and quickly flipped through the pictures. She came to her father and held it up. "Is this the man you are referring to as 'no one'?"
Luke looked at the photo but refused to answer, even though he didn't know the guy.
"Is it?" Mandy demanded. "Did he pay you to provoke Steve?"
"Fuck you!"
Steve reached under Luke's armpits from behind and grabbed the back of his ears, pulling them forward as he yelled out in pain.
"You're going to answer the lady's question or I'm going to rip your ears right off your skull."
Luke tried to struggle and Steve pulled harder as he let out another cry.
"Ok, ok," Luke whimpered, "that's not him. I swear it! I swear it!"
Mandy took her phone back again and held up a picture of Bryce. "Is it him?"
Luke looked and huffed, knowing all he was going to get out of all this was a bad headache and sore ears. "Yes! Yes! That's the dude," he gasped. "Now let me go man it hurts!"
Mandy looked at Steve with a pained expression that about broke his heart. "It's my father," she said quietly, "I know it is." She turned and walked away from them, feeling her heart sink.
Steve let go of Luke and shoved him. "Get out of here." He watched Luke cover his ears and rub them as he backed away. "And tell your boss he better high tail it back to New York, because if he stays on my island, I'm coming for him."
Luke turned and started jogging away toward the beach, glancing over his shoulder every few steps to make sure he was actually getting away free and clear, counting his blessings but still pissed off that he wasn't going to get his money.
Steve went to Mandy as she stood off to the side, wiping her eyes as he came up beside her.
"I'm sorry," he said to her, running a hand down her hair. "I'm so sorry you have to deal with this shit because of me."
She looked over at him confused, "It's not because of you, it's because of him. I'm sorry that you have to deal with this shit because of me."
He put his arms around her as she buried her face in his neck, "I'll talk to him again."
"No," she replied, looking up at him. "I'll talk to him, one last time." She put her head back down in the comfort of his embrace. "And it will be the last time."
He hated to hear that coming from her, but the old man was really giving them no other choice.
…..
Mandy knocked on the door of her father's luxury suite. Her anger had settled and all that was left was resentment and bitterness towards him, something that she had felt for years but had always been afraid to confront him with, until today.
Bryce opened the door and was shocked to see Mandy and not room service standing there with the dinner they had ordered.
"Amanda?" he said, as if her presence was abnormal in her father's house.
"Where is he?" she blurted out, going past him. Her anger resurfacing over his presence.
"It's good to see you," Bryce began when she turned on him.
"Shut up! Just shut up you creepy, spineless poor excuse for a man! Shut up and don't ever speak to me again!"
She saw past Bryce's stunned expression to her father's equal one as he came in the room.
"Amanda! Mind your tongue and your manners."
"I will not! Get out!" she said to Bryce, "Now! I want to speak to my father, alone! Oh, and by the way," she added, speaking to both of them, "Steve was on to your stupid little plan after about two seconds."
The two men looked at each other, knowing exactly what she was talking about.
Peter finally nodded and motioned for Bryce to leave.
Once the door closed and he was gone, she realized that throwing a fit and yelling was not going to get her anywhere. He would only see her as irrational. She calmed herself, knowing very well that this could be the last time she ever spoke to him.
"I'm sorry, Dad," she said calmly.
A small smile grew on his lips, assured she had come to her senses, until she completed what she had come to say.
"I'm sorry that you are so disappointed in my choice for a husband, but then again you were always disappointed in all of my choices throughout my life. I'm sorry I was never good enough for you. I'm sorry that you love money and possessions more than you love your children. I'm sorry that you have to go back to New York and tell all your friends that your poor, halfwit daughter married some blue-collar cop. I hope they understand and are there for you in your time of grief. And I hope they are there for you later on in your life for companionship too, because they will be the only family you will ever have."
She felt a strength inside of her that had been growing since she broke away from that life and chose to live a better one in Hawaii.
"I love Steve. He loves me, and it's not for my money because I don't have any. He loves me for who I am and who I want to be. There is no way for me to prove that to you, except with time. I feel so sorry for you, because when Steve and I are celebrating our twenty-fifth anniversary and are surrounded by our children and Steve's friends, who our kids will love as much as their Uncle Cash, they will not however, nor will they ever know their grandfather. You won't ever be spoken of."
She walked to the door, refusing to look at him. "Goodbye Peter McKay."
She left with no guilt and no remorse. In the end he's the one that had made the ultimate choice to abandon her.
…..
Mandy laid on her side in Steve's bed, looking out the open door of the lanai at the ocean in the distance.
A soft breeze blew in and she caught just a hint of the pleasant aroma from the flowers that lined the backyard.
Steve rolled over and put an arm over her waist, still half asleep.
"Good morning," Mandy whispered.
"Morning," he mumbled with a long, drawn-out yawn. "What's your plan today?"
"I don't know. It's Sunday, relax and just hang out."
"I like that," he said with his eyes still closed.
"I need to call Cash today. I want make sure he's doing ok."
"I'm sure he's fine," Steve assured her.
"I know, I just want to hear his voice is all."
Steve snuggled closer to her, understanding why she wanted to hear Cash's voice. He was her family and she wanted to make sure that she and her brother stayed as close as ever, especially now.
It had been over two weeks since she had confronted her father in the hotel room and even though she had claimed she was at peace with her decision not to speak to him ever again, Steve knew it weighed heavy on her, and would for some time. She was a sweet, good hearted person and had tried for years to keep the peace in her family, taking over her mother's roll, but she had her breaking point that day in the hotel, nonetheless, it was going to take some time before she could heal from it. He understood that and did the best he could to support her, but at times like this all he could do was just hold her, letting her know she was not alone in this world. She was loved, deeply.
They both heard the knock on the door downstairs and then seconds later the doorbell.
Steve moaned and rolled over, throwing the covers off. "It's Sunday morning. That's just rude."
Mandy stood up and reached for her robe, covering her naked body as Steve did the same with a pair of black sweats.
"I'll get it," he said, going for the bedroom door.
He came down the steps running his hand over his hair and yawning once again before unlocking the door.
He opened it and felt a wave of déjà vu sweep over him.
"Good morning, Mr. McGarrett," Gordon Linfield said, standing there in a black suit looking exactly the same way he had several months earlier the first time Steve had met him. "I'm assuming Ms. McKay is here as well?" he asked.
"Gordon?!" Mandy said in shock as she approached the door. "What are you doing here?"
"Good morning, Amanda," he smiled graciously at her, always liking her compared to her brother who joked around too much at his expense. "I'm here to deliver a letter to you and Mr. McGarrett."
She came and stood next to Steve, not liking the sound of that. "You know I respect and have always liked you, Gordon. You have been a wonderful lawyer and advisor to Cash and I when needed, but I no longer want to be associated to my father and his business, so whatever news you have for me," she assumed it was to tell her she was cut off, "I don't care. I don't want his money anyway." She wrapped her hands around Steve's bicep, "Didn't you hear, I won the lottery," she glanced up at him, "I'm filthy rich now."
Steve chuckled over that and smiled brightly over at Gordon who he was shocked to see also had a slightly amused grin on his face.
"Very well, but I have been instructed to deliver this to you both." He reached in the breast pocket of his suit coat and took out a white envelope with her father's business logo on it and both she and Steve's names on it, extending it out to her.
"No thank you."
"Please, Ms. McKay," he extended his hand further.
"I said I don't want it."
Steve let out a heavy sigh, "Please take it. Trust me, I know this guy, he will not leave us alone until he has completed his job, so for the love of god please just take it."
"Fine," she reached out and gently snatched the envelope from his hand and then handed it to Steve, "Here, it's yours now."
Steve rolled his eyes and took it. "Are we all good here?" he asked Gordon.
"Yes, we are," he replied and looked at Mandy with a pleasant smile, "It was nice to see you again, Amanda, please be well, and if you are ever in need of my services, you know how to get a hold of me."
Mandy smiled sweetly at him, taking his hand that was held out to her. He squeezed it ever so gently.
"Thank you, Gordon."
He nodded to her and then reached his hand out to Steve, "Mr. McGarrett, a pleasure as always."
Steve shook his hand firmly, "Aloha Mr. Linfield, take a day and enjoy the beach before rushing off to the airport," he joked.
That actually got a chuckle out of Gordon which in turned surprised both Steve and Mandy, making them smile.
Gordon turned and left, walking toward his black rented sedan that was parked in the driveway.
Steve closed the door and handed the envelope back to Mandy.
She held her hands up, "No way, you took it, it's yours now." She turned and walked to the kitchen.
"Hey, wait a minute," Steve objected, following behind her. "I just took it so he would go away."
"It has your name on it too," she replied, taking out the old coffee grounds from the coffee maker.
He glanced down at it and noticed his name too, "So it does. Hmm, that's odd. What does he want from me?"
"Who cares," Mandy snapped, filling the coffee pot with water.
"Aren't you curious?"
"No, but if you are, go ahead and open it, but just be warned you might be opening up a can of worms."
He sat down at the table in the kitchen staring down at the envelope in his hand, knowing he would not get through the end of the day without his curiosity getting the better of him, and if it was something serious, he wanted to get a jump on it.
Mandy turned her head from the coffee maker, hearing him tear open the envelope. She faced the window and put her hands on the counter, bracing herself for the bad news.
Steve looked at the white piece of paper and flipped it over glancing at the back. "It's an address and a time," he said perplexed, "that's it."
She turned and stared at him, "What?"
He held out the paper to her, "An address, here in Hawaii. It's saying Magic Island Park at 10:00am today. That's it."
She took it from him and did the same, turning it over looking back to front, "That's weird. What is he going to do, put out a hit on us if we show up?"
Steve looked at her as if that were absurd, "C'mon, aren't you the least bit curious?"
She crossed her arms stubbornly, "No!"
"Yes, you are and so am I."
"It's your nature to be curious, you're a cop, but I know my father and he took the curiosity out of me when it comes to him."
"He can't hurt you anymore."
"Don't be so sure."
"I won't let him," he said firmly, "but if you don't want to go, then we won't."
"You really want to do this?"
"If he's trying to mess with us again, I would just rather know now and not be blindsided down the road. You're right, being a cop makes me curious, but it also makes me want to stay one step ahead of the offender if I can get there, so I can snuff him out."
Mandy rolled her eyes at him now and smiled, stepping up on her toes, face to face with him, "Fine, we'll go," she said before kissing him.
"I can go by myself if you really don't want to," he said, giving her the option.
"No, I'll go with you. We're a team. I go where you go."
He kissed her this time. "We're a great team. No one can come between us ever again.
….
Steve pulled his truck into the parking lot of Magic Island Park, a small peninsula that was located just north of Waikiki and adjacent to Ala Moana Beach. The park consisted of a walking path and several trees throughout with an unobstructed view of the Pacific at the far end. Several benches were also located along the path for people to sit and enjoy watching the waves crash up against the rocky edge or the fish frolicking in the water below.
A small beach at the far end of the park with an outer rocky barrier, which protected it from the ocean waves and made it perfect for swimming, was created in the 1960's by a developer that had intended to build a hotel on the site, but ran out of money. The island was later turned into a park and was like a hidden gem between the busy hotels and shopping malls of Waikiki.
Steve knew the place well, taking advantage of the path for a run and then just sitting afterward on one of the benches and enjoying the spectacular view and peacefulness of his island home.
Both Steve and Mandy began walking from the parking lot to the park.
"Where are we supposed to go?" Mandy asked.
"We'll find whatever it is, I'm sure," Steve replied. "The park isn't that big."
Just then she saw a familiar face coming toward them on the walking path that ran directly down the middle of the island.
"Cash!" Mandy yelled out with excitement and took off running toward him.
"Hey Sis," he smiled brightly, hugging her tightly as she leapt into his arms.
"What are you doing here?! I was just telling Steve I was going to call you today to see how you were." She squeezed him one more time before letting go, but her smile and joy suddenly vanished as she saw another familiar face approaching them from the path. She pushed off her brother, "What is he doing here?" she said bitterly of her father.
"Calm down," Cash quickly replied. "He just wants to talk to you."
"No! Do you have any idea the crap that he has pulled on Steve and I?"
"Yes, and he's is well aware of his mistakes. Just hear him out, Mandy."
"No," she said stubbornly, watching as he stopped on the path, keeping his distance from them.
"How you doing, Cash," Steve said to him. They shook hands but Steve's eyes were on Peter.
"Good to see ya, Steve." He turned and saw the same image. "He just wants to talk to you both, that's all."
"I can't believe you are defending him," Mandy blasted her brother. "You know the shit that Steve and I have gone through and now you want me to listen to him as he tries to snag me in another trap! No thank you!"
"I know you're pissed Mandy, and you should be, but he's not here to trick you," he looked at Steve, "neither of you. He wants to make amends, and that's all. Please," he pleaded with Steve whom he thought would be more understanding.
"He's done a lot of damage to Mandy," Steve said, "I don't want to see her hurt anymore from this guy, father or not."
"I understand," Cash argued, "you have a right to feel angry and apprehensive, but," he turned to his sister, "Dad and I had a long talk the other day and he means well. I don't know what you said to him the last time you spoke, but he was deeply affected by it."
"He told you about that?"
"Not the details but just that you came to his hotel and basically said, goodbye. Once the dust settled, it crushed him."
"Good, I'm not sorry I did it," she quickly defended.
"Neither am I, it's obviously what he needed to hear. Don't get me wrong, I'm commending you, not scolding you, Sis. I'm glad you said what you did."
She looked past him to her father who still stood a fair distance away, watching them intently.
Mandy turned to Steve, "What do you think?"
"It's up to you. I'll stand behind whatever you decide."
She looked back over at her father and when she did, he raised his hand as if saying hello and then let it fall as if he were self-conscious of the gesture and nervous. It was the first time she had ever witnessed Peter McKay as anything other than cocky and confident.
She had Steve by her side and with Cash's assurance she didn't fear him as she once had.
"Ok," she agreed, "I'll give him five minutes."
Cash smiled and stepped out of the way of the path between the two of them. "That's all he's asking for."
She let out a deep breath and felt Steve's hand slip inside of hers. She looked over at him and squeezed it, glad he was there.
"It's just a walk in the park," he smiled, assuring her that she was safe with him.
She nodded in agreement and they both began to walk toward Peter who shifted his posture nervously in anticipation of the reunion.
"We listen to what he has to say, and then we're out of here," she said firmly.
"Agreed."
As they came within hearing distance, it was Peter who spoke first.
"Thank you for coming," he said sincerely to his daughter. "Both of you," he added, acknowledging Steve.
Steve was silent, but his cold stare was a clear warning to Peter that he was walking on thin ice.
"We're here," Mandy said, "What do you want?"
Her tone was also clear, she was not afraid of him, nor had she missed him, unlike both of those feelings in him that ran deep since their last encounter. This was his one chance to make amends, taking Cash's advice to do something he was unfamiliar with. He needed to humble himself and see the pain and resentment in his daughter's eyes that he had put there. He had to speak from his heart for once in his life and not from his head.
When she had called him Peter McKay as she left his hotel room and not Father, he had found it shocking and disrespectful, but later on when he recounted the same words, he found it heartbreaking.
"I take full responsibility for what I did to you and Steve," he began, "At the time I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I see how incredibly wrong I was." His expression became sympathetic. "There are so many things that I did where you were concerned that was wrong. I've been a terrible father, and an even worse role model for you and your brother. Your mother," he began and then bent his head, hiding the grief and sadness that suddenly overcame him, "she would have been so disappointed in me," his whispered. "I failed you and your brother, but I also failed her," his voice choked.
Steve glanced over at Mandy, seeing a shocked and bewildered expression on her face, as if the man in front of her had suddenly become a perfect stranger.
"I know apologizing to you," Peter continued, "will not automatically grant the forgiveness that I'm seeking from you or Steve, but," he let out a soft sigh, "I'm hoping and asking, that you please give me another chance Mandy."
It was the first time she could ever recall him calling her Mandy, he had always used Amanda, telling her once the nickname was tacky and not a proper one, she was eight at the time and even though everyone else had adapted to her wishes, he refused. She believed it was because he wanted to have it his way, the same with everything else in his life.
"Why?" Mandy replied, not giving in so easily as he had predicted. "Why all of a sudden the change of heart?"
"It was what you said to me in the hotel the last time we spoke," Peter replied sincerely. He took a step closer to her, "I am alone. I always felt that I had you and Cash as my family and that even though we didn't see eye to eye that you were there. And you always would be because of the money, but that day changed everything. You left, and then Cash left, leaving it all behind. At first I was angry but then I was in New York and I was in my apartment, in my huge, cold and lonely ten-million-dollar apartment and I felt an overwhelming wave of sadness wash over me. A tidal wave really. It was your words telling me that my name and the title of Grandfather would never be known to your children. It was a chapter in my life that your mother and I often spoke of when we became older. The fun we would have with our grandchildren, the places we would take them that we had enjoyed so much together, and I realized at that moment it was all gone. You really were never going to come back."
Mandy reached over and took Steve's hand. "You left me no choice. I love Steve. You are too blind and selfish to see that."
"No," Peter quicky replied, "I was before, but I'm not now." He spoke to both of them, "I'm sorry for what I had done and the things I have said. I'm truly sorry. Please, forgive me. Please. I don't want it to be this way."
"And what about Bryce," Mandy asked, "where does your little goon fit into all of this?"
"We had it out and he's gone from my life. He was never right for you," Peter admitted. "He was what I wanted, not what you wanted. Your brother was very clear on that as well. He said you were happy and that Steve was good to you." He focused on Steve, "As a father that should have been enough. I'm grateful to you for taking care of my daughter." He reached his hand out, keeping his eyes focused on Steve's.
Steve hesitated and then shook his hand, "I appreciate that, but for the record, Mandy needs no taking care of. She's a strong, smart, independent woman who knows what she wants and works hard to get it."
"Yes," Peter agreed as they shook hands, "she has always stood out among her peers and now looking back I tried to cover that up with money and pressure. It was a mistake." He looked at his daughter. "I'm glad that you were stronger than me. I wish I could go back and change things but I can't, I can only go forward and hope that I can make things better."
"I don't regret anything," Mandy confessed. "If my life would have been different, I may not have ended up here." She moved closer to Steve, "Everything happened for a reason and I'm very happy with the outcome."
Steve put an arm around her waist, "Me too," he smiled. "That storm on the boat was the best thing that ever happened to me."
"All of us," Peter announced.
"So…" Cash said as he slowly moved closer to the group, "have we all kissed and made up?"
Peter looked at his daughter for that answer.
"Yes," she smiled.
"Happy wife, happy life," Steve grinned.
Peter and Mandy hugged, sealing the deal.
…..
Steve came up behind Mandy as she stood on the second deck of The Fair Maiden, looking down at the group of family and friends below who had just witnessed them exchanging their vows thirty minutes earlier.
She had on a long, silky white dress that formed around her perfect figure.
"Hello," he whispered, putting both arms around her waist from behind. He wore an off-white shirt and tan slacks, keeping the event casual and not over the top as the press would have liked.
She looked over her shoulder at him, "Hello."
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look today, and how proud I am to be standing here and being able to call you my wife?"
Mandy smiled, laying her head back next to his, "I love you. I feel so incredibly blessed right now."
"This is where you were standing, the first time I ever saw you," Steve recalled. "I'll never forget the way it made me feel."
"I remember, because it was the first time I ever saw you too and I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest."
"Love at first sight. I believe in it now."
She smiled, turning her body to face him.
"Hey you two," Danny yelled up from the lower deck. "Now that the honeymoon is winding down," he joked as the others laughed, "how does it really feel to be married?"
They both chuckled, looking at each other as they learned in and kissed, long and deep.
"Whoa!" Danny laughed, holding up his beer as the others in the group including Cash, Kono and Chin cheered, toasting them as well.
Peter stood off to the side of the newlyweds, grinning over the display in front of him. She really was happy, he thought. He felt a hint of regret over all the pain he'd caused, but was relieved that she had forgiven him.
"Mandy, Steve," Peter said as he approached them, both of them looking blissfully happy after the kiss.
"Hi Dad," Mandy replied, giving him a hug, "did you get something to eat?"
He smiled over her concern for him, "Yes, the Hawaiian food is delicious. Frederick really out did himself this time."
"The man is a genius with food," Steve added. "Thanks again, Peter for letting us get married on the boat. It was the perfect place."
"It was my pleasure. I was up last night, wandering around the boat and thinking about today." He looked at Mandy as his eyes became misty, "And thinking about your mother. I wish she were here."
Mandy took his hand and gently squeezed it, "Me too, but in a way she was. She's always with me."
Peter nodded, "She was an amazing woman, and I see so much of her in you. I thought about that last night as well. She was a sentimental person, which brings me to the reason I came up here. I know the money is not important to you, but if you ever change your mind, all you have to do is contact Gordon. It's all there, your allowance from me and from your mother."
Mandy smiled graciously, "Thanks Dad."
"I also wanted to give you a wedding gift that would mean something to you. Something that I honestly believe your mother would have approved and practically insisted upon."
Steve and Mandy looked at each other, neither having a clue to what it could be. A trip perhaps.
He reached in his pocket and took out an object and opened his hand, displaying an odd shaped key in the palm of his hand. "Here, this is for you and Steve."
Mandy gasped and quickly looked up at him in shock. "Dad, are you serious?"
"Yes. I want you to have it."
"What is it?" Steve asked confused.
Mandy barely got the words out, "It's the key to the Fair Maiden."
Steve's mouth came open with the same shocked expression. "The yacht?" he questioned just to make sure he was understanding, "You're giving us the yacht?"
"Yes," Peter replied calmly. "This is where you met and where you fell in love. I want you to have it. I have purchased a slip at the local dock and it will remain here. I have also hired a local company that will handle all the maintenance and have a staff on call when you want to take it out. The bills will all come to me, all you have to do is enjoy it, and I hope you will. It even comes with a chef," he grinned.
"I don't know what to say," Steve spoke, still in shock.
"I do," Mandy said. She stepped forward and hugged him. The boat and the money were generous but the thing that impressed her the most was that he had finally accepted her for who she was. It meant more to her than anything else. "Thank you, Dad. I love you."
Peter felt tears sting his eyes, not sure he would ever hear those words from her ever again. He hugged her back tightly, "I love you too, and I'm so proud of you. Your mother would be just as proud."
They hugged longer than they had in years and Steve put a hand on her back with a smile, knowing how much this moment meant to her.
Peter let go and backed away, taking a neatly folded handkerchief from the breast pocket of his tailored suit and handed it to Mandy first. She declined and used her fingers to wipe her eyes. He then used the hankie to wipe his own eyes.
"So," he began wanting to lighten the moment, "when am I going to see some grandchildren? I'm not getting any younger you know."
They both laughed, "Soon," Steve promised.
"I'll be patient," Peter said, reaching his hand out to Steve, "Congratulations again, Steve and welcome to the McKay family."
"Thank you."
He left them on the upper deck and Mandy turned to her new husband, "Can you believe it," she exclaimed, "we own this boat!"
"Holy crap," Steve blew out a breath. "I'm still stunned."
"It's ok isn't it? I mean, I know you aren't big on material things."
"Hey," he said, taking her around the waist and pulling her close, "you are the most important thing to me in this world. What makes you happy, makes me happy. You don't turn down a gift like this, no matter who you are. Of course I want it, but the money, the boat, none of it means anything to me unless I have you next to me, that's all I want, it's all I need."
She slid her hands up his back and gripped onto his strong shoulders, "You have me, now, and forever."
"From here on out," he smiled happily, "it's smooth sailing."
THE END