Chapter Five:
"You're testing me, aren't you? The ultimate payback for all the times I've gotten on your nerves, huh?"
Maile snickered, casting a glance at Fox, who was sitting on front passenger side of her. Though her eyes were concentrating on the Pali (Hawaiian word for "cliff) road before her, one couldn't help but notice the mischief shining in them. "What? Me testing you?"
Fox glanced behind him at the two sleeping forms in the backseat. It was a long flight from L.A. and by the time they had all arrived on the island of Maui, it was already night fall and Theresa and little Ethan felt the weariness of jet lag. Fox convinced Theresa, surprisingly tired considering her full rest of sleep from the night before, to sleep alongside little Ethan in the back seat of the rental car. He regarded how beautiful the young woman looked in slumber, his heart practically in his throat at the sight before him.
Oh, Fox would have no objections to falling asleep right next to them, especially considering the lack of rest from the night before. However, thanks to Maile's dear little stunt, Fox was more than awake to lay it down on her.
He glared at Maile, trying his best to remain calm and in control. To him, there was more to stake on this trip than just a mere business transaction. "Besides the money, you do know that you owe me big time, Miss James!" He hissed, for fear of Theresa overhearing him, even in her slumber state.
Maile bit back her tongue, trying to find the right words. "I'm sorry, Fox. But I thought that maybe I can be more help if I dropped more hints--"
"Forget about the hints!" Fox cut her off. "When she's ready to move on, then and only then will the truth come out!"
"Well with the way that she's been looking at you lately, Foxworth, it would take a total idiot not to see that she's ready." Maile retorted back, which only frustrated Fox more.
"You don't get it, Maile. Theresa has loved my wimp of a half-brother nearly all of her life! Since she's was a little girl. For God's sake, she even named her child after the guy!"
"Her child?" Maile raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that incessed Fox.
Pointedly ignoring that comment, "It's not that simple to drop a love like that and pick up with a new one. I mean, I'm definiately the last guy on earth to come off like an expert on love... but I've been around Theresa, who is the ultimate dreamer and fanatic love goddess, to know enough."
"Well, Foxworth, from what I've heard... in Theresa's case, it is that simple. There's a difference between being in love with love and being in love. Granted I've heard enough to know that Theresa did love your brother and actually had your brother at one point..."
Fox rolled his eyes, "You tried to make me air-sick, and one time even car-sick... you're going the distance now with making me love-sick."
"But what she's clinging to right now is the concept of a love she experienced! Not the man himself, but the love he actually returned to her! Hey, now, maybe it's a good thing that she fell in love with Ethan!"
He began opening the Toyota 4-Runner's compartments, "Great, where's the barf bag?"
"Fox, she's experienced the fairy tale type of love that every girl wants! You said it yourself, she's loved him since she was a little girl! But a girl has to grow up to become a woman... and we often have to let go of our childhood. Maybe, just maybe, she was destined to fall in love and marry a Crane after all..." Maile smiled slyly, "And that Crane could very well be you and not Ethan." She paused, and added as an afterthought, "And sure as hell not Julian."
"You sound very sure of that."
She gripped the steering wheel, a knowing grin on her young face. "Do I?"
Fox glanced out the window, silence falling upon the car until, "He's contacted you again, hasn't he." The question sounding more like an accusation.
Maile stood tall, refusing to allow Fox to see the surprise in her eyes. "What?"
He shook his head, "You pulled that innocent crap on me once, Maile, but that's not going to happen again. I'm pretty sure that the extra financial help you're getting for school isn't necessarily coming from scholarships and loans."
"What are you getting at, Fox?"
"Let's just say that grandfather, unless absolutely necessary, always keeps his people by his side, in check, when needed."
For once since this whole car ride from the Kahului Airport and all the way towards the hotel in Kapalua, Maile met eyes with Fox. With a mixture of sadness and steel, "You're never going to forgive me for what I did to you. What I had to do to you." She turned her sights back onto the road, "Way before I had gotten to know and care about you, Fox. I know now that money's not worth losing a friendship like yours."
"You know what they say, Maile. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer..."
Her voice wavered for a moment, "And what am I?"
Nonchalantly, "A little bit of both. I meant what I said about trusting you... but forgiving you for what you did to me when we first met..." He trailed off, casting a stolen glance at little Ethan, "It's kind of hard to forgive and forget when I adore the constant reminder of your betrayal."
Maile held back any remarks, any words, she wanted to say to him in her defense. It's true that their friendship started off as a torrid lie, but despite it all they did form a bond. Oh, she didn't want to think of the past now! She had to focus on the present and aim at the future. Fox's future was at stake here, and she had just as much riding on it working out than Fox himself.
Half jokingly, "Well, once you get what you want, is there any chance you can forgive me? After all, we were looking towards your best interest."
With a hint of disbelief and sarcasm, "My best interest was a bonus..." He glanced at Maile and immediately feeling guilty for the way he was treating her. Despite what she did to him that year and a half or so, Fox did genuinely consider her as a friend, a little sister even. "Look, I'm sorry for getting into this now. Let's just focus on the task at hand, and then maybe we can finally settle our little Angel issue, okay?"
She nodded her head, though remained silent and intent on the road. A small smile manged to find its way on her face, which eased Fox's fear of Maile's resentment towards him.
As they drove on in silence, with the music as the only sound from the outside world, Fox and Maile failed to notice Theresa, quiet as a mouse, well aware of the conversation between the two friends.