Elizabeth eyed Nathan over her morning cup of tea. He had been quieter the past few weeks, and she had noticed he rarely talked about work. Rosemary had mentioned that Lee wasn't talking about their on the job business either, and the women had come to the conclusion that their husbands were involved in a dangerous case and didn't want their wives to know. Part of Elizabeth wanted to remain in the dark on whatever it was Nathan was working on, but another part of her needed to know.

"Nathan?" she ventured tentatively, already second guessing her desire to know what was going on.

"Hmm?" he replied, glancing up from his paper.

Elizabeth steeled herself to speak, but found that she couldn't quite find the words. The warm April breeze blew through the windows, ruffling her hair lightly. She drew in a deep breath filled with the scent of hibiscus and sea air and spoke in a rush. "I know something is going on at work, and I know you've been keeping it from me. Probably because you don't want me to worry. But I need to know what you're working on."

Nathan's mouth dropped in surprise. "How could you tell?" he asked, folding the paper and setting it on the table, giving her his full attention.

"You get quiet when there's something on your mind," she said. "And for the last three weeks you have been very quiet."

He let out a breath. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to make you worry." His blue eyes stared directly into hers. "Are you sure you want to know what I'm working on?"

She bit her lip, but nodded. Nathan reached out to take her hand. "We found evidence of a drug smuggling ring here on the island. We haven't found much yet, but we did discover that there are suspected rings on the islands of Oahu and Maui as well. We're in contact with the local police force on each island. Our biggest concern is figuring out which island has the main base. My guess is that it's on Oahu, since it's more highly populated and potentially easier to disappear in the crowds of tourists. It would also be easier to distribute the drugs to a more populated area. But we're not ruling out that the main base could be here or on Maui." He hesitated. "Drug lords are nasty people, Elizabeth. This mission could be a dangerous one. There's already been some undercover work as Lee and I have tried to find out where people might be referred if they're looking for drugs. So far we've come up empty-handed. But that doesn't mean we won't find their base of operation here on the island, and who knows what we might find once we do."

Fear shot its way into Elizabeth's heart. She held Nathan's hand a little tighter. "You will be careful, right?" she asked, knowing the answer but needing to hear it anyway.

Nathan gave her a tender look, brushing a tendril of hair from her cheek. "Always, Elizabeth. You have my word. You know I will always do my best to come home to you. And to our girls," he said, placing his hands on the firm, round bump their twins were making on Elizabeth's stomach. One of them started kicking in response to Nathan's touch, making her parents smile.

Elizabeth rose, taking Nathan with her. She snuggled into his arms, though the babies made it harder for her to press as close to him as she would like. "Thank you for telling me," she said softly. "While it might make me worry a bit, it also alleviates the worry of the unknown."

Nathan's hand stroked her hair. "I'm sorry I kept it from you this long," he said. "I should have known you would rest easier knowing what I was working on. I was hoping you wouldn't notice anything amiss." He chuckled. "I should know better than that. You know me so well, sweetheart. I can't keep anything from you."

"Make sure you don't," Elizabeth retorted with a smile, pressing her cheek against his chest. She lifted her head, hoping he would kiss her. Nathan read her intent and gave her a slow smile, bending his head down. As his lips were about to touch hers, a knock sounded at the door.

Nathan sighed, resting his forehead against hers. "Someone has terrible timing," he whispered.

"No kidding," Elizabeth replied. "I'll get it." She walked to the door. Pulling it open, she gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. "Julie! What are you doing here?"

Her sister grinned, wrapping Elizabeth in a hug. "I wanted to see you again, Beth," she said. "It's been well over a year at this point. I missed you." Her eyes softened. "And after Mother and Father received that letter, I knew I had to come."

Elizabeth felt a lump in her throat. "They're not coming, are they?"

Julie shook her head slowly. "No, Beth. I'm sorry. They are stubbornly clinging to their bitterness."

Tears pricked Elizabeth's eyes, and she felt Nathan's arm encircle her waist, pulling her close. She leaned against him, thankful for his strong, silent support. "At least I get to see you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm glad you are still in my life, Julie."

"It's not just me anymore, Beth," Julie said, a light coming into her eyes. "Mother and Father might not have come, but I'm not here alone."

Elizabeth's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Another person stepped into Elizabeth's line of vision from the side of the porch. Elizabeth stared in shock. Her oldest sister stood there with a hesitant smile. "Viola?" she gasped, not quite believing her own eyes.

"Hello, Beth," Viola said. "It's been...quite a while. I'm happy to see you."

Elizabeth felt at a loss for words. Her sister looked down in uncertainty before looking up again at Elizabeth. "I understand if you don't want to see me…"

"No!" Elizabeth said, shaking her head vehemently. "I'm happy to see you, Vi." She recovered her senses and stepped forward, pulling her sister into an embrace. Tears spilled over, falling down her cheeks. "I'm so happy to see you."

Viola put her arms around Elizabeth in return, and something in Elizabeth healed as she held her sister for the first time in over a decade.


"I saw an unfamiliar car parked outside your house this morning," Lee said as he and Nathan sat in a car off the road, surveying a seemingly abandoned house in the middle of the woods. Three cars were parked around the back of the house, telling them that it was not in fact abandoned. Something was going on in that house. Whether it was related to the drug ring remained to be seen.

Bill had asked them to check on any old, abandoned homes or warehouses around the island, a silent surveillance to determine whether they housed meth labs. They had found several old places that did appear to be abandoned, and all had proved to actually be so. So far they hadn't found any traces of drugs or smuggling rings.

"Elizabeth's sisters are visiting," Nathan replied. "We tried to convince them to stay with us, but they got a couple rooms at the bed and breakfast down the street. So they'll be close by."

"Did you say sisters, plural?" Lee asked, lowering his binoculars and looking at Nathan in surprise. "Viola's here too?"

Nathan nodded. "I've never seen Elizabeth so shocked. But it quickly turned to great happiness. Viola said she's hoping for a reconciliation, and Elizabeth was in tears of joy. She hadn't stopped crying by the time I left. All three women were in a group hug, making up for lost time."

"Was she civil to you?" Lee asked, brows raised.

Nathan smiled. "She was indeed. I was only able to be there for five minutes before I had to leave for work, but she accepted my hug and said she was glad to meet me. I'm sure we'll have lots of opportunities to get to know each other. Julie said they're staying for three weeks. It's a combination Hawaiian vacation and sister time."

Lee chuckled. "That's amazing. I know Viola and Elizabeth's parents have been completely unaccepting of your relationship, so I'm glad at least one of them is showing an open mind. Maybe Viola's acceptance will eventually lead to William and Grace's acceptance."

"I hope so," Nathan said sincerely. "I know how much that would mean to Elizabeth, especially now that we are having children."

A movement from the house caught their attention, and both automatically hunched down in their seats, low enough to avoid detection and high enough to see what was happening.

Two men seemed to be arguing in front of the house. One was speaking animatedly, his hands waving close to the other man's nose. The second man had his arms crossed stoically, clearly not moved by the first man's anxiety. He simply reached in his pocket and tossed a pouch at the first man, then disappeared back into the house. The first man gaped after him for a moment, then stormed to his truck and started the engine.

Nathan and Lee sunk even lower in their unmarked vehicle, waiting until the man passed. After a moment, Nathan sat up straight and started the car. He pulled onto the road, following the man at a far enough distance so as not to be noticed. They drove for miles, crossing nearly the entire island before the man pulled up to another house, this one in a neighborhood that looked respectable. Nathan pulled to a stop several houses away as the man parked his car in a driveway. Getting out, he looked surreptitiously all around before going to the door and knocking.

"Are you getting the address?" Nathan asked Lee.

"On it," Lee said, scribbling something on his notepad. "I've also saved the location for here and the abandoned house in my GPS."

"Good," Nathan said, looking through his binoculars as a well-dressed man opened the door. He waved the first man in with a smile, shutting the door firmly behind him. Nathan could just make out their silhouettes through a window. The pouch was exchanged from one man to the other, and the well-dressed man slapped the anxious man on the shoulder, holding the pouch up emphatically. The first man nodded quickly and exited the house in haste. Glancing to all sides once more, he got in his truck and started back the way he came.

"Are we going to follow him again?" Lee asked, looking at Nathan.

"Yes," Nathan said, putting the car into drive. "I have a feeling he will make his way back to the abandoned house, but I want to be sure."

He did lead them back to the first house. The man looked a little less anxious as he got out of his car there, walking in a relaxed manner to the house with his hands in his pockets. He disappeared inside. Nathan and Lee waited for an hour, but no one came out of the house again.

Finally, Nathan drove them back to the station. "I think we have enough to start diving into some research," he said. "We have two addresses, and one of them should tell us who the man living in that nice house was."

Lee smiled wryly. "Digging for information. My favorite," he said with a straight face.

Nathan laughed. "I know it's not the most exciting, but this could be what we need to start our undercover mission. Let's get started." He slapped Lee's back as they reached the station. "I'll go pick up some coffee and donuts from Faith's café."

Lee raised a brow. "Coffee and donuts? Could you possibly be more stereotypical of the police?"

Nathan chuckled. "Are you saying you don't want any?"

"No, no, that's not what I'm saying at all," Lee responded quickly. He dug in his wallet for cash. "Here."

Nathan shook his head. "My treat." He switched keys from the unmarked cruiser to his own car. "I'll be back in a flash."


"Viola!" Faith exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as the three Thatcher sisters entered her café.

"Hi, Faith," Viola said, her smile genuine. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well," Faith replied, her mouth hanging open. She blinked a few times, as if trying to reconcile the fact that Viola Thatcher was in Mana'olana Awāwe with her image of the New York socialite. Elizabeth understood the feeling. "What brings you to our little town?"

Viola turned her smile to Elizabeth. "I wanted to see my sister again. It's been a long time."

"Too long," Elizabeth said, looping an arm through Viola's. "Can we get three raspberry white mochas, Faith?"

"And some of your raspberry white chocolate scones," Julie chimed in. "Those are little bits of heaven!"

Faith chuckled. "Thanks, Julie. Coming right up."

A cry sounded from the back of the café. Faith glanced toward the back room, where Hope took her naps during the day.

"I'll get her," Elizabeth offered.

Faith smiled at her friend. "You don't mind?"

"Mind holding my sweet goddaughter? Never," Elizabeth said with a laugh, heading for the room. She looked at her sisters. "You two find a table. I'll be right back."

She entered the room, where Hope was lying on her back, small tears running down her cheeks. Her cries stopped when she saw Elizabeth, and she held her arms up with a little sniffle. Elizabeth picked the baby up, cuddling her close. "Hello, sweetheart," she murmured, wiping Hope's tears away. "You're going to hang out with Auntie Elizabeth for a bit, okay?" She felt Hope's diaper sagging and knew she needed a new one. She quickly changed the baby, then snuggled her once more, carrying her into the main part of the café.

Faith was bringing their order to the table, along with a bottle for Hope. "She's probably ready to eat," she said apologetically. Elizabeth took the bottle, waving away Faith's concern.

"No problem," she said, sticking the bottle in Hope's mouth. The baby began eating hungrily, her eyes fixed on Elizabeth.

Viola watched the exchange with a little smile. "You look like a natural, Beth," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. "You are going to be an excellent mother."

"Thanks, Vi," Elizabeth said, smiling back. "I've always wanted to be a mother. That dream is finally coming true. These girls are going to be well loved by me and Nathan."

"Speaking of Nathan," Viola said slowly, "I need to apologize to you for being so set against him, simply because of his profession. I know he and I have seen each other for all of five minutes, but there was a strength of character and integrity about him that is rare. You picked well, little sister."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said, a tender smile on her face. "Nathan is the best thing to have ever happened to me. I love him more than words can say. I will admit that sometimes his job makes me nervous, but I know he does everything he can to stay safe. Most cops and detectives are very safe on the job. Nathan has had his share of danger, but he's pulled through. And for that I am eternally grateful."

Viola nodded. "I understand, Beth. You fell in love with a good man, and that's what matters. I promise I will support the two of you in this relationship." Her smile turned into a grin. "And I am very excited to be an aunt! To twins, no less." Her face softened. "When I saw that letter, and saw that you were continuing the tradition of naming a girl Grace, it somehow broke through the self-absorbed fog I had been in. I just knew I had to see you. When I heard Julie was coming to Hawaii, I begged her to take me along." She leaned forward. "The rift has gone on long enough. I want no part in it anymore. I want us to truly be sisters again."

Elizabeth felt tears forming in her eyes at her sister's words. "I would love nothing more," she choked out, smiling despite the tears. She placed Hope's bottle on the table, then patted the baby's back until the air bubbles came out. After that, she sat Hope on her lap, letting her look out at the café.

"What a sweet baby," Viola cooed, smiling a Hope. "She looks just like Faith."

"She has her temperament too," Elizabeth said, feeling every inch the proud aunt. "Faith is a wonderful mother, and her husband is an excellent father."

The door opened. Both Viola and Julie looked to see who it was. Elizabeth's back was to the door, so she couldn't look. She wondered who her sisters were still looking at. Within moments, she felt familiar hands on her shoulders as someone kissed her cheek. "Hello, sweetheart," Nathan said. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Nathan!" she exclaimed, smiling up at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I promised Lee some coffee and donuts while we work our case," he said. "I'm afraid I have to put in my order and then get back to the station. But I'll see you in a few hours." He grinned at Viola and Julie. "Ladies. Enjoy your time together." He kissed Elizabeth's cheek once more. "It's so wonderful seeing the three of you together like this. I'm glad you're working things out."

"So I am," Elizabeth and Viola said at the same time. The sisters looked at each other with a fond smile.

The healing had begun.