Page 34 of Keeping Kama

Chapter9

Seated at her desk inside the trailer, Leia swiveled in her chair to face Kai. “Did you receive the financial report I sent to Tyson? I sent a copy to you and Derek also,” said Leia.

Kai shifted forward, moving around his mouse. His computer screen lit back up. “I reviewed it item by item with Derek earlier.” Scanning the document, Kai leaned back in his chair and faced Leia. “I don’t know what he is thinking, but I have the feeling Tyson isn’t as welcoming of the idea of investing in Kama Farm as Derek is.” Kai crossed his ankles and cradled the back of his neck with his hands.

“Because he asked for the financial report?” questioned Leia. She wasn’t privy to all the conversations happening between Kai and Derek.

Shaking his head, Kai said, “That’s only part of it. Earlier today, I had a conference call with Tyson and Derek. Tyson flat out stated he wasn’t eager to invest unless the numbers showed a bigger rate of return for them.”

Her stomach dropped. With a constricted throat, Leia asked, “What’s going to happen if they don’t invest?”

“I don’t know.” Kai shifted forward, snatching a stress ball off the corner of his desk. He squeezed it in one hand. “We’ll probably have to sell off sections of land to subsidize the farming. The fact of the matter is we aren’t making enough from our small fruit stand. With both dad and mom unable to work, I had to hire other people to replace them. And that is making it impossible to turn a profit. Alana has stepped in when she can, but she, too, can only do so much. Something must be done.” He switched the stress ball to his other hand and squeezed.

“I don’t want to see the farm sold off in sections. You need to do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening, because the land surrounding the farm is what makes this place so special. We need to save all of it, not only the farm.” Leia’s mind spun. Before, she didn’t understand the full picture, but now the reality was staring her in the face. An outside investor wasn’t ideal, but losing the land or the farm would be devastating. “Did Derek talk to you more about the farm tours?” Leia clicked her mouse, opening her email again. She read through the email thread, looking for anything she might have missed. “It might make the farm profitable again.”

“Leia,” said Kai. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure where to start or if it would only be a last-ditch effort to save something that can’t be saved. I’ll discuss it with Alana further, because she’d be taking on some of the extra workload too.” He squeezed his stress ball tighter, making his knuckles white.

Leia had never seen Kai this concerned. Usually, Kai was carefree; not much upset him or stressed him out. Maybe Kai didn’t see a way out if the investment money didn’t come in. Her throat burned with bile.

Gulping, Leia asked, “What does Mom say?”

“You know I can’t trouble Mom with any of this. She’s already at her max, taking care of Dad. Mom’s main concern is making sure she and Dad can live out the rest of their days on this land and in their home. They thought they had years left to work Kama before handing everything over to me. I certainly thought I had more time too so I could be trained properly to take everything on. But now, I only I hope I can give them their wish to keep Kama.”

“We all want the same thing too,” said Leia. “None of us want to live anywhere else.”

Raising an eyebrow, Kai said, “Are you sure about that, little sis? Last I heard, you might be announcing you’re moving to California to be with a washed-up surfer boy.” Kai tossed the stress ball on top of his desk.

And Kai was back to his usual self.

Leia scoffed. “He isn’t a washed-up surfer boy.” Pushing up her chin, she continued, “We’re almost the same age.”

Kai crossed his arms against himself. “Exactly,” he smirked.

“Watch it,” warned Leia. Wagging a finger in his direction, Leia added, “Remember, Kai, don’t dish what you can’t take.”

His hands flew up in defeat, Kai said, “I’m not. Geez. No need for you to get all testy. I’m only reporting that Aria and Kalon said you two were awful cozy with one another last night at their food truck for dinner.” He tsked, giving her a pointed glance. “Come on, Leia, I thought you were smarter than to bring a guy on a first date to a place where he’d be on full display. A rookie mistake, because now the entire family knows about your budding relationship.”

“I’m not in a relationship.” Her cheeks warmed. Leia swiveled in her chair, turning away from Kai. The less he knew about her developing feelings for Derek, the better. She wiggled her mouse around to reveal the computer screen. “But, if you must know, I had a nice time.” Leia shrugged nonchalantly. “I think Derek did too.”

Rubbing his hands together, Kai said, “So, my sister is finally having her summer fling.”

“It’s fall,” countered Leia.

“True, but I mean the essence of a summer fling is exactly what you are doing with Derek. People come to Hawaii to escape their lives. A whirlwind romance is practically in the tourist pamphlets for visiting Hawaii.” He waved a hand. “Hence your fling.”

Sharply, she swiveled her chair to face Kai. Leia said defensively through a clenched jaw, “It’s not a fling.”

Kai reached out and squeezed Leia’s shoulder. “Sorry little sis. It is just that. Derek is going back to Los Angeles, you’ll stay here. But I get it, everyone deserves a little fun now and then.”

His words knocked the wind out of Leia. Leia shook her shoulder free from Kai’s hand. Pushing up her chin, Leia narrowed her eyes at Kai. “I’m not discussing Derek any further with you.” Leia swiveled back and faced her computer. With a shaky hand, she forced her fingers to find her keyboard.

In a much softer voice, Kai said, “I only don’t want to see you get hurt. I think you might like the guy. But remember, tourists always go back to where they came from.”

Kai was right. And Leia hated it. Derek and she had zero chance of being together, so she was having a fling. So what? Her mind only had one image in it, and it was of her and Derek kissing. Her lackluster romantic life was dismal, and for once she was having a bit of fun having her flirty exchanges with Derek. But Leia knew what this thing was, and she couldn’t make the mistake of letting herself care too much.

Kai and Leia worked in tandem silence. When Leia finished up the loose ends on the bookkeeping, she stood and stretched. When she checked the time, Leia was disappointed Derek hadn’t stopped by at some point. With school starting back up next week, Leia couldn’t stick around any longer, she had things she needed to get ready for Monday.

With no choice, Leia reluctantly gathered up her purse, pushing in her chair. “I’m off,” said Leia.

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