Page 44 of Keeping Kama

“Why not?” asked Teresa.

“Because I don’t want that to be a factor in how she feels about me,” said Derek. “I want Leia to want me for me, and not for anything else.”

Chapter13

With a shaky hand, Leia applied the last sweep of mascara to her bottom lashes. Her first day back to teaching had left her exhausted and overwhelmed. Leia received a new student who had a myriad of behavior problems and learning difficulties. It wasn’t anything Leia hadn’t faced before, but for whatever reason, this student challenged her in ways that made her feel out of her depth and control. On top of that, thoughts of the future of the farm whirled around in her head. The reality that Derek was leaving didn’t help either.

Leia tossed her mascara back into her makeup bag, zipping it closed. Leia wondered where Derek was taking her. More importantly, she wondered when Derek was returning to Los Angeles, because she knew with a big ocean in between them, they would be done.

With nothing left to do, Leia left the safety of her bathroom, flipping off the light as she exited. On second thought, Leia shot Derek a text, telling him she’d walk up to her parents’ house, and he could pick her up there.

As she placed her purse over her shoulder, Leia straightened her sleeveless cotton dress before exiting her apartment. The gravel path crunched under her feet as she walked. Leia heard Kai’s voice in the distance, most likely he was on the back lanai of his bungalow. His voice became clearer as she approached, but she remained hidden from his view behind the thick plants and bushes lining the path that wove by his bungalow toward her parents’ house. Alana said something that Leia couldn’t make out.

Leia didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but for whatever reason, she kept her presence hidden by not calling out to them.

Clear as noonday, Kai said, “Derek told us not to tell Leia. That’s part of the deal.”

“I see,” replied Alana.

Freezing in place, behind the safety of the plants, Leia crunched down.

“I think he needs to tell her. I don’t understand the secrecy of the whole thing,” said Kai.

“I agree, but you promised and now you have to leave it alone.” After a long pause, Alana continued, “someday she’ll find out. Things like this never stay hidden, no matter how much someone wants them to.”

“She’s going to get hurt,” said Kai. “I hate that part. I wish …”

Leia had heard enough. Springing upward, she walked toward the back lanai. Soon the edge of Kai and Alana’s back lanai, came into view. “Kai! Alana! Are you back there?” asked Leia in a loud and booming voice.

“Yes,” they replied in unison.

Alana leaned over the railing of their lanai and waved.

With wobbly knees, Leia walked closer to them, waving back. Kai came up next to Alana, leaning over the railing too.

“Where are you off to, Leia?” asked Kai. “You’re dressed way too nice to be heading to Dad and Mom’s.”

Stopping by the side of their back lanai, Leia glanced up to them. “You mean I’m not in my normal lounge wear,” she stated.

Alana whacked Kai on his arm. Clearing her throat, Alana said, “You look pretty, Leia. Are you going somewhere with Derek?”

“Dinner,” said Leia. “I guess some place in Ko Olina.”

“Derek goes home tomorrow,” said Kai. “But I’m sure he already told you.”

Derek hadn’t told Leia, but again she hadn’t asked. Leia knew he wouldn’t stay forever, but the announcement of his for sure immediate departure made her stomach clench and bile trail up her throat.

Instinctively, Leia jutted her chin and replied, “I know.” She shrugged, but her hands trembled. Maybe this was the piece of news Alana and Kai had been discussing? “It’s fine. He’ll go home to Los Angeles, and everything will go back to the way it was before.”

Kai raised a skeptical eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure about that, little sis?”

Alana squeezed Kai on his forearm. “I hope you two have a nice time.” She gave Kai a pointed look, before shifting back to smile at Leia.

With a forced smile, Leia said, “Thanks. I will. Have a nice night.” Swiftly, Leia walked past their back lanai toward her parents’ home.

As Leia approached her parents’ front lanai, Derek stood from where he sat alone, waiting for her arrival. Her parents must have been gone for the evening, maybe they had ventured to Aria and Kalon’s house for dinner? If she had known, Leia wouldn’t have asked him to wait there for her.

Derek had on the same khaki shorts and Hawaiian shirt he wore to her parents’ house for dinner. Taking the steps down two at a time, soon Derek arrived in front of her. Before she had time to think, Derek brought her tight against his body in a warm, inviting embrace.

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