Page 63 of Keeping Kama

And the thought devastated her.

In no time, they arrived at her apartment door. Lingering in front of her door, Leia’s voice cracked when she said, “I can’t believe you go home the day after tomorrow. It’s making me dread Christmas day more than rejoicing in it, because I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here forever with me.” Shaking her head, Leia met Derek’s glance. “I can’t be separated indefinitely from you anymore, but I don’t know how to resolve our predicament.” She placed a hand over her heart.

Derek took a step closer to her. His hand grazed her arm, sliding down the length of it. “What if I moved here?” asked Derek.

Her eyes dilated. “I— I—” stammered Leia. “How?”

His gaze skidded across her face, and Derek’s hand brushed her unruly hair over her shoulder. His touch made her senses awaken. “Would you want me to move here?” rephrased Derek. He earnestly stared back at her.

Her heart hammered, making it difficult for Leia to think straight. “I mean … of course I do. But you’d do that … for me?” asked Leia.

Derek wrapped both his arms around her waist, tugging her close against his body so their hips touched. Leia rested a hand on his chest. “I would, I mean I’ve planned it out. I plan on staying after Christmas. I don’t plan on going back to Los Angeles.”

Her mind tried to play catch up. “What about your house? Your things?”

Shrugging, Derek said, “I’ve already rented out my house, and my things are in storage. I can go get them at some point.”

Wrinkling her brow, Leia asked, “And when did you plan on telling me all this?”

“Right now,” Derek glanced away for a second. “I didn’t want to scare you off by being too forward. But I told your parents tonight, before you arrived, about my plan. Teresa seemed pleased and only wants what’s best for you. I know her saltiness toward me was only because she was worried, that I planned on stringing you along for who knows how long. I think your parents now have a better understanding of how serious I am about being with you. They’ll come around to the idea of us.”

Leia laughed. “I can’t believe this.” Placing her hands over her warmed cheeks, she continued, “I had decided I would move to Los Angeles if I needed to so we could be together. I had no clue how I was going to do it, but I was willing to.”

Smiling, Derek said, “And now you don’t have to, because, Leia, I couldn’t ever take you away from Kama Farm. You belong here with your family. And I hope someday, when the time is right for both of us, I can become part of it too. Because I love you, Leia. I’ve loved you since that day you saved me in Shark’s Cove.”

Shaking her head, Leia drew a finger across his chest. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I am.” Derek touched his forehead to hers. “I’ve loved you every day since then, and I hope if you’ll let me, I’ll go on loving you.”

Going up on her tiptoes, Leia brushed her lips against Derek’s. “I love you, too,” she said through parted lips. “So, stay. Be here with me. And I’ll promise to make you as happy as you make me.”

“Deal,” replied Derek.

Then Derek collided his lips with hers, igniting her insides. His lips danced with hers, reminding her of where she belonged. Under the canopy of stars, on a brilliant warm Hawaiian Christmas Eve, Leia received her Christmas wish. Derek. Here. In Kama. With her. Forever.

Epilogue

The sand at Waimea Bay Beach wiggled in between Derek’s toes. He held onto Leia’s hand as a wave hit the shoreline. Derek sighed as the warm water tickled his ankles. On his lips, he tasted the salty sea breeze. The loud cheers of people rock jumping vibrated in the air. Nudging Leia with his shoulder, Derek asked, “Do you remember when I jumped off that for the first time, way back when we were engaged?”

Leaning into his arm, Leia linked her hands around the crook of his elbow. “Do I?” Leia laughed, making her glitter against the bluest blue sky. “I thought you were going to have a heart attack when we finally arrived at the top of the rock. For a second there, I didn’t think you would jump.”

“And that’s when I discovered I was afraid of heights.” Derek peered toward the famous jumping rock. The top was lined with people. Down below in the water, people cheered on those waiting to jump. “I willneverdo it again.”

Her lips twitched mischievously. “Come on,” she bumped her shoulder against his, “Not even if our kids want you to take them?” asked Leia.

“Um,” said Derek, “I’ll cross that bridge when the time comes. But I have plenty of time to warm up the idea of jumping again.”

Leia pursed her lips, dropping her hands from his elbow. “Let’s sit for a minute. I love the view here.” They walked up the small sand hill, plopping themselves down onto the hot sand.

Cradling his knees with his hands, Derek asked, “Did you sign us up again for the Honolulu Marathon?” Since running it together two years ago, they had run it again. If they ran it for a third time, Derek believed it would become a bit of a tradition.

“Umm …” Leia shot him a glance then stared out the water. Sailboats dotted the horizon, and children were playing in the gentle waves. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that—” Leia wiped her sandy hands on her shorts.

“I thought you wanted to run it together. The first time we ran it we were only dating, then we ran it engaged, and this time would be the first time we ran it married. It’s perfect,” said Derek.

“I’m going to skip it this year,” said Leia.

Derek rubbed his sandy hands together then wrapped his arm around Leia’s shoulders. “What? Why? Is everything okay?” asked Derek.

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