Page 9 of Keeping Kama

Derek shrugged. “It is a bit tight.” He tugged on the bottom of the cotton tee. His glance flickered to Leia, and he caught her smirk. “Are you sure you this is a medium? Unless— I mean, I haven’t worked out for a while, so I might be wearing a large t-shirt these days.”

Leia’s eyes roamed over Derek’s body, making his senses heightened. “I think it looks good on you.” Tilting her head toward Kai, she asked, “Are you sure you gave him a medium? I mean he could pass for a body builder.”

Derek’s ears perked up.

Kai regained his composure and stopped laughing. “It’s a medium,” replied Kai. “I promise.” Then he made a motion of an X over his heart.

Taking a step closer to Leia, Derek asked, “Do you really think I look like a body builder?”

Holding up a hand, Leia shook her head. “Simmer down. It was a joke. You look …” Her voice trailed off. Wiping the back of her forehead with the heel of her hand, Leia remarked, “You lookbuff.”

For a moment, the air crackled. Both stared at one another. Derek gulped. His insides did a somersault. Was Leia flirting with him? One could certainly dream. For a second, Derek forgot Kai was even in the room, because in this moment the world was only orbiting around him and Leia.

Kai cleared his throat, snapping Derek back to reality. “Are you ready for your tour?” asked Kai.

Throwing his hands down at his side, Derek said, “I guess I am.”

They filed out of the trailer, turning toward the dirt path winding behind the trailer then leading out toward the rows of fruit plants. A few feet onto the path, Kai’s phone rang. They continued walking while Kai answered. Derek tried to listen to one side of the conversation, but he was too distracted by Leia directly in front of him. Her hair swung back and forth, whipping across her shoulder blades. Derek reminded himself mixing business with pleasure never worked. Time to check himself and place his attraction toward Leia into a locked box.

The path became narrower, and Derek remained directly behind Leia. Slowly, Kai trailed a few yards back, talking on his phone. Leia pointed out a few plants, native to Hawaii, while explaining that the narrow path circled the entire farm.

Suddenly, Leia halted. Derek nearly tripped on her heels. Kai came up from behind deep in conversation.

Pointing, Leia said, “If you look past this curve, to the right where it veers off. Do you see where I’m pointing?” She shifted her weight, peering over her shoulder at him.

Quickly, Derek tried to focus on what Leia was asking him. He traced the length of her arm toward the direction she pointed. “Yes, I see it,” said Derek.

“At the end of that path, is the original bungalow where my second great grandparents lived when they started the Kama Farm. Kama Farm was the brainchild of Alelo Kama, my second great grandpa. He needed a way to provide for his large growing family. He and his wife had ten children together.” Leia started walking again. Derek leaned in a bit closer to hear her. Leia continued, “I mean generations of my family have lived on this land for as far back as forever. But Alelo Kama was the first to clear some of the land to grow fruit to sell. Kama Farm was born. Alelo started with a simple roadside stand. Each year more land was cleared, until Alelo felt he had enough produce to sell to support his family. He also wanted to make sure he maintained and sustained the surrounding land. When my great grandparents took over Kama Farm, they opened a full roadside shop. My grandparents further developed Kama Farm by buying better and more efficient equipment. Kama Farm was large enough at that point that they hired workers to help harvest the fruit. So, it was a lengthy process for the farm to be what it is today. This is why this farm is so important to everyone in my family.”

“I can certainly understand the years of hard work and determination.” Derek stared down the path, only a bit of the original home peeked out. “Does anybody live in the home currently?”

Shaking her head, Leia replied, “No. The home is in complete disrepair. Plus, it was very rustic, with no running water or indoor plumbing. Noa, my dad, lived in it until he was six. He had to use the outhouse and everything. Then his parents built the front home you passed by on the way to the trailer. My parents live in that home now.”

“Fascinating.” Derek attempted to wave away the bugs buzzing by his face. “Maybe you and Kai could consider creating a farm tour, including a tour of the original bungalow. People could see and understand a little better what life was like for those who lived here for generations. Tourists love experiences where they feel immersed in the culture. The tour could end at the store. I would even include lunch where the tourists could sample the fresh fruits and anything else you grow here.”

Leia pursed her lips. “I don’t know, maybe.” Gnawing on her bottom lip, she continued, “That would really be up to Kai and Alana. They are the ones who do this full time.” Then she ripped the hairband off her wrist, placing it in between her teeth. Derek tracked her every movement as she gathered up the strands of her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. Swiping at the sweat on her brow, Leia continued, “I know they threw around the idea a few years back, but it never really came to fruition. Kai might be open to considering it again.”

Shifting, Derek glanced over his shoulder. “Where is Kai?” He peered down the dirt path behind them, seeing no sign of Kai. Derek wondered how long they had been chatting alone.

“I have no clue.” Standing on her tip toes, Leia peered over Derek’s shoulder toward the direction in which they last saw Kai. Lowering her heels back to the ground, Leia shrugged. “He’s probably gone off to solve some problem on the farm. I think Kai left me to play tour guide.” Leia wrinkled her nose at him, staring straight at Derek. “I guess you’re stuck with just me.”

Derek blinked. “I don’t mind,” he said, a tad too eagerly. Recognizing his error, Derek quickly added, “I mean you might mind more than me, but I’m fine continuing on with only you.” Derek tugged at the neck of his shirt, due to its small size, the fabric dug into the skin around his neck.

Leia’s lips twitched into a slow smirk. “I don’t mind.” With a smile, Leia added, “Lucky me.” Then she swiftly pivoted forward, walking again.

Oh, Leia was flirting. With him. And boy did he like it.

Derek jogged awkwardly in his too big sandals to catch up to her. “You don’t mind? You seemed to mind back at the trailer.”

“It’s okay …” Leia ran a hand over her hair. “You’re growing on me.”

Derek straightened his back, pulling back his shoulders. “I am? Why?” replied Derek.

Stopping abruptly on the trail, Leia flipped back around, facing him. Leia motioned a finger up and down his body. “It started when you put on that ridiculously small t-shirt of my ten-year old nephew without complaint. And you put on Kai’s sandals which I know are probably about five sizes too big.” Leia stared down at his sandaled feet. A blister had started to form between his toes the minute he put them on. “You can’t be half bad if you were willing to do that,” remarked Leia.

Derek pinched the restrictive fabric of his t-shirt over his abdomen. “Are you sure this is your nephew’s? Why would Kai give it to me to put on?”

Her eyes twinkled back at him with mischievousness. “Kai was totally messing with you. It was a test, and I believe you passed. But don’t take it personally, I think Kai wanted to see how easily you could go with the flow. His personality would never gel with someone who is overly uptight. He’s messing with me too. I think Kai either thought I had a thing for you, or I was going to scratch your eyes out. Either way, Kai wanted to see it all play out.”

---