Page 44 of Shark Cove

Malia wokeup to the sound of Kylie pounding on her door. “Get up, lazybones! Dad’s coming soon!”

Malia threw the covers off. Bright Maui sunshine streamed in through the window, and her room was overly warm without the circulation of the open door.

“I’m up!” she yelled back at her sister. Kylie was clearly excited Dad was visiting, but Malia felt tired and grumpy after last night’s adventure, not to mention worried about having the spotlight on her misbehavior. Mom had already gone to the airport to pick up their father, so Malia took a shower, trying to settle her nervous stomach.

She kept an eye on the driveway and tidied the house; a while later, Harry’s Honda turned into the driveway, followed by an unfamiliar red Ford Focus.

Kylie sprang up from the couch and ran outside. Malia followed her sister and stood on the top step as Dad, even taller than Mom and dressed nice as always, got out of his rental car to catch Kylie in his arms.

Harry walked around and popped the trunk of the rental vehicle, and Malia came down to help her. She grabbed one of Dad’s suitcases, surprised to see that there were two; that was all he’d taken when he left a year ago.

“Malia. No hug?” Dad had his arms open. He wore a pendant around his neck, an ‘Om’ sign in silver; so cheesy.

“Sure.” Malia set the suitcase down, but her hug was the A-frame, non-touching kind. Dad was having none of that, and pressed her close. Malia let herself rest against him for a moment, inhaling his familiar Dad smell, but it had an odd herbal overtone. “Where are you staying, Dad?”

“Why don’t we have our family meeting?” Peter said. “And see where we are after that.”

So, ten minutes after he’d pulled up in the driveway, the four of them were seated in the dining area.

Peter Clark put his hands on the table. He had broad hands with long fingers, and he spread them wide. The overhead light gleamed on his neatly barbered blond hair. “I want to start by saying I’m sorry. I’m sorry—for leaving each of you.” He looked around the table and made eye contact, and to Malia’s astonishment, he picked up Harry’s hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. Mom closed her hand into a fist and pulled it away, but her eyes were suspiciously shiny. “I’m sorry. I was wrong and selfish, and I’d very much like another chance to live on Maui with you, and be a family again.” Dad had such a clear way of speaking that each word was complete, as if it could be set alone on a shelf; perhaps his work as a lawyer had honed that.

“I don’t know what to say,” Mom said. “This wasn’t what we talked about at lunch.”

“I know. But the minute I saw you, and the girls, now—I knew I’d made a big mistake.” Dad’s throat worked. “I’ve hurt this family more than I ever imagined. I should have handled things differently, and I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you, Dad.” Kylie got up and ran around the table to hug him.

Malia looked down. She picked at a scab on her arm. She was swamped with feelings: hope, and love, and fear all at once. Hope that he meant it. Love she hadn’t let herself feel in a year, for this man who’d been the gentle rock of their family for so long. And fear that her hope and love would be dashed again.

“Does this mean you want to get back together with Mom?” Malia wasn’t sure what he meant by what he’d said, being with Mom as a couple was at the crux of the matter.

“I’m hoping she’ll have me.”

Malia glanced up; Dad and Mom were staring at each other with a kind of look that made Malia wish she and Kylie weren’t even there.

“I’m willing to give it a shot.” Harry’s voice was thin and raspy.

A long pause. They all must be looking at her, but Malia kept her eyes down.

“Malia? What do you think of me coming back to Maui?” Dad finally asked.

“What does it matter what I think? I’m not really your daughter, anyhow.”

“Malia!” Mom said. “It hurts to hear you say that!”

Dad put a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll always be my daughter—the firstborn of my heart. It’s okay if you need some time to think about it. To get used to the idea of having me back home.”

“Yeah, I need time.” Malia finally looked up into eyes the same shade as Kylie’s. Deep lines around Dad’s mouth showed her that he’d suffered too, on his quest for self-actualization. “I hope you mean what you’re saying. I don’t think we could take it if you don’t. Kylie has to come live with you if you leave again. Ha ha.”

“I do mean it. And, I’d like a chance to prove it.”

Mom glanced at the clock. “Kylie has a doctor’s appointment, so we’ll continue this later.”

Malia and Dad saw them off, standing awkwardly on the front step together. He turned to Malia when they’d gone. “Want to take a drive? I hear you’re working on your permit hours.”

“Yes!” Malia caught the key fob he tossed her, her mood immediately lifting. “I haven’t gotten to drive in ages. You sure it’s okay for me to drive a rental?”

“I didn’t read the fine print too closely. Plausible deniability,” Dad smiled.

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