Page 74 of Wired Strong

Sophie tightened the sarong around her. “Will he be back?”

“I don’t think so.” Nam’s face was carefully expressionless.

“I am sorry to hear it,” Sophie said, but all she felt was relief.

Connor was a stranger now.

Chapter Fifty-One

Sophie

Day 32

Sophie smoothedout the Mexican blanket she had spread over the edge of the lawn just in front of the beach at Waikiki. Late afternoon had cooled the bright sunshine, and palm trees swished overhead. Armita, wearing a sleek tank suit, walked the dogs along the concrete walkway of Ala Moana park, getting them tired out so that they would settle down with Sophie and Momi.

Momi was already on her belly in the sand, making an angel shape with her arms and legs.

Sophie laughed at the sight. “Try it like this, darling.” She lay down on her back in her bathing suit, resting her head on the blanket because it would be challenging to wash the sand out of her dense curls. She swung her arms and legs up and down, and then rolled to the side so that Momi could see the shape. “See? It works a little better that way.”

Momi promptly flung herself onto her behind, and swung her arms and legs up and down. Wearing a little pink suit printed in yellow ducks with a ruffle around the waist, her daughter looked adorable.

Momi sat up and shook her head. Sand flew out of her bouncy ringlets.

Sophie admired her daughter’s sand angel and took a photo of it for Alika.

“I’m thirsty, Mama.”

Sophie reached for the zippered refrigerator bag. “I’m sure we have something in here.” She unzipped the bag, moving lunch items around until she found a nice cold apple juice with a built-in straw. “Here you go.” She handed it to her daughter.

“Bonjour.”

Sophie jerked around. Pim Wat as a threat was never far from her mind, but it was Raveaux looking down at her, crinkles around his eyes indicating a smile. He wore a pair of swim trunks and a sleeveless exercise shirt. Sun gleamed on his black hair with its silver wing.

Momi, drilled not to be friendly toward strangers, jumped up to hide behind Sophie. “Who’s that?”

“That is our friend Pierre,” Sophie said. She scrambled to her feet, taking Momi’s hand reassuringly. “Pierre, this is Momi. I’m so glad you could join us for a picnic today.”

“Hello, Momi.” Raveaux dropped down to Momi’s level. “Do you know how to fly a kite?”

Momi popped her finger into her mouth, a habit when she was unsure. She considered for a moment, glancing at her mother for guidance. Sophie nodded and smiled, and Momi tugged her finger out of her mouth. “No.”

Raveaux had a large beach bag in his hand, and he reached inside and brought out a rolled up, brightly colored tube. “Do you know what a kite is?”

“No.” Momi scowled and stuck her finger back in her mouth. She didn’t like not knowing things.

“It’s something that we fly on a string.”

Momi squatted to look as Raveaux rested the kite on the sand in front of her. “Would you like to unroll it?” Momi removed her finger from her mouth, and grabbed one edge of the kite. She shook it vigorously, and it popped open to show the shape of a butterfly. She clapped her hands with delight. “It can fly?”

“Let me show you how, and then you can do it.” Raveaux held the kite up by its midsection, unspooling a length of string wrapped in a ball around a handle. “I’m going to run, and toss the kite in the air. The wind will take it up and up, and I will hold the string like this.” He held the handle up to demonstrate.

Momi clapped her hands. “Yeah!”

Raveaux took off. Sophie was reminded of the quick grace of a mongoose as he twisted back and forth, running backward until the kite lifted. A few minutes later, the butterfly was aloft. Sophie and Momi tipped their heads back as far as they could, to watch it rise higher and higher and higher.

Momi suddenly frowned. “What if it goes away?”

Raveaux was returning, holding the handle to the ball of twine. “It can’t fly far. It’s attached to us by the string.” He held out the handle. “Would you like to hold it?”

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