Page 39 of Wired Target

Day 8

Sophie was in her exercise clothes, a cup of strong Thai tea in hand, when her father Frank Smithson’s resonant voice sounded through the speaker in the kitchen.“Dad to visit Sophie.”

“Poppa!”Momi yelled from her highchair.She’d chosen the honorific for her grandfather herself.

Armita smiled at Sophie.“You have time for a visit before that meeting you told me about.”

“Indeed, I do, and it’s been too long since I’ve seen Dad.”Sophie didn’t have to admit her father; his details and face had already been input into the AI security system.

She left Armita with the children in the breakfast nook and stepped out onto the tiled front verandah of the house.Morning in Kailua was filled with the raucous commentary of mynah birds and the soft cooing of turtledoves; a slight breeze rustled the leaves of the mature plumeria tree beside the garage and brought a pink-throated pinwheel blossom spinning to land at Sophie’s feet.Waves breaking on the beach made a gentle backbeat lullaby.

Sophie picked up the plumeria and inhaled its sweet, familiar fragrance as Frank’s big black Cadillac sedan pulled in and parked in the turnaround in front of the house.Clement stuck his head out of the guesthouse, but Sophie waved him off as she approached the car.

Her father opened the driver’s seat door and stepped out.She frowned at how slowly he rose to his feet, as if every joint pained him.

“Dad!What brings you here so early?”

“Do I need an excuse to pop in on my only daughter and grandchildren?”Frank’s smile was genuine, though charcoal shadows surrounded his deep brown eyes.

“Armita’s got the kids eating breakfast, so come walk with me a minute and see how the new plantings are coming along in front.”She wanted an excuse to get him alone.Sophie gestured toward the part of the house where she and a landscaper had carefully designed a framed view of the beach, planted with low native shrubbery easily visible through the high Plexiglas security wall along the front of the property.

“Sounds good.I never need a reason for a walk and talk with my girl.”Frank came around the front of the car and embraced Sophie.He held her close for a few long seconds.

She patted his back, feeling the thinness of his once-robust form.“You’ve lost weight, Dad.”

“You’ve been nagging me long enough to do so,” he replied, taking her arm, and turning her toward the pavers that led along the side of the house.“Looks like those vines you planted on the sand out front are really putting down roots.”

Sophie frowned but accepted the change of subject for the moment.“Yes, but I’m glad the maturehalatrees around the lava stone wall were already here.”She paused, pointing.“See those two baby coconut palms on either side of the wall?They’re cute now, and they’ll frame the vista of the beach perfectly when they grow up.”

“Nice.”

The two reached the front verandah and stared out at the ocean for a moment.“How’s work been?”Sophie asked.

“Well, that’s part of why I dropped by.I’m officially retired as of yesterday.”

“Oh, Dad!Congratulations!”Sophie turned to embrace her father again.“We need to throw a party for you!”

Her father’s career as a US Ambassador had been long and colorful; in the years since Sophie had been in Hawaii, he’d been threatening to retire but never had been able to give up the excitement of the work.His last few years had been spent split between Washington, D.C.and working from home at the high-rise apartment in Honolulu where Sophie’d once lived as well.

Frank’s mouth tightened.“No party, please.At least not for the moment.Let’s sit down.”

Sophie braced herself inwardly as they took seats on the glider swing on the beach-facing verandah with its deep roof overhang designed to capture the ocean breezes.

“This retirement date was not my choice.”Frank gazed out at the horizon.

Sophie studied his profile, as noble a shape as graced any coin.“You’re not well,” she stated.

“I’m not.”Frank’s eyes were bloodshot and haunted when they met hers.“I have stage three leukemia.They say it’s treatable; but I’m feeling like a truck hit me every morning, and that will get worse when they start the chemo.”

“Oh, no, Dad!”Sophie scooted closer to embrace him, resting her head on Frank’s shoulder.Her eyes welled up.“You’re my rock,Pa.You must get well.”

“And I will,” he said stoutly.“But I’ll be down for a while.Leaving my position of service on a high note seemed the best thing.”

“You’ll be missed.You should let everyone give you a send-off.”

“Perhaps when I’m better.I’ve got to get through the treatment first.”

“You won’t be alone.I’ll come with you.We’ll do it together.”Sophie’s tears spilled.She sniffed.“I’m ruining your shirt.”

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