Page 77 of Hidden Falls

“Get up and gimme another hug,” Lei said.

“I remember a day when you wouldn’t even give me one hug,” Marcella said, as they embraced, sniffling and laughing.

“A lot of things have changed for all of us since those days,” Lei said. “I have to give credit to our partners and kids for making that happen, more than anything.”

“What about the power of a good friendship?” Sophie asked, tilting her head. “Because you two have made such a difference in my life that it’s hard to quantify.”

“Gah. Yes.” Marcella dabbed her eyes with a napkin. They sat back down.

“You’re right about friendship, Sophie,” Lei said. The server arrived with their drinks, they placed their orders, and then Lei lifted her mai tai in its tiki-shaped glass in toast. “To our ever-growing‘ohanathat includes the best of friends.”

“Amen.” Marcella toasted Lei and Sophie’s glasses so hard that her pink umbrella fell off the side of the glass. She took a noisy sip, and then set the drink down to blow her nose. “Pregnancy hormones.”

“A fine excuse,” Sophie teased. “You’re a soft touch, Marcella.”

“Guilty.” Marcella sipped her drink. “It’s definitely missing something. Mocktails suck.”

“When did you know?” Lei asked. “About the baby?”

“I started having morning sickness symptoms while I was on Maui for the case. At first, I just chalked it up to stress, but by the end I was feeling pretty sure that I might be pregnant. I took a test as soon as I got home. Marcus is over the moon. It’s been enough for him to forgive me for leaving for over a week.”

Sophie narrowed her eyes and split a glare between both Lei and Marcella. “I’m sure you hoped you would get out of a lecture from me, but you should’ve brought me in on that case from the beginning.”

Lei shook her head. “Believe me. I tried, but Harry is stubborn. That woman is a bull with a red flag where her kid is concerned. She wouldn’t agree to call you in until every other option was used up, and Cruz and I were ready to walk.”

“Well. I’m glad we were able to bring things to a satisfactory conclusion eventually.” Sophie took a lengthy sip and then set her frothy blue drink down. “I’m not sure how I feel about this, but the FBI and the CIA almost immediately traded Ramirez for some American prisoners that had been stuck in a Mexico City jail. We don’t expect him to be in the system for long given his money and connections.”

Both Lei and Marcella shrugged, caught each other’s eye, and banged their drinks together once more. Sophie joined in with a smile.

“Cruz as much as told me that would happen,” Lei said. “The FBI used his takedown to grab his US assets. That was the real agenda all along. I’m sure they’re all high-fiving that they also got to trade him for a couple of American prisoners.”

Sophie shook her head. “I can’t believe we’re toasting the release of a drug dealer back to Mexico.”

“What I’m really toasting to is that Malia won’t have to endure knowing that her natural father is languishing in jail. I lived through my dad’s incarceration for twenty years. Even when I didn’t know what he was in for, that he was in jail ate my brain all the time.” Wayne Texeira had come a long way after serving his time; now clean and sober, Lei’s dad was a pillar of the community and a central part of Lei’s family life. She still wished that her mother had lived long enough to recover from addiction as well, but Maylene had died of an overdose when Lei was nine. Those events had only recently ceased being primary influences on her life. “What’s next for you ladies?” Lei asked.

Sophie smiled. “Heading home to my honey, my nanny, and my kids and dogs. I love my life, and I’m glad it’s settled down for the time being.”

“Same here,” Marcella patted her still flat waist, defined by the pretty wrap dress she’d worn to dinner. “I’ll be working, puking, and trying to manage a busy home life per usual.”

“Speaking of. Which one of you is taking me home for the night?” Lei raised her brows.

Both women said, “Me!” and laughed.

“Flip a coin, girls,” Lei said, and they did.

Sophie won the coin toss. She smiled at Lei, then Marcella. “My place is huge. Since we’re having so much fun tonight, why don’t you come spend the night too, Marcella? We can have a sleepover. My daughter Momi loves doing those with her friends.”

Marcella smiled. “There’s a first time for everything. A big yes to grownup sleepover. Just make sure you provide me a barf bucket for the morning. Let me call Marcus and let him know.”

“Absolutely,” Sophie said. “Let me text home. Armita will set up your rooms, get my kids to bed, pop some popcorn and cue up the chick flicks for us.”

“How do I get an Armita?” Lei asked Sophie, teasing. “She’s an angel in human form.”

“I have to agree,” Sophie said, raising her glass. “To guardian angels, in whatever form they take.” They toasted. “And to Lei, who’s been a guardian angel for Malia.”

“Amen,” Marcella said.

“No,” Lei said. “Weallwere her guardian angels. And Harry, most of all. I hope Malia realizes how much she’s loved, and that it helps her heal.”

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