Page 2 of Mai Tais and Murder

“Ready?” Helen asked, hoisting the cooler while Mel gathered their chairs, the backpack filled with gear, and the blanket.

“Ready,” Mel confirmed, then paused. “And Helen?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for taking care of me. Even when I’m being stubborn about it.”

Helen smiled, reaching out to squeeze Mel’s forearm. “Always,” she said simply. And she meant it.

* * *

Mel shiftedthe beach chairs in her grip as they made their way across the hot sand, keeping a watchful eye on Helen navigating with the cooler. “Let me take that cooler,” Mel offered, noticing Helen adjusting its weight for the third time.

“I’ve got it,” Helen replied with a determined tone Mel knew so well. “You’re already carrying everything else.”

Mel chuckled, knowing better than to argue. Instead, she found herself admiring how the sunlight caught Helen’s ash-blonde hair. Even after six months together, simple moments like this could still take her breath away. They reached the paved path that led back to their rental apartment, and Mel felt the immediate relief of her feet leaving the scorching sand. The path wound through a meticulously maintained tropical garden that led into the courtyard at the resort where they were staying. The building where they had rented a condo apartment for the week rose before them. A young man on a rental bike whizzed past them, causing Mel to instinctively step closer to Helen. The detective in her never really went away, even on vacation.

“You’re doing it again,” Helen said with a little laugh.

“Doing what?”

“That thing where you try to put yourself between me and any possible threat. Even harmless college kids on bikes.”

Mel felt her face flush, and it wasn’t from the sun. “Force of habit,” she mumbled but smiled when Helen bumped her shoulder affectionately. As they approached their building, Mel noticed a man with disheveled gray hair and a face full of white stubble crossing the courtyard. Wearing a wrinkled Hawaiian shirt, he walked quickly with his head down. Something about his intense focus caught her attention, but Mel refocused on getting them to the elevator, trying to distract herself from automatically profiling their neighbor. She was retired. No more detective work.

“I’m very glad we have an elevator right now,” Helen said as she pressed its button. “Three flights of stairs do not sound appealing.”

Mel nodded. “Especially after I spent hours swimming with the fish,” she said as the elevator arrived with a soft ding. They managed to squeeze themselves and their beach gear inside. As the doors closed, Mel caught a whiff of Helen’s sunscreen. It was a scent she was quickly coming to associate with happiness.

As if sensing Mel’s thoughts, Helen smiled at her. “What are you thinking?”

Caught thinking sappy thoughts that went against her tough exterior, Mel hoped her sunburn covered her blush. “I was thinking,” Mel said as they ascended. “Maybe we could order in tonight instead of going out. That way we wouldn’t have to change out of comfortable clothes.”

Helen raised an eyebrow. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with your shoulders being burned, would it?”

“My shoulders are fine,” Mel insisted, though they were starting to feel warm and tight. “I just thought it might be nice to have a quiet evening in. Watch the sunset from our balcony, maybe open that bottle of wine we bought yesterday.” The elevator opened on their floor, and they made their way down the open-air hallway to their apartment.

The ocean breeze was stronger up there, carrying the sound of distant waves and palm fronds rustling. “That does sound nice,” Helen said as she set down the cooler to fish out their key card. “Though I’m not letting you off the hook about those shoulders. I packed some aloe vera gel, just in case.”

Mel rolled her eyes but felt a familiar warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with sunburn. Helen’s caring nature was one of the things that had first drawn Mel to her.

Inside their apartment, the air conditioning hit them like a welcome wave. Their unit was decorated in typical island style with rattan furniture covered with plush tropical print cushions, local artwork featuring surfers and palm trees on the walls, and gauzy white curtains that billowed in the trade winds whenever they opened the balcony doors. Mel propped the chairs against the wall and stretched, her muscles pleasantly tired from the morning’s swimming.

“I think I’ll go take a quick shower,” Helen said, already headed toward the bedroom. “And change into something fresh, but dining in does sound nice.”

“I’m full of good ideas,” Mel said, smiling at Helen’s answering laugh. Alone in the living room, Mel walked to the sliding glass doors that led to their balcony. The view was nice. Through the end of the courtyard, she could see the ocean stretching to the horizon and palm trees swaying in the breeze. Then again, she could also see into their neighbor’s apartment in the building directly across from them. The man she had seen before in the courtyard was at a desk in what Mel guessed, based on their own apartment, was the space’s second bedroom. He was talking on the phone and gesturing animatedly. Something about his body language suggested tension, but Mel forced herself to look away. She wasn’t on the job anymore. She was on vacation with the woman she loved, and that was all that mattered. The sound of the shower starting in the other room brought a smile to her face. Maybe she’d order some food now and surprise Helen with having dinner ready when she got out. It was the least she could do to thank her for all the little ways she showed she cared.

ChapterTwo

Helen settled into one of the cushioned chairs on their balcony, careful not to spill the glass of chilled Chardonnay in her hand. The late afternoon sun painted the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks, its warmth gentler now than during their beach excursion earlier. She smiled, watching Mel fuss with the other chair, knowing her partner was still feeling the effects of her sunburn despite her protests to the contrary.

“I put some aloe vera in the refrigerator,” Helen said, taking a sip of her wine. “It’ll feel better when it’s cool.”

Mel finally sat, wincing slightly. “I’m fine,” she insisted, though Helen noticed she was careful not to let her shoulders touch the chair’s back. “This view almost makes up for the sunburn anyway.”

Below their balcony, palm trees swayed in the gentle breeze, their fronds casting intricate shadows on the manicured courtyard. The resort’s swimming pool sparkled in the fading sunlight while the distant ocean rolled in endless waves of blue meeting the horizon. As she looked at the scene, Helen felt contentment wash over her. “You know,” Helen said, turning to look at Mel. “I never thought I’d be sitting on a balcony in Hawaii, sharing wine with a retired police detective.”

Mel smiled. “And I never thought I’d be sitting beside such a beautiful retired middle school teacher turned lesbian romance writer either. Life’s funny that way.” She reached over and squeezed Helen’s hand. “But I’m glad we are.”

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