Almost Paradise Read online

  “You look lovely this evening.” His voice dropped so low she almost didn’t hear him.

  He was probably just being polite, but the compliment made her giddy just the same. “Thank you—again.”

  “Want to tell me why you came in here looking like you’d lost your favorite puppy?”

  She tried to hang on to the lighthearted tone. “That obvious?”

  He nodded. Nick walked by, and Billy grabbed a fresh beer out of his hand, pointing it toward her. “Want one?”

  She held up her half-full wine glass and shook her head. Did she want to tell him about her day? Her dreams? And what came now? His head tipped back and the corded muscles of his neck washed down a long swallow. Too bad Billy hadn’t been the partner to waltz into the shop two years ago and catch her eye instead of Casanova Nick. Everything might have been very different today.

  “Come on.” Settling his hand at the small of her back, he guided her past the partygoers and out the back door. Scattered about in small clusters, some people sat around the patio tables, others on the benches surrounding the fire pit. But Billy didn’t stop until they were in the far corner of the deck overlooking the hillside below. “Tell Dr. Billy all your troubles.”

  She almost laughed aloud again. Dr. Billy. “Would that be medical doctor or headshrink?”

  “Take your pick.” He set his drink down on the rail top, and the humor disappeared from his eyes. Looking down at what she knew to be his prosthetic leg, he paused a long moment before meeting her gaze again. “How bad can it be?”

  “Maybe not so bad.” Not to anyone else. Turning to face the view, she hung her hands over the rail. If she were to look at him, she’d skip over the truth and go straight to what a nice house. “Do you like children?”

  “Is this a trick question?” The response slid out with a chuckle.

  She laughed with him. “No. Just asking.” Focusing on some distant point, he leaned forward, his one arm almost touching hers. “I suppose so.”

  “Well.” She searched the horizon, wondering what he saw. “I know so. Ever since I was a kid, all I’ve ever wanted was to grow up, get married, and have a houseful of children. In that order.”

  “Kind of a sad commentary on where the world has gone that you have to mention getting married before getting pregnant is important to you.”

  “I guess I still want the fairy tale. The Prince Charming. Maybe I can skip the white horse, but the walks on the beach, the moonlit night, the romantic proposal. A wedding with all our friends. And then the gift of children.”

  “Anyone tell you that’s very old-fashioned thinking?”

  “They have. I don’t care.”

  “Good for you.” He tipped his bottle at her and took a short sip before setting it down again.

  “That day I passed out at the shop?” She tried not to fidget. This whole subject was so uncomfortable, and she was still embarrassed as all get-out that the whole place thought she’d passed out from monthly cramps.

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “First, I’m sorry—”

  “No need.”

  “And thank you.” She seemed to be saying that a lot tonight.

  “Again, no need, but you’re welcome. We all can use a little help every once in a while.”

  She had to ask herself which one of them he was talking about. “Well, the hospital gave me some meds for the pain and told me to make an appointment with my um…doctor.” Honesty or not, the word gynecologist simply didn’t want to roll off her tongue.

  Billy shifted his weight from one leg to the other. His arm brushed lightly against hers for another brief moment, tickling her senses clear to her toes. Now wasn’t that a surprise?

  Sucking in a fortifying breath, she carried on. “I decided the situation had spiraled out of control and putting off seeing the doctor was no longer an option. I made the appointment.” Still not wanting to face him, she heard him take another sip and set the bottle down again. “That was at ten o’clock this morning.”

  This time she felt his gaze watching her. It almost made her laugh. How many times had she read that in a book? Heard someone say it, and always thought what a crock? Well, she felt it. And damned if she was going to turn and confirm. She hadn’t told anyone else about the appointment or the results. Not even Lexie. Maybe it was the glass and a half of white wine in her system, but she was going to get this out in the open, and to a man. One she hardly really knew. Just spit it out, Angela.

  “I’m scheduled for a laparoscopy in two weeks.” Now she looked to him and caught the moment his eyes filled with relief. He didn’t understand. How could he? She hadn’t explained. “They think I have endometriosis. The laparoscopy is to confirm the diagnosis and possibly remove any abnormal tissue. Hopefully it will decrease the pain and…” She swallowed hard. “…improve my chances of conception.”

  She got the impression she was no longer watching Billy the guy who ran a dive business, but rather the former military man. His face had gone hard, his eyes almost cold, and she simply had no idea what to make of it. “Never mind. Forget I said anything. This house was my personal favorite when I sent Nick the three choices for lease. One hell of a view.”

  The cool facade fell as a small fissure of concern settled between his brows. “Is there any chance of cancer?”

  She took the first sip of her drink since she started this conversation. “God, I hope not.”

  * * *

  Fear washed over him with the force of a riptide. He’d grown accustom to Angela stopping by the shop. Always in a good mood, she’d brighten his day with just a wave or a smile. The thought of losing that to a deadly disease squeezed at his heart. “Is that a yes or a no?”

  “Of all the possibilities the doctors mentioned, the big C wasn’t one of them.”

  “Good.” So why did she look troubled? “But you’re worried?”

  “Not about that.” Her thumb scraped at a speck on the railing, then she looked up, sporting a halfhearted smile.

  “There you are.” Nick walked across the deck, his wife to one side and a tall man in pressed khakis with tasseled loafers on the other. Billy waved at his friend and hoped they’d go sit in the empty benches across the way. Not that he didn’t enjoy his friend’s company, but right now Billy wanted very much to know what had Angela worried.

  Kara leaned in to give him a light kiss on the cheek and whispered “thank you for coming” in his ear. “Have you met Dr. Shepherd?”

  “Kenneth.” The man who looked to have just stepped off the cover of GQ offered his hand.

  “Billy.” He did his best to respond with a friendly smile and hoped it didn’t look like a sneer. He didn’t want to make small talk. He wanted to continue his conversation with Angela.

  “I understand birthday wishes are in order.” The guy’s smile widened as he turned to Angela, and Billy wondered if the flash of white was thanks to years of orthodontia or caps.

  “Thank you.” Angela smiled meekly.

  Kara pointed at the neatly pressed man but faced Billy. “Ken was an expert witness for a recent case. He’s a child psychologist specializing in grief and loss counseling.”

  “Yes, and Kara’s been singing the praises for this new children’s program of yours. I’m very interested in learning more.”

  Nick leaned back against the rail and looped his arms around his wife settled in front of him. “Since this is your baby, we thought you’d want to brag on the new diving pool and upcoming plans.”

  The well-dressed guest turned his attention from Nick to Billy, pausing briefly first to ogle Angela. “Kara mentioned how Nick teaching Bradley to snorkel at the lake near his Texas hometown helped both of them get through the day Bradley’s mother passed.”

  Nick and Kara both nodded, but Nick was the one to comment. “Aunt Maggie’s idea of going to the lake that day was beyond brilliant. In addition, being able to spend more time in the water here, as well as learning about marine life and responsibility for its future seems
to have really helped Bradley cope with all the changes in his world.”

  Billy ignored the way the Jim Caviezel look-alike watched Angela from the corner of his eye. “That’s actually what gave us the idea to be more involved in youth diving opportunities.”

  Nick tipped his finger off his brow in a lazy salute. “Gave you. I agree it’s a great idea, but can’t take the credit for any of it.”

  “Whoever’s brainchild it was, I’d be very interested in exploring if I could incorporate snorkeling and scuba into the counseling of some of my patients.” Dr. Shepherd winked at Angela as his gaze shifted from one partner to the other.

  Billy resisted the urge to grab the guy by the scruff of his well-pressed collar and toss him over the deck. If Nick’s underlying intention had been to get Billy to work with a counselor under the pretense of helping children, especially with this lothario, clearly marital bliss was warping his perception of reality. “You think our dive pool can be of some help?”

  “Actually, it’s the children’s programs that interest me. There have been amazing results reported with dolphin therapy for anything from autism to post-traumatic stress disorder…”

  PTSD. He knew it. If this wasn’t a setup on his best friend’s part, then the moon really was made of green cheese.

  “…losing a loved one can cause lifelong trauma for some young children. Feelings of abandonment and inferiority never leave them. The youngest linger, expecting Mom, Dad or their little sister to come back any moment. Others silently wonder what they did wrong to make the deceased want to leave. If they’re lucky, someone in the family recognizes the situation and brings them to me. But sometimes even I can’t fully help.

  “There’s a sector of psychologists who firmly believe the healing aspects of interaction with dolphins often lies in the power and freedom gained from being in the water. Especially with the physically disabled. I can’t help but wonder if simply tapping the power of being in the water with nature could be as productive as interacting with dolphins in an enclosed setting.”

  Okay, perhaps Billy had jumped to conclusions too quickly. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he also remembered reading an article on dolphin therapy. Maybe this impromptu introduction was on the up-and-up. “Dolphins have been known to swim by and stop to put on a show for our divers. But children would have to be older to participate in ocean dives.”

  “I’m not much of a swimmer, Mr. Everrett—” “Billy.”

  “Billy. But if learning to snorkel and play with pretty colored fishes can reach even one kid that I haven’t been able to help, it will be worth more to me than a signed Mickey Mantle rookie card.”

  “So where do we start?” Nick asked.

  “I’m not completely sure when or if any of this will help. I’d like to see the facility and perhaps watch a class. Help me better understand what’s involved. We all grieve our losses in different ways…”

  Listening with interest, Billy noticed Angela just barely shift her weight, turning one shoulder toward the valley and away from the conversation. The light tone of the earlier conversation no longer masked the sadness lurking in eyes now focused on the drink in her hand. When she lifted her gaze, he recognized the pain of a grieving woman.

  In the service of Uncle Sam he’d seen that look in the eye of too many parents, spouses, siblings, and children. What did such pretty brown eyes have to grieve?

  Chapter Four

  “I brought cookies.” Billy’s mother walked through the double glass doors, Gunny, her seventy-five pound German shepherd dog on her heels. Raising a large covered dish for all to see, she glanced around the nearly empty shop. “Where’s my boy?”

  Lexie pointed over her shoulder with her thumb. “All the boys, big and small, are having a test run in the new pool.”

  “Oh, how exciting!” Maile Everrett set the dish down and scurried out the back door.

  Billy pushed away from the railing. “Mom? What are you doing here?” Ever since Nick had returned to Kona with a son, Maile had taken on the role of substitute grandmother to the little boy, as though she were Mother Goose aided by Rin Tin Tin.

  “I brought cookies.” She sidled up next to her son and, smiling, ran her fingers through his short hair before pointing to the pool. “Why aren’t you in there?”

  “Someone has to observe.” “Lexie can’t observe?”

  “She’s manning the register.”

  “And Nick?”

  “It’s his son.”

  “How about one of the dive guides?

  Jonathan’s been with you a long while now.” “Mother, I’m the boss.” He did his best to toss a stern glare in her direction, but he should have known he couldn’t compete with a mother’s look, and settled for a counteroffensive. “You didn’t answer my question. What brings you around today?”

  “Cookies. Made too many. Your father always liked my macadamia butter cookies.”

  Draping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her closer to him.

  “The ones with chocolate swirls were his favorite.”

  All Billy could do was nod. The heart attack just over one year ago had come as a surprise to everyone. Edward James Everrett had been strong and healthy and looked much younger than his sixty-two years. His family didn’t bother much with doctors. Perhaps if his dad had done the annual checkup routine they would have discovered the heart disease. That thinking led Billy down the long road of regrets and to the house at the end of the street—if he’d been more aware, paid more attention to his father’s habits, noticed the changes in his health, would Edward Everrett be standing beside his wife now?

  When Nick and Billy had bought the dive business from his dad, his mother had sung the hallelujah chorus. She was ready to spend some time with her husband. For a little while, she did.

  “Do you think of him?” His mother remained tucked against him.

  “All the time.”

  “He was very proud of you. Always when he spoke of you, he puffed up like a peacock. The best thing he’d ever done for his country was teach you to dive.” Now she pulled back, stepped aside. “Your father would be proud of this, too, but it would have made him happy if you were the one in the water teaching the children what he taught you.”

  “Mom—”

  She held up her hand to him, palm out. “I know I’m not saying anything you don’t already know, but I had to say it.” Taking another step back and smiling at Bradley climbing out of the pool, she patted her son’s arm. “Missy Kalani is waiting for me, so I’d better hurry. Make sure Bradley gets his share of cookies. Oh, and when you have a minute, my garbage disposal is backing up again.”

  He bobbed his head. “I’ll stop by later and check it out.”

  Before Nick and Bradley were deck side and dry, Maile had waved her good-byes and been off to do who knew what with her friends. He looked down at the dish of cookies. Did she really think like when he was seven, a plate of cookies could set his world to right?

  * * *

  Everything was coming along better than planned. For the launch of the new program, Billy had ordered a large array of child-friendly merchandise. An entire bay area of the shop had been cleared, and Lexie and Kara had been unpacking and sorting for almost two days now.

  Almost a week had passed since the birthday party, and still no sign of Angela. He really thought after their chat at the party she’d gotten over any foolish embarrassment over the day she’d passed out and hoped with her best friends both here, she might stop in just to say hello.

  “Billy?” Lexie poked her head in the office door. “I think we’re going to need a bigger section.”

  Setting his pen down on the desk, he looked up from the schedules he’d been tinkering with. He’d estimated necessary square footage based on bulk of product ordered. “You ran out of room?”

  “Not yet, but almost.”

  “Let’s see.” His mind still crossed with schedules and thoughts of Angela, he ignored the twinge of a back sitting too lon
g and followed the shop manager out to the front. “Oh, wow.”

  “You like?” Kara asked.

  “Yeah.” He did. He really did. They hadn’t set the racks up tight and crowded like the rest of the store. The girls had used posters and decorations scattered throughout the section between the small wet suits, the masks, the snorkels, fins, and other child-sized accessories. At hand level for small people, they’d brought over the stuffed sea toys from their previous place in the shop and set out the readers like The Fishy Alphabet and A Whale’s Tale, as well as more advanced books on sharks, turtles, and other sea life.

  To the right, two more boxes stood unopened with stacks of T-shirts piled on top. “What’s in those?”

  “Shorties, snorkel vests, and water shoes.” Kara lifted a T-shirt. “Isn’t this just too cute?”

  When it came to opinion questions, he’d concluded through the years that nodding and smiling worked best. No matter what words he chose, they would undoubtedly be wrong.

  “This looks really great.” He’d intended for the items to be displayed more like a warehouse. But the girls were right. The way everything spread out drew the attention of whoever passed by. The kids were going to love the lower sections of toys, videos, and books. “Really great.”

  “Then I can shift this section of adult gear across the way?” Lexie pointed to the neighboring shelves.

  Billy nodded. “Yeah. Wherever. Let’s finish this up.”

  “Now that we have it pretty much planned out, the last couple of boxes will be unpacked in no time.”

  “You may want to rescue my husband.” Her arms filled with water shoes, Kara straightened from one of the boxes.

  “Rescue?”

  “Angela, Lexie, and I are having a girls’ night at our place.”

  “The picture blew out on my screen day before yesterday.” Lexie placed Honu T-shirts where the adult shirts had been. “Really ticked me off, too. The TV is only two years old.”