Between Hello and Goodbye(25)

“Is that so?” Morgan grinned like a proud father. I shot him a look which he ignored. “Asher tells me you’re in advertising.”

“Oh?” Faith smiled. “What else did he tell you?”

“He said you were brave in the helicopter,” Kal piped up.

“Did he?” She looked to me, her eyes softening.

I shifted in my seat. “I said you handled it well. Which you did.”

“Thank you,” she murmured and turned back to Morgan. “Yes, I’m in advertising. In Seattle.”

She and my brother instantly became wrapped in a conversation about her job and her life on the mainland, as if they had known each other forever. Nalani emerged with scallops and salad, and we all settled down around the table. Conversation flowed freely; Nalani and Morgan told Faith about their photography studio in Princeville, and Morgan did what he usually did—roamed the lanai taking candids of us with his Nikon as we talked. The laughter was plentiful, and it was becoming hard to imagine that two days ago there was no Faith in my life.

She’s not in your life, I reminded myself. She’s only passing through.

Whatever the deal, it was beginning to get under my skin how much she was getting under my skin. A few days ago, my life might’ve been emptier but at least it was solid. Settled. Uncomplicated. And yet I couldn’t keep myself from inviting her into it.

“Everything was wonderful,” Faith said as the table was being cleared. “I’m sorry I can’t help you clean up.”

“Nonsense,” Nalani said. “You’re our guest. Besides, I’m just carrying plates. Morgan has to wash.”

He smiled fondly at his wife. “That’s the deal. I can’t cook for shit, so I’m on dish duty. Asher has to help.”

I held up my hands. “Not me. I’m a guest.”

Morgan snorted. “My ass.” He turned to Faith. “He’s here four nights a week, despite having his own huge place right on the beach.”

“It’s not huge and most places on Kauai are right on the beach,” I said with a pointed glare.

That shut Morgan up, but I felt Faith’s eyes on me. Her smile dimmed for the first time all day, and after a short silence, she got to her feet and reached for the crutches.

“Where are you going?” I half-rose out of my chair.

“I’m running away, don’t try to stop me.” She cocked a hip. “I’m going to use the restroom, if it’s all right with you.”

I sat back down. “Oh. Sure.”

“Just past the kitchen,” Morgan told her.

She made her way off the lanai, and I heard her stop to speak with Nalani. Kaleo had gone off to his favorite hideaway—under the front porch—leaving Morgan and me alone.

“What was that all about?” he asked. “She doesn’t know you’re loaded?”

“Loaded with my New York money?”

Morgan frowned, confused for a second, then sagged in his chair with realization. “Dammit, Kal…”

“Don’t blame him. You should have told me if the business was in trouble. Is it?”

“And if it is, what are you going to do? Make me another loan?”

“Fuck that. I’ll just give you the money.”

“I don’t want your money. The first time was an investment. A loan that I paid back—”

“Which I didn’t ask you to pay back.”

“—but Ash, you have to stop.”

“Stop what? Worrying about you and—?”

“Yes! Stop worrying. Stop babying me. So the business hit a rough patch? I’ll figure it out. I want to figure it out. I don’t want to face every obstacle in life knowing I have a safety net.”

I sat back in my chair, teeth clenched. “Yeah, that must be fucking rough.”

“I’m sorry,” he said in a low voice. “I didn’t mean it like that. I know how hard you worked for us—for me—when we were kids. I will never be able to repay you for that, Ash. Never.”

“I’d never ask you to.”

“But we’re not kids anymore. You don’t have to take care of me.”

I shook my head irritably. “You’re family. I have it. Why not give it?”

“You’ve been giving to me your entire life.” His grin reappeared; arguing never did sit right with Morgan. “Take a break, brother. I got this.”

“Fine,” I gritted out. “But if you’re really hurting…if it gets to the point where you’re on the verge of going under—”

“Then I’ll consider another loan. But until or unless that happens…” He kicked back and laced his fingers behind his head. “I mean, what if I’m just not very good at running a business? You going to keep pouring your money into a black hole?” He tsked. “I thought you were good with finances.”

“How can you joke about this?”

“Because I’m not going to rob myself of happiness right now by worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet.” He held up a hand when I started to protest. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Figure what out?” Faith asked, hobbling onto the lanai. Her smile dropped at my dark expression. “Am I interrupting?”