The Islands

Read The Islands for Free Online

Book: Read The Islands for Free Online
Authors: Di Morrissey
holding each other close, aware of the building sexual attraction between them. The music finished and he took her hand, leading her from the little dance floor.
    â€˜Another drink?’
    â€˜No, I’m ready to go if you don’t mind. I’m still a bit jet lagged.’
    He opened the car door for her at the hotel. It was late, no staff appeared. A low branch of a large plumeria tree bowed over them. He plucked one of the creamy sweet flowers and handed it to her.
    â€˜Put it on your pillow and you’ll know you’re in the tropics.’
    Catherine drew a deep breath inhaling the scent of flowers, the soft breeze, the tang of salt. In the lull of music and voices they could hear the soft splash of waves lapping on the beach in front of the hotel. ‘It’s been wonderful. Thanks so much, Bradley.’
    â€˜It’s been wonderful for me too.’ He leant forward to kiss her goodnight but this time he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her with more passion than he’d ever shown before. Catherine curled her arms around his neck and returned his kiss. They pulled apart somewhat breathless. Bradley smiled and touched her cheek.
    â€˜Sleep well. See you after work tomorrow. If I can get away early there’s somewhere I’d like to take you.’
    â€˜I’m in your hands. You’re being very generous,’ said Catherine.
    â€˜I wish I could spend every minute with you . . . while you’re here.’ He took a step towards the car. ‘We’ll make the most of it, shall we?’
    Catherine nodded and walked up the white stone steps into the hotel lobby knowing he was watching her. He waited until she was out of sight before pulling away from the portico.
    The next morning Catherine caught a bus down to the Ala Moana shopping centre and lost herself among the stores – Liberty House, Sears and Shirokiya – as well as browsing among the proliferation of shops selling Hawaiiana looking for gifts to take home. She bought bottles of Hawaiian flower perfume and quilted potholders and cushion covers featuring brightly coloured flowers and palm trees, which she thought her mother would love. She wandered into a boutique called Carol and Mary and tried on dresses and bought a new swimsuit. As she was paying for it Kiann’e, the dancer from the Moonflower, came in and the woman in charge hurried to greet her. Kiann’e smiled at Catherine.
    Catherine smiled back. ‘Excuse me, but I saw you dancing last night and I thought you were just wonderful.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ replied the beautiful young woman. ‘Have you found something to buy here?’
    Catherine held up her pink carry bag. ‘A new swimsuit.’
    â€˜Terrific. They have lovely things in here,’ said Kiann’e.
    â€˜Yes. I love the dresses you wear in your show. Do you buy them here?’
    â€˜Why, thank you. No, my aunty makes my holomuus. Based on the old style. I come in here to feel modern.’
    Catherine laughed. ‘Well at least you’ll never go out of fashion.’
    â€˜I hope not. The dances I mean. We teach the little ones so it gets handed down.’
    She had a lilting accent and Catherine thought she was the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen. She guessed Kiann’e was around her own age, perhaps a little older. With her smooth olive skin and classical looks it was hard to tell.
    Kiann’e smiled her wide infectious smile. ‘Enjoy your swimsuit. Enjoy Hawai‘i.’
    â€˜Where are we going then?’ she asked late that afternoon as Bradley drove past the multi-storey Kaiser Hospital at the Ala Wai yacht harbour.
    â€˜I’d like you to see Pearl Harbor – the Arizona memorial,’ he said quietly.
    â€˜Oh, the American battleship that was sunk. It got America into the war didn’t it?’ said Catherine.
    â€˜Certainly did. The whole Seventh Fleet was attacked. December 1941. I think

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