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that.”
    “Right. Then how come I’ve never heard a man compliment my striking kidneys?”
    Surprised, Maddie laughed. “When did you go out and get a sense of humor?”
    “Where do you think you inherited yours? Not from him . So, what’s Makana Island like, anyway? Does your expense account cover room service? Did you check out their spa?”
    “You know I don’t do spa stuff. Tell me about my fath ¾ ”
    “When I was in Barbados last year, I had my chart done by a professional astronomer. Pamper yourself and spend a day at the spa. Seaweed wrap, hot rock massage, pedicure…”
    “Felicia.” Maddie swallowed heavy-duty curses. “You started this conversation, so please continue it. I want to know more about ¾ ”
    “Your father.” The word was coupled with her mother’s well-known dramatic sigh. All they needed now were a few bars of soap-opera-style background music.
    Maddie grabbed the angel pillow and pressed it against her chest, bracing herself for one of Felicia’s self-pitying tirades. This time she would refuse to pacify her. It was time her mother ended all the secrecy.
    “He thinks he can control me and everyone else,” Felicia said. “That arrogant SOB is going to make me out to be the baddie. And I won’t stand for it.”
    Well, this was new. “Meaning what? Did he contact you? Where is he? It would save me a lot of money if you gave me the information and ¾ ”
    “I’m sorry,” Felicia whispered, with a catch in her voice. “I said too much.”
    Geeze, here she goes again. “Said too much? You haven’t told me anything. Can’t you at least give me his name?”
    “Not…not right now. You’ll have to trust me.”
    Maddie reached across the floral duvet for her wallet, lying amid her traveler’s checks and the phone numbers of Hawaii’s media-relations officers. She picked up her birth certificate and read the words “Father: Unknown”. Except he wasn’t unknown ¾ not to her mother. Yet, once again, Felicia was refusing to give her the information. Maddie had decided to take matters into her own hands six months ago, but all she’d come up against were dead ends.
    “Madison, what did you say about money? Are you okay? Do you need some ¾ ”
    “I’m fine. And no, I don’t need your money.” Maddie’s insides turned to ice. “Goodbye.”
    “Please. Let’s stop doing this. This thing we do. You get mad at me and hang up. I go off and pout, and we don’t talk for two weeks.” There was a pregnant pause until Felicia broke the silence. “How did our relationship get so screwed up? Sometimes we start out on the right track ¾ ”
    “Yeah, but we always seem to board the wrong subway.” Maddie blew out a loud breath. “It is what it is.” God, what a pair they made. She rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s been a long flight and I’m tired. Give me a call when you get back from your honeymoon.”
    Felicia cleared her throat. “Let’s talk a bit. I still don’t understand why you work so much. If you found a dependable man, then I wouldn’t have to worry about you. Well, since you like doing whatever it is you do on these trips, I’d like to know more about it. What are you going to write about this time?”
    Maddie explained with the shred of patience she had left. “My expertise is outdoor expeditions, like white-water canoeing, cycling and mountain climbing. This is my first tropical adventure. I’m excited and nervous at the same time.”
    “Why are you nervous?”
    Since when was her mother interested in her career? And what was up with the tremor in Felicia’s voice when she had asked about Maddie’s nervousness?
    Maddie hugged her knees close to her chest. “Uncle George sounded tense before I left. I hope I can live up to his expectations.” She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she had sensed this assignment weighed heavily on his mind, as though the future of his publishing house depended on it.
    “George? Ha. If you ask me, he puts too