Adam and Talei
Talei and Trace drove to The Tramp Islander. They went into the pilothouse.
“Dad’s probably in his cabin,” Trace said. “I’ll ring him.”
Talei stood at the aft door. Trace noticed she was near trembling. He grabbed the phone and dialed. “Hey, Dad, can you come up to the pilothouse?”
“Be right there,” Adam replied.
The sound of the cabin door opening and shutting reached the pilothouse, followed by steps coming up the companionway. Trace glanced at Talei. She wet her hips and swallowed. She took a quick deep breath.
Adam stopped at the last step. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. He stepped up into the pilothouse. With his arms open, he stepped toward Talei.
She stepped forward and embraced him. Adam’s arms fell limp.
“I am not married and I have no man,” Talei said. “So hold me.”
“Oh, Talei,” Adam said and wrapped her in his arms. “Is it possible, you are more beautiful than the last time I saw you, and more beautiful than I ever imagined?”
“And look at you,” Talei said. “You have not gotten older, you have gotten mature and distinguished.”
Adam chuckled. “That still sounds old to me.”
They smiled at each other without a word spoken. Finally, Adam said, “Sit. Let’s talk.”
Trace slowly moved to the companionway. He quietly began to step below.
“Where are you going, young man?” Talei quipped. “You stay and chaperone us.”
Trace climbed back up and sat at the chart desk. Adam and Talei sat on the bench facing each other.
“Tell me about yourself in an instant,” Trace said, “because I want to know it all right now.”
“I don’t know where to begin,” Talei said.
Adam’s smile left only his eyes. “I guess if we start at the beginning, it might be sad.”
“Trace filled me in on you,” Talei said. “You went back to Texas and met a wonderful woman whom you married. I met a wonderful man. He was like you, an American. We wanted children and had none. He loved surfing—and that’s how he drowned.”
“I’m so sorry,” Adam said, gripping one hand and placing the other on her shoulder.
“My wife died when Trace was five,” Adam said bravely. “It was a car accident.”
Talei softly placed her hand on Adam’s cheek. “Oh, Adam, I know you and know how hard you must have grieved.” She broke into a wide smile. “But look at the son you raised. I only met him, and he is dear to me. You have so much.”
“Life has had to be good to you,” Adam said. “No wait, you always said, ‘You have to be good to life before life is good to you. It’s already given you life—what else do you want?’”
“That came from my grandmother,” Talei said.
“She was so wise,” Adam said.
Suddenly, Trace realized there was an entire other life to Adam. Something buried but always there, waiting for the right moment to be uncovered.
Talei turned serious, but her eyes remained bright. “Trace told me you did not want to come ashore. You were afraid to see me.”
“The truth is,” Adam said, “I was afraid of what it might do to you. But I was acutely more aware of what I thought it would do to me. That’s selfish.”
“You were thinking of us,” Talei said.
“I just can’t believe my eyes,” Adam said. “The last time I saw you, you wore a muumuu, and now you are dressed like a Fifth Avenue ad executive.”
“And look at you, Adam,” Talei quipped, “I think those are the same clothes I last saw you in.”
“Well, the hat for sure,” Adam laughed, and so did Talei.
“What happened to your husband, if I may ask?” Adam said.
Talei forced a brave smile. “He was an American, in many ways like you. Loved to surf, but one day, when the waves were very large, he went out. He drowned. I worked for my father at the factory. And Kyle owned a surf shop. It was perfect for him. He loved the islands.”
“It looks as if we have had our share of heartbreaks and tragedies,” Adam said.
“We all do,” Talei said. “About that time, I think back, I think of those who have not had what I’ve had. If I may be so forward, yet honest, to love is a great treasure. I’ve been loved twice. To be loved is a greater treasure. I’ve been loved twice.”
“That’s been the way with me, too,” Adam said. “You took the words right out of my mouth. I had Trace. He didn’t know it, but he was often my anchor.”
Trace interrupted. “You always said I was more like a pain in the rump.”
“That’s where the anchor was planted,” Adam quipped.
They continued to talk and laugh. Makani appeared and was introduced to Talei. The conversation lasted the entire afternoon. Coyote, Sage, Pete, and Cally made their acquaintance with Talei. She stayed for supper. And as night fell, Adam walked her to her car.
They leaned against the front of the car. Neither wanted the time together to end.
“I gather from the crew you will be leaving in a couple of days,” Talei said.
“Yes,” Adam said.
“The crew is very cautious not to reveal where or why you are going,” Talei said. “I know it’s nothing illegal. You would never be a part of that. Believe me, I’m not prying. I’m concerned for your safety, Trace, and the crew. What I’m trying to say is, right now, my emotions are like a crashing wave. You are in my life now. What I mean is that I know you are alive and well. Before today, you were a memory. Now you are real. I lost you once, and I don’t want to lose you again.”
“Crashing waves is a good way of putting it,” Adam said. “What I feel right now, I don’t want it to leave. Yet, I know our hearts can make fools out of us. We can’t leave it like this. We could walk away—and regret it the rest of our lives. When I saw you standing there in the pilothouse, I could have died that moment, and everything in my life would have been complete. I have to figure this out, and I can’t do it on my own. Only you can help.”
Talei moved closer to Adam, and he put his arm around her.
“We have a couple of days,” Talei said. “If we were young,” she chuckled, “that would be enough. We are older. We know who we are and what we need. We must give ourselves time.”
“Not in a million years did I ever think of seeing you ever again,” Adam said. “I’m not idealistic as to conclude this was meant to be. It’s now what is meant to be; it’s how you make it. But I’m baffled about how this came to be. There was this time, maybe ten years ago. I had to go to Houston. I saw this woman. She looked so much like you that I nearly approached her and asked her name. I knew it wasn’t you, but I fantasized for a moment that it might really be you. And how wonderful it would be just to talk to you.” Adam held her tighter. “And now look, here we are—impossible to explain.”
“I will make an admission to you,” Talei said. “My life here has been good, very good, but I should have gone with you. It was a mistake. When you left, Kyle soon came along. He filled some of the hole in my heart, but not all of it.”
Talei reached into her purse. She removed a slip of paper and a pen. She jotted her address and handed it to Adam.
“I’m an early riser,” Talei said. “Be at my home at seven. Breakfast will be ready.”
They embraced and kissed.
Adam watched Talei drive away. It was all he could do to keep himself from calling her back. He stood for a couple of minutes after her red taillights disappeared into the night.
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