In Embers (The Ember Series Book 3) (17 page)

~ If You Could Only See: Tonic ~

Maui, Hawaii

Sunday morning - 9:22 a.m. - June 16
th

Asia’s private jet had us back on the island in record time. A fancy black car and snooty driver met us at the entrance of the Maui airport. Without catching our breaths, we were on our way to see my mother and Asia’s adopted girls. The car rolled along the main road before turning off onto a very familiar street.

“Wait a sec…where are we headed?” I asked, confused. Asia had told me her new house was built on the same land as her last home, and this was not the way there.

“It’s okay Max, we’re not going to my house,” Asia softly spoke. Before I could comment, it became clear that we were driving down the road that led to my uncle’s old house, my house. As we pulled into the cozy driveway my mother was already waiting for us outside. She stood with a smile and a wave, and three curious young women. Asia stepped from the car first and the three girls ran up to her excited, with arms full of love. Star joined her twin sister, Lennon, with a quick hug too. It was obvious they were still very close.

“How was the desert?” Lennon asked her sister. Star looked back at me as I exited the car.

“Awesome!” Star flashed an embarrassed smile my way, and whispered, “He’s exactly like Aunt Asia told us…soooooooo hot.”

I pretended not to hear her comment and made my way over to my mother, stopping only long enough to kiss Asia on the cheek as I passed her by. Thunder rippled along the mountainside and she bit her lip playfully.

“Max!” My mother squeezed me tightly. I thought about fighting her hug, but changed my mind quickly. It felt nice. Actually, it felt overdue. Most of all, it felt right.

“Aloha,” I smiled, shyly.

“I can’t believe you came. Asia really does know you, doesn’t she. She promised me that you would come.” Her eyes welled up with tears. It had been too long since I had seen her. I never even told her where I was the last five years, just that I was safe and healing.

“Well, I’m here, but I’m not sure why I am here, at my house. Weren’t you all holding up at Asia’s new digs?” I asked, turning toward Asia and her four rays of sunshine.

“Asia messaged me that you’d be heading here first, so I packed up the girls and drove over.” My mother pointed with her thumb, “It was all her idea.” From the doorframe of my house stood a redhead with a ball cap atop her curls and a shotgun along her waist.

“Detective Steele,” I said, unsure. Her red lips tightened in disappointment.

“I can’t believe you just left like that, Max. I think I deserved at least a phone call,” she scolded. “And call me Kris…you know better.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled. I reached out with a nervous hand for her to shake. She looked down at it curiously, then smiled.

“Something’s different,” she announced. Asia walked up behind us and lightning slid along the bright blue sky. Kris peeled back a large grin. “You found your flames, didn’t you.”

Star chimed in, quickly, “You should see him, he’s like a superhero.”

“Really?” Kris filled with excitement.

I blushed.
“Star’s exaggerating.”

“No, I’m not,” she corrected. She turned to her three sisters and said, “He’s like Auntie Asia, but with fire!”

All of them gasped at the same time with one word, “Whoa!” Asia laughed softly and kissed my mother on her cheek.

“Have they been gracious and helpful young women, Vivian?” Asia asked with a raised eyebrow.

“They’re all amazing, my dear,” my mother said, proudly.

“What are we doing here?” I asked, breaking up the awkward family reunion.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve been back, Max, I wanted it to be as stress free as possible,” Asia subtly explained. “I was able to contact Detective Steele on the flight here. She has been keeping an eye on things around the island while I’ve been gone.”

“There hasn’t been
an Avery sighting in years, Max.” Kris winked, and rested her weapon against the back of the door.

“Did you explain about the unmarked vans?” I asked, troubled.

“Of course,” Asia said.

“Max, I have this island on lock down, you’re safe, the girls are safe, your mother’s safe…” she paused for a moment and continued gently. “Your daughter’s safe.”

“Madison…” Her name slid effortlessly from my lips. Thunder shook the walls softly, causing all the girls to fidget with excitement. Heat popped inside my fists and I brought one hand up to wipe the building moisture from my brow, but found my fingers already ablaze. My mother reached for my arm, locking it in place so I wouldn’t burn my face.

“Careful, Son!” she shrieked.

I looked at her and smiled. “It’s okay, Mom, I’m fireproof again.” I placed my burning hand in front of her face and blew with a hot puff of air that made the fire disappear. “See.”

“Oh my…” she shrank backwards.

Asia’s girls all giggled amongst themselves.

Star turned to all of them and said, “I told you so.”

Shaking her head, Kris stepped up between Asia and I. “Holy crap, it’s like an X-Men movie up in here.”

“So, Sam and Madison are already here?” I asked, ignoring everyone else. Asia watched me closely
, but calmly.

“Yes. All three of them arrived two nights ago. Don’t worry, I’ve had an unmarked police unit monitoring them twenty-four hours a day, just in case,” Kris said, still keeping a close eye on my hands.

I slowly turned to Asia. “Asia, I…”

“You need to see Madi,” she said, directly.

I grabbed her hand in mine and nodded yes.

She softly smiled with complete trust. “I know, Max.”

Quickly, we unpacked our things. Asia pulled out a set of keys from her bag and walked me to the backyard.

“Come on, I’ll drive,” she said. Sitting peacefully with a thin covering of dust along its frame was her black Jeep. I hadn’t seen it in years. I actually missed it. Some of the best memories I had of Maui took place in that vehicle.

“Okay,” I smiled.

~ Cool: Gwen Stefani ~

The thought of seeing my daughter after five years away was paralyzing. Asia sat patiently in the driver’s seat as she waited for me to collect my racing fears. And Sam, what was I supposed to say to her after the last time we spoke. It didn’t end well. My stomach filled with stinging fireflies. Asia had told me on the way that my mother would call ahead to let them know we were coming over.

“Are you ready?” Asia asked, quietly.

I found her strong eyes with mine.
“She’s going to hate me.”

“Possibly,” she said, brutally. It hurt and I began to shrink in my seat. “But then you’ll fix things, Max.”

“How?”

Asia pulled my face to hers with her cooling hands and kissed me slow and beautifully. “Easy. Just love her.”

“Okay,” I mumbled.

Slowly, we both slid from the Jeep and began the short walk to the Summer’s front door. Sam’s parent’s house. The same place she learned my secrets, my past, my curse. Seeing the deep red front door made the air run from my lungs. Asia placed a firm hand along my lower back and electricity slid up my spine, calming me in seconds. Before I could reach out and knock on the door, it opened.

“Aloha, Brother,” Kai greeted me. He looked much older. I guess the stress of his mainland job was getting to him. Gone was his wild locks of dirty-blonde hair. Now, there was only a closely shaved head with brown highlights. His exuberant smile was still alive and well though.

“Kai,” I barely said. He reached out a stiff hand and without thinking, I shook it. He noticed immediately the heat I was generating and nodded in recognition of my returned powers. He offered another handshake to Asia and she politely accepted.

“Come in, come in, I’m so happy the invitation found its way to you, Brother,” he said, as if there was never any animosity between the two of us. He and Sam must have really grown close.

I waited for Asia to enter first and then walked in behind her. No one else was around. Thank goodness, I didn’t think I could handle this reunion with Sam’s parents here too. They weren’t my biggest fans.

“How have you been, Max, I haven’t heard from you in forever.” He smiled.

“Kai, I sent letters for Madi…I sent birthday gifts…” I started to say upset.

He looked at me calmly. “That’s weird, I never saw anything. Oh well, you’re here now…”

“I don’t understand,” I began to sulk when Sam appeared from behind Kai’s shoulder. Her hair was short
, but still full of golden curls. It fell inches above her freckled shoulders. Her eyes were still as green as emeralds, but they carried with it an adult confidence. The kind of shine you earn from being a parent, I think. She greeted Asia with a large smile and a small hug. Asia said nothing but watched her defensively.

When Sam stepped up to me, she embraced me and said, “Welcome home, Max.”

I didn’t know what to say. My hands popped with heat and you could actually hear the moment it happened. I rubbed them together and willed them back to normal
.
No fires right now, stupid
!
I scolded myself.

“Madison will be very excited to see both of you. She’s missed you so much,” Sam said, ignoring the obvious question
;
Didn’t Sam want me out of all their lives?

“She has?” I finally spoke.

Sam walked back to Kai and tucked herself under his fit arm. But as she did, she stole a quick glance back at me. The same kind of look I had seen on her face whenever she had something important to tell me. It faded quickly though and I tried my best to pretend I hadn’t seen it. Asia slid her hand in mine and Sam focused on the move, but kept a welcoming smile along her lips.

“Congratulations,” Asia said, breaking up the tension.

“Thank you,” Kai said, on autopilot. He was surprised by her response, but relieved.

“Why come back here to have the wedding?” Asia asked.

Sam answered her, “It just seemed the easiest. Both our families still live here and Seattle is so far away.” She carefully looked up at me again. “Also, part of me will always be an island girl. It just felt right to have the ceremony here.”

“And it’s where we first met,” Kai added, bluntly. I fidgeted in my stance a little.

Just then, Madi burstfrom the hallway to greet us all, but when she saw me standing there, she stopped in her tracks. Madison Lee, my beautiful baby girl was barely a baby girl anymore. Her small frame was almost four-feet high now. Her arms lanky and adorned in brilliant colored bracelets made of tiny rubber bands. She was wrapped in a summer dress with thin straps over her shoulders. Just like the style Sam was so fond of. Tucked under the dress was a black T-Shirt with the top part of a
n
Aerosmit
h
logo peeking from her chest. She had her hair down and it was long enough to reach halfway down her back. It was light brown and curled slightly at the ends, probably from the warm humidity of the island. Her eyes were just as green as Sam’s, but they seemed even bigger than I remembered. She was the most perfect person I had ever seen.

“Madison, look who came by to say aloha before the big day,” Sam said, trying to encourage her to come closer.

Madi stared at me hard for a moment, and I could feel those pesky fireflies crawling up my throat.

“Hey, pretty girl, do you remember me?” Asia asked, lightening the moment. Madi whipped her head toward Asia quickly and looked her up and down. “I’m Asia.”

Madi slowly stepped up to her, ignoring me completely. Asia knelt down to greet her with a smile, eye to eye. Madi tilted her head to the side and studied her features.

“Maybe this will help.
” Asia smiled. Gently, she took Madi’s hands in hers and placed them on her cool cheeks. When her small fingers connected with Asia’s skin, thunder rolled over the house and Asia’s face filled with soothing heat. Sam looked at me with the first hint of worry.

Softly, Madi whispered, “I remember you.”

Asia grinned. “You and I have been on a great adventure before.”

“We have?” Madi asked, wide-eyed.

“Yes. One day, maybe I’ll have time to share it with you,” Asia said, and let go of her warm hands. Asia glanced my way with a raised eyebrow that told me everything. Little Madison was growing very powerful.

“Okay.
” Madison smiled, finally. Asia stood back up and nudged me forward. Madi’s smile fell away and she glared up at me, with tiny daggers in her eyes.

“Hello,” I said, and my voice cracked a little. She just continued to stare at me. Reluctantly, I tried again. “I’m so happy to see you, Madi.”

The sound of her name coming from my mouth was enough to ignite the famous Valentine temper.

“Good for you!” she shouted. Sam scooped up her hand and pulled her closer to her.