Redemption (Night Marchers #2) Written by: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels (8 page)

Kaylee nods and follows me out the exit into
the arrivals parking area. Outside are dozens of taxis. I start
heading towards the one nearest to us when I see it: Tristan's
yellow Jeep, idling at the curb.

My breathing becomes labored and my stomach
is sent into an anxious tailspin. Although I'm nervous about seeing
him, I'm also grateful. Had Tristan not shown up I would have been
forced to resort to plan B. But since I didn’t have a plan B, I
would have been really up the creek.

I turn towards Kaylee and she looks at me
slyly as if asking the silent question, 'Is that who I think it
is?' I nod and we both start wheeling our luggage towards the
Jeep.

When Tristan spots us he gets out and comes
to assist us. "Hello Emma," he says and I can tell by his tone that
he's still not happy about my decisions. "And you must be the
infamous Kaylee." He smiles at Kaylee and offers his hand out for a
shake, still the gentleman.

"Yes, and you must be Emma's night and
shining armor, Tristan." She diffuses the tension of the situation.
Instead of shaking his hand she goes in for a hug and says, "We’re
from Texas hon, we don't shake hands, we hug."

He smiles and gives her a quick hug, but
doesn’t linger. Then he grabs our bags and starts putting them in
the back of his Jeep.

Tristan never fails to surprise me. I've
dated many guys who couldn't help but be ferociously attracted to
Kaylee. I can't ever blame them; she is absolutely gorgeous with
her long blonde hair and baby blue eyes. If I were a guy, I would
be like a moth to a flame as well. But, Tristan looks at Kaylee
like a brother looks at a sister. It's unbelievably respectful to
me and I can tell that he's not forcing himself to act that way.
That thought makes me feel even more nervous because that would
reveal just how intense his feelings must be for me. Butterflies go
fluttering in my stomach as I think back to when only a day ago he
told me that he loved me.

"Kaylee, why don't you sit in the front?” I
say to her. She gives me a confused grimace but then a look of
understanding comes over her as she realizes that I need a bit of
distance from Tristan right now.

We all hop in and I steal a glance towards
the bed of his Jeep. Noticing the lack of supplies, I wonder if
we’re still on the same page. For all I know, he could be taking me
back to my Dad ending this whole charade. I shake off the thought
knowing that Tristan wouldn't betray me that way.

Kaylee, unable to just sit quietly, sparks up
a conversation. "So, Tristan, how long have you lived in
Kauai?"

"Pretty much my whole life. I was born in
Australia but moved here when I was two." He replied.

"Australia, cool! I bet it was awesome
growing up in Hawaii." She says.

"Yes, I of course have enjoyed it. I'm sure
growing up in Texas was just as cool for you guys." He says.

Kaylee crinkles her nose and says, "Boring is
what it was. Anyhow, so what's the plan?"

I look up and catch Tristan's aquamarine eyes
staring at me through his rearview mirror. "Emma didn't discuss it
with you?" He raises his eyebrows in a questioning look.

"No, I figured I would just surprise her." I
call out from the back seat.

"Yay, I love surprises. I hope we are staying
at some high end resort." She turns towards me with a big
smile.

I groan inwardly. No, I didn't discuss it
with Kaylee because I didn't want to sit for eight hours on a plane
ride hearing her complain. I know she won't be too happy with where
we are staying. I just reply, "Well, you will just have to wait and
see."

Tristan glares at me through the rearview
mirror. We will just add this to the top of the list of things
Tristan is mad at me about.

We spend the next hour in silence with the
occasional "ooh" and "ah" from Kaylee as we pass through the
scenery. When Tristan takes a turn off of the main road and onto a
dirt road, Kaylee looks back at me nervously. I just avert my gaze
and pretend like I'm admiring the scenery as well. She straightens
back in her seat, but I notice her fidgeting out of the corner of
my eye.

A moment later Tristan comes to the end of
the road and puts the Jeep in park.

"Um, where are we going?" Kaylee asks a bit
on edge.

Tristan refers to me with a gesture of his
hand and I reply, "The Hilton." I go to grab my luggage but Tristan
waves me out as he grabs both of our suitcases. Kaylee and I only
have to take our carry-ons. I feel bad, since the terrain we are
about to embark on isn't ideal for rolling luggage. Anyhow, Tristan
starts heading towards a make shift trail among the thick foliage
in front of us. I know where we are headed of course, but Kaylee
does not.

"I don’t like this Emma. Not one bit!" She
says giving me the stink eye. Her suitcase bobbing up and down
along the dirt path.

"Sorry Kaylee; I just didn't want to mention
it and have you be mad at me the whole way here. I did warn you
that this wasn't going to be an ideal vacation. I meant it. If you
want, I can have Tristan take you back to civilization and check
you into a hotel. I need to stay here though." I look at her
hopefully. Only in my wildest dreams would she agree to go back to
a hotel. Not that I don't want her with me, but if I could keep her
out of danger, that would be the best option.

"No way Jóse! Not happening, you aren't
getting rid of me that quick Emma Ann Townsend! I'm coming along,
but I don't have to be happy about it." She makes a harrumph sound
and starts walking ahead of me following Tristan's lead.

I groan and head after her with my carry on
suitcase bumping awkwardly behind me. This is going to be a long
hike.

An hour later we step out of the brush and
are face to face with our waterfall. I'm still taken by the beauty
of this place. I can tell Kaylee is too. She stands there open
mouthed looking all starry eyed. She mouths a single word,
"Wow."

"Am I forgiven?" I ask looking at her.

She looks at me and as she is about to
respond, she catches sight of something behind me, then says, "Um
not yet missy." Putting her hands on her hips she gives me a
glare.

I turn around and see that Tristan has
already pre-set up two tents for us. Camping supplies are organized
around the area and a fire pit is all ready to go in front of the
tents accompanied by a stack of extra firewood.

I turn back around to Kaylee and say, "Sorry
Kay." I try to give her my best sad frown-y face.

She groans then loosens up and says, "Fine,
but there better not be any bears out here Emma."

"No bears." I say relieved that she's not
going to stay mad at me all night. Mutually glad that she didn’t
bring up any other creatures that could possibly consider us
prey.

"No bathroom either." She says under her
breath as she heads towards the tent.

Tristan doesn't help matters when he chides
in, "There's a tree over there," he smirks.

Kaylee gives him a deserving glare, which
wipes the smirk right off his face. I laugh at that and follow her
to the camping area.

We put our stuff in the tent and then I take
Kaylee over towards the base of the waterfall to watch the sunset.
Tristan stays back and works quickly to get the fire lit and to set
up a cooking station. I don't know what he's planning on making,
but my stomach is growling in anticipation. I only had that pastry
and a bag of peanuts since the food in coach looked puke
worthy.

"I like him." Kaylee says once we are out of
earshot. "I can tell he cares about you a lot."

"Yeah. He's a good guy." I say.

"Good guy...hmm, what do you really think
Emma?" Kaylee raises her eyebrows.

"I don't know." I say looking down at the
ground. I begin nervously pulling up small bits of grass off the
ground and tossing them aside.

"Do you love him or not?" She asks so matter
of factly it takes me off guard. Leave it to Kaylee to be
blunt.

"Pry much?" I say sarcastically looking up at
her. It’s a silly question though since Kaylee and I have never
kept secrets from each other…up until lately I guess. I sigh and
then let my gaze wander over to where Tristan is working
methodically.

"Well?" She pries.

"Well, I don't know Kaylee. I don't know how
I feel. I care for him so much. But, then there's Kai. I care for
him too, a lot. I don't know what love feels like, all I know is
that I'm too confused and mixed up right now to decipher it." I
hurt just thinking about this hot mess that I've gotten myself
into. I also feel really bad jumping all over Kaylee like that.
It’s not like she’s done anything to deserve this. The only thing
she’s done is try and help, and here I am being vague and not
giving her any answers.

Despite my animosity, Kaylee puts her hand on
my arm drawing my attention to her. She says so sincerely that I
nearly believe her, "Emma, you
can
love two people at
once."

I take a deep breath as tears start building
up in my eyes. I shake them off. "That wouldn't be fair, to either
one of them. I can’t just play them both like puppets."

"Love's not always fair." She says simply.
Even in its simplicity, it’s still a profound statement. I nod my
head and we both turn our backs to Tristan and watch the sunset
somewhere behind the waterfall. Once twilight has started to set in
we head back towards the campsite to join Tristan.

"So who's hungry?" Tristan says.

My stomach growls loudly in response. I look
behind Tristan to find that he has a table all set up with hot
dogs, buns and condiments. We head over to put our hot dogs on wire
hangers that Tristan must have fixed up for roasting. I haven't
roasted hot dogs over an open fire since I was a kid. I have to
shoo away too many raw emotions as I think about the father and
daughter camping trips we used to take. I feel horrible about
deceiving my dad and Kaylee's mom for that matter. I wish I didn't
have to, but neither of them would willingly let me risk my life to
save Kai and understandably so. They wouldn't be able to understand
that I need to do this...Well, perhaps my dad would understand. He
would have done whatever it took to save my mom if he could.

All three of us head over to the fire and
start charring up our hot dogs. I make mine nearly black, just the
way I like it. As we eat our dinner at the table I listen as
Tristan asks Kaylee about herself and she gladly tells her life
story as well as how she met me. I get beet red as she relays some
of our more embarrassing adventures like the time we convinced a
couple to take us to the other side of a lake on the back of their
kayaks. They probably thought we were nuts but obliged anyhow. We
had heard that there was a burger joint somewhere closer to that
side of Lake Lewisville. Once we made it across, Kaylee and I found
ourselves burger-less, soaking wet from the knees down and
stranded. Kaylee's mom was none to happy to have to drive an hour
out of her way to pick us up from the other side of the lake.

After dinner Kaylee yawns and says she needs
to call it a night. I walk her over to the tent giving her the look
that says I'm calling her bluff.

"Whaaat?" She says trying to play innocent.
"I figured you two could use a little alone time. The tension is so
thick between you and y’all have barely said two words to each
other the whole night."

"Thanks, I think." I say giving her a half
smile as I unzip the tent for her. Looking inside, I notice that
Tristan has set up two air mattresses for us, both fully made with
bedding and all. I grab a lantern that's sitting next to one of the
beds and turn it on for her.

"I'm just going to read, don't mind me." She
says pulling out her newest self help book titled,
The Art of Extreme Self-Care
, by Cheryl Richardson.

“Seriously Kaylee?” I chide.

“Hey, don’t judge, I realized just the other
day I needed to get some more pampering in my daily schedule if I’m
going to remain happy. But right now is not about me;
you
need to get back out there with Tristan. Y’all try not to beat each
other up, or get all hot and heavy since I'm within ear shot,
K?"

I shove her jokingly and say, "Whatev!" I
turn to crawl out of the tent trying to calm the knots that have
formed in my stomach. I shouldn't be nervous about spending alone
time with Tristan but I am. I know he's upset and what kills me the
most is not knowing if I can make it any better.

I zip up the tent for Kaylee once I'm
outside. I look back and I can see from her shadow in the lantern
light that she must be changing into something more comfortable.
I'm sure right about now, she's realizing that the dresses and high
heels she brought with her are now deemed useless. I'm glad I
forced her to bring a few pairs of jeans and her Sketchers.

Turning back towards the table I see Tristan
sitting there staring directly at me. I wonder how long he's been
watching me. I start twirling my hair nervously as I head towards
him.

I figure I should be the one to start this
conversation. "I'm sorry, Tristan." I say genuinely.

I see his steel gaze melt a bit at that. "I
still don't like this idea Emma," he says with a face full of
concern.

"I know." It's all I can say. I'm not
planning on wavering on this in anyway so there is not much more to
add.

"Okay, well you’re here, and so now I will
just have to deal with it." He says sternly.

Hurt a bit by his comment I respond, "Ouch,
Tristan."

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that Emma." He
says flustered realizing how his words came across. "I just mean,
now that you’re here, I need to step up my a-game and be ready to
protect you."

I look at him strongly and say, "You don't
always have to protect me you know." I try to look away when I see
the intensity in his eyes but he reaches out with his hand and
turns my head back towards him gently.