The Islands (34 page)

‘Thanks, Eleanor. You work so hard here. When do you take a break?' They touched glasses.

‘Wouldn't know what to do. Ed and I used to take a trip to Europe occasionally but since I've had the Palm Grove to operate by myself, as well as the Moonflower, there's no time for jaunts. Besides it's no fun travelling on your own.'

‘But Eleanor, there must be friends you could travel with,' said Catherine.

‘I guess so. I couldn't leave now anyway, what with all the work happening here and my new partner wanting to turn the Moonflower in Honolulu into a Japanese-style hotel for Japanese tourists. Doesn't suit it or me at all. It's an Hawaiian hotel. That's why they come here, for gosh sake. They can stay in Japanese hotels in Tokyo,' she said crossly. ‘But enough of my woes. Have you had fun?'

‘I've got some great photos I think. I don't know if fun is the right word . . .' She sipped her wine, wishing she could tell Eleanor about PJ.

‘Interesting times, hey?' smiled Eleanor. ‘You're enjoying your photography job?'

Catherine nodded.

‘You like the Islands? Kauai?'

‘I love all of Hawaii! Every island I've been to.'

‘You have lots of friends?' persisted Eleanor.

‘Yes. Local friends. The other wives are forced acquaintances, although a couple are quite nice.'

Eleanor studied her. ‘So is there a problem with Bradley? You don't find that his being away means that you're growing in different directions?' she asked calmly.

‘Eleanor! We've only been married a short while. How could we be bored with each other already?' exclaimed Catherine.

‘Very easily, dear Catherine. How long did you know each other before getting engaged?'

‘Not very long. But I think that when you know, you know.'

Eleanor shook her head. ‘When you're in love you can talk yourself into anything. I knew Ed all through college.'

‘So you were sweethearts from then?'

‘No. We went our own ways. I made a few mistakes and then we found each other again by accident. We were very happy. I miss him a lot.' She began to serve the salad. ‘Following your heart isn't always the right thing to do. But I have no regrets.' She smiled at Catherine. ‘Remember that. Please help yourself to bread.'

‘Were you ever . . . tempted? To be unfaithful?' Catherine asked cautiously.

‘It took me a while to agree to marry Ed but once I made that choice, I stuck by him. Thick and thin. I'm glad I did.' She gave Catherine a steady look. ‘I can look back now and feel proud of that.'

Catherine lowered her gaze, her insides twisting into a knot. Now she wished she hadn't taken the conversation in this direction.

Eleanor unfolded her napkin and lifted her fork, saying matter-of-factly, ‘Of course not every marriage is as harmonious as Ed and mine's was. Sadly, it was too short.'

The next morning as Abel John put Catherine's bag in the car she hugged Eleanor goodbye.

‘It's been such a wonderful week, I can't thank you enough, Eleanor.'

‘Again, I apologise that I haven't been able to spend much time with you. But you seem to have kept yourself busy,' she said. ‘Did you get some wonderful photographs?'

‘I hope so. I'll send you some prints of pictures I took around here. Are you coming to Honolulu soon?'

‘Possibly. Another round of meetings with my business partner over the renovations and new buildings.' She wrinkled her nose. ‘I'll let you know. We could get together with Lani. And please, say hello to Kiann'e for me.'

The plane banked giving the passengers a view of the magnificent Na Pali coastline. There were oohs and ahs as tourists admired the rugged cliffs rising steeply from the ocean. As the plane rose and clouds began to obscure the emerald jewel of the island in the deep blue sea, Catherine glimpsed a length of beach where white-crested waves rolled towards shore. Was that the beach she'd been with PJ? Was he down there, gliding effortlessly in on a smooth wave? Or had he travelled through the mountains to the other side of the island to find another beach and another perfect wave?

The apartment smelled musty, mildewy. Catherine dropped the mail and her bags and opened the lanai doors and front windows to air the small space. She'd have to go to the store and pick up some food. She turned her attention to the mail. There was a fat letter from her mother who always sent her clippings from the local paper and two letters from Bradley.

She made herself a cup of her favourite tea, which she'd missed on Kauai. Next time I go, I'll take Mum's tea with me, she thought. Then caught herself. Next time. When would she next go to Kauai? She pushed an unwelcome thought of PJ from her mind and opened Bradley's letters.

In his first letter, Bradley recounted the daily routine on board ship in his usual droll way, mentioning how nice his fellow officers were, asking if she had she heard from his parents and, as it was his mother's birthday, if she could please send a gift from them both and was she managing okay without him? He finished by saying how much he missed her.
I can't imagine life without you in it. You have made me so very, very happy. I love you. Bradley.

Tears sprang to her eyes. God, how she hated herself. She'd never meant to hurt him. How could she have been so swept away with PJ? Thank heavens he didn't know.

The second letter was briefer and hinted at a possible change in orders, quite possibly a visit to New Zealand and Australia.

What did that mean? Would it mean that he would be away even longer? She rang Julia Bensen to ask what she knew about the manoeuvres, exercises, whatever exactly the men were doing as her husband, Jim, was on the same ship as Bradley.

‘They're not allowed to tell us much at this stage. You know how it is, Catherine. But I think they're replacing a ship that's been re-deployed. Anyway, as soon as we know, we'll know.'

‘Has Mrs Goodwin dropped any hints? I just wondered if you'd heard any gossip while I was away on Kauai.'

‘How was Kauai? I'm going to suggest we go there when Jim has leave next. You made it sound so lovely.'

Was Julia being evasive or did she simply have no idea what was happening with their husbands, wondered Catherine. She suspected the latter. Navy wives always seemed to be the last to know anything. ‘How was the last Wives' Club meeting?'

‘The usual. Oh, Sandra Towle mentioned your idea about the children's culture club but Mrs Goodwin wasn't enthusiastic.'

‘Oh, no! I wanted to raise it. Without all the background and a solid presentation, of course Mrs Goodwin was going to hit the idea on the head,' cried Catherine.

‘She's not saying no without a reason,' came back Julia rather defensively. ‘Everyone's always on the move and she didn't think it was fair to take on a major local project and then have to walk away from it. What if Bradley gets transferred? How are you going to be able to find someone who is as enthusiastic as you are to take your place in the project? No, I think Mrs Goodwin is right. We should stick to what we've been doing. It's easier.'

Catherine was thoughtful. ‘I see. I suppose I haven't kept up with your ideas as well as I should.'

‘Well, it's too bad you weren't here for the last meeting.'

Catherine heard the faint censure in her voice. ‘I'll be there with bells on for the next one. So what's happening?'

‘I hope you don't mind, but I volunteered your services for the July Fourth picnic. We always make a big thing of it. It'll be at Fort De Russy on the day, plus a cocktail party at the Goodwins' and fireworks in the evening.'

‘Fine. What am I down for? Cooking hot dogs? The little league game?' she joked.

Julia remained serious. ‘It's one of the most important days in the calendar, Catherine. To celebrate Independence Day and remind everyone how lucky we are to be in America. Oh, and there's a special church service early in the morning to be followed by a breakfast. That will probably be in the park too, as there's so much setting up to do.'

‘Of course. It all sounds wonderful,' said Catherine trying to sound enthusiastic.

‘We also thought you could take photographs. Souvenir shots you can sell to military families. We thought we'd set up a pretty sort of arbour seat with flags and red, white and blue balloons and a flower arch behind it, you know, Hawaiian looking, where families can pose together. Mrs Goodwin doesn't expect you to cover the cost of film or developing or anything like that, but we all think that the photos will make the club a lot of money and they can be sent to the navy newsletter and magazine as well.'

‘Happy to help. Anything else?' asked Catherine biting back a facetious comment about having her life organised for her.

‘There's a morning tea. Just a social at Melanie Lindsay's apartment on Thursday, but we'll probably talk about July Fourth plans. So we'll see you there? Ten a.m.'

‘Lovely. I'll bring something.'

‘Of course,' said Julia lightly. ‘We so enjoy your malasadas.'

Catherine hung up the phone feeling cranky. She didn't want to go to the morning tea in the slightest and although she could get out of it by pleading a work assignment for the paper, she knew better. She'd go and dammit she'd take the best apple pie they'd ever tasted. Or something. Once she'd figured out where to buy it.

In the darkroom at the
News
office she pegged up her negatives and in the dim red light the images of
Nirvana,
the girls, Pink and Ziggy, Damien and the boys with boards sitting around the campfire at the beach . . . and PJ, all came to life. But instead of the wet black and white negatives, she saw again the bright sunlight, the sapphire ocean, the lush greenery, the brown bodies of the kids and PJ's deep blue eyes lit by his smile.

She spread the prints across Vince's desk.

‘I might have gone overboard a bit. Seemed everything I looked at was worth a picture,' said Catherine as he slowly sifted through them.

‘They're fantastic, Catherine. A whole different side to the postcard Kauai we always see. Of course, you'll have to write a piece to go with them all. We'll make some of them photo spreads. The people in them are right with that, aren't they?'

‘They said so. So you think they're good?'

‘Some are very good. But they're all interesting. Different. Great characters. Good work. Now, which ones do you want to use first?'

‘I don't know. It's up to you, Vince.'

‘Let me have a think. I'll let you know so you can start writing about them.'

The following morning Catherine took her prints up to show Lester.

‘I've missed you, young lady. How was Kauai? Did you see Kiann'e's mother?'

‘I did. I caught up with some of the surfer boys, too. Damien from Australia. And PJ.'

‘Where?'

‘Pinetrees.'

‘Did you see Eleanor?'

‘Of course.'

‘She might come and see me for herself some time,' he said gruffly.

‘I showed her the pictures I took of you and PJ. She thought you looked terrific.'

‘She did, huh?' He looked pleased and Catherine smiled at his vanity.

‘So what've you been up to?'

‘Same old, same old. Kiann'e's been in and out. Busy. No time to take an old guy for a drive.'

‘I can take you out, Lester, I really don't have that much to do. Where'd you like to go? I won't take you in the water, but we could go for a drive up the coast road. Maybe some places I haven't explored yet. We could take a picnic, how's that sound?'

The old man looked mollified. ‘That'd be very nice. What's that you've got there?'

‘These are some of the pictures I took on Kauai. I thought you might like to have a look at them. I'll put the coffee on.'

When she came back with the tray of coffee things and a plate of his favourite cookies, Lester was staring out the window with a distant look in his eyes, the photos dropped into his lap.

Catherine poured his coffee, added sugar, stirred and put it on the table in front of him. ‘What do you think?' When he didn't answer, she touched his hand. ‘You okay? Here's your coffee.'

Lester blinked and took the mug she handed him.

‘Did it bring back memories, Lester?'

‘Kind of. I was never much of a social person. You must have had a good time. You know all those people?'

‘Not really. But they were very hospitable. I liked the girls and their cute kids. But it's a different way of life from what I'm used to. I've never known anything like it,' said Catherine.

Lester gave her a long look. ‘Life patterns change. You make changes.' He paused. ‘Or you don't. Or you just go on as you always have,' he added enigmatically.

He shuffled through the pictures again and held up one of Damien cutting across a wave. ‘Not a bad ride. I surfed the Tunnels and the Cannons a few times in my day on Kauai. Weren't called that then. Nobody went there much. Just a few of the locals.'

‘I'll take you for a drive, Lester. Maybe Kiann'e'll come too.'

Late in the afternoon Kiann'e rang Catherine. ‘Willi has a meeting tonight. Shall I bring around some dinner, or do you want to go out?'

‘Come round here, that'd be great. Tell me what to get. We have some wine,' said Catherine. ‘I'd like to have a meal at home.'

‘I'll bring lau lau . . . Aunty Lani made it, it's really special. Pork and butterfish steamed in a ti leaf. The rice too.'

‘I'll buy ice cream for dessert then.'

The two girls curled up on the sofa after their meal, the ice cream bowls scraped clean, nursing their glasses of wine as Carole King's
Tapestry
album played softly.

‘These pictures are fascinating. I love the ones of my mom's home, makes me homesick. Now tell me about these people,' said Kiann'e picking up the photos of
Nirvana.