Penniless Hearts Read online

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  Chapter Thirteen

  Driving home, John wondered if Tina just wanted to mess with his mind or if Penny had finally taken the initiative and dumped him for some guy in Hawaii. Fear coursed through his veins as he thought about losing the best thing that had ever happened to him in his life. Memories were triggering a sparkling replay that included kissing his emerald-eyed beauty under moonlight and reminding him how much he loved her. Emerald could not really describe her eyes he reasoned, thinking about her Pantone color chart. He recalled the day they argued about the exact colors, finally narrowing the colors down to 347, 349, with a sprinkling of 354. Maybe, he had stifled her with too much attention. Did he care too much? Banging his hand on the steering wheel, he thought about how she unintentionally made him dote. She had begged for attention, simply by being so cute. So adorable, so martyr-like, damn, she made smothering so hellishly easy.

  Stopped at the light, he kept thinking about how three years had become a serious amount of time to put into any relationship, especially a relationship that completed him and made him feel so entwined with another person's life. Some might call it destiny or fate, but John felt magic every time he thought of Penny.

  When the light changed to his favorite color, he knew from the bottom of his aortic valve that she had changed his entire life for a reason. They need to be together forever, and they needed to grow adorable versions of themselves into amazing adults who end up changing the world for the better, all because of their love for each other. Love. A checkered flag popped up in his mind, stopping the race in his head, and causing a painful feeling to shoot from his brain to his heart. Of course, she loved him, he had no reason to doubt their mutual feelings for each other, but there–at that intersection, with a street sign warning drivers about a curve in the road–he faltered and thought maybe he was wrong about everything. Maybe her infectious kindness and fairytale aesthetics fascinated and affected everyone, and he had been the only one stupid enough to interpret her normal, flirtatious nature as love. He remembered telling her he loved her, but he couldn't remember…. “GAWD,” he hollered as his truck ran forcibly into the curb.

  Instead of thinking about the upcoming curb, he thought about Penny. Instead of watching the road, his mind had traveled a million miles away and now his smashed up truck looked more like the distorted face of a pug. His own head swirled with stars after hitting the side of the window. A mangled road sign held onto the bottom of his vehicle, keeping it from moving anywhere. Though embarrassing, it seemed so stupid and trivial compared to the aching in his heart.

  “Son of a bitch,” he yelled,–a drop of blood dripped down onto his pants. Shaking, he opened his glove box, to look for the cell phone he never used. He dialed Penny's cell phone and kept redialing it, listening to the dial tone, over and over until finally aggravation made him give up. Furious, he punched in the only other number he knew by heart. “Carl, its John.”

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  Chapter Fourteen

  On the way back from the unisex bathroom on the plane, Penny squeezed past a big, familiar looking man with hairy arms.

  “Do I know you?” She asked the burly fellow brushing against her.

  “You might,” he said, “I think I recognize you from some advertising meeting. I'm Darin Martin,” he held out his hand for her to shake and she looked deep into his eyes before reaching a delicate little arm out to shake his hand. Sensing her reticence, he offered to buy her a drink.

  “No, it's cool, I've got some at my seat, thanks,” she replied pointing her chin toward the back of the plane, while holding onto both rows for balance. “I'm Penny, and I'm just in shock, that's all.” She pulled her gaze from him to the aisles of vacant seats. “I create all of Tina's ads and I don't know, I guess I just can't believe we're on the same flight.” Attempting a smile, she sighed and waited for the turbulent rattle to distract him from wanting a long conversation.

  “You're Penny? From the Globe?” he asked, sounding surprised. “What are you doing here?”

  Busted. Less than two hours out of California and now everyone would know about her secret escape to Hawaii. Avoiding his eyes, she looked at a bulging overhead compartment above his head, smiled and said, “To tell you the truth, I'm not entirely sure, but I'm on vacation for a week.” Moving away, she took a small, careful step toward her seat,” Anyway, nice to meet you finally.” She waved and turned, but Darin stopped her before she could get away. The plane lurched, and she wondered why Dan couldn't keep the plane from shaking.

  “Wait, Penny, your artwork, I just want to tell you, it's amazing. Our whole year's business grew over thirty-five percent, thanks to the new ad campaign you designed. You are awesome. Are you sure I can't refill your drink?” Darin asked, with a wink.

  Both of her arms were clasped on the back of a headrest belonging to a small sleeping boy. His mother had a disapproving look in her eye, making Penny whisper, “Thanks for the compliment, and no thanks, I'm still nursing a glass of wine.” She felt sick, but didn't want to head back to the bathroom again.

  “Seriously, I'm so glad we met,” he said, reaching into his pocket and holding out a business card. “Here's my card if you ever need anything. Anything at all–please give me a call.”

  Forcing another smile, she said, “Okay, cool,” quickly taking the card, looking at it, and putting it in her pocket. Returning to her seat, she reflected on her encounter with Tina's boyfriend. What a strange coincidence, she kept thinking. Sighing, and taking a deep breath she gulped her Cabernet and looked out the window, thinking of only one thing–why couldn't she just have a normal vacation, like everyone else?

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  Chapter Fifteen

  Carl drove his royal blue '73 Oldsmobile slowly, towards the intersection where the accident happened. Unfortunately, Carl forgot where Orange Street crossed Grapefruit and he turned right on Lime. A few minutes later, he passed all the streets with citrus names and turned left on Cherry Avenue. Cherry crossed Orange later on, he figured, so he continued driving for a very long time.

  Meanwhile, John waited in his vehicle, watching for Carl. Tiny droplets of blood leaked onto his shirt, dripping onto his pants. Slowly, he climbed out of his truck to lie down on the sidewalk for a short nap. Minutes later, a patrol officer with blinking lights pulled up alongside John's truck. Walking around, he saw John asleep on the sidewalk. A small trickle of blood seemed to be forming around John's left ear.

  The officer gently kicked John's shoe and yelled, “Are you all right, son?”

  Nothing was 'all right'. He looked up at the grey-haired officer whose face had multiple noses and four sets of shaking eyes. The last thing John wanted was for someone to make a huge fuss over a stupid accident, caused indirectly by his out of control love life. Sitting up, he tried focusing his eyes on the officer's badge. “I'm fine,” he said, watching the badge multiply into several badges.

  “Looks like you're bleeding–maybe I should call an ambulance,” The officer said, with a concerned tone as he held out a crumpled paper napkin.

  “No.” John knew he didn't want an ambulance, especially with Carl on the way. “I've got a friend coming any minute now.”

  “Have it your way, but I need this truck out of here.” John's body swayed from left to right, even while sitting on the firm concrete sidewalk. “You hear me?” The officer asked a bit louder.

  “Yup,” he coughed his reply and wiped away some of the blood starting to form a crust above his ear.

  Suspicious, the officer asked, “You weren't drinking or something were you?”

  “No sir,” John said, attempting to stand. Pointing at the truck, John slurred his speech and leaned against the door. “I'll get it out of here.” He might have to call the guys at the shop to help him out, or maybe he could hitch it up to the back of Carl's old tank and they could tow it to the nearest gas station. Feeling overwhelmingly sluggish, he sank back down onto the sidewalk.

  “Do you want to tell me
what happened?” The policeman asked firmly.

  “Just day-dreaming, I guess.” John knew it sounded hokey, but he really didn't know what to say. It was an accident, just a plain, stupid accident.

  “Okay, young man, can I take a look in your truck?”

  Young? He thought about his age. Thirty-nine. Unmarried. Alone and possibly unloved. “Sure.” Nothing to hide, not in that truck or anywhere, except for his fractured ego that corresponded perfectly with a possible fracture in his skull and a rip in his heart. “Go ahead,” he mumbled under his breath.

  The police officer thoroughly checked the floor in the front of the truck and looked behind the seats in the back. After an extensive search, he received a radio dispatch, and quickly pulled his cruiser out into traffic, leaving John alone with his bleeding heart.

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  Chapter Sixteen

  At the Honolulu airport, greeters placed leis over the heads of all arriving passengers. Bustling with tourists, Hare Krishna monks, baggage handlers and vendors, the cacophony of excitement mingled with the colorful eye-catching displays of birds of paradise, coconut palms and advertisements for sport fishing and snorkeling. Penny's nose picked up a pungent, warm breeze, mixed potently with taxi-cab engine fumes, fragrant suntan lotion and fruity, intoxicating aromas wafting from food carts selling pineapple on a stick and teriyaki chicken.

  Dan had told her to wait for him in the baggage claim area, before they boarded another plane that would take them to another island called Kauai. She walked over to a kiosk to buy some macadamia nuts and coffee and found herself silently freaking out, wondering how she only had twenty dollars cash and one credit card. Where did she leave her ATM card?

  While retracing her steps in her mind, Dan burst forth wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt patterned with tastefully arranged hibiscus flowers that partially covered not as tasteful, half-naked hula dancers. “Hey gorgeous,” he said from behind his reflective sunglasses. Pushing his black pilot's luggage up closer, he approached, gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “You come here often?”

  Very funny, she thought, appreciating the humor after the turbulent flight. Smiling, she replied, “No, as a matter of fact, it's my first time.”

  “Really?” He seemed surprised. When she shoved her wallet back into her small carryon bag he said, “I'm glad you packed light, 'cause I want to take you to Kona Kattie's.”

  “What's that?” She asked, putting the bag onto a tray that pushed her tote through a conveyor belt. After stepping through the metal detector that didn't go off, she smiled at the attendant, grabbed her bag and they headed towards a gate for local departures.

  “It's the best Hawaiian store you'll ever see and they give everyone shell necklaces just for shopping in their store. They sell shirts, hats and even roasted coffee beans. I get free macadamia nut chocolates for every new customer I bring into the store.” He rambled on and on about Kona Kattie's and all the different patterns of shirts he had purchased throughout the years. His long-winded opinions on the coconut buttons and how they lasted longer than the mother of pearl buttons were strangely interesting at first, but the historic significance of the antique bone buttons and how rare they were and how they were usually only found on the vintage Hawaiian shirts made her ache for something caffeinated. Certain shops around Oahu sold vintage shirts, but the problem with the vintage shirts was that the patterns and colors were not as vivid. He loved the intense colors and he especially loved the free chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. It was like an encyclopedic, detailed lecture on Hawaiian shirts.

  “I guess you've brought them a lot of business because of your work,” Penny surmised, imagining the faded, vintage shirts and trying not to yawn.

  “Oh yeah, I'm one of their best customers. I buy at least three shirts every time I get here and the ones I buy are not cheap. It's a blast, you'll see.”

  A blast? Shopping is his idea of a blast? She wondered if some of the 'new business' he brought to the store were other women from the mainland, but decided it didn't really matter and it was better if she didn't know.Maybe only tourists who flew his airline. “Hmmm,” she mumbled not knowing what to say.

  Undaunted he continued, “My favorite shirt has surfboards with martini glasses interspersed in a medley of tropical flowers.” Seemingly oblivious to her obvious lack of interest, he started describing almost every one of his shirts in what sounded like a five hundred shirt library of best sellers.

  “That's cool, but I thought you said your favorite one had cigars, champagne bottles and a fancy deck of cards?” She said, trying to follow along.

  “Right, that's a bitchin' shirt,” he said, smiling from ear to ear. “The queen of hearts is dressed in a grass skirt. It's really nice but the martini glass shirt is kind of rare.”

  Stifling a yawn, she asked, “What are we doing after we go to that store?” Her feelings for Dan were fading faster than his favorite vintage shirts.

  He went to the counter to check his bag, “Let's see,” he said, glancing around at the three ladies behind the counter, smiling, and then turning back to Penny. “We'll grab a bite to eat, ride out to one of the sugar cane plantations or go hiking around the base of the Na'Pali coast.”

  A tour-guide, she thought, I'm stuck for a week with a freaking tour guide that has a Hawaiian shirt fetish.

  “Do you like dancing?” He asked, with boyish enthusiasm.

  “Yeah, it's cool.”

  “Well, I know a great place for dancing and I thought we'd go there tonight, and then tomorrow we'll head to the Fern Grotto and see an actual Polynesian Luau while we eat poi, and do the hula.”

  “Poi?” She asked, wrinkling her nose.

  “It's a native dish, and it's definitely an acquired taste,” he replied.

  *

  On the island hopper to Lihue airport in Kauai, he continued telling her about all the places they were going to go. “Have I told you how excited I am that you're here?” He held her hand on the short flight, and she rarely spoke but he sustained his endless conversation about sights to see while visiting Kauai.

  “No, not yet,” she said boldly. But either he didn't hear her answer, or he didn't expect an answer. After renting a car, they drove to Kona Kattie's where Dan bought her a comfortable tee-shirt dress with dolphins frolicking on the front. He picked out a few shirts for himself, and received his free box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Then they drove to a small little dive where they ate hamburgers for an early dinner. Dan's charming personality had all the ladies who served them swooning and laughing at his silly jokes. A Mai Tai helped her relax and she soon found herself getting lost in his sense of humor too. Nuzzling closer, he put his arm around her shoulders and when the waitress stepped away, he planted a gentle kiss on Penny's pineapple-rum soaked lips.

  Just when he was about to come for that second kiss, his cell phone rang. He jumped up from the table to take the call. “Hey Mac.” Dan covered the receiver and whispered, “I'll be right back.” His demeanor had suddenly shifted from humorous to instantaneously serious. A few minutes later, he returned and tried, unsuccessfully, to pick up the conversation from where he left off.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” he said with a wink, thinking he sounded original.

  Attempting to pull the maraschino cherry off the skewered fruit garnish complimenting her drink, she mumbled, “I'm just happy to get away.” She spoke honestly and realized he may not have wanted to hear about her personal reasons for escaping to Hawaii. Pulling the cherry free, she popped it into her mouth and chomped down on it like a wad of gum.

  “What do you think of Hawaii so far?” He asked, sweeping his right arm around toward the flowery displays, window boxes full of giant blooms and piped in ukulele music.

  Swallowing, she said, “It's gorgeous, but these restaurants could be anywhere. I guess I'm looking forward to snorkeling or at least a swim in the hotel pool after dinner.”

  “Don't worry, Penny–we have all week for that.” He laugh
ed, waving his palm down, figuratively brushing aside her comment. “Right now, we'll go check in and go dancing at the resort. Sound good?”

  “Sure,” she smiled weakly, realizing that she should be thankful for this wonderful opportunity. His use of the word 'week' however, suddenly made her feel uncomfortable. Whatever spark they had shared on that first date had fizzled, and she wondered how they were going to spend the entire 'week' alone together in a room with one king-sized bed. Still, she found him very attractive, but his personality, though funny and charming made her question her feelings. It was more than the stupid shirts but something had definitely faded–something she couldn't quite put her finger on and whatever 'it' was, made her wonder about him. The cell phone calls, the bragging, his nervous eyes, the flirting with strangers and his monologues about his shirts, his trips, his life all seemed to conspire into making her feel isolated.

  At twenty or twenty-five, she had taken many risks associated with going places with men who didn't matter in the giant scope of her life. This time it was supposed to matter. He was supposed to be the Prince with pilot stripes and yet, something smelled unquestionably fishy.

  Maybe her wonderfully developed instincts were trying to tell her something, because the more time she spent with Dan, the more she saw him as superficial and unimaginative. He acted like he could have gone on this vacation with any of the ladies from the shops or restaurants. She thought about her dad, and how he wanted her to find someone, and she thought about her mother who always told her to follow her heart. When something scared her as a child, her mother's Irish accent whispered into her memories, 'Patience, my dear, patience. You'll see. It will all work out'. All right, Penny decided, she'd try to be patient, and with Dan's good looks, she hoped her mother's advice was going to be worth the gamble.