Penniless Hearts Page 6

  Give him a chance, she told herself, watching the rain, typical to the garden island of Kauai, roll down the windshield. She could get lost in the raindrops and newly created worlds where tiny lakes flowed into tributaries carrying love across oceans onto islands. The rain beat on the roof of the car, but Dan talked over the sound about all the great snorkeling spots and the dive shops renting the best equipment. He talked about sunglasses and snorkel masks and how he loved the current pair of sunglasses, he picked up on his last intercontinental flight to Italy. He spent the rest of the drive to the resort explaining how he enjoyed shopping and even though the prices in Italy were expensive, he thought the quality was worth every penny. He seemed to know everything about things she didn't find interesting. When she yawned, Dan turned on the radio and listened to the Kauai weather report on a news channel.

  At the resort, the sun started slipping into the ocean, but she still saw the huge green monolith that rose from the azure bay called the Na'Pali coast. Enormous waves hurled water against the craggy cliffs, clapping loudly on impact, in concert with Penny's thumping heart. Give him a chance, she kept repeating to herself. He put an arm around her, and squeezed her shoulders in a friendly embrace before saying, “It sure is beautiful here, huh precious?” They watched the waves through a giant picture window in the lobby. “You wait here, while I check in okay?” He blocked the view by standing in front of her and kissed her cheek. Ukulele Christmas carols floated from the speakers, contrasting with the dynamic spray thundering below.

  “Sure,” she answered, moving her eyes around him to the breathtaking view. Maybe she had been hasty in her judgment, she thought, watching God's spectacle thrust ferocious amounts of violent energy onto the island. Nice resort, she thought looking around, and when a rainbow appeared, she felt her worries wash into the open sea.

  * * *

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Carl stopped to refuel, he also asked for some directions back to Orange and Grapefruit Streets. The friendly woman gave him thorough directions, but forgot to return his credit card. By the time Carl realized what had happened, she had given the card to her relatives who rang up thousands of dollars in catalog charges and phone calls to Central America. Unfortunately, the card in question was the one card he shared with Penny.

  Lost and unaware of these things, his first thoughts revolved around rescuing John. Carl liked him and believed he was a hardworking, decent guy who deserved a nice girl like his little princess. Though he hated the idea of Penny leaving the nest, he wondered why the two of them hadn't already eloped. John should have asked her by now. Turning his blinkers on, he saw John sitting on the curb, next to his truck. “Howdy John, sorry I'm late.” It had taken him almost two hours to drive the ten minutes from home. “You okay?”

  John staggered to his feet, “Yeah, Carl,” he grunted coming towards the Oldsmobile. “Have you heard from Penny?” His voice came out raspy, almost like a whisper.

  Carl always saw John as a towering, healthy young man who dressed like a lumberjack in jeans and plaid, long sleeved shirts. Leaning against the car for balance, he looked through the window at Penny's father who grinned and appeared genuinely happy to see him.

  “Why don't you get in?” Carl asked, throwing things into the back seat, so John could sit down. “No, haven't heard from her yet, but the pharmacy called and said they have her ATM card.”

  “Carl.” John's voice sounded shaky and he slowly opened the door so he could get in and sit down. “I'm not feeling very well, would you mind taking me to St. Elizabeth's Hospital?”

  “Oh, sure, just tell me how to get there and I'll point my big monster of a car in that direction.” He laughed at his own joke, because he knew the truth about his big car. It used massive amounts of gas, but John's concussion made him lose consciousness as soon as he buckled into the passenger side of the comfortable gas-guzzler, and Carl's humor fell between the seats like cold fries.

  * * *

  Chapter Eighteen

  At the hospital, the nurses worked on John for hours before he woke up. Finally, one of them asked, “Is there someone we can call who can come get you? That guy who brought you in said he doesn't drive at night.”

  John's head ached, and he could see a slow drip of medicine going into his veins. Not in any mood for talking, he simply said, “No.”

  Hours later, another nurse tried to get him to talk. “Look, you're going to be fine. I found a little pink piece of memo paper stuck to your shoe and I called it. The guy didn't know you, but it was worth a try.” Closing his eyes, John pretended to sleep. “Where's your girlfriend John? Nice looking guy like you must have a girlfriend.” On and on she rattled, asking him various questions that he didn't feel like answering and soon her soothing voice had lulled him to sleep.

  Finally, John woke up and asked, “Can I have some water, please?”

  The nurse poured water into a tiny yellow plastic cup. Holding his head, she tilted the cup and slowly poured the water down into his throat.

  “We had one of the nurses take your old friend home.

  Was that your dad?”

  “No,” John said laying back down.

  “Well his snoring was loud in the waiting room, so we figured he ought to go home.”

  “That's good,” John said.

  “So where are your Mom and Dad?”

  “Boulder.” He didn't want to talk.

  “Really?” her voice became excited, “I used to live in Denver.”

  Listening to her, he detected an obvious New Jersey accent. The medicine began made him drowsy and though he usually didn't pray, he mumbled aloud about how he hoped God would return Carl home safely.

  * * *

  Chapter Nineteen

  When the phone rang, she muted the Home Shopping channel. “Hey babe, I wish you wouldn't be so far away when I need you.” Tina used her most sultry and seductive tone when speaking to Darin on the phone. He had already interviewed one candidate for the position, but tomorrow he had at least five back-to-back interviews. “I think I need to be there so I can help you,” she whispered into the receiver. Knowing it would be a long night without her, Darin agreed to pay for her ticket if she flew straight into Hilo. “I've got some frequent flyer miles,” she added, purring into the phone. She knew he appreciated her brains as much as her domineering physique.

  “Tina, just charge it to your account then, and I'll reimburse you later,” Darin said. “I'm going out with some of my guys to grab a bite–so I guess I'll see you in six or seven hours. Hurry up.”

  “That's if I can get the next flight. Expect me a little after midnight.”

  “Cool.” Darin paused and asked, “Do you know someone called John?”

  She knew at least ten guys with that first name, but figuring Darin had heard some of the old and highly inflated stories that may have trickled into his meetings, her mind immediately raced to the Jeep dealer.

  “Yes, Darin, I know quite a few guys with that name. John who?” The Jeep dealer had turned into a complete ass after their short encounter in the body shop, behind the parts counter. A stupid strictly sexual fling that ended years ago with him cancelling his print advertising contract. Soon thereafter, the prick decided to pour his advertising budget into radio. That one had cost her big time. She wondered what lies were circulating now.

  “Probably a wrong number, huh?” He asked, thinking about her answer. John really is a common name, he reckoned, before asking again, “Have you spoke to anyone called John recently?”

  Now she really wanted to know what he was getting at, “What do you mean?” Tension erased the sultry voice, turning it shrill.

  “Later, Tina, I've got to go.” Darin didn't want to get her upset, but all he did was fire her up some more.

  Fortunately, Tina knew how to talk to a car dealer. She softened her pitch and went for the jugular. “Wait baby, I know you're busy,” she purred, “but, I'm way over here in California and you're way over there in Hawaii–
handsome. I miss you so very much. Now tell me what John you're talking about?” Her firm tone didn't allow Darin any recourse.

  Laughing he said, “I really have no idea, Tina. Some nurse called from St. Elizabeth's saying she found a phone message on a patient called John. I guess the memo only had my name and cell phone on it. The guy crashed his truck and hurt his head or something. Anyway, they said they want to release him to someone who could watch his vital signs for the next twenty-four hours.”

  A nurse must have found one of her pink memo notes that had flown through the air in the parking lot. A truck–her mind reeled, it sounded like Penny's John. If it really was that John, and Penny was in Hawaii, then she had to help him. Penny had stuck by her while eight of her predecessors had walked out during normal deadlines, amid typical newspaper melodrama. Under the circumstances, Tina felt she owed it to Penny to help John. Listening to the silence caused by Tina's thoughts, Darin waited on the line. Tina wondered why John hadn't gone to Hawaii. Maybe they broke up, she gasped, thinking of how John had come by to pick Penny up for lunch. “Mmmm,” she muttered under her breath.

  Tina's audible inhalations and grumblings broke the stillness. “What?” Darin finally asked.

  “Oh that John,” she said smoothing back into her cat-like composure.

  “You know who the nurse was talking about?” Darin asked, while waving goodnight to one of his employees.

  “Yes, and I have a request,” she whispered sensuously into the phone.

  “Anything for my cat-woman,” he replied quickly, knowing he needed to hang up. “What can I do for you?” He signed some papers on his desk and stood up, as another phone on his desk started ringing.

  Tina wanted to ask Darin for extra money, but she decided to skip it this time. He did say 'anything for cat-woman', so she assumed she had carte blanche to do whatever she dreamt up. Being the girlfriend of Hawaii's largest Toyota dealer might have some perks after all, and she couldn't think of anything that could get in her way.

  “I'm going now Miss Blake. I'll see you at the condo around midnight. Right?”

  Wheels still turning, she silently thanked her lucky stars, “Yes, my love.” Give or take a few hours, but “I'll be there,” she replied, setting down the phone and running to pack.

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty

  When Dan didn't return after forty-five minutes, Penny went up to the front desk and asked if Captain Losegg had registered yet. The serious looking reservation agent looked into the computer and then slowly lifted her eyes to look directly into Penny's face. “Yes, Miss, a Captain Dan Losegg registered about a half an hour ago, and Mrs. Arlene Bowman Losegg arrived about two hours ago. Did you need to place a call into their room?

  Gaping like a trout about to dine on a hook, Penny closed her mouth and gazed disbelievingly at the lady in the beige-colored suit. The horrendous feeling at the bottom of her stomach indicated trouble and she quickly managed to say, “No, no, please, I don't need to call them.” Feeling her cheeks ablaze with embarrassment, she continued speaking to the calm woman who was probably laughing like a hyena on the inside. “What I do need is the fastest, cheapest ride to the airport,” she uttered in a defeated whisper somehow caught inside her larynx.

  The smiling reservation agent sent her to the concierge, who directed her to either the forty-dollar airport shuttle or the yellow cab. These options however, required her to wait in the lobby for at least twenty minutes and she wasn't willing to subject herself to some horrid situation involving Dan's wife. She had to get out of the lobby immediately, before Dan came back looking for her.

  Rushing out the front of the resort, she asked herself how she could be so stupid. Men had been known to lie. No shit, but this time it caught her unaware and all this time she thought he was the oblivious one. Stretching the truth or white lies were one thing, but this guy with his despicable seduction number, really made Penny question her beliefs. The front desk clerk had made her feel like a trapped bug, poised under someone's shoe. Tension stiffened her hand around the handle of her bag and felt like a fist. She should have stayed home. Believing Dan and how he wanted to take her swimming in romantic lagoons was worse than embarrassing–it was downright humiliating.

  Then she started analyzing who he really was– his strange flirtatious personality, his winks at other women–and felt relieved. One more shirt description and she probably would have screamed. Something divine must have stepped in to save her at the last minute. His wife could have arrived later while she sprawled across the mattress in her two-piece bikini, waiting for Dan to go swimming or even worse, his wife could have showed up in the morning. 'Thank God', she mumbled, unclenching her fist and relaxing her body. No, she wasn't a bug, she was free and she would try to make the best of her vacation, even without Captain Dan Losegg.

  Shaken, Penny pulled her cell phone out of her bag and stared at the blank screen. Charging my cell phone sure would have helped, she thought, throwing it back. She decided on walking toward the airport until she found a pay phone, and was glad she wore her hiking boots. Dampness hung from the clouds, and tiny landscaping lights reflected off the wet road in front of the resort. The December sky blew warm tropical breezes onto the island where Penny's long day, all of a sudden, became a long night.

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The doctor held a tongue depressor in his mouth and asked him to cough. “How many fingers am I holding up?” he asked, holding up two latex covered fingers.

  Smiling, John said, “Two.” He had bandages wrapped all the way around his head and thirteen fresh stitches in his scalp.

  “Good, I think you'll be fine,” the doctor continued, “but I'm glad we've kept you here for observation. The nurses will wean you off that drip and try to find you some chocolate pudding or green Jell-O from our gourmet cafeteria.” Sunburned and athletic, the doctor smiled and tried making light of John's serious concussion and stitches. Though the stitches were routine, the gash was deep and the doctor veiled his worry, looking at John's contorted attempt at a grin. Picking up John's chart, he made some notes and placed the clipboard back on the foot of the bed.

  “Doctor,” a delicate voice competed with the television game show and the sound of children running in the hallway. The doctor turned and saw a nurse holding folded sheets and bed linens in her arms. Her nose poked above the stack, but her mouth seemed muffled behind all the things she carried.

  “Excuse me?” He asked, removing some sheets from her overburdened arms and placing them on the chair by the bed. “I didn't think beach volleyball would cause me hearing loss. Now, my dear, what did you say?”

  “There's a tall lady here in tight jeans, trying to see this patient, but she doesn't know his last name.”

  The doctor thought John looked like a very innocent guy. Turning to his patient, he asked, “Are you expecting anyone kiddo?” In actuality, the doctor hoped the mysterious visitor could sign some insurance papers to help with John's exorbitant expenses. “Tall with tight jeans, John, does that sound like anyone you know?” The description didn't fit with the doctor's perception of John, and if she didn't know his last name then she wasn't family.

  “No,” John replied, wondering who would be visiting him at the hospital.

  “Where is she?” The doctor asked the nurse, still curious about the stranger.

  “In receiving, Sir,” the nurse answered, before hastily adding, “you won't believe the mouth on her.”

  Turning back to John, he said, “Visitor's hours are over, but it's up to you big man, should we let her in?” The doctor started imagining many scenarios and decided he'd seen most of them. The jealous lovers, the spurned wife, the angry widow, the knife-wielding babysitter, were all late night, after hour visitors and he enjoyed the drama, and the passion. It was all pure unadulterated entertainment storming into hospitals, past their crying relatives, holding screaming toddlers. Someday he'd write a book, he envisioned, waiting for John's answer,
but tonight he'd just sit back and enjoy his secret pleasure and watch the show.

  John looked at the doctor; he then blinked and looked at the nurse. “Sure,” he said with effort, “it sounds like she's going to make my stitches hurt.” Attempting a laugh, he only made the others laugh, as they exited his room and headed towards receiving.

  A tall blonde in what looked like painted on jeans stood in receiving. She yelled and cursed like a shipwrecked sailor at the R.N. in charge. “For the last time, I don't know his last name. I know his girlfriend and that's all. I saw him earlier today….” Looking up, she saw the doctor and the nurse approaching. “Shit, I'm just here to help,” she said with a shrug.

  The doctor walked up to the R.N. and turned towards Tina. “We can always use some help, Miss. John is in room 214.”

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Violent wind whipped the palm trees on the island of Kauai. Shivering in the rain, Penny recalled old hurricane television reports that showed massive destruction and devastation. Her dad had shown her the map when Iniki whipped Kauai in ninety-two. Stepping over a puddle, she wondered where she could hide in a hurricane and where she could run to in case a tsunami washed up onto the shore. Slowly she walked along the side of the road out of the resort area towards the main highway up ahead.