Paradise Wild (32 page)

Corinne’s homecoming had been pleasant in one way. Her father was waiting for her when she stepped off the train in Boston, and his delight in Michael was heartwarming. From the moment of their reunion, Samuel Barrows doted on his grandson.

Corinne had been to a few parties in the two weeks since her return, and to teas and other social functions that Lauren had dragged her to during the days. She didn’t mind. It kept her busy so she couldn’t dwell on Jared too much.

The gossip about her reasons for leaving the city were now considered misinformation, for Lauren let it be known she had been living happily with her husband all this time, and was only in Boston for a visit. Lauren had acquired a great deal of sophistication and was now able to handle nearly everything with aplomb.

Corinne went along with her cousin’s lie, because it was easier than telling the truth. But people’s curiosity caused her much pain. Naturally, questions were asked about the exotic, fascinating island she had been living on. Corinne was barely able to hide her melancholy when she described Hawaii.

Corinne was saying, “You’ve never met a more
friendly and fun-loving people than the Hawaiians.” She sighed.

How was it possible that Hawaii had become her home in such a short time? Why, she had spent her whole life in Boston, walked among its stately homes, played on Boston Common, watched the rowers on the Charles River, and fed the ducks on Jamaica Pond. But all these things now seemed like old, outgrown friends. Boston just wasn’t her home any longer.

Would she ever stop expecting to see the bright flowers of Oahu? Would she stop hearing in her mind the rushing waterfall she and Jared had seen that day? Would she ever see a Boston sunset without being disappointed?

It was her turn to entertain, and seven women, old friends, sat in her parlor sipping tea before the fire. Lauren and her mother were there. Heavens, how her cousin had grown up while she was gone!

“You must be eager to return, Corinne,” one of the women remarked. “I certainly would be. We really didn’t expect you to come home so soon.”

“Well, my father hadn’t seen Michael yet and he couldn’t get away to visit us there.”

“Your husband must have been reluctant to let you leave,” Mrs. Hartman commented. “Look at the extreme measures he took when you were married.”

“Extreme measures?” Corinne asked.

Lauren leaned forward and grinned. “I hope you don’t mind, Corinne, but I confided to Mrs. Hartman why your husband put that outlandish notice in the newspapers before he left. I told her that it was his way of making sure you followed him without delay.”

Corinne was astounded by Lauren’s ingenuity. “Yes, well…” She groped for words. “My husband has a rather dry sense of humor.”

“I can’t imagine my Harold doing something like that,” said Mrs. Nautily.

“Nor could we,” Lauren laughed.

Corinne smiled. Harold Nautily was a timid man, a good five inches shorter than his large and imposing wife. He never said anything to his wife except “Yes, dear.” Before Jared, that was the type of man Corinne had thought she wanted!

“How is that adorable little boy of yours, Corinne?” Mrs. Turner wondered.

“Michael is fine, though he’s had a slight cold ever since we arrived.”

“Nothing serious, I hope.”

“No. It’s just taking him a while to get used to the colder weather.”

“That’s understandable, since he was born in the islands,” Mrs. Hartman said. “I’m sure he will be glad to get back, and you too, of course.”

“Yes,” Corinne whispered, her eyes on the floor.

She wondered what she would say to these women when it became apparent that she and Michael wouldn’t be returning to Hawaii. Lauren and her father both knew what an effort it was for Corinne to pretend she had a happy marriage and a devoted husband waiting for her to return. But no one knew the real depth of her misery. Not even Florence. How long would she have to bear this aching pain before it began to fade?

The knocker sounded on the front door and Corinne saw Brock pass the open parlor door on his way to answer it.

Lauren smiled regretfully at Corinne. “That will be Cynthia. I ran into her yesterday and she said she would try and stop by. It looks like she’s here.”

Corinne grimaced. She dreaded the catty questions
Cynthia would ask. Cynthia had probably never forgiven Corinne for snaring Jared.

Just as Corinne was bracing herself for Cynthia’s appearance, Brock came to the doorway, looking quite put out. And then Corinne saw why.

“Well, heavens me!” Mrs. Hartman exclaimed. “It seems he couldn’t wait for your return after all, Corinne.”

Corinne stood up very slowly, hearing only the pounding of her heart and nothing else.

“Corinne? Corinne?”

She turned toward her aunt, but didn’t really see her.

“Well, it looks as if you’re as surprised as we are! Shame on you, Mr. Burkett. You have rather too much flair for drama.”

Jared tore his eyes away from Corinne and turned on his most charming smile. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Mrs. Ashburn. But you’re quite right. It was most inconsiderate of me.”

“I think we should be going, ladies.” Lauren motioned to the other women. “I’m sure these two have missed each other. The honeymoon must not be over yet.”

She winked at Corinne, who barely noticed. What was Jared
doing
here? And then suddenly she and Jared were alone and panic rose to choke her. Michael! That’s why he was here! He had come to take Michael away from her!

“Hello, Corinne.”

She sat down again with as much composure as she could muster and her hands gripped in her lap to keep them from trembling. “You—you look well, Jared.”

She imagined that she was as white as the china tea cups left scattered on the tables. She plunged into talk
so he wouldn’t notice her nervousness. “I hope your wound has healed.”

He shrugged. “After a week it was only a minor discomfort. It’s just an ugly scar now.” He grinned. “Would you like to see it?”

“No!” she gasped.

How could he be so calm, as if they hadn’t parted in anger? As if it were perfectly natural for him to be sitting here in her house, halfway around the world from Hawaii?

Corinne lowered her eyes. “What happened after I left? Was there a great deal of fighting?”

“Hardly. It had to be the most peaceable revolution in history.”

“And the queen?”

“She no longer rules,” Jared said with a touch of bitterness. “There is a provisional government now, under the American flag. And men were sent to Washington to petition for annexation.”

“How did that happen?”

“January 14th, the day you left, Queen Liliuokalani went ahead with her plans to abolish the constitution. She tried to force her cabinet to sign her new constitution, but they wouldn’t. A Committee of Safety was formed, made up of some of the most prominent men on the island, and given the power to keep order. They took possession of the government building and issued a proclamation that the monarchical system of government was abolished.”

“Just like that? By proclamation?”

“They had the majority of the citizens behind them,” Jared answered. “The queen was made a prisoner in her palace quarters and the American flag was raised.” Jared sighed. “It was a sorry day for a proud people.”

“You sympathize with her, don’t you?”

“Perhaps she did overstep her bounds, but to me she is still the queen. It’s ironic, but it’s only been a little over a hundred years since Hawaii was discovered by foreigners. That’s a remarkably short time for a culture to become lost to other civilizations.”

“It’s not completely lost.”

“Perhaps not,” he agreed, then rose and gazed at her intently. “You haven’t asked why I’m here.”

Corinne turned away. “To be honest, I’m afraid to know.”

He looked pained. “You have nothing to fear from me, Corinne.”

“Don’t I?”

Jared gazed at her thoughtfully, then joined her on the sofa. “Are you afraid I have come for Michael?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Is that why you didn’t tell me the truth about him?”

“Yes.” She looked at him with wide eyes. “
Is
that why you’re here, Jared? Because if it is, I won’t give up my son. You would have to kill me first.”

“
Our
son,” he corrected her gently. “And I would never take him away from his mother.”

Her eyes opened wide. “Do you mean that?”

“Yes.” He moved closer to her, but she still moved away diffidently. He sighed. “I have a letter from your father in my pocket.”

When she remained silent, still fidgeting nervously, he went on. “It arrived a few days after you left Hawaii. It was his answer to the one I wrote him. asking about Michael. He explained everything.”

“He had no right!” Corinne began angrily.

“You had already told me, Corinne,” he reminded her gently.

“Yes, and you said nothing! Nor did you say anything that last day!”

“I was still getting used to the idea,” he lied.

He wasn’t going to tell her of his suspicions about Drayton. She wasn’t going to know how foolish he had been.

“It was a shock to learn I had a son,” he continued. “And that you had kept it from me.”

“Jared, I—”

“No, I know why you did. Your father’s letter helped, and I already knew a good deal from Dr. Bryson.”

Corinne blushed and looked around the room, unable to meet Jared’s gaze. “You have to understand that I hated you then, Jared. I was obsessed with hating you, or I could never have done what I did.”

“I know. Just as I was once obsessed with hating your father. I hope we have all learned from this. I don’t blame your father anymore, and I will tell him so while I’m here. I know now what cruelty hate can drive people to.”

“What are you saying, Jared?”

He reached out to take her hand. “I know you hated me when you left, Corinne, and you probably still do. But if it takes me the rest of my life, I’m going to make you love me instead.”

Her eyes began to fill. “Why?”

“Why?” he echoed. “Because I love you, damnit!” Now that the words were out, he was able to say softly, “Yes, I love you, more than I ever dreamed possible.”

Corinne shook her head slowly, wanting to believe him, yet still afraid to. “You’re saying you love me regardless of what you think I did?”

“I knew months ago that I loved you. And yes, regardless of what I thought. I was going to tell you that Christmas night, but you shut me off again.”

Her face brightened. “Then what you told me about Naneki was true?”

He nodded. “I wasn’t sure you even heard me.”

“I heard, only I didn’t believe you.”

“I can hardly blame you for that, as often as I’ve doubted you.”

“Oh, Jared, I love you too!”

And she threw her arms around him. If she had her way, she would never let him go again.

He cupped her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. “Do you mean that?”

“Yes! Oh, yes! And I swear I’ll never lie to you again. You will never have cause to doubt me again.”

“God, what fools we’ve been.” Jared sighed and held her closer. “The misery we have caused each other!”

But then he felt Corinne stiffen and push away from him. “We are still fools, Jared.” Her face held utter desolation. “It would never work. You will never forget what I did—what you think I did. That will always be there between us.”

He got up and walked to the window. “Corinne, I know the truth now.”

She froze. “What truth?”

“I paid a visit to a few of your ex-lovers.”

She groaned. “Did they lie, and give you explicit details?”

Jared chuckled. “On the threat of being torn limb from limb, they gave me the truth.”

“Really, Jared?”

“Each story was exactly the same. I didn’t need to see more than a few in order to convince myself.” Suddenly he laughed. “My God, you certainly had a clever scheme.” Then he sobered. “It was too clever, for you
fooled me completely, I’m sorry to say. Can you forgive me for believing you capable of that?”

“Now that you mention it,” she began, her eyes darkening. But before she could build her fury, he quickly moved to the sofa, grabbed her, and kissed her deeply.

When Jared released her, her anger was gone and he was grinning devilishly. “That is a sure way to avoid a fight. I’ll have to remember it in the future.”

She smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling. “Never mind the future. You started something right now and you’ll have to finish it, my love.”

He crooked a brow. “Is your father home?”

“No.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

The ship glided along smoothly in the water. They were only a few miles from home and Corinne stood on the deck with Jared, waiting for the first sight of land.

This voyage to Hawaii was nothing like the first one had been, with Corinne in her cabin, sick and miserable.

This trip had also been spent in the cabin—but with Jared, who kept her occupied with loving. She was secure in her happiness, and in the knowledge that she was just where she belonged.

Jared wrapped his arms possessively around her and pulled her back against him, hugging her tightly. “Are you glad to be coming home?”

“You know I am.”

“Dayna will be thrilled to see you.” He chuckled, remembering the stormy encounter he had with her before he left for Boston. “She treated me to quite a spectacle when she found you had gone. She called me thirty-two different kinds of a fool for letting you go.”

Corinne laughed. “I liked Dayna the moment I met her. We’ll have to have her and her doctor friend over for dinner soon. I believe she’s a bit in love with him.”

“Yes, I know. We’ll have to invite them to the wedding.”

She turned in his arms and gazed up at him questioningly.

“Invite them to their own wedding?”

“No, to ours,” he murmured. “Will you marry me again, Mrs. Burkett?”

Corinne touched the golden heart she wore around her neck. It was warm from her skin.

“Without regrets?”

“Yes. Neither of us meant our vows the first time. I want to say them again, Kolina, and this time there will be no doubts—no regrets.”

“I’ll marry you a hundred times if that will make you happy,” she said seriously, her green eyes intent on his.

He chuckled. “Like you promised me a dozen children to make up for missing Michael’s early months?”

“Yes. You know I’ll give you anything you want, as long as you keep on loving me.”

“I’ll never stop loving you, my Kolina. And one more wedding will do. One—to last us forever.”

There was a distinct throat clearing going on behind them and they both turned at once to see Florence standing there with Michael. “Someone wants to join you two.”

Jared laughed and took Michael from her. “He let you know that, did he?”

“He did,” Florence said. “He noticed the island and wanted to show you. See?”

Michael was pointing to the long stretch of land suddenly in view. He was bouncing excitedly. “See!” he echoed Florence.

They all laughed. “Say ‘home’ now. Home?” Jared prompted.

Michael looked at his father, his lime-green eyes
shining brightly like his mother’s. Then he looked back at the island. “See!” he beamed.

“He’s certainly made a better seaman than I’ve been,” Corinne said, laughing. “I was hoping I would be the first to notice land, but he beat me to it.”

“He did indeed,” Florence remarked, suppressing her laughter. “It’s a wonder you notice anything when that husband of yours is around.”

“And that’s the way it had better stay,” Jared said in mock sternness.

Seconds later, after the word should have been forgotten, Michael chimed “home,” and Jared squeezed him proudly. They all turned toward the island. Diamond Head crater with its stately beauty came well into view. And further inland, they could see the majestic Koolau mountain range.

Jared pulled Corinne closer. Together, with Michael between them, they sailed home to Hawai. Home. A word as wonderful as family, which the three of them were now.

And as beautiful a word as love.

pau