The Islands (5 page)

‘Who's that?' whispered Catherine. She was struck by the beauty of the Hawaiian girl and her interesting blend of features, tawny olive skin and dark rippling hair. ‘Is she pure Hawaiian?'

‘She's just called Kiann'e. I think she's pure Hawaiian. Wait till you see her dance.'

The dancer smiled at them and made her way to the raised dais in front of the band. She chatted to the musicians and then moved to the centre of the stage as they began to play ‘Lovely Hula Hands'. In her bare feet Kiann'e began to sway, her hips circling, her arms lifted in a graceful curve, her eyes on her fingertips. She moved slowly, like an unfolding flower.

‘Watch her hands, they tell the story,' said Bradley. ‘I know it's all a bit old fashioned, but this is so popular.'

‘I was thinking of those rattling grass skirts and shaking fast swinging hips,' said Catherine. ‘This is exquisite. I suppose you have to be born to it to dance like that.'

‘For sure. They learn as toddlers.' Bradley sipped his drink served in half a small pineapple decorated with a bright red cherry and paper umbrella.

Catherine was entranced by the dancing.

After the show they moved into the restaurant for dinner and Bradley talked about his work, living in Honolulu and how much he enjoyed it.

‘What about a nightcap?' he suggested after their meal. ‘Take in a couple of the old Hawaiian institutions – the tiki lounges.'

‘Maybe just one bar or club will do tonight. And no more mai tais, they sneak up on you.'

She wondered where he was driving them as they wound down a lane past a cement plant and came to a lagoon, finally parking near a sign pointing to the Mariana Sailing Club.

Catherine glanced at the marina in the distance. ‘Is this a club?'

‘Yes, but people come here for the Hawaiian atmosphere. It's been run since the 1950s by this lady. She bought all kinds of memorabilia from some of the old establishments like Trader Vic, Don the Beachcomber, the Kon Tiki Room. Are you familiar with Exotica music? Tourists love it.'

‘No. I only know the latest London groups.'

‘This is the old music started by Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter and it's a kind of Polynesian cultural mix of Hawaiian music, jazz, drums and sound effects like frogs and waterfalls. You might recognise it when you hear it.'

Catherine doubted it. This was another world and a long way from the country music back in Peel.

The lounge bar was strung with coloured lights, the ceiling and walls were of bamboo and large carved tiki gods scowled from the doorway. Coloured glass balls on ropes were strung around the room next to plastic palm trees and in one corner a small waterfall splashed into a miniature pond where coloured lights played across the water. A large artificial frog sat on a plastic lily pad. The waiters wore bright Hawaiian shirts and white shorts and the waitresses wore Hawaiian-print strapless dresses with the mini skirts showing lots of tanned legs.

‘A lot of the staff here are from California,' said Bradley. ‘The surf thing, you know.'

‘You know a lot about Honolulu in a short time,' said Catherine.

He smiled. ‘Ah, sailors. They find the hot spots pretty quickly so I get to hear about them. Not that I frequent some of the joints they recommend.'

They ordered drinks but when the music started conversation was difficult so they leaned close to talk and at one point, while Catherine was trying to explain how different London disco clubs were, Bradley moved closer and kissed her on the lips. A lingering kiss that made her tingle.

They danced to a slow song, Bradley didn't like fast dancing.

‘My mother made me go to ballroom dancing classes.

I earned some money during college teaching ballroom. Assisting the lady teacher as her partner.' He pulled her tighter to him. ‘I didn't want any of my fraternity brothers to know about that. They were on the football team. There, I've told you my darkest secret.'

Catherine laughed.

They danced through another song holding each other close, aware of the building sexual attraction between them. The music finished and he took her hand, leading her from the little dance floor.

‘Another drink?'

‘No, I'm ready to go if you don't mind. I'm still a bit jet lagged.'

He opened the car door for her at the hotel. It was late, no staff appeared. A low branch of a large plumeria tree bowed over them. He plucked one of the creamy sweet flowers and handed it to her.

‘Put it on your pillow and you'll know you're in the tropics.'

Catherine drew a deep breath inhaling the scent of flowers, the soft breeze, the tang of salt. In the lull of music and voices they could hear the soft splash of waves lapping on the beach in front of the hotel. ‘It's been wonderful. Thanks so much, Bradley.'

‘It's been wonderful for me too.' He leant forward to kiss her goodnight but this time he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her with more passion than he'd ever shown before. Catherine curled her arms around his neck and returned his kiss. They pulled apart somewhat breathless. Bradley smiled and touched her cheek.

‘Sleep well. See you after work tomorrow. If I can get away early there's somewhere I'd like to take you.'

‘I'm in your hands. You're being very generous,' said Catherine.

‘I wish I could spend every minute with you . . . while you're here.' He took a step towards the car. ‘We'll make the most of it, shall we?'

Catherine nodded and walked up the white stone steps into the hotel lobby knowing he was watching her. He waited until she was out of sight before pulling away from the portico.

The next morning Catherine caught a bus down to the Ala Moana shopping centre and lost herself among the stores – Liberty House, Sears and Shirokiya – as well as browsing among the proliferation of shops selling Hawaiiana looking for gifts to take home. She bought bottles of Hawaiian flower perfume and quilted potholders and cushion covers featuring brightly coloured flowers and palm trees, which she thought her mother would love. She wandered into a boutique called Carol and Mary and tried on dresses and bought a new swimsuit. As she was paying for it Kiann'e, the dancer from the Moonflower, came in and the woman in charge hurried to greet her. Kiann'e smiled at Catherine.

Catherine smiled back. ‘Excuse me, but I saw you dancing last night and I thought you were just wonderful.'

‘Thank you,' replied the beautiful young woman. ‘Have you found something to buy here?'

Catherine held up her pink carry bag. ‘A new swimsuit.'

‘Terrific. They have lovely things in here,' said Kiann'e.

‘Yes. I love the dresses you wear in your show. Do you buy them here?'

‘Why, thank you. No, my aunty makes my holomuus. Based on the old style. I come in here to feel modern.'

Catherine laughed. ‘Well at least you'll never go out of fashion.'

‘I hope not. The dances I mean. We teach the little ones so it gets handed down.'

She had a lilting accent and Catherine thought she was the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen. She guessed Kiann'e was around her own age, perhaps a little older. With her smooth olive skin and classical looks it was hard to tell.

Kiann'e smiled her wide infectious smile. ‘Enjoy your swimsuit. Enjoy Hawai‘i.'

‘Where are we going then?' she asked late that afternoon as Bradley drove past the multi-storey Kaiser Hospital at the Ala Wai yacht harbour.

‘I'd like you to see Pearl Harbor – the
Arizona
memorial,' he said quietly.

‘Oh, the American battleship that was sunk. It got America into the war didn't it?' said Catherine.

‘Certainly did. The whole Seventh Fleet was attacked. December 1941. I think this is a very special memorial. Being a naval man, it has a lot of meaning for me.'

‘Of course.' It was obvious that Bradley loved the navy, as had his father and grandfather.

Catherine was silent as they parked near the visitors' centre where the tenders departed to take visitors out to the odd-shaped white memorial floating in the harbour.

It was late in the day and there were only two other couples boarding the tender. It was manned by smartly dressed naval personnel and cruised across the bay to the sunken remains of the USS
Arizona
.

The six visitors clambered onto the memorial and as they went through to the midsection one of the men took a bunch of flowers from his wife, dropped it into the water and saluted. Bradley stood to attention, and everyone fell silent. After a few moments Bradley took Catherine's hand and pointed out the remains of the sunken vessel below them.

‘The memorial doesn't touch the ship below . . . it's where more than a thousand men are entombed,' said Bradley. ‘If you look carefully, you can see oil from the
Arizona
still rising to the surface.'

Catherine shivered. The thought she was standing on the grave of those young men was so sad.

At the far end of the memorial, in the Shrine Room, they stood before the marble wall where the names of all those lost were carved. Everyone spoke in whispers.

Catherine glanced at the solemn-faced Bradley. ‘Do you ever think about going to war?'

He thought for a moment then said, ‘I think if you choose to serve your country, you accept whatever comes along.'

‘Whether or not you agree with the reasons behind it?' she asked, thinking of the protest demonstrations against the Vietnam War she'd seen on television at home and in London.

‘Like I said, you choose to serve. I believe in what our government is doing. The public doesn't always know what goes on behind the scenes.' He took her arm. ‘Thanks for coming along. I thought it might give you a sense of the history that's here.'

‘Yes. Thanks for bringing me.' The visit had given Catherine a sense of how important the navy was to Bradley. As the tender ferried them back to the visitors' centre, Bradley put his arm around her.

‘Are you up for another Hawaiian institution?' he asked. ‘Something romantic.'

‘Of course. Where're we going?'

‘It's a show – Don Ho at the Beachcomber Lounge. But I thought we'd have a cocktail under the banyan tree first. You can change into something else for the show as it doesn't start till later. Or you can go as you are of course. You look lovely whatever you wear.'

‘I bought some things today including a dress, so I'd like to wear it tonight. That's thoughtful of you.' She was learning Bradley was thoughtful – and a planner.

They took their regular spot under the banyan tree and a waiter appeared and Bradley ordered a mai tai for Catherine and a Tom Collins for himself. She wondered what that was and would have preferred something other than the sweet and sneaky mai tai but she didn't want to hurt Bradley's feelings.

‘And bring us a platter of pupus as well, please,' added Bradley.

Catherine lifted an eyebrow.

‘Little snacks, Hawaiian hors d'oeuvres,' he explained.

They picked at the tasty food, Catherine had a second mai tai, which she sipped slowly as she was already feeling somewhat mellow from the first one and they talked and talked. She found Bradley immensely entertaining and interesting. Their conversation always flowed easily and fluently without her having to think of a subject to discuss or wonder what to say next.

Bradley glanced at his watch. ‘Do you want to slip upstairs and change?' Catherine would have preferred to stay where they were as the sun had set and it was cool, the courtyard and beach almost deserted.

‘Is your room okay?' asked Bradley as he pulled out her chair.

‘Yes. It has a wonderful view of Diamond Head from the little balcony, or lanai rather. Why don't you come up? I'll only take a minute to change.'

Bradley grinned. ‘Now that's something I like to hear. None of this fussing and primping and messing with hairdos that takes hours.'

The room was neat, spartan almost, with dark wood, crisp white sheets, a mosquito net looped above the bed and a stiff arrangement of waxy red anthuriums with spiky green leaves was arranged on the coffee table. A bowl of plumeria sat on the bedside table. Catherine suddenly felt a little uncomfortable at the intimacy of the small space. Bradley didn't seem to notice and strolled onto the small lanai and looked at Diamond Head, a glimpse of Waikiki Beach and the lights from the hotels illuminating the sand.

‘Won't be a minute.' Catherine scooped up her dress and sandals and shut the bathroom door. She slipped out of her clothes and took off her bra. The new dress was daring and backless. She brushed her hair and swept it up in a ponytail that she twisted into a knot, wisps curling around her face. She touched up her make-up, sprayed her new pikake perfume in a mist around her head, added some dangly earrings and slipped her feet into silver sandals.

Bradley was leaning on the lanai railing and straightened up as he heard Catherine behind him. He turned and stopped. ‘Catherine, you look lovely, utterly gorgeous. I love the dress.'

She was pleased and twirled before him. ‘Just trying to fit in with the locals.'

‘You need a flower in your hair.' He took her hand and led her into the room and took one of the plumeria blooms from the bowl. He tucked it in her hair. ‘There. Perfect.' He leaned forward and kissed her gently.

But his lips lingered and Catherine found she was winding her arms about him, clinging to him as their kisses became more passionate. They fell back on the bed, wrapped in each other's arms, desire and longing overwhelming them. Catherine kicked off her shoes and pulled at Bradley's shirt as he tugged at the straps of her dress. But as they clung together, naked in the soft light, Bradley pulled back, searching her face.

‘I'm not so sure we should be doing this.'

‘Why not? It's all right,' she murmured.

He was still hesitant, shy even, and let Catherine lead. She felt powerful and it heightened her desire to feel she was in charge. Such a caring man, not wanting to push himself on her, but she ached to have him make love. She pulled him on top of her and Bradley surrendered.