The Islands (6 page)

They lay together, warm wet bodies side by side as they came back to reality.

Bradley nuzzled her neck. ‘That was wonderful. I can't tell you how wonderful.'

‘Mmm, yes, it was.' She smiled and ran her finger down his firm lean chest.

‘I'm sorry if I've ruined your make-up, crushed your clothes.'

‘Who cares! It was fun.' She laughed. She felt full of energy. ‘Hey, I'm starving, can we still make that show?'

Bradley sat up and looked at his watch. ‘Yes, the late one. It's only over the road. You still want to go?'

‘If you do. Though I'm
very
happy to stay here,' she said giving him a cheeky look.

He laughed, swung his legs over the side of the bed and began to dress. ‘I have the tickets. You shouldn't miss Don Ho.'

As they left the hotel Catherine felt different. She had the feeling the staff, the taxi drivers waiting out the front of the hotel, passers-by in the street, were giving them knowing glances. Bradley held her hand as they ran across the road.

Inside the lounge Catherine felt she was entering another world, but one with which she was becoming familiar. In the time she'd been in Honolulu Bradley had introduced her to cocktail lounges, piano bars, garden terraces, resort hotels and beachside cafés. Drinks, food, entertainment amidst stylised Hawaiiana with slick American overtones was so new, so different, from what she had known at home and in cold wet London. It was not hard to take. As they settled into a booth under starry lights where a candle flickered in pink glass surrounded by flowers, she asked Bradley if he'd lived like this before he came to Hawaii.

‘Californians like their bars and nice eateries. My parents dine out every week at their club and try new places with their friends. My father retired early with ideas of dabbling in real estate but really my parents just enjoy themselves.'

‘What about holidays? Where do they go?' Catherine was thinking of the camping trips she was used to where they piled into the car and headed along the river to a quiet spot to pitch a tent, or out into the hills where her father fished quiet streams or panned for gold. Their nights were spent talking around the campfire or the bush barbecue. Sometimes her cousins Peter and Suzanne were invited and the bush would ring with their laughter and excitement.

‘Oh, my folks like Lake Tahoe. There's a lodge that's lovely in the winter, not that they ski or skate, we kids did though. And in the summer the lake was fun, but the water is really cold. My folks liked the casinos and the nightlife. Lots of big-name entertainers go to the casinos.'

‘Sounds fun,' said Catherine politely. ‘Our parents sound quite different.'

‘Are you liking it here?' He leant over and took her hand, looking concerned.

‘Of course! This is a dream. Fantastic. It's going to be hard going home to the humdrum.'

He squeezed her hand. ‘I don't live like this normally, either. That's the magic of Hawaii. It's the ultimate romantic getaway,' said Bradley softly.

His words stung her. ‘Is that what this is? How often do you have romantic getaways?'

‘Oh, I didn't mean it like that. This is a first for me too,' he said quickly and earnestly. ‘In every way.' He took both her hands in his. ‘Can I kiss you?'

They leant across the small table and he kissed her quickly but fiercely, trying to erase his words. They drew apart as the waiter put their drinks on the table.

‘Catherine . . . these past few days, well, it seems like months . . . they've been very special. This is the first time I've really had someone to share Honolulu with and, well, it's just wonderful.'

Catherine didn't speak, but nodded, feeling rather lost for words. It had been a wonderful magical time. And their lovemaking had brought them closer together.

Bradley continued. ‘Do you think you could stay on here a little longer? Change your booking?'

‘Heavens, I have no idea. But, yes, what a fabulous plan.'

‘I want to spend more time with you,' said Bradley softly. ‘As well as show you Hawaii. Maybe we could go to another island.'

‘How many islands are there in Hawaii?'

‘Well, hundreds, but most of them are really tiny. The main ones are Oahu, that we're on now, the Big Island of Hawaii with its volcanoes, Maui, and the one that's supposed to be the most beautiful of all, Kauai. And the smaller ones are Lanai and Molokai.'

‘Volcanoes. Won't that be dangerous?'

‘No, not really. They're not the explosive type. More damage is done by tsunamis.'

‘What's a tsunami?'

‘A tidal wave. The Hawaiian islands are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so if there's an earthquake anywhere out there, the effect is felt in Hawaii. Luckily, most of the tsunamis are quite small.'

‘That's a relief.' She squeezed his hand. The islands sounded beguiling and exciting and to see them with Bradley made them even more appealing.

He handed her the menu. ‘Let's order dinner, the show is about to start.'

Catherine enjoyed Don Ho's show. His throaty voice, his humour and flirtatious manner, the bevy of Hawaiian dancers and singers was unlike anything she'd seen before. The last big show she'd seen had been an outdoor concert by the Who in London where it had rained.

She whispered to Bradley, ‘Not like the Who, is it?'

‘Certainly not. Do you want to dance? This is his signature tune.' He pulled her to her feet as several couples went onto the small dance floor. ‘Know the two-step?'

‘Kind of.' She allowed Bradley to lead her as the singer began.

Tiny bubbles . . .

Bradley was a great dancer and, being tall, he swept her easily around the floor holding her close, singing softly along in her ear.

So here's to the golden moon
And here's to the silver sea
And mostly here's a toast
To you and me
So here's to the ginger lei
I give to you today
And here's a kiss
That will not fade away . . .

He kissed her gently and led her from the dance floor. ‘Shall we leave now? Do you want to go somewhere else?'

He looked at her with such longing that Catherine picked up her purse. ‘A nightcap on my lanai?'

He stayed the night. And in the morning when she awakened he was sitting on the lanai, wrapped in a white towel, smoking a cigarette. She looked at his strong back, the outline of his head and thought he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen.

‘Good morning. Sorry I slept in, how long have you been awake?' she called.

He put out his cigarette and came towards her. ‘Not long. I watched you sleep for a while. You look like a little girl.' He dropped the towel and slid into bed beside her. ‘You in a rush to go anywhere?'

She giggled and reached for him. ‘No, sir. Are you?'

‘My day off. We could stay here all day . . .'

Bradley and Catherine spent as much time together as they could for the next few days, while Bradley arranged time off work for a trip to Maui. She phoned her parents to tell them she'd be spending a bit longer in Hawaii.

‘I'm moving into a cheaper hotel when I get back from Maui.'

‘Sounds like you're having a good time. You like Hawaii, eh?' said her father.

‘It's fabulous,' said Catherine, knowing her voice was very upbeat.

Her father seemed amused. ‘Sounds like it. Well, you enjoy yourself, love. You sound very happy. Must be nice to be in the sun after London. We can't wait to have you home though. Your mother is making all kinds of plans.'

‘Oh that's nice of her but, Dad, I really just want to relax. Be with you, ride around the place, settle in, you know. No parties, please. You know what Mum's like.'

‘I understand, sweetheart. Send us a telegram when you know you're coming home. Cheaper than these phone calls.'

Catherine couldn't stop smiling and she couldn't stop thinking of Bradley. He arrived at her hotel room after work each day with a lei, chocolates, macadamia nuts and a nice bottle of wine. They fell into bed and made love with an eagerness and enthusiasm that left both of them gasping, laughing, hugging and exclaiming that neither had enjoyed making love so much before.

She found Maui interesting and not as touristy as Honolulu, though Bradley pointed out that holiday apartment complexes were beginning to be built.

Wandering around the old whaling port of Lahaina, Bradley came out of a shop and pressed a small package into her hands.

Catherine exclaimed in delight at the tiny pretty coral earrings. ‘How sweet, I love them. Thank you so much.' She gave him a kiss and they linked arms.

‘Let's eat at one of these seafood places overlooking the water and you can put them on,' he suggested.

They were sharing the cost of their hotel – Catherine had insisted – and she was quite surprised at how easy and comfortable the arrangement was. She thought it would be awkward living with a stranger but Bradley was so easy to be with. He didn't snore, he was attentive and sensitive to her needs, excusing himself to go and buy something if he sensed she wanted privacy or time alone. They walked on the beach and went for a swim before breakfast, he planned their day's sightseeing, made suggestions about where to go for dinner. The days sped past. She was pleased that she'd extended her holiday. They returned to Honolulu and she moved into a smaller hotel set back from the beach but with a view of the ocean from the top floor where she was staying. Bradley returned to work but spent every evening with her.

Sometimes during the day she opened the closet and touched Bradley's crisp white spare uniform hanging beside her clothes. She felt a sense of proprietary togetherness seeing his toiletries in the bathroom.

*

A few days before she was due to fly back to Australia, Bradley said he had something to ask her. He sounded slightly hesitant.

‘It's about tomorrow night . . . I was wondering if you'd like to come to a dinner . . . It's with my superior officer. They have these social get-togethers. His wife is a great hostess and they have a house on the base at Pearl Harbor. Of course, you might find it a bit boring . . .'

‘Why would I find it boring? It'd be nice to meet people who live here. Is it for a special reason?' she asked.

‘Not really. The idea is for us all to maintain close links, keep in touch socially, which is supposed to help us work together.'

‘Sounds a good idea.' She wondered why he sounded so formal. ‘Is there anything I should know? What to wear? Who's who?'

Bradley grinned. ‘You always look nice. They're just a bit conservative . . . older ladies, you know. It'll give you a taste of the other side of my life here.' He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground. ‘So you know what I'm putting up with while you're galloping around Peel.'

‘My other life,' mused Catherine. ‘I only gallop around
Heatherbrae
. Not much to get excited about in Peel.' She kissed him thinking how dull Peel would seem after all the glamour and fun of Hawaii. And Bradley. It was going to be hard to say goodbye. She refused to think about that moment.

Commander and Mrs Goodwin were gracious and made a fuss of Catherine. She was introduced to the other wives who were gathered on the terrace. The men, dressed in smart casual clothes, were bunched on the lawn by the pool. The immaculate grass was dotted with palms and its elevated position boasted a lovely view of the harbour.

‘What a spectacular place,' said Catherine.

‘The senior officers and families are housed in that section over there, the single officers are in an apartment block. It has lovely views,' said Mrs Goodwin. Then turning to several other wives she said, ‘Don't you just love Catherine's accent?'

‘It's darling. I've always wanted to go to Australia. My husband visited there on his way to Vietnam. Where's your home, dear?' asked a woman with bright red hair lacquered into a helmet that flipped up on her shoulders but didn't move.

‘Oh, it's in the country. Nowhere anyone's heard of,' answered Catherine.

‘You mean like a ranch, honey?'

‘A small one. Just horses and stud cattle. A hobby for my father. He's a solicitor. A lawyer,' she added as Bradley had explained that solicitor wasn't an American term.

‘And how long have you known Bradley?' asked another wife, joining the growing circle around Catherine.

She sensed their curiosity. Their glances flicked up and down from her shoes to her hair, and she felt she was being judged. Had Bradley brought other girls to meet the boss's wife?

‘Oh, we met in London, at a reception at Australia House,' she threw in for good measure. ‘We've kept in touch and as I'd planned to stop over in Hawaii – a twenty-first birthday present from my father – we were able to catch up again.'

‘How nice. I suppose you're looking forward to seeing your family. How long have you been away, Catherine?' asked Mrs Goodwin. ‘Do you have a job waiting or are you going to college?'

Bradley suddenly appeared behind her. ‘Mrs Goodwin, ladies.' He smiled at the women who all gave him big smiles in return. ‘Would you excuse us if I stole Catherine for a moment? Commander Goodwin and Jim Bensen have a dispute about Australia. We're hoping Catherine can settle the question.'

‘I'll try.' Catherine made her escape.

‘Sorry. Hope they didn't grill you too much,' whispered Bradley.

‘It's all right. What's going on?'

‘Oh, it's just an argument of semantics really. You say tom-mah-toe, we say too-may-toe . . . kinda thing. I just thought I'd rescue you.'

‘Thanks.'

She was introduced to several other naval officers about Bradley's age. They made cheerful talk, happy to chat with someone more interesting than the older men. Catherine enjoyed their company but she kept an ear tuned to what Bradley was saying. He was obviously regarded with some esteem by his fellow officers and held his own in most of the discussions.