Free Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen Coloma Page B

We walk beside each other and I notice the stars for the first time tonight. They shine brightly, lighting our way along the rounded slopes of the golf course. I can’t remember the last time I walked in the night with only the stars to give light. Without Caleb beside me, I’d be terrified.
    â€œYou don’t know?” His voice is low and even.
    â€œI knew nothing about the entire thing until yesterday. I mean, my family has its share of enemies, I suppose. Doesn’t every family like ours?”
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œBut a family feud? It sounds like something from some old mob movie.”
    â€œLast year, forty-four people were massacred at a wedding in Turkey. The bride and groom were among those killed. Family feud.”
    I narrow my eyes. He acts like he just told me the weather report. “And why did you need to tell me that?”
    A slight smile plays over his lips visible in the moonlight— lips that do something to my stomach and are hard to look away from. I blink several times and take a few deep breaths.
    â€œIt was good for effect.” We reach the dark maintenance building. He pushes in a code and the door swings open. “Why don’t you ask your father, then maybe we can talk about it?”
    I want to ask more, but he flips the light on and says, “This is the center of operations for all things that work on the property. Most of the building is a warehouse for storing equipment—that’s all on the other side of that wall. This section has my father’s office. Down that hall is a bathroom and shower so we can clean up, and this is generally used as a break room.”
    There was an old TV and worn couch against the wall, a long table with benches on each side, a small kitchen area with a refrigerator, a few cupboards, and sink.
    â€œThis is nice. And it smells like pizza.” My stomach growls and I realize I’ve barely eaten today.
    â€œDad treated the crew today. But hey, I’ll just shower real fast.”
    â€œOkay,” I say, and my incorrigible cheeks start blazing with a blush again. He turns away quickly and disappears down a short hallway.
    My dress does have a few stains, now that I can see it in the light, but I hope it’s salvageable. Our housekeeper, Gerdie, has a gift for getting dirt out of designer dresses. I want to keep this dress to remember a very memorable night.
    As I’m reading the maintenance rules tacked to a wall, suddenly I remember my father, the prom, and my friends. I don’t even know what happened to Katherine. Caleb’s presence creates a time warp when I forget about everything else.
    â€œCaleb?” I call down the hallway.
    A door creaks open. “Yeah?”
    â€œIs there a telephone? I better let my dad know where I am. They may have a search party out after me by now.”
    â€œThere’s a phone on my dad’s desk. I’ll be right back.”
    A moment later the sound of shower water echoes from the bathroom. I hear a loud thud and a loud ouch.
    â€œAre you okay?” Need some help ? I smile to myself for that joke, but am glad I don’t say it.
    â€œJust wrestling with my jeans,” he calls back.
    I find the office and turn on the light. Mr. Kalani’s desk is neat and organized with all kinds of framed pictures, figurines, and souvenirs lined up along the edge.
    A surfboard hangs from huge hooks on the wall. The framed photos depict a large family of smiling Hawaiian faces. A few show a younger Mr. Kalani surfing. One includes an adorable little boy standing in front of him as they ride a wave together. The boy studies the water seriously while Mr. Kalani is waving at the camera. That face—it must be Caleb.
    The water switches off. “Which island are you from?”
    â€œOahu and Hawaii. My family is originally from Hawaii— most people call that the Big Island. My grandfather moved to Oahu before Pearl Harbor was