She knew exactly what she was going to do. She wasn't frightened anymore. She was so angry that she hardly felt her own fury any longer. The fighting between her and Jared had gone on long enough. In the last few days, everything had changed between them. Yet here was this repulsive fellow informing her that Jared believed she wished to leave him.
It was too much. She was sorry for the wrong she'd done her husband, but when was he going to remember the good about her instead of the bad? When, if not right now?
Corinne ran on, having forgotten all about John Pierce.
Chapter 35
LEONAKA found Jared sitting on the beach, bathed in the red glow of sunset. He sat staring pensively at the ocean, so wrapped up in his dark thoughts that he wasn't even aware of Leonaka until the big man spoke.
"I can remember finding you like this many times after your mother died," Leonaka said hesitantly. Jared didn't even look up. "You want to talk about it, Cousin?"
"No."
"We used to share all things," Leonaka sighed. "What has happened to us?"
Jared finally looked over at him. "Shouldn't you be letting your father know you're here?"
"Is that your way of telling me to mind my own business?" Leonaka asked.
"Look, Leo. There's nothing to talk about. I got myself into a deplorable marriage that isn't worth discussing, and I would just as soon forget it."
"If your marriage is so deplorable, why are you so upset?"
"Who said I'm upset!" Jared growled.
"You're not?" Leonaka raised a brow.
"All right," Jared said testily. "I am a little upset. But not because she's gone," he added quickly. "I would have let her go soon, anyway."
"Would you, Ialeka? Maybe she is in your blood already," Leonaka said quietly. "Maybe she is the woman you must have to be happy."
"That's ridiculous," Jared replied adamantly. "But even if it were true, she wants no part of me. She proved that well enough today."
"Perhaps you gave her cause? You have a violent temper," Leonaka pointed out. "I know this. Does your wife know it too?"
Jared's eyes grew mournful as he remembered how terrified Corinne had been the night he struck her. Was that why she had left at the first opportunity? Was she still frightened of him? But no, a woman terrified of her husband .could not put on a performance of such willing compliance and keep it up for a couple of days.
"Corinne has seen my temper and she has one to match it."
"Ialeka," Leonaka began earnestly, "if you want her, go after her. She is your woman. I think you love her, and— I only met her once, but isn't that your wife?"
Jared turned quickly and stood up as Corinne approached them. Elation hit him first, but the old anger and bitterness soon took over.
"Did you forget something?" he asked sardonically. He was taken completely by surprise by the stinging slap she dealt him.
"By God, you had better have a good explanation for that," he growled menacingly.
Corrine was exhausted from running, but she found her voice. "Explanation? I hate you—that's explanation enough! But if you want more, there's the little fact that you abandoned me to that horrible man next door."
"You went to him for help."
"You fool!" She cut him short. "Didn't it occur to you to doubt the word of a-man who had made you an unsavory proposition? I know what he told you and it was nothing but lies!"
"So you say," Jared replied and turned away from her in disgust.
Corinne grabbed his arm and managed to stop him. "Don't you dare walk away from me!" she shouted at him. I've spent the afternoon locked in a damp, dirty storage shed, thinking all the time that Pierce was a madman and was going to kill me. I worked my hands raw trying to get out of there, but I couldn't."
"Is that the best story you could come up with, Corinne?" Jared asked with heavy sarcasm. "What really happened? Did Pierce refuse to help you after I turned down his offer?"
"Oh!" She grabbed her skirt and started to the house, but stopped again and swung around to face him. "I didn't ask John Pierce to take me away from you, Jared." She marvelled at the way she was able to bring her voice under control. "When I met him on the beach, he said he had puppies to give away. Thinking of Michael, I went with him to pick one out. Once I was in the shed where the puppies were supposed to be, he slammed the door shut on me. I didn't find out why until he let me out."
"And you expect me to believe that?"
She clenched her fists. "I don't care. But since I know Pierce lied to you, I want to know if he lied to me as well. He told me that your land meant more to you than I did, that you didn't want me back. Is that so?"
"Yes, that's what I told him." Bitterness kept him from explaining why he had said so.
A long silence fell while Corinne fought to swallow the painful lump in her throat. She had hoped it wasn't true. Pierce had lied to Jared, why couldn't he have lied to her too? But he hadn't. "I see," she said evenly. "In that case, you may arrange for someone to take me back to the city tomorrow."
Jared watched Corinne walk away, and heard the patio door open and close. He stood there silently, fighting his own emotions.
"What if she was telling the truth?"
"She wasn't," Jared replied gruffly.
"But what if she was?" J^eonaka persisted, forcing Jared to listen. "It would mean that she had the chance to ask Pierce to take her away, but she didn't ask. It would mean she didn't really want to leave."
Jared turned abruptly and walked off down the beach. His friend watched him go.
It was late. Corinne sat in Florence's room on the narrow bed, while Florence worked her needle on the splinters in Corinne's hands. She had told Florence the whole story while she fed Michael. He was sleeping now. Florence had already agreed to give up her room for the night, saying that she would use Naneki's room, which was empty.
"Law, will you look at the size of these blisters," Florence clucked.
"Just drain them and get it over with," Corinne said tiredly.
She felt depleted of strength and sick with resignation. Akela had brought her a large meal, but she couldn't eat. Her stomach churned. She would be going back to the city, then back to Boston. Wasn't that what she wanted? The answer didn't come readily. It didn't come at all.
"I just don't understand Jared," Florence remarked angrily. "You mean to say he still didn't believe you, even after he saw the condition of your hands?"
"He didn't see them, Florence. But even if he did believe me, it wouldn't make any real difference. He admitted that he didn't want me back."
"That was probably just his pride talking," Florence reasoned.
The door opened without warning and they both turned. Jared stood in the doorway, his hand still on the doorknob. He didn't say anything, but just stared at Corinne with an inscrutable expression.
Florence broke the silence first, her tone indignant. "Now look, Mr. Burkett. It's not seemly, you coming into a lady's room without knocking. And you've got no business in this room a'tall."
"Fd like to speak to my wife privately, Mrs. Merrill. Would you please leave us for a few minutes?"
He had just come in from the beach, after spending hours trying to sort out his feelings. He was certain of only one thing. He wasn't ready to let Corinne go.
"You stay right where you are, Florence," Corinne said while she kept her eyes on her husband. "I have nothing more to say to you, Jared. And the only thing I want to hear from you is what time I should be ready to leave in the morning."
"You're not going anywhere—not yet, anyway," Jared replied in a quiet tone. "That's what I want to talk to you about."
Corinne was incredulous. "You mean you're not going to take me back?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I said so," he replied childishly.
"Why?" she demanded again.
"Never mind why, damnit!"
Michael started crying and Corinne rushed to him. "You see wha
t you've done with your shouting?" She glared at him furiously.
"You shouted first," he reminded her. He took a few steps into the room. "Leave him to his mother, Corinne. We're not finished yet."
"Oh yes we are," she replied, turning her back on Mm and soothing Michael against her breast
"You had best leave now, Mr. Burkett," Florence stated firmly, standing solidly between husband and wife. "Cori will be sleeping here tonight. That's her own choice, and I will thank you to respect her wishes."
"And I would advise you not to interfere," Jared told the older woman sharply.-
Florence didn't back down. "After the deplorable way you have treated my Cori today, I'm not about to turn aside and let you abuse her further. What she told you was the truth."
"Mrs. Merrill, you would undoubtedly believe anything she told you," he replied coolly.
"You insult my intelligence, sir, and you seem to be lacking any of your own," Florence said stiffly. She heard Co-rinne's gasp at the impertinence, but she continued anyway. "You were nothing short of a fool to doubt Cori's word when the truth was right there in her hands. I removed nine splinters, Mr. Burkett, and there are also five blisters. You can see for yourself. Tell me how her hands could have come to that condition if not in the way she claimed?"
Jared was no longer looking at Florence, but at Corinne, who stood fa.dn% Iwsxl «%ais., MfchasH &. bat arms- Hk ev,e& narrowed as he brushed passed Florence and strode over to Corinne.
"Let me see your hands."
"No."
He didn't ask again but grabbed one hand and turned it palm up. There were cuts and abrasions and two of the blisters Florence had mentioned. A grimace passed over Jared's features and deepened when Corinne yanked her hand away. He looked up at her slowly and met her fiery green eyes.
"Corinne, I'm—"
"Don't you dare say you're sorry! Don't you dare! It's too late for that." Michael started crying again. "Will you leave now, Jared? Just leave me alone!"
Jared turned quickly and left. This was not the time to make amends. Outside the room he stopped, his shoulders slumping. Would she ever forgive him for doubting her, for saying he didn't want her back when that wasn't the truth at all? How could he have let things get so messed up? Would they never believe each other about anything?
Chapter 36
CORINNE settled back in a wicker chair. Michael was on a large rug in the center of the patio where she could keep an eye on him. A tiny brown puppy was sniffing around him and making the baby squeal with delight.
The pup had been an unexpected surprise. He was just a mongrel, or poi pup, as the Hawaiians called dogs of mixed breed. But he was darling, with floppy ears and a short tail that never stopped wagging. Jared had found him for Michael, or so Akela had said.
Corinne hadn't seen Jared. He had been gone all morning, returning with the present. It was his way of making amends, she supposed, his way of letting her know he was sorry for not believing her story. But it was too late for that. Her heart was hard once more, tightly sealed so he couldn't hurt her.
Voices from the kitchen drifted out the open window to the patio. Florence was there, helping Akela make taro hiscuits. Florence's curiosity about the islands was never - quenched. She was constantly grilling Akela with questions. Corinne listened with only half an ear to the history lesson in progress.
"There were maybe sixteen Kahunas in old days before missionaries come."
"But I thought you said the Kahunas were like priests, and every community had one," Florence interrupted.
"Yes, they were Kahunas who spoke with gods. I talking now about other Kahunas, men who knew history, other men who read stars and tell future. Have Kahunas for healing and magic. All things important rested in hands of these wise men."
"And to think you were called savages," Florence laughed. "It sounds rather civilized to me. It must have been very peaceful back then."
"Was good life, but not so peaceful. We have many wars, just like rest of world."
"There, you see! You really were civilized."
Corinne could imagine Akela grinning. "With each new king, lands were given to favorite chiefs of new ruler. This uproot the old chiefs and sometimes make civil war. Bad thing, civil war. Kalaniopuu, the old king who ruled when Cook came to islands, was king because of such a war—when the rightful heir, Keaweopala, was murdered."
Corinne shut out the voices when she saw Leonaka crossing the backyard, coming up from the beach. He dropped the long board he was carrying and came into the patio. He wore only shorts, and these were wet. He smiled when he saw Corinne.
"We meet again."
"Yes, it looks that way, doesn't it?" Corinne returned his smile. "How are you?"
"Enjoying my vacation while it lasts." His eyes were drawn to Michael on the floor and he came over to him and squatted down for a better look. "So this is the baby." Corinne watched as the giant young man scrutinized her son. Leonaka put out one long finger and Michael latched onto it and giggled as he tried to shake it.
"When are you going to tell your husband the truth about this little fellow?"
Corinne gasped and nearly jumped out of her chair. Leonaka saw her frown and stood up.
"I'm sorry. It's none of my business. I won't mention it again. I came up here to ask if you would like to learn how to surf."
He had dropped the subject of Michael as quickly as he'd brought it up, and Corinne let it go at that. She silently cursed Akela and wondered who else she had told.
"It's nice of you to ask, Mr. Naihe, but I must decline." There was a slight note of stiffness in her voice.
"We're going to be friends, so you call me Leo. And you can't come to Hawaii without getting your feet wet at least once."
"No, I couldn't."
He frowned. "I suppose you never learned to swim, living in a cold city?"
"As a matter of fact, Fm a good swimmer," Corinne answered, and a smile came to her lips. "I learned when I was a child and went with my father to the shipyard. When he was busy with the workers, I went out into the street and found other children to play with. At first they were shy because my father owned the shipyard, but after a while they taught me all their games. We used to swim under the docks—Florence never could understand why my hair was damp when I got home, because I never told anyone. They would have stopped me. One of the kids, Johnny Bixler— he must have been about eleven—took me under his wing. I learned quite a lot from him."
Corinne suddenly laughed. Why on earth had she told him that? She hadn't thought about little Johnny Bixler for a long time. She used to wonder what had become of that ,tough kid who had taught her to swim, swear, and use a knife during that one wild summer when the harbor became her fascination, and her playground.
Leonaka was grinning at her. "So you took up with a gang of street toughs, huh?"
"Heavens, I was only ten. And it was only for one summer. But you know, I never forgot the freedom I had that year. It was marvelous.''
It was also what had made her determine to be independent all her life, Corinne reflected. But for some reason, that didn't seem too important anymore.
"Since you know how to swim, you have no excuse for not learning how to surf. The waves are good today," Leonaka encouraged. "Jared and Malia are both surfing."
So that's where Jared was—out playing. Corinne felt her anger( rising. So he had dropped off the puppy, thinking that would pacify her, and had then gone off to surf without giving her another thought.
"Well?"
Oh, how she wished she could show Jared that it didn't matter to her, either, that they were at odds again.
"I'm afraid I don't have anything I could wear into the water."
"Nonsense," Leonaka scoffed. "My aunty can get you a sarong from her sewing chest."
Corinne reddened at the thought. She shook her head. "No."
Leonaka shrugged. "That's too bad. Jared said I wouldn't be able to get you into the water, but I thought you
had more daring."
Corinne stood up instantly, never one to ignore a challenge. "Please give me a few minutes to change. I would be delighted if you would teach me how to surf."
Leonaka grinned as Corinne left the patio, calling Florence to come watch the baby. Jared hadn't said anything to him about Corinne not wanting to swim. In fact, he hadn't said more than two words all morning.
It was too bad about the trouble John Pierce had caused. But what better way to make a truce than for Jared to see his beautiful wife in a wet sarong? Let desire bring him to his senses and realize what Leonaka already knew— Jared wouldn't be complete without this woman.
Corinne blushed as she peered at herself in the mirror over the dresser. With the sarong, she might as well not be wearing anything at all. Her arms, shoulders and half her legs were bare. And the rest of her shapely curves were outlined in vivid detail.
"I just can't wear this, Akela."
"Why?"
"It—it shows too much."
Akela shook her head with humor. "You see Malia wear same thing. All wdhine wear that to swim," she chuckled. "Even me. This not Boston, Kolina. You stay Hawaii, where we have fun."
Corinne grinned.
"Good thing you no wear breast wrapper no more," Akela was saying as she took Corinne's clothes to hang up. "Or the sarong no stay up so good."
Corinne swung around with rounded eyes. "I don't wear any such thing!" she snapped, wondering at the same time how on earth Akela knew.
It was true. She didn't have to wear the binder anymore. She still had ample milk for Michael, but it was under control now and her breasts didn't leak.
"Why you no tell Ialeka the truth, Kolina?" Akela asked reproachfully. "I see where your friend put the breast wrapper after she wash clothes. She put them in your room, not hers. I could show Ialeka, but I keep quiet. You have to tell him."
Corinne bit her lip. Deciding to trust the other woman, she said, "Don't you see? Jared is better off not knowing. I'm going back to Boston eventually, with Michael. Jared will never see either of us again."