"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 aVay 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 Dray-ton. 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. Ill 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?"
Chapter 46
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 Hawaii. Home. A word as wonderful as family, which the three of them were now.
And as beautiful a word as love.
pau
Johanna Lindsey, Paradise Wild
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