they were just venting at their circumstances, trying to get through the days. They wanted to belong to someone just the way she did, but she had accepted early on that there was no one out there who would magically appear and whisk her away to a wonderful life. The nuns had explained that part of life to her and she had listened and accepted it. The bullies had not. She’d had friends back then, during those days, girls as well as boys. Life at St. Gabriel’s had not been bad. She survived by being obedient. Sister Julie had said life was all about being a good person and going by the rules. You had to obey them. When you weren’t obedient, that was when trouble happened.
Sophie had tried to be a good person and live her life by the rules, and for her effort, she’d gotten a sentence of life in prison. She was going to write a letter to Sister Julie and tell her about that. What would be her response? Probably something along the lines of: God never gives you more than you can handle. Well, right now that wasn’t working for her. So what if she handled it. So what!
She shouldn’t have had to handle it. She’d been a good person. But… she could hear sweet Sister Julie say, “Now, now, Sophie, take a look at where you are! Look at where God has placed you. He’s given you your freedom and a fortune to go along with that freedom. He was testing you. You must forgive.”
“Yeah, right. Forgive who? That skunk Adam Star? Ryan Spenser, who pinned the killing on me and sent me to prison? The people who kept me locked up for ten long years? I’m supposed to forgive those people? Well, Sister Julie, that is not going to happen, and the word
A wave washed up and over her legs. The water was deliciously warm.
Farther down the beach, Linda yelped and jerked upright, her expression so comical, Sophie burst out laughing. Good Lord, when was the last time she had laughed out loud? So long ago she couldn’t remember.
“I think it’s time to go inside, don’t you? Since we’re covered with sand, maybe we should dunk ourselves first, what do you think?” This was another first; she had an idea, and she voiced it. Almost as good as making a decision.
Linda tried to spit the sand out of her mouth. Her corkscrew curls stood out at crazy angles all over her head. “I cannot believe I actually slept on the beach under the stars. I can’t wait to tell Jay; he’s going to be so jealous.”
Sophie was already on her feet. She reached for Linda’s hand to pull her up. “The ocean is as warm as bathwater. Look how blue the water is, Linda. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Together, they walked down to the water’s edge, the water lapping around their ankles. “It was hard to tell last night, but this looks like a private beach. I guess it belongs to Kala. I read something on the plane yesterday that said the population here is only around nine thousand during the off-season and around forty thousand during the season, which I assume is the winter. Amazing. Can you swim, Sophie?”
“Yes, but not well. Patty and I took lessons at the YWCA. I’ll just wade out and wash the sand off.”
“That’s another thing for you to do while you’re here. Learn to swim like a pro, learn how to make those gorgeous leis, and learn the hula. Boy, you sure are going to be busy, and you know what, Sophie? You earned every minute of your time here. We really slept on the beach, and no one came near us. Un-be-liev-able!”
Ten minutes later both women walked back toward the sprawling house set amid lush foliage. “I can’t wait to see the inside. I guess that young boy took our bags inside. Kala said there is a housekeeper, a cousin, I think she said. She’s going to be cooking and cleaning for you, and I’m not sure about this, but probably waiting on you hand and foot.”
“I don’t want anyone waiting on me hand and foot, Linda. I’m not feeble. I want to do all that myself. Well, okay, I don’t want to do the cleaning, but I know how to do it. We had chores at the orphanage.”
“Well, rules are rules. These are Kala’s rules. I don’t think it would behoove either of us to break those rules.”
“I know a thing or two about rules, and you’re right,” Sophie said as she stepped onto the lanai. She gasped. She’d never seen such a wild profusion of colorful flowers in her life. At first she thought they were growing wild, but then realized all the plants were perfectly manicured. There were orchids, beautiful, gorgeous orchids of all sizes, plumeria, white and pink, that smelled heavenly, hibiscus so brilliant in color they almost burned Sophie’s eyeballs. In the middle of the lanai, a table was set for breakfast, with pristine white dishes. The chairs were teak and their cushions covered in brilliant colors to match the rainbow of flowers. A glider that swung back and forth was nestled next to a small fountain, whose trickling water was guaranteed to induce sleep. Sophie thought it one of the prettiest sights she’d ever seen. She said so. “They must have a wonderful gardener. When I had kitchen duty in prison, I tried to grow basil and parsley, but the plants died on me.”
“I’m going to take pictures and send them to Jay. I want him to eat his heart out. In a nice way of course.” Linda giggled. “Are you going to fight me for that glider?”
“Yes. I think I’ll sleep out here tonight. How wonderful it will be to be surrounded by flowers and the stars overhead as I fall off to sleep. I almost can’t wait.”
“Well, in that case, I guess I’ll have to opt for a nice soft bed with gentle breezes wafting through the open windows. I’m sure the scent of the flowers will drift upward. I am so hungry, are you?”
“I could eat something, but I’m not starving if that’s what you mean. I think I’m too excited to eat. Can that magic phone you have check on what’s going on back in Georgia?”
“It can, and I will do that as soon as we take a shower and have some breakfast. Come along, Sophie. I think it’s time we met your housekeeper.”
Her name was Mally, and it was hard to tell her age. She could have been forty or she could have been sixty, not that it mattered. She was small-boned like Kala, and it was easy to see the family resemblance. She’d coiled her thick, silky hair in a braid around her head like a crown. Her eyes were bright and inquisitive. Her smile was shy and welcoming as she hugged Sophie, then Linda. She stepped back and picked up the two leis that were on the kitchen counter. She draped them around the women’s necks, first Sophie’s, then Linda’s. “You wear all the time. Make you smile. You go now and take shower. I cook for you when you come downstairs.”
“I could get real used to this in a hurry,” Linda said, as they made their way through the house. It was breathtakingly gorgeous, and everywhere they looked, they could see Kala’s fine touches. Everything gleamed and sparkled, and the heady scent of the plumeria was everywhere.
“I like it that everything is so open, all those French doors and the sheer curtains billowing about, the paddle fans stirring the scented air, all this beautiful teakwood, the floors, the furniture… It’s like something out of a movie. I am so jealous of you, Sophie, that you are going to be living here while I’m back in good old Dunwoody, Georgia.” It was all said in fun, and Sophie knew it. She laughed as they mounted the stairs to the second floor.
“Look at this balcony; you can see the entire downstairs from here,” Sophie said in awe. “Why is Kala living stateside when she could be here?”
“She’s needed stateside for people like you. People here don’t
“I understand. Now which room is mine and which one is yours?”
“I guess whichever one has our stuff. I’m thinking someone probably unpacked our things, and we’re good to go. Yep, this one is mine,” Linda said as she opened a bedroom door. “Oh, my God! Is this beautiful or what? Look at that pineapple bed! You need steps to get in it. I’ve only ever seen pictures of rooms like this.”
Linda was talking to dead air; Sophie was down the hall opening the door to her room. She stood in the doorway and simply stared as she tried to drink in the room that was to be hers for as long as she stayed there. It was beyond anything she could ever have imagined. There was no ceiling, just the roofline of teakwood. A long pole from the peak held a paddle fan that whirred soundlessly. Everywhere she looked, there were vases of fresh-cut flowers, the scent intoxicating. She could see her reflection in the shiny floors. Sheer organza rippled from the open French doors outside her own private balcony, with two chairs like the ones on the lanai. Her bed was the same as Linda’s except for the coverlet, which was pale yellow with appliques of tiny green leaves. She had the same set of three steps to get into it.
Sophie made a promise to herself to jump on the bed later. She looked in the closet to see a wide array of clothes, evidently the things Kala had bought for her that were in the huge suitcase that had been carried onto the plane. Sundresses, slacks, blouses, shorts, and dressy dresses. All cotton, linen, or silk. In the whole of her life, she had never had anything as fine as what she was seeing.
In a far corner tucked into a small alcove was a desk of sorts, which held a computer, a phone, and, mounted above it, a television set. All the comforts anyone could ever want.
