The Islands by Di Morrissey Read Free Book Online

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.
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜Sounds fun,’ said Catherine politely. ‘Our parents sound quite different.’
    â€˜Are you liking it here?’ He leant over and took her hand, looking concerned.
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜Heavens, I have no idea. But, yes, what a fabulous plan.’
    â€˜I want to spend more time with you,’ said Bradley softly. ‘As well as show you Hawaii. Maybe we could go to another island.’
    â€˜How many islands are there in Hawaii?’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜Volcanoes. Won’t that be dangerous?’
    â€˜No, not really. They’re not the explosive type. More damage is done by tsunamis.’
    â€˜What’s a tsunami?’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜That’s a relief.’ She squeezed his hand. The islands sounded