No Place Too Far Page 7

  Not having rooms ready as scheduled caused angry guests and the ripple effect of stress on everyone on staff. Quinn hated to do it, but that was the hard part of being in charge. She had to send a message to all employees that they were responsible for getting the job done.

  It was Management 101.

  Still, the memory of Rosa’s fallen face lingered.

  Being a boss was not everything Quinn thought it would be. But the week was over, and now it was almost time for her one day with family.

  “Earth to Quinn,” Liam said, his voice teasing. “Anyone in there?”

  “I’m sorry. Just thinking about tomorrow. Are you coming with me?”

  “Sorry, I can’t. I have a job that’s behind schedule. The investor is flying in from China next week and is expecting to see everything finished in his new property so he can get it back on the market. I sanded the floors today, and Jaime is going to help me stain them tomorrow. We’ll probably work until dark.”

  Quinn felt disappointment surge through her. Liam was her security blanket. With him beside her, she didn’t feel so exposed to her family. Since she’d first met them nearly a year ago, it was easy to feel as though she were under a microscope. And with her mother, that was even harder. While Quinn was happy the woman had finally found her long-lost daughter, it was hard to make her understand that Quinn was no longer the toddler they’d once known.

  She’d grown up as someone else—a new identity with a different mother, the only one she’d ever known. A good one too. It was hard to suddenly change allegiance. Even though the woman who raised her was dead, Quinn still felt a loyalty to her that couldn’t be broken. But on the other hand, there was an attachment growing with Jules, or being rediscovered, that she couldn’t deny.

  Jules—Quinn’s biological mother—had asked Quinn to share about her childhood. Friends, favorite memories, accomplishments, and so on, but thus far Quinn just couldn’t do it. The death of her mom—or the woman she’d known as her mom—was still too fresh. Sharing their lives together would feel like a betrayal.

  So as happy as Quinn was to meet Jules, there was still some distance between them, and that would take a while to overcome.

  Her new sisters were another story. Eight and ten years younger than she was, they were immediately nosy and in awe, all at the same time. Having never lived on the mainland, their questions were less intrusive and more about what it was like to grow up on the East Coast, when she had started dating, what her college years were like. The topics that most interested sisters.

  At first it was a lot of fun suddenly having siblings. But once the novelty wore off and they were no longer on their best behavior around her, she realized that being a part of a big family wasn’t always the rosy picture she thought it would be.

  For starters, she was beginning to understand sister rivalry. She felt in the middle of the two most of the time, always being asked to take sides. She’d had no idea that grown sisters still fought as though they were children.

  Sometimes it was ridiculous.

  Quinn refused to take sides, of course, but if she had the guts to say what she really thought, she’d tell them that they spent too much time together, that maybe branching out in different directions would be good for their relationship.

  She still didn’t feel as though she had that kind of say in the family pecking order, though. Someday, maybe. But it would take time.

  “What about Maggie?” Liam asked. “Could she go in my place?”

  “I asked her, but she needs to stay home and mentally prepare herself and Charlie for her first day of work. Which, by the way, have I said thank you enough for pulling the strings to get her the job?”

  He reached over and took her hand, and she felt warmth climb up her fingers and fill her body.

  “It wasn’t just me. She still had to pass the interview. Joe said he thought she was great, so obviously she knows how to present herself well.”

  Quinn laughed. “She told me about the cat.”

  Liam held his hands up. “I told him not to do it. I thought I had him talked out of it. Luckily she didn’t run screaming from the room.”

  “I knew she’d be good,” Quinn said. “She really needs this. I’ve offered to help her out financially but she’s too proud.”

  “I can see that. I hear redheads are stubborn.”

  Quinn laughed. “That’s a stereotype but actually true when it comes to Maggie.” Then she fell into silence again.

  “What else? Spit it out,” Liam said. “Something’s bothering you.”

  He knew her so well.

  “I’m just worried about her. You didn’t know her before, but she’s changed. She used to be a lot tougher. Her brothers made her that way so that she could take care of herself. I mean, the old Maggie would’ve given Dr. Starr a piece of her mind for pulling a prank on her. It seems like now she’s cautious all the time and afraid of dishing it back. It’s just not her.”

  “She’s been through a lot.”

  “Yeah, she has,” Quinn said. “I just wish I could make it all go away for her. I feel like her life is still in limbo. And Charlie, he’s as sweet as they come, but I think he’s a little confused. He misses his nana. And his dad.”

  “Any news on that front?”

  Quinn shook her head. “She won’t really talk about Colby too much. I think despite her trying to pull it off like she doesn’t care, she knows it’s not the best situation for Charlie. Or her. Being a single mom has to be rough. Especially when you think you have a stalker on your trail. When she first visited me here, I told her she should’ve gotten her brothers involved. They would’ve taken care of that creep in no time. But she said it wouldn’t be right to bring that kind of crazy into their lives on top of everything else. She wouldn’t even tell Colby what happened. Only her mom and the authorities were there for her to lean on, and as you know, the authorities take forever to do anything.”

  “It’s crazy they can’t do more. A woman shouldn’t have to go through life looking over her shoulder constantly. If he really hacked into her account, then that should be grounds for more charges.” He sounded angry.

  “I agree. The thing is, he isn’t supposed to have access to the internet where he’s at. And they’re supposed to let her know if he comes up for parole, and she hasn’t heard a thing.”

  Liam sat up. “How are they supposed to contact her?”

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “Because if he hacked into her email, he could’ve deleted any correspondence giving her notice.”

  “She could always call and find out,” a voice from behind them said.

  Both Quinn and Liam sat up quickly and turned around to find David, their guest. His wife wasn’t with him, but he sat on a lounge chair only feet away, balancing his laptop on his knees.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I was here first. Julianne is sleeping, and I slipped out. I should’ve made myself known.”

  “Oh, that’s fine,” Quinn said, though it really wasn’t. Talking about family issues and stalkers wasn’t the professional front she wanted to present to her guests. They were there to enjoy a drama- and stress-free vacation, not feel like they were on the sidelines of a soap opera.

  “How are you enjoying Hana?” Liam asked him, picking up on Quinn’s awkwardness.

  “I love it. The untamed beauty of Hana compared to the rest of the island is magnificent. It’s like a wild sanctuary. Makes me feel isolated from a lot of the worries I’ve been dragging along lately.”

  “Hana has that quality, we’ve been told,” Quinn said.

  “We should’ve moved here years ago. Julianne wanted to. She says in Maui she can always hear music. In the wind. On the waves. She said it was everywhere. But I wanted to keep working. I thought I needed to keep pumping up that retirement fund. I spent the last twenty years planning for life instead of living it. And now it’s too late.”

  He sounded so resigned. Quinn couldn’t imagine t
he emotional load the man was carrying, knowing he would have to say goodbye to his wife soon. Forever.

  “Oh, thank you so much for all the effort you put into making the room nice for Julianne. She enjoyed looking at the scenery today from the chair. And she absolutely loved the shawl. So thoughtful,” David said.

  “You’re welcome,” Quinn answered. “Just let us know if you or your wife decide you want to do something touristy. I can arrange private transportation or whatever you need.” She didn’t think his wife would feel up to it, but she had to at least offer.

  “I doubt we’ll be taking you up on that offer, but thank you. I’ll keep it in mind.” He paused for a moment. “Listen, I don’t mean to bring this up again, but I couldn’t help overhearing you talking about your friend’s dilemma. I’m a retired detective and closed many cases that involved some sort of stalking. If I can help, let me know. But she can at least call and find out if the offender is still incarcerated. That much is easy and will give her peace of mind.”

  “Thank you,” Quinn said. She was glad that the lights in the patio were dim so David couldn’t see her face flushing with embarrassment.

  “And if he has been released and she’s worried, I’d be glad to talk to her about some safety precautions she can take,” he said. “There are some real crazies out there.”

  “That’s for sure,” Liam said. “Some people just can’t accept that someone doesn’t want them back, or at all.”

  “I think she’ll be okay,” Quinn said. “She’s been dealing with this guy a long time, and she’s learned to be quite effective at outrunning him.”

  “That’s just it,” David said. “She shouldn’t have to outrun him.” He closed his laptop and walked over. “Here’s my card. I still do private work, but I don’t charge a thing just to talk to her. If she needs me, let her know I’m here.”

  Quinn took the card. “Thank you. I’ll tell her, but I’d rather you enjoy your time with your wife and not worry about a thing.”

  He smiled. “It’s my job to worry about people. Always has been. But, of course, Julianne is my priority. She just sleeps a lot right now, so I have time for a chat here and there, and honestly, a distraction might be welcome to keep me from focusing on . . . the inevitable.”

  No one said anything. Quinn nodded.

  “Good night,” David said. “Enjoy the moonlight.”

  When he walked away, she and Liam didn’t speak. Quinn was still thinking of the look on David’s face when he talked about his wife. She could only hope someone would love her like that one day. After she’d broken up with her fiancé, she’d decided it would be easier to be alone. But Liam was patient, never bitter, as he waited for her to think differently. Quinn just couldn’t shake off all the years of being in an unhealthy relationship and who she’d become at the end of it. She’d realized she wasn’t herself but rather someone who’d morphed into what her ex had expected her to be. Finally, she was finding herself again. It was like she was being reborn, back into her family and with a new sense of self and purpose.

  No, she wasn’t ready to commit to long term, but she hoped what she was able to give was enough to keep Liam in the picture.

  “Quinn,” he said, prodding her out of her serious thought.

  “Hmm?”

  “You’re giving off those intense vibes again.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Didn’t we agree to live in the moment and not worry so much about the future?” he said, making her wonder how he always seemed to know along what line she was thinking.

  “We did.”

  “Then take my hand. Stop all the worrying. My kahuna says that only the blind grope in the darkness. Tomorrow will come soon enough, so don’t waste tonight.”

  She took the hand he held, intertwining her fingers with his. She really did care for him. He made her feel good about herself. He made her feel loved. But her ex was probably that way in the beginning too. How could she know this time that it was for real? That he was for real?

  She no longer trusted herself when it came to relationships.

  Then the other side of her, the soft one that longed for the happily ever after, reminded her that life was short. And right now, in this instant, she had a good man beside her.

  She ran her nails softly up his arm, and he laid his head back against the lounge chair and sighed.

  Quinn chuckled at how fast the action made him quiet. “You’re right. But since you can’t come with me tomorrow, how about you stay tonight to make up for it?”

  He let out a low, sexy growl. The kind that started the familiar warmth deep in her belly. He leaned over and whispered, his breath tickling her ear in a seductive dance that brought on a delicious shiver.

  “I think I should start making it up to you right this moment,” he said, and picked her up, laughing, to carry her inside.

  Chapter Six

  Quinn’s stomach felt so full it could pop, but she shoveled in the last bite of Jules’s creamy macaroni salad, then headed back to the table to make a take-home plate. It was astounding how fast she’d taken to the comforting Hawaiian recipes, as though somewhere deep inside, her appetite knew this was the food of her heart—and her culture—and was just waiting for her to figure it out.

  Her grandmother, Helen, had left a half hour or so before, but on her way out had encouraged Quinn to start arriving earlier so she could learn how to make some of the recipes herself. Helen was trying hard to be a part of the family without being overbearing, as everyone told Quinn she’d been in the past. Considering she was a big part of why Quinn didn’t grow up knowing her family, the old woman carried a lot of guilt and seemed thankful to be allowed to join them at all.

  As she passed Quinn, Helen had given her a thankful smile, then slid quietly out the door without any further goodbyes.

  Quinn wished she could know the Helen of thirty years ago—the grandmother who was so broken by the bad deeds of her family and her fear that a curse was on their name. A woman who, in one tragic decision, thought it better to send a little girl away for her safety than to reunite her with her parents.

  Though Quinn still didn’t connect with Nama, the child she once was, she grieved for her, as well as for Jules and Noah, who felt not only devastated for the loss of their daughter but responsible for leaving her on the boat with only her brother to look out for her safety. If they had only known she’d washed safely ashore, the entire trajectory of their family history would’ve been changed, and so much heartache would’ve been avoided.

  Yes, Quinn felt sorry for Helen and agreed that perhaps the next weekend she’d come an hour or so early so that Helen could teach her how to make something special. Sometimes when she felt the family’s coldness toward her grandmother, she wanted to remind them that Helen had tried to get her back just months after sending her away. She never thought that Elizabeth would disappear with Nama, using new identities that couldn’t be tracked. The irony couldn’t be denied and the deed couldn’t be undone, thus giving Helen the burden of silently carrying her remorse for the last thirty years.

  Quinn considered the other dishes. Her other mom, the one who’d raised her and had also been born on Maui, had cooked Hawaiian cuisine often before her death, but it was usually recipes that could be made on a budget—nothing as extravagant as the recipes she’d been sampling at Sunday lunches lately.

  Besides more macaroni salad, she added a serving of kalua pork with cabbage. The delicacy was usually the main event at a luau, but presented on a much bigger scale, with the entire pig prepared for the crowd. Her mother’s version was cooked in a slow cooker but tasted just as succulent, as though it were freshly carved and shredded from the kalua pig.

  From the living room she could hear her dad begin a light snore from his place in the worn leather chair no one else ever tried to snag. It still amazed Quinn that after growing up without one, she finally had a father. Not just a name but a living, breathing man who made a point to make her feel spec
ial whenever he could. He cared about her. Worried for her. Lectured her, even.

  All the things a dad should do.

  Sometimes it still didn’t feel real. Today he’d quizzed her about Liam and what stage of seriousness they were at. He genuinely seemed to want her to be happy, and in his world that meant finding one’s soul mate and locking it in.

  Luckily her mom was busy in the kitchen during the conversation, or Quinn would’ve never been able to break away.

  Sunday lunches were important to her mom, a way for them to honor their gift of ohana—the Hawaiian word symbolizing family—and the food was always delicious and plentiful. Quinn made her way around the table, adding a few more things of this and that, creating a mound of food she couldn’t possibly finish but would have fun sampling.

  At the dessert end of the table, her sister Lani stood, her arms around the platter that held Quinn’s favorite of all, the malasadas—soft and delicious fried doughnuts sprinkled with sugar.

  She grinned at Quinn, looking like the cat who swallowed the canary.

  “I’m taking all of these home,” she said, picking up the platter and holding it to her body teasingly. “You can have the leftover butter mochi.”

  “Don’t make me fight you,” Quinn said. “I’m not leaving without my doughnuts, and you know I have the advantage. You take the mochi.”

  Lani, definitely a more petite version of Quinn, looked her up and down, then set the platter back on the table. “Mom is going to have to start making a batch just for you at the rate you eat them.”

  “Fine by me,” Quinn said, smiling as she added a few to her plate. A year ago she wouldn’t have touched them with a ten-foot pole. Just looking at them made her waistband whine. But now that she’d accepted the curves that were such a part of who she was, she would never turn one down. Surprisingly, though, her weight hadn’t gone up in the past year.

  She attributed her newfound ease of maintaining her target number to the fact that she’d finally stopped worrying about it so much. It also helped that Maui was a much healthier place to live. With all that it had to offer in the ways of staying active without it feeling like torture, Quinn would never have to climb on another dreaded stationary bike or force herself to live on salads again.