Kai
Oh my. I catch my breath when she enters the bar. Time has been good to my friend. Out loud, I say, “Naomi, it’s so good to see you.”
“Kai, my old friend,” she wraps me in her scent of jasmine and fond memories as she hugs me. “Time has been kind to you,” she says.
I grin at her echo of my thought.
“Our table is ready, but shall we start with a drink?” I ask, offering her the barstool I just vacated when I stood to greet her.
“No, no. Let’s sit and catch up,” she says, her elegant hand touches my sleeve.
“Of course,” I lightly place my hand high on the middle of her back as I catch the eye of the hostess.
We settle in at a quiet table, and I can’t help but stare at my oldest and dearest friend.
“Are you coming from work?” I ask, taking in her impeccable suit and tasteful jewelry. Her youthful elegance makes me feel all forty of my years.
I mean sure, I can bench press my car—I’m exaggerating even in my mind (ha!), but not by much. I could potentially have a full head of hair, but I’ve been shaving my noggin clean since college. My beard is equal parts salt and pepper these days, but I hope that is more about running my company than it is age.
Naomi looks ten years my junior, not fifteen years older. She’s as gorgeous now as she was when we met.
I remember an instant attraction to her and then a repulsive electric shock when I realized who she was. Naomi belonged to Elias. From the minute I walked on to play football the summer before I started college, Eli was both my coach and my mentor. As time went on, he became my best friend—he and Naomi were like family to me. Eventually, the three of us became inseparable. Not to be cheesy, but those really were the days.
“Yes, we celebrated our new cohort of social justice fellows this afternoon,” she looks happy and proud. “I wish we could grant every applicant a fellowship—you wouldn’t believe how many energetic kids are coming out of college looking to make the world a more equitable place, Kai. They remind me of you, really.” Her eyes glisten. Despite her words, I know she is thinking of Eli. If I think about him daily, I cannot imagine her pain. “Enough of that. I want to hear about you. Catch me up,” she says.
I notice how she makes eye contact with the server, my new instant friend Marcus, and thanks him for filling her water glass. She hasn’t changed a bit.
“I’ve taken the liberty of ordering dinner,” I smile at Naomi and then nod to Marcus. “I didn’t want to lose out on a moment of conversation, and I know your time is limited.”
“What a treat!” she says, sounding genuinely delighted. Then she quirks her head to give me side-eye, like she’s got a secret she can’t wait to share. “Kai, my daughter is going to join us—I should’ve let you know earlier. I hope it’s not too much trouble to add one more to our little party.”
Confusion writes itself all over my face. Daughter? How did she get a daughter?
“No trouble at all,” I say as I carefully try to smooth my features. “Marcus, please set us up for a party of three?”
“Of course, Mr. Ipu,” the professional says quietly. “May I inquire if either of your guests has allergies or sensitivities?”
“Oh, how thoughtful of you to ask,” Naomi says. “We are both adventurous eaters, but my daughter does, in fact, have a shellfish allergy.”
“I’ll let Chef know, ma’am,” Marcus says as he pours wine for her.
After meeting with me in the bar earlier this evening, helping me choose a menu, pair wines, plan dessert, this kid now thinks to ask about allergies? I’m going to have to tip him big. I chose this place because of its excellent reputation for service, but this is above and beyond what I hoped for.
With wine and a starter before us, I bring up the topic that’s been tickling my brain.
“Please tell me about your daughter, Naomi,” I study her face for some kind of clue. “I’m so sorry, but I remembered that you and Eli had two boys.”
“Oh, Kai,” emotions I cannot decipher race across her beautiful face. “Yes, of course. We had two sons. They were—” she cuts off suddenly. “Holland, my heart! I’m so glad you could join us. Let me introduce you.”
I stand before looking up to see the woman my friend greets. And thank God because fuuuuck. The most radiant creature I’ve ever seen apparates at my elbow. I think if I’d seen her first, I might’ve tripped over myself trying to stand.
“Kai Ipu, this is my daughter-in-law, Holland Gallagher,” Naomi gestures to the heavenly vision glowing next to me. “Holland, honey, this is my old friend Kai.”
The angel beams at me a smile that makes her sea-glass-green eyes sparkle—and sends my internal temperature soaring while my heart does this triple-beat.
“Kai, it’s such a pleasure,” she reaches out. I am a lumbering hulk taking her delicate hand in my monstrous paw—the lightning flash at our touch steals my breath. But she goes on as though she doesn’t feel a thing, “Nomi has told me so much about you. It’s like I’m meeting an old friend of my own.”
“I’m at a loss—Holland—lovely—um,” I stammer. I am never at a loss for words. What is this enchantment?
Naomi is giggling at me. “Kai,” she calls me back to earth, back to this moment, back to the table.
“Forgive me,” I say as I pull out the chair next to Naomi for Holland. She smells intoxicating, like a summer day, clean and green. Her proximity makes every nerve in my body sit up and take notice. “Please, join us,” I say. I close my eyes and make an effort to compose myself before returning to my seat. I shudder—releasing both my tense muscles and these intense emotions—that’s how overwhelming my reaction to her is.
Marcus settles Holland with wine and water. I mentally triple my tip for this kid—he’s so attentive. Marcus’s professionalism makes me look like a most excellent host. As many times as Naomi has fed me, I want to impress her with this meal. And now Holland. I want to… impress her. Yeah, that’s it.
“Holland, my heart,” Naomi takes the reins of the conversation I cannot find the presence of mind to begin. “I was just telling Kai about our boys.” With this I finally hear what Naomi said when she introduced Holland—daughter-in-law.
“Yes, please,” I hear my voice gruff as I force the words past the lump in my throat. And my heart breaks clean in two. She’s married. I glance quickly at her left hand to find an ornate diamond wedding set that looks authentically art nouveau. Of course. Married. To Naomi’s son. Of course.
“Oh yes,” Holland says with sad eyes but the same bright smile. “We lost Aidan and Ethan last summer, Kai. Did you know my husband and brother-in-law?”
Lost? Shock and devastation crash over me. I look over at Naomi who is watching me closely. I look back at Holland who looks hopeful—they’re both waiting for me to …what? Searching my mind for details of the two young boys I’d last seen not long after their father died, I come up short.
I’m failing Holland. Distraught I’ll never be able to give her details of the men they became, I feel like a failure. This is a new one for me—I have never before felt like a failure.
“I’m… I’m so sorry. No, I knew them—uh, when they were boys. I—” I can’t complete a sentence without tripping over my tongue. This is all too much.
Saving me, Naomi explains with the grace I remember from so long ago. Her sons died in a tragic accident nearly a year ago, leaving Naomi childless and both her daughters-in-law widows.
My heart shatters into shards and scatters around my feet—even as it was still recovering from its breaking over Holland’s status as a married woman. Now this.
“Ethan’s wife Ximena remains the CFO of the Foundation,” Naomi wraps up her story.
“But now she works out of Mexico City so she can spend more time with her family,” Holland adds.
“Her family of origin, Holland,” Naomi places her hand on Holland’s. “We’re all still a family.”
“Of course, Nomi,” says this ever-more-beautiful-with-each-word-she-utters brunette with a warm smile for Naomi. “And I followed my sweet mother-in-law here to Los Angeles just a few months ago.”
Holy shit. I’ve been through the ringer and it’s not even my story—the strength of these two—it humbles and amazes me. My broken heart goes out to them—even as my libido slams its fist on the inside of my brain, reminding me that Holland is my no-holds-barred ideal. Dammit.
“Kai,” Holland smiles at me, and all the blood in my body rushes south. “I fear Nomi and I have not allowed you to get a word in edge-wise.” She pronounces my friend’s name with only two syllables: No-mi. It’s the cutest contraction I’ve ever heard, and it wrenches my heart even further. If you’d asked me two hours ago, I would’ve insisted my hardened heart was simply a functional organ—but here it is, smeared all down my sleeve for this woman.
“Please, I know she was looking forward to catching up,” Holland presses. “Don’t let me interfere with your visit. Tell us both about yourself.”
Well, I’m a giant ham-fisted lummox who cannot complete a sentence because you’re intoxicating, I think as I take a near-gulp of my wine.
I see Marcus—well on his way to earning a car in lieu of a tip—refill my wineglass for the um, fourth time? Oh, well. Maybe the wine will prop up my (uncharacteristically) inept conversational skills.
“Kai?” Naomi prompts. “Hey, buddy, how ya doin’ over there?” The Carolinas slip into her voice as she prods me gently out of my brain fog.
Shit, shit, shit. What was the question? Who asked?
“Oh, Holland,” I love saying her name as I snap back to attention. “This evening was meant to be—” something. Fuck. What? “I’m enjoying hearing you two—” enjoying?! They’ve been talking about their dead men. I’m such a dumbass. “I’m sorry for your loss,” I recover. “I wish I’d had the pleasure of knowing Aidan and Ethan as men. And I’m glad you two have each other.” I pause to sip—sip, dammit! —my wine. “Please tell me how you two got to be so close.” Stupid brain. The death of a man you can never compare to, you stupid git. That’s how they got to be so close! My anger at myself bubbles up in my chest.
“Did you just growl, Kai Ipu?” Naomi exclaims.
“I did not growl,” I lie. “I was clearing my throat.” As if that’s somehow better. Jeez.
“Well,” she huffs. “I was about to excuse myself, but I’m suddenly afraid to leave my darling girl with an enormous snarling bear of a man.” Naomi gives me her best I’ve-got-my-eye-on-you-Mister look. I remember that look well. “I hate to rush off, but I have a trip to Chicago early tomorrow. Before I go, I wanted to see you both. Kai, thank you for letting me hijack our visit by having my sweet Holland join us.” I notice Naomi’s own dazzling wedding set sparkle as she squeezes Holland’s beautiful hand. Eli’s been gone for so many years, but she still wears his rings. And then to lose both their sons…
I don’t think I can take much more of her loss—how disgustingly selfish and thoughtlessly cold is that?
“And Holland,” hearing Naomi say her name makes my heart triple-beat again. This time I really do clear my throat to start it beating normally again. “I leave you in the capable hands of our host. Kai, be a good boy and make sure this one gets home safely.”
Wait. What? She’s leaving? Us. Here? Alone?
“Good night,” Holland hugs her mother-in-law. Is there a word for the mother of your dead husband? Former mother-in-law? Widow-in-law? I’ll google it later.
“Good night, love. Lunch when I’m back?” The two arrange to meet up after Naomi’s trip. I watch them together. They look more like sisters than two unrelated women with a generation between them. Oh, look, Aidan married a woman so much like his mother. How precious is that? I stop myself disparaging a dead guy. And my two best friends’ dead son at that. What a jackass I am.
Shaking off my negativity, I rise to hug Naomi goodbye. “It has been such a pleasure to see you,” I say. “Please let’s keep in better touch now you’re back in LA.”
“Oh, I have no doubt we’ll be seeing much more of each other, Kai dear,” Naomi says with a wink. Before I can even ponder what that’s supposed to mean, she asks, “Walk me to my car?”
I look at Holland.
“Please, do,” Holland holds up her phone. “I’ll be fine here.”
Reluctantly, I leave her at the table. Marcus nods as I pass him with Naomi on my arm. What a champ—kid’s got this.
Once we’re at the valet stand, Naomi turns to me. “Let’s talk about Holland,” Naomi beams. Shit, I’m probably smiling like a fool myself. “I have a favor to ask you.”
Hell, yes. “How can I help?” I ask.
“Listen. My sweet Holland has been drifting a little this last year,” Naomi says quietly.
“I cannot imagine how hard this has been for you both,” I say. “All three of you,” I correct myself, remembering her sons had both been married. The ache in my chest makes me grit my teeth and clench my fists.
“I don’t worry about Ximena,” Naomi straightens her spine. “She has landed on her feet surrounded by loved ones. She says,” her voice cracks just a little, “she says she’s working for two, for both Ethan and herself.” Naomi sounds genuinely sad for the first time tonight.
“Naomi, my dear friend,” I reach for her hand. The gesture is so natural, as though we haven’t been separated by decades and an entire continent. And a sea of grief. “I know you love your boys. And I can see how proud of their wives you are. Tell me. How can I help Holland?” I mean. I’m not trying to rush you, woman, but let’s get on to the Holland part of this conversation.
“Yes, of course,” she gives me an unreadable look, squeezes my hand with affection, then lets me go. “Holland.” There’s the faintest hint of a smile in her eyes. “Listen, she would never ask, and I probably shouldn’t ask for her, but Holland needs to find a job.”
“Done.” Thank fuck. I take a deep breath. Here is a problem I can fix.
“You don’t even know—” Naomi starts with a heartfelt laugh.
“I don’t care,” I interrupt her. “I’ll hire her. Literally, there is a place for her at Innovated regardless of her skill set.”
“You sweet man,” Naomi says. “I knew you’d be the right person to ask.” She steps away to accept her keys from the valet. “I’ll leave it in your capable hands, Kai,” she says. “Just remember to make it your idea, and not mine.” She tosses this directive over her shoulder as she slips into her car and drives away.
“My–” Wait. What? My idea? Fuck.
