The romance continued to blossom as the days unfurled like the petals of a flower. He took them to every place he thought they’d enjoy. Waterfalls, exquisite beaches, a forest of delicately scented tropical flowers, his favorite haunts and restaurants, Lau Yee Chai, his favorite Chinese restaurant, and the soda fountain at Benson Smith drugstore, a favorite meeting place for locals, and a night-club where they went dancing. He invited one of his fellow pilots that night so Audrey had someone to dance with, and they all had a good time together. In part, he wanted Audrey to have a wonderful time, it was his way of thanking her for all that she had given up to take care of their mother. And he wanted Lizzie to have a vacation she’d remember forever. He didn’t know why he hadn’t noticed it before, but he felt as though he had met the woman of his life, and he didn’t want the week to end. He had never felt that way about anyone before. After only a few days, he could see spending the rest of his life with her, when he eventually settled down. But it was too soon for either of them. He was thinking of coming back to see her at Christmas, but hadn’t said anything to her about it yet. Two days before they left, on a late-night walk down Waikiki Beach in the moonlight, he kissed her, and she melted into his arms. Other than flying, he had never had a sensation like it before, nor had she. She told Audrey about it the next day, and Audrey beamed.

“If you two wind up together, I’ll be the happiest woman alive. But he still has a lot of flying to do. He’s not ready to settle down yet, but he will be one day.” She was hopeful that something serious would come of it.

“I know that. I’m not ready either,” Lizzie said thoughtfully. “I want to do something useful with my life, other than emptying bedpans in a post-op ward. I want to do something that makes a difference in the world.”

“So do I,” Audrey said wistfully. But it was only a distant dream for her.

“You already are,” Lizzie said gently. “What you’re doing for your mother matters, Aud. You’ll always be glad you did it.”

“I know. Maybe one day I can use what we learned for others. When the time is right. And in the meantime, I want my brother to fall so madly in love with you that he never lets you go, and we can be sisters forever. Maybe he already has fallen in love with you,” she said hopefully.

“So he says,” Lizzie said with a cautious smile and a giggle. “Thank you for bringing me with you.”