“If you need anything you can reach us at Aunt Estelle’s or Aunt Gail’s a little later. We won’t be home until after dark.”

“Okay,” I said. “Have a good time.”

“You get feeling better.” She kissed my forehead. “Hmm. You already feel cooler.”

“Must be good aspirin.”

She grinned. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Mom.”

Five minutes later Joel walked into the room. He was angry. “You faker! Now I have to go alone.”

“Sorry.”

“No you’re not. You just want to be with her.”

“We have special plans.”

“But what about me?” His face screwed up like he was going to cry, then he stomped out.

As soon as the Bee pulled out of the driveway I got out of bed and went to my parents’ bedroom. I got in my mother’s drawer and took out one of her silk scarves. Then I set about getting ready for my surprise. It was more than an hour later when I went to get Grace.

CHAPTER Thirty-three

Eric has given me the greatest Christmas of my life and
the greatest gift. I gave him truth, and he still loved me.

GRACE’S DIARY

“Just a minute,” Grace said as she came out. She held two small packages in her hand.

“What’s that?”

“I have surprises too.”

When we got to the house I pulled the scarf from my pocket. “Before you go in, I need to blindfold you.”

“How exciting.”

I rolled the scarf up and tied it around her eyes, then took her by the arm, opened the door, and led her through the kitchen into our dining room. I took the things she carried and set them on the table.

“Just a minute. Don’t go anywhere.”

“It smells like coconuts,” she said. “What are you doing?”

I turned on the living room stereo. The bright strum of a ukulele filled the room.

“Hawaiian music,” she said.

While she stood there, blindfolded, I kissed her. I didn’t think her smile could have grown larger but it did. “That’s a nice surprise.”

“That wasn’t my surprise. Just an opportunity.” I untied the scarf.

She rubbed her eyes then looked around the room.

“Mele Kalikimaka,” I said. “Welcome to Hawaii.” I had clipped pictures of Hawaii (as well as a few places that I thought looked like Hawaii, like Fiji and Formosa) from my mom’s National Geographic magazines and hung them on the walls of the kitchen. I had decorated the table with a thatched bamboo runner, and on the table there were two candles placed in coconut shells.

“Candles,” Grace said.

“Well, they were supposed to be tiki torches, but I couldn’t find any of those.”

She laughed. “Good thing. Try explaining to your parents how you burned down their house holding a luau for a runaway girl.”

I smiled. “Before we eat we need to dress the part.” I lifted a small box from the table. “For you.”