I chuckled along with her. “I will ALWAYS want to know how you are doing, occupational hazard of being a parent. You still haven’t answered my questions though, now have you?” I inquired.
“School’s fine dad, we just started the Semester so we are still doing a lot of the boring stuff. Sarah is doing great, too. We are living together now, sharing an apartment near campus.”
“OK, well you call me if you need anything. I will be grounded for a while, until either my plane gets repaired, or I get another one.”
“Stay safe. I love you, dad.”
“I love you too, Maddy.”
With that, we disconnected. I sighed, a very deep breath, and sat down at the galley table. This had been the second most trying week of my life. Sure, we had lots of ups and downs during our marriage, but nothing like this year. I poured a quick drink, downed it, and went to pass out on my bed.
Later the next day, I called the police department, to ask about Shawn, having obviously spent the night at the jail. They couldn’t tell me much, but said that he would likely be either charged or released that day. Turns out the Prosecuting Attorney for Maui County decided not to charge him, citing that it appeared to be fully in-line with witness testimony of self-defense.
Shawn and I decided to celebrate the night of his return, with another of our visits to the Tiki hut on the beach, and a stumbling walk back to the boat. In the week following his release, I had a service recover my plane, and deliver it back to our dock. Shawn said he could repair most of the damage, but would need me to order a new window and some engine parts. I ordered the parts, stayed out of his hair, and let him do his thing.
Howard came by, and we had a few nights of cards and drinks together. He asked how I was doing, and pointed out that Tanya had asked about me. She had tried calling me, when I was marooned, but at that time, he didn’t know where I was. He suggested that I should give her a call.
I would be an idiot not to call her, so of course I did right away. She was immediately happy that I was alright, and begged me to come visit her in L. A. After a short, but very upbeat conversation, we disconnected. I spent the rest of the day arranging a trip to fly to Los Angeles, with a hotel reserved at the airport just in case. I hoped she would put me up while I was there, though.
Shawn told me he should have the plane fixed by the time I got back, and that he and Tammy should have our business back to operational. I told them to make sure that the plane was not only ready to go, but fully stocked for an emergency. I wasn’t going to be stuck like that again, without some better preparations.
They both got me to the Honolulu airport, by taking me to the island in my own boat. I thought it was funny, but trusted them completely, without question. I spent about an hour on deck, chatting with April, Tammy’s daughter. She was a precocious little pre-teen, and I told her she should hang around her mom at work more often. That got me a smile and wagging finger from Tammy, who was currently steering the boat. When her daughter went below deck for a snack, I sat with her.
“Tammy, I never really had a chance to thank you for coming out here with me. It means a lot, to have people I can trust working with me.”
“James, you gave us a chance to live in Hawaii, get away from my cheating ass husband, and you are thanking me?” she asked incredulously.
“Yes, I am. You were willing to uproot your daughter, and move her far away from her other family and friends, to be here. I am glad it’s helping you out, and that you guys are doing so well here, but still wanted to say thanks.”
“Well, since you put it that way, you’re welcome. Also, you should know that April has started calling you Uncle James. She really looks up to you, and I appreciate that. You are a good male role model in her life, when she sorely needs one. I guess I’m just saying that I’m glad you are my friend.”
I gave her shoulder a pat, “The feeling is mutual. I am glad that you are mine as well… So, when I get back, let’s all have a huge barbeque or something, sound good?”
“Yeah, that sounds great.”
I sat for most of the rest of the short trip in silence, just watching the waves, boats and various other things going on around me. They dropped me off, and I told them I would call. I took a cab to the airport, and the flight left a few minutes early. Altogether, things were starting to really look up again. I decided I didn’t want to waste it.
The flight landed almost twenty-five minutes early, having a nice tail-wind effect to reduce the flight time, less drag and all. I didn’t envy these big commercial pilots, even if they flew much more automated and comfortable planes. I always felt it would be like driving a bus, instead of the smaller, more personal planes that I loved. Sure it was more work, but in the end, I felt much more alive when I was in the air.
The minute I got to the baggage claim, there was a tan, larger guy standing with a sign that read my name. When I say ‘larger’, what I really meant was, he was fucking huge. Kinda reminded me of an early version of Hulk Hogan, before he got all old looking. I walked over to him, and told him that I was Mr. Holmes.
He waited for me while I collected my checked bag, and then escorted me out the doors to a waiting Limo. He held the rear door for me, and as I entered, said, “Ms. Pierce said that she wanted to be here to get you, but unfortunately, couldn’t. I will take you to her house now, though.”
The ride over to her house took nearly forty minutes, but was the most comfortable car ride I had ever taken. This thing had everything in it, including a full wet bar. I decided to have one drink, some Indiana variation of Bourbon Whiskey. It was pretty good, so I would have to remember the brand name.