Jay laughed. "That makes two of us."

"I thought you and Katherine were together."

How did she answer that? "Technically, yes. We've been together a number of years. Eight, actually." She rubbed her damp hair with her towel, then brushed it back. "But it's over. We just haven't officially ended it."

"Because of Jenna?"

"No, Jenna's not the cause. We just weren't meant to be. There are a lot of reasons. Their affair is just a sign of the end, that's all."

Eleu nodded. "My mother always told me to watch people. You learn more from their actions than their words. Katherine and Jenna, their affair is physical only. It goes no deeper than that." She smiled at Jay. "You and Drew, your affair is spiritual and very deep, although I suspect not yet physical."

Jay felt a blush creep across her face. "So if I told you Drew and I are just friends, you wouldn't believe me?"

"No, I would. Friendship is a necessity. Physical love will only take you so far. True, long-lasting love is not between two people, it's between two souls."

Jay stared at Eleu, absorbing her words. "I think you may be right."

Eleu smiled and pointed to the giant cedar tree that towered next to the pool area. "Has anyone told you the legend of Okalani and her tree?"

"No."

Eleu nodded. "It started with a forbidden love. But as we know, we can't help who we fall in love with. Neither could Okalani. She was the daughter of the ruling king, you see. Her impending marriage was all arranged. She had no choice. But she had fallen in love, in love with the son of a common laborer. When the king found out, he forbid the laborer and his son to come near the palace. So, the son took to the seas, vowing to bring back the greatest treasure to his love. A year passed before he returned, and the princess had married. But the son, now a pirate, brought back riches of gold... and a lone sapling. The cedar tree. He presented it to his love. He said as long as the tree lives, so would their love. He said after a rain, I'll send you a sign so you'll know I am with you. And Okalani planted it here, in secret, so her father wouldn't find it. And it grew and grew. And after each rain, the rainbow would appear, circling the tree, reminding Okalani of their love. And each year, the pirate returned, asking for Okalani to join him, to leave the island, and each year she declined, bound by her duties here. Their affair lasted for years, long after Okalani had married, long after the pirate had grown gray. She bore three sons. Legend has it that all three were sons of the pirate.

"Then one year, the pirate didn't return. Okalani waited and waited. Finally, she sent her own ships out to find him, to look to the land of the cedars. Wherever he brought the cedar tree from, that's where she thought he would be. They came back time and again with other saplings, but no pirate. That's where the forest of cedars came from, from Okalani's search for her pirate. She never found him, and he never returned, yet the rainbows continued to show themselves after each rain.

"And still to this day, after a rain... the rainbows come."

Jay pulled her gaze from Eleu to look at the giant cedar—the rainbow cedar. "What a lovely story."

Eleu smiled. "Legend, not story. Everyone on the island learns the legend of Okalani and her tree."

"And does everyone believe it?"

Eleu laughed. "Where do you think all the trees came from?"

Jay stared at the tree. "Where's the palace?"

"Oh, the palace didn't survive. A hurricane wiped it out long, long ago. But the tree has survived many hurricanes. Some think the tree will never die."

"What do you think?"

"I think the tree brings love. As long as there is love, the tree will not die."

Jay looked past Eleu, watching as Drew walked over, her suit thankfully covered with shorts and a T-shirt. Eleu followed her gaze, her smile widening.

"See how she looks at you," she said softly. "Her soul cares for you."

Jay's breath caught at her words, her eyes locked on Drew's as she approached. They had not spoken, not really, since the kissing scene at the waterfalls. They'd dried, they'd dressed, they'd gotten on their bikes and coasted down the mountain. And then the tour group was there, and they didn't have a moment alone. And once back in the car, they'd played it safe, stopping for a quick burger for lunch, eating outdoors, surrounded by people, anything to avoid an intimate conversation. Even now, Jay hoped Eleu wouldn't disappear, wouldn't leave them alone.

"Hello, Eleu," Drew said.

Eleu smiled. "I was keeping Jay company until you returned." She stood. "Do you have a preference for dinner or do you want to wait until the others come back before you decide?"

"Actually, I got a call from Jenna." Drew glanced at Jay. "Seems the only tickets they could get were for the dinner theater. And it's over late. They won't be able to get a shuttle over."

Jay looked at Eleu who nodded. "Yes, most of the island shuttles stop early. But I am curious, if they spend so much time on Oahu, why did they secure lodging here in Maui? Why not just stay on Oahu to begin with?"

"I think at the time, Katherine was looking for something less crowded, and a little quieter than anywhere near Honolulu."

"Yes. And she did mention that she and Jenna enjoyed the museums. Unfortunately, we are more for the outdoor enthusiast here on Maui."

"Which is why we've enjoyed it so much," Drew said.

"Well then, dinner will just be the two of you. Shall I plan something special?"

Jay's eyes darted to Drew. Something special? They would be alone. This evening. Tonight. No Katherine. No Jenna. Just the two of them.

Oh, dear Lord.

"I was thinking we could just walk the beach to catch the sunset and stop off at that little hut that advertises the fried seafood baskets," Drew said. "How does that sound?"

Before Jay could reply, Eleu was shaking her head. "No, no, no. Fried fish, fried shrimp, fried clam, fried scallops... fried everything. There is nothing good for you there."

Drew laughed. "But we're from Texas. Fried food is a staple."

"No. I will get dinner for you. You go to the beach, watch the sunset. I will have dinner when you come back. Roasted pork with a pineapple glaze, with Asian noodles. I shall have a beautiful bottle of wine. Go, enjoy the sunset. But remember, even though some think of the setting sun as the end of the day, it is merely the end of a chapter. The moon will rise, the stars will shine, all having their own chapters, their own secrets. So go, see the sun set into the ocean, then wait for the moon to rise from

that very ocean. Just another chapter. Perhaps for you too." She smiled sweetly at them. "When you return, I shall have dinner. Now go."

"I like Eleu," Drew said. "She's very lyrical. She seems older than she is."

Jay nodded. "Yes. She's probably not even our age."

They walked on in silence, heading to the west, watching the sun. But Jay suspected Drew, like herself, had little interest in the setting sun. There were too many things left unsaid.

"Are you upset that Katherine and Jenna are stuck on Oahu tonight?"

Jay shook her head. "Upset? No. Frankly, it's less stressful when they're not around. And honestly, I don't have room in my head to worry about them right now."

"Because of me?"

Jay smiled. "Because of us. And because I lost control today."

Drew laughed. "We lost control." She took Jay's hand, holding it lightly as they walked. "Are you upset that we kissed?"

"Is that what we did?" Jay squeezed her hand. "It felt like much more than a kiss."

"Should we talk about it?"

"Talk about what? We're attracted to each other. We knew it would happen eventually. But I'm not exactly single. And my girlfriend is having an affair with your date. I know they're having an affair but I act like I don't. And now they're stuck on another island tonight and won't even be here to chaperone us." She laughed. "God, how screwed up is all of this?"

Drew took a deep breath. "Yes, well, it is what it is. And there's not a lot we can do about any of it." She stopped walking. "So I think we should just take it in stride, try to make it as normal as possible, and enjoy ourselves. Despite everything, I love being here with you, doing things with you, just being with

you. I mean snorkeling, swimming, all of it. I enjoy you."

"You make it all seem so simple."

"It's only complicated if we allow it to be. Like now, we're standing on this beautiful beach, watching another awesome sunset. Just the two of us. Let's stop there. We're watching a sunset. That's all. Then we'll walk back and maybe I'll try to steal a kiss," she said with a laugh. "And you'll stop me because someone might be watching. Then Eleu will have dinner for us. And then afterward..."

Jay tugged her hand, bringing her closer. "Then afterward what?" she asked quietly.

Drew took a step back and shook her head. "No, no, no. If you want me to behave, don't tempt me. Because I will kiss you right here on the beach regardless of who might be watching." She leaned closer. "Have you already forgotten what happened earlier today?"

Jay tilted her head back, her frustration growing. "You're right. I forgot we have zero control." She forced a smile to her face. "I wish we were home."

"Home? Austin?"

Jay turned, retracing their steps back to the cottages. "Yeah. I want this all to be over with. This charade we're forced to play."

Drew fell into step beside her. "Are we being forced? Or are we doing it willingly?"

"Well, now how wonderfully blissful would the next five days be if I called her on it? We have a huge fight, all dramatic and everything, and you and Jenna get to witness it, along with most likely Eleu and anyone else within earshot." Jay laughed. "Because let me tell you, Katherine hates to be accused of anything, and she turns mean and defensive in the blink of an eye. And being the talented attorney that she is, she'll have it twisted and turned around in no time, and I'll be the one to blame, I'll be the bad guy in all this, not her. And I'll have ruined the vacation for everyone."

"She hates to lose, huh?"

"See, if she ends things on her terms, she's still the winner. She won't let me end things, be the one to leave. It'll look like she's a failure and she'll never let that happen. So no matter how it ends, she'll make sure that it's my fault. But I'm prepared for that, and honestly, I don't really care." She stopped and spun around. "But damn, I can't believe they have the nerve to miss the last shuttle flight. That's what pisses me off. It's like she's daring me to suspect an affair, daring me to say something."

Drew shrugged. "So do it. You'll only ruin the vacation for Katherine and Jenna. You could never ruin it for me."

"What? Just say fuck it?"

Drew's eyebrows shot up, then she laughed. "I do believe that's the first time I've heard such language from you."

Jay grabbed her hand and started walking again. "I swear, I could cuss like a sailor if I didn't stop myself. Because, you know, sometimes situations just require a good cuss word."

They walked in silence—their hands still clasped—toward the lights of the cottages. The garden and pool area was alive with activity as Eleu provided dinner for the guests, although there were still a few enjoying a late swim. Or perhaps they were enjoying the concoctions Carlos created for them.

By unspoken consent, they stayed in the shadows, keeping to the trees as they moved around the garden. It was nice holding hands. And Jay wasn't ready for it to end.

"I like being with you," she said softly. "Like this." She squeezed Drew's hand. "I think it's romantic."

"What? Holding hands?"

"Yes. It has an intimacy all its own. Much like kissing." She slowed her steps. "I like to kiss."

"Do you now?"

Jay smiled. "I do." She stopped, finding them next to the giant cedar tree, their shadows mixing with those of the trees around them. "Eleu told me the legend of the tree." She released

Drew's hand, moving closer to rub her hand across its bark, so different from the small cedars she was used to back home. "Okalani fell in love with a soon-to-be pirate, but being the daughter of the king, she was promised to another. The pirate left, vowing to return with riches for her. He brought back gold... and this young cedar tree." She turned to Drew. "I'm probably telling the story all wrong. Eleu told it almost like a fairytale."