My Kind of Town
>> Kailua Virgin territory
"Daddy!" Grace Ah Sun called, hurrying back to the bedroom. Just minutes ago she had breathlessly called him sweetheart and he called her Grace, not the usual "Momma," and breathlessly whispered that he loved and needed her. She thought the glow of their lovemaking would linger with her for days. But then she returned a phone call from Queen's. "Daddy!"
Sheets Ah Sun had fallen deeply asleep after making love with his wife. He didn't know how long he'd been asleep, but he knew by the tone of her voice that the wonder of their rare afternoon delight was over.
"Huh? What?" Slowly waking.
"Take a shower, get dressed, we have to go!"
"What?"
"It's Lance! That's why Queen's called. He's in the emergency room!"
"What happened? Is he ..."
"They didn't say. We have to go over there."
>> Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel
"This is so nice," Fawn Nakamura said after they'd been seated at the Veranda and given menus. "I've read about having tea here, and I've always wanted to go, but for something like this I think you kind of need to come with someone."
"Excuse me?" Lt. Col. Chuck Ryan said. "It's hard to believe a young woman as beautiful as you and of such obvious ..." He paused, searching for the right word. "... virtue doesn't have a boyfriend or husband."
"Thank you." She semi-blushed. "But you might be surprised. Guys don't want anything to do with a woman of virtue or morality. I'll be honest, Mr. Ryan. I'm 27 and still a virgin. And I intend to remain a virgin until my wedding night."
"Good for you," he said, wanting this old-fashioned angel even more. "I admire that, I really do."
"You do?" She tilted her head, unaccustomed to such a response. Her virginity -- or at least her vow to keep it until marriage -- sent most guys scampering for an easier conquest, like her twin sister Shauny.
"Yes, but I have to be honest too. I'm 51 and, well, not quite a virgin." He said it with feigned guilt and a teasing smile.
"I wouldn't expect so." A smile and a giggle. "You've been married?"
"Yes, and widowed. Just a year ago." He looked away and had to blink real fast to keep the tears at bay. "After 30 wonderful years."
The mere mention, Fawn saw, was like reopening a raw wound for. She didn't know why, but she wanted to make it better.
Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin
with weekly summaries on Sunday.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com