On The Beach at Poi PU

By Don March

The Ironman Triathlon draws three related couples together on the Hawaiian Islands, Kate and Josh, Mike and Tammy and Dan and Allie. The story focuses around Tammy whose perfect world is shattered and she searches for love, her need to feel love in the rubble of her falsely portrayed perfect marriage.
Kate’s participation in the Hawaiian Ironman brings them all to the Big Island. Kate is focused on training, her whole life is training, and Josh, her husband is focused on being casual, computers, video games, good drink and good food. Mike and Tammy they live behind a facade of a perfect marriage, Mike is Kate’s brother and Mike is a long repressed gay man and the stress of keeping up that perfect facade has placed Tammy on the brink of emotional collapse. Allie is Kate and Mike’s aunt, she hungers for the good life always comparing her life to others especially Mike and Tammy’s and everyone’s grass is always greener. Dan, Allie’s husband prefers the simple life and despite money problems he makes the trip because Allie demands it. Their marriage has many problems, but Dan hopes a couple weeks in paradise will bring them together. Tammy’s perfect life is shattered, played out against the backdrop of the Hawaiian Ironman. As with all my “On the Beach” books, this is a fun book, a book that will take you for a fun little ride and leave you with a good feeling in the end. Some people might call it a romance novel, some call it a romance novel for men and some people describe it as commercial fiction; I call it, a nice little escapism fantasy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Don March
• Release date: Nov 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465951311

Don March

I have two passions Hawaii and writing. I visited Hawaii about five years ago and I became a Hawaiian nut, I read everything that I could find about these magnificent Islands. I even grow pineapples, I live in Illinois and I successfully grow pineapples. When my daughter and just about everyone else seemed to be consumed with vampires, something clicked. The mythologies of Hawaii and vampire's lore are a perfect blend. The question is why a vampire would go to a tropical paradise best known for its magnificent sunshine. Absolution is the answer, a complex troubled vampire seeking his own absolution. Vampires have long been intertwined with Christianity, absolution of sins is a tenant of Christianity and many of Hawaii's ancient sites are known for sanctuary and absolution, tying together vampires and Hawaii.

Book preview

ON THE BEACH

AT

POI PU

By

Don March

Revised 5/2013

Copyrighted 2011 Don March

Published at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

Not a Beach at the Glen

C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, Mike yelled as he looked out the window and watched the late model limo back into the driveway. Mike was thin built, but well built, his dark color came naturally from his parentage of one fourth Italian, his Latvian, Polish and German heritage was nonexistent in his looks. His thin build dark coloring and full thick head of black hair made his age less than apparent.

If you hadn’t been fussing and primping in the damn bathroom for an hour, I’d be done already, Tammy snapped. Tammy was starting to show her age and she was losing her constant battle with weight. Tammy hadn’t lost either battle and to say she was merely attractive was really an inadequate qualifier. Her dark hair and stunning blue eyes matched her Mexican heritage but it matched her husband’s Italian last name better. Everyone thought she was Italian, her father’s light German skin and blue eyes that she had inherited from him added to the illusion, even though her mom was Mexican.

If you had gotten up while I was getting the girls off to school and taken your damn shower, we would be ready, Mike snapped back as he paused in front of the computer and gave the mouse a dozen quick clicks.

Do we have time to swing by your Mom’s and Dad’s, Tammy asked as she balanced precariously her large makeup bag on the other matching large suitcase.

No only two carry-ons, I told you one carry-on plus your purse, we are going to have to check the makeup case and it is going to cost me another 25 bucks to check it in, Mike whined, his eyes focused on the computer screen.

Twenty five bucks big deal, I thought Bob was covering the trip and we are not checking my makeup case. Check your own fucking carry-on and I am not finished talking about your Mom. We should swing by before the trip. I know she is stable and the prognosis is good, but I for one would feel like shit if we didn’t swing by, Tammy said.

No, I don’t trust the baggage handlers with this camera or my laptop. Some of your tubes of makeup will not be able to get past security. You have a ton of fluids, gels and I am sure you have a manicure set in there; most of the implements won’t pass security. And we are not spinning past my Mom’s we don’t have time and she has plenty of time, Mike spouted as Mike continued to click on the mouse.

Fine then, check the fucking makeup case. But as far as your mom goes we will have plenty of time if we use curbside check-in and you get off the fucking computer, Tammy said as she moved behind Mike and stared with a generous dose of impatience and irritation.

Curb side, that is another five dollars a bag, no way, we can just wait in line and Kate didn’t even visit before she left for home and Mom was still in the ICU, Mike countered.

Don’t compare us with Kate and Josh. Your mother is very ill, and yes they think they have the liver and kidney infection under control. But it is the liver and trouble there is never good. It is unconceivable that Josh and Kate would go back to California and then go on to Hawaii without visiting your Mom one last time and Josh didn’t visit Mallory at all while he was here on business, Tammy said.

Mom is fine. Kate had plans with me and Lacy. I cleared the whole day to spend with Kate and so did Lacy. We had plans to hang with her the whole day before she went back, they just don’t have malls like Woodfields in San Diego Mike replied and he shut the computer monitor with a quick snap of his finger.

San Diego, San Diego, California doesn’t have malls really, all three of you should have started the day with a visit to your Mom and maybe even stay long enough to give your Dad a break. Beside this trip was planned and you knew in just two weeks we will be spending more than a week with Kate on the island, Tammy said.

Yeah but Lacy is not going, she just started college it took a lot for her to clear the day to spend with Kate. And I don’t know how much time Kate will have before the Ironman starts and I don’t know how much she will want to do after the race, she might not want to do much of anything. Don’t you think we should get your mom over to stay with the girls and I don’t know about this shirt does it clash with your top, Mike asked.

C’mon, Cari is a college grad now and Lacy is in college, they will be fine, my niece already had two kids at Lacy’s age, you want to change again, what happened to you being in such a hurry, Tammy said and she picked up one of the three small Shih Tzu’s in the small pen off the hallway.

Fine I guess this shirt works but wait, wait, let me check the cover on the TT, Mike said as he took a last look at his new Audi TT Turbo sports car, rather an extravagant purchase for a family having one girl in college and another just graduating, yet Mike felt he deserved it.

How’s MY TT, Tammy said and Mike made a sour puss, but looked away so Tammy couldn’t see.

Mmmmm, heh our TT, Mike corrected.

Yes the bonus was from Bob and it was such a nice surprise, but it is my car, Tammy insisted as she put down one Shih Tzu and picked up another.

It was my bonus, it should be my car, but I have no problem sharing it, Mike said wanting to make a point but not initiate a conflict.

Fine, let’s go chop, chop, Tammy said still holding a Shih Tzu.

Speaking of Bob, Mike said as he opened the door and started to gather the luggage.

Speaking of Bob what, Tammy questioned a bit harshly for such a minor point and she put down the Shih Tzu and Mike stopped gathering the luggage.

Well since he is going to be on the islands and he wondered if he could take us out for dinner and maybe me and him could hang together for a day or two, he wants to golf a day and maybe deep sea fishing on another, Mike asked standing next to the open door, Tammy picked up the third dog.

Second honeymoon you said, we spend a week of it with Josh, Kate, Dan and Allie and the Ironman Race and now you are spending four of five days with Bob, Tammy started, all five pieces, while holding the shih Tzu Tammy directed the limo driver to the bags as the limo driver came to the door.

We are on the islands for two weeks, couple days with the whole Ironman race and a couple days with Bob. We will still have plenty of time together. And it is just good business to keep Bob happy, to keep my boss happy. He is paying for the whole trip, Mike countered.

Fine, goodbye baby, goodbye babies, Tammy said as she put the last dog down and bent over to pet and say goodbye to the other two.

How’s my babies, Mike questioned.

Our babies are fine, Tammy snapped, there is your answer, Tammy thought. Mike thought about getting on his knees and giving his babies a proper goodbye. They were his babies he picked out the breed and made sure they were always properly groomed. But seeing the limo driver in the hallway, Mike had second thoughts, it wouldn’t look good and it would be embarrassing for him.

***

C’mon lets go, Kate said. Kate was a cute bottled blond, the benefits of exercise had given Kate the thin lean muscled body of a runner but it had its negatives, too much of anything can have effects but pushing your body to the limits, strains more than your calves and thighs. Running had changed her, she was a cute bottled blond, her face was aged beyond her years, and it bore the stress and strain of her grueling training regimen. But her lack of a deep tan told more, it seemed odd for a Californian who spent so much time training outside not to have a tan, though her training was 95% outside, with the early morning and late night bike rides tanning was not part of the equation, besides her brother got the dark Italian skin.

Just a moment, Josh said. Josh had the build and coloring more suited to the rust belt, no color in his complexion and exercise was not in his plans. He looked like he was from the rust belt or maybe Wisconsin but he was born and bred in California, third generation and his manner of speech and mellow style spoke volumes of his Californian heritage. His eyes were focused on the computer screen and his fingers nimbly danced on the key board as the fantasy world of this gamer whirled by on the wide flat computer screen.

Let’s go now, Kate stated.

The plane is leaving at the same time, no matter how early we get there, Josh coolly said as he continued to pound away at the keyboard.

I need to get there early to get my bike all checked in, if we didn’t need to get two seats for you I could have bought a seat for my bike, Kate snapped.

I told you they wouldn’t let you buy a seat for the bike, our best bet would be to sweet talk the flight attendants and convince them to stow it by a bulk head, like a wheel chair or a baby stroller, Josh stated.

Is that another baby crack, she paused, I called they said it had to fit in the overhead, Kate replied, the equation of her age, her training and her aspirations of a tri-athlete equaled zero babies.

I know that is what they always say but I know, I’ve seen the acoustical bass, the wheel chair or the baby stroller stowed by the bulk head, if you just ask nice enough, Josh said as he shut the game, shut down the computer and whirled in the seat to face Kate in one fluid motion.

Fine then, you try. But you are the one who will have to go back through security to check it in. Because if I miss that flight I will be missing a whole day of training and I can’t afford that. And if it is because of you that the bike isn’t there when I get off the plane, your bags will be packed and waiting for you in front of the condo when we get back, Kate stormed.

Fine not a biggy, we do it your way, Josh said. He glanced to the computer. His finger tapped the edge of the keyboard and Josh itched to log back on, You think we could swing through a drive-through for a shake and a double cheese burger. I just got a taste for one and it might be a week before I can satisfy the urge, Josh continued and he pushed the keyboard away.

Like you really need it, we are going to Hawaii not Borneo. You will be able to get a shake and a burger there. Let’s go, I am not saying it again, Kate stormed.

***

All set, luggage ready, numbers and instructions on the fridge. Dan said as he looked about the front room and kitchen of their small well kept cape cod. Dan was barely fifty, his large frame finally seemed to have evened out with age and for the first time in his life he felt that he matched his body. His silver hair disguised his youth and he was okay with it.

I just know you forgot something, Allie said, Allie was a big woman bigger than the svelte brunette in the aging wedding photo, her sharply focused big brown eyes hadn’t changed and those eyes were always her best feature..

We are fine. I got the travelers checks, I got everything that we could possibly need, I want to make sure we don’t have to buy anything extra in Hawaii, Dan said, his mind clicking away as he stared up and away.

Tickets, Allie questioned.

All we need is our driver’s license, Dan replied.

Driver’s license, Allie asked.

"I got mine and I checked, yours is in your wallet, Dan replied.

Did you mail that package of snacks to the hotel in Maui, Allie asked.

Mailed it yesterday, Dan said.

Kevin here yet, Crissy asked coming down the stairs. Crissy’s petite build made it hard to put a number on her age. It could be anywhere from 12 to 22, twenty was closer to the truth. She was cute, with her t-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. She was not out to impress anyone, comfort ruled especially at five in the morning.

Not yet, Dan replied as he moved the luggage into a neat line.

Why do we have to have Kevin drive us, getting a limo would be easier, Allie said.

Kevin doesn’t mind, Crissy interjected.

He is practically our son-in-law and I really had to stretch our dollars to make this trip. The limo is an easy expense to eliminate. If we could just spend all our time on Maui, the trip would be a lot more affordable. You know how I love Hawaii I would just stay on the beach in a tent if I could, Dan said.

We are going to cheer on Kate that is why we planned this trip with Mike and Tammy. And I’d rather die than live in a tent on the beach, Allie stated.

I don’t know why we are going for Kate. She didn’t even come in for your mother’s, her grandmother’s funeral. If it wasn’t a chance to go to Hawaii, I would have said no to this whole cheering on Kate thing, Dan stated.

Don’t you think this is hard for me to take this trip with it being so close to the start of school? I want to visit the Big Island, Allie said.

You have been teaching High School forever, Dan replied.

I still have to get my room ready, I still have stuff to do before the kids get there, Allie replied.

All I know is Kate better come in for my wedding, Crissy interjected.

And hey Mike doesn’t seem to have any trouble affording it and Tammy doesn’t even work, Allie said.

We have two kids in college, Dan replied.

So does Mike, Allie snapped.

One and a half barely, Cari just graduated and Lacy could barely get in junior college, Crissy replied.

If he can afford it, we can afford it, Allie said.

Kevin’s here, Crissy said seeing Kevin park his car in the driveway.

CHAPTER 2

THE BIG ISLAND

Okay fine, Josh said to the desk clerk before turning away and walking up to Kate who was frantically working on her bike on the edge of the elegantly tropical lushly appointed lobby.

All checked in but our room won’t be ready for several hours. I knew we should have taken a later flight, Josh said with a hint of annoyed sarcasm

I thought Lisa arranged early check-ins, Kate said, still working with her bike. She unwrapped, the protective wrap a combination of bubble wrap, cardboard and foam. She carefully freed the loose front tire from its ties. The front wheel removed for the trip was finally secured to the frame. The handle bars were loosened and twisted perpendicular to the frame for the trip and Kate carefully straightened and tightened the handlebars. Kate worked to remove all the nylon restrains, pedals reattached and the bike was beginning to look ready to ride.

Yeah, but that it is only contingent on the availability and with the Ironman here they are packed. So, no room until three at the earliest, probably four more like it, Josh said.

This works out perfect, I get a couple hours working out, checking out the route, this is perfect, Kate said getting on the bike and giving it a final check, brakes ok, air in the tires and a spin of the petals.

Perfect for you, what the fuck am I going to do for a couple hours? Josh whined.

Layout by the pool, soak in the hot tub, Kate responded.

Alone, I will look like a loser and I would have to dig out my suit from our luggage and our suitcases are in storage, Josh replied.

Then walk around the grounds, Kate said as she propped up the bike against a wall and she started to take off her polo top and khakis, her tight nylon biking shorts and tight tiny sports bra underneath.

In this heat are you kidding, walking around in the heat of the day, Josh said.

Take a ride then, Kate snapped as she finished stripping off her outer layer of clothes and dug through her carry-on backpack for her biking shoes.

Again alone, not much fun, if we didn’t come so early I could at least hang with Mike and Tammy, Josh whined.

Then do what you always do, sit on your fat ass and play your computer games on the computer, Kate snapped.

I don’t think they have Wi-Fi or an internet connection in the lobby, I know our room does, Josh replied.

Ask, do I have to do everything for you, I am sure the McDonalds have Wi-Fi and I am sure it is a short walk or short drive. You can get a shake and a couple Angus burgers and I will be back in two or three hours, Kate stated.

Fine, Josh conceded.

If Lisa calls, tell her I am on the course and get her room number, Kate said as she wheeled her bike to the exit.

Fine, Josh said as he took his lap top from his carry-on backpack.

Make sure our luggage gets to our room as soon as the room is ready, I don’t want to wait around all afternoon for them to bring up our luggage, Kate said as she disappeared wheeling the bike through the lobby doors.

***

Is that the kids, Mallory asked, she was a tall woman, but you couldn’t see that as she lay in the bed. The room was darkened shades drawn, but you couldn’t miss the distended abdomen, now that really caught your eye. The short well shaped and flawless red hair said money or at least money wasn’t the object when it came to her hair and her appearance. Mallory’s thin eyes directed your gaze to the picture of her husband Karol and their three children sitting on the bureau to the right of her bed. The kids Mike, Kate, and Cami all had different and unique combinations of Mallory and Karol. Mike and Kate had Mallory’s thin eyes, Mike had Karol’s dark thick hair. Karol in the picture, his hair formed a perfect widow’s peak. Karol still had some of the widow’s peak. The picture was at least ten years old. Karol’s hair receded quickly, thinned quickly and grayed quickly since that picture was taken. Mike’s hair was the only thing that any of the kids really got from Karol. The real question was where did Cami’s beauty come from, where did her blue eyes come from and her blonde hair must have skipped a generation.

No it wasn’t, it was work, Karol replied as he brought in a tray to the bedroom with broth, crackers and tea. Today’s paper and some magazines were cupped in one of his hands that held the tray.

Work, Mallory questioned.

They called to see how you are doing, it was Bob and Sam. I wasn’t making any sales calls, Karol said. As he placed the tray on the empty side of the bed and slipped the paper and magazines alongside the tray.

Kids didn’t call, not even Cari and Lacy, Mallory asked.

They both had early flights and you know how busy Cari and Lacy are with school and work and all. Some broth and tea, Karol asked.

No, put it aside, Mallory replied, then rolled over on the bed trying to find a comfortable position.

I picked up some magazines and the paper, Karol stated.

No, no, Mallory replied.

Some TV, the View should be coming up soon, Karol