Page 43 of Between Hello and Goodbye

Chapter Seven

I’d just started to fall asleep when the roosters cranked up.

“Perfect.”

I’d hardly slept all night, tossing and turning as much as my ankle would allow, my brain tossing and turning too. Never in my life had unsettling thoughts kept me up—I’d never let anything bother me enough to lose sleep over it. But all through the dark hours, on the eve of my escape from Kauai, a nagging feeling gnawed at me. Now dawn’s first rays were seeping into the bedroom, and I was wide awake.

I tossed the covers back and crutched to the bathroom, then the kitchen. I was getting better at it, but the rubber arm braces dug-in painfully and I still couldn’t put weight on my foot without my ankle complaining.

I made coffee and managed—slowly—to crutch it to the living area while only sloshing a teaspoon or so down my good leg. I winced at the burn but persevered and sank gratefully into the couch. The sun rose fully, and I sat feeling as if I were waiting for something. I needed to call the airline to change my flight. I needed to call a service to help wrangle my luggage. But my phone sat beside me on the couch, untouched, and I realized what I was truly waiting for was Asher Mackey to come barging through the front door.

My phone chimed a text, making me jump and nearly spilling my coffee. Again.

Ignore this if you’re busy introspecting, but wanted to say hi and check in.

I smiled and hitcall.

“Hey you,” Silas answered. “How’s it going over there?”

“Oh, it’s been a journey.”

He chuckled. “Already? It’s only been four days.”

Four of the fullest days of my life,I thought and glanced longingly at the front door.Stop it.

“Faith? You okay?”

“I’m fine. Just a little banged up.”

I told Silas about my mishap at the Ho’opi’i Falls and subsequent helicopter ride, leaving all mention of grouchy firemen out of it.

“Damn, Faith, I’m sorry. Wait, this happened on Day One? Why didn’t you call me? How are you getting around?”

I plucked at the couch pillow. “Well, that’s a whole other story.”

I wanted to confide in him about everything. My thoughts were still a tangled mess and needed sorting. Silas could tell me what to do. He could help me…

Or you could figure this stuff out on your own.

Asher Mackey was out of my life. That was definitive. No point in rehashing more man-drama with Silas. The only thing to decide was what I was going to do with my time. With my life. Give up and go back to Seattle or stick it out and do this on my own.Withouta man’s help.

The idea of staying was daunting but going back felt like defeat.

“But I’m good,” I said brightly.

“You’re good.” Silas sounded dubious.

“Yep! My ankle’s not that bad and I can’t let one little sprain ruin my whole trip. I came here to do some work on me and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Saying it out loud helped solidify my decision, and a flood of optimism filled me.

“Are you sure? Doesn’t sound easy.”

“I need to take a break fromeasyand do the hard things.”

“Well, I admire your dedication, but listen, Faith, you call me if things get rough. Immediately. Not four days later.”

I smiled. “You’re the sweetest. Like the big brother I never had.”