Noah nodded. “I can imagine.”
Jillian’s jaw clenched. “Can you? I was devastated when you disappeared and the article with my research came out with your name attached to it. And you changed it too, published lies. Betrayed doesn’t begin to describe how your treachery affected me.”
His face contorted, and he dropped his gaze to the ground. “I want to see Heidi.”
“I assumed as much. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? It certainly wouldn’t be to apologize.” Jillian jerked her coverup closed.
“I understand why you haven’t taken my calls, but we have to talk, Jillian. We have our daughter to consider.”
“Oh yeah, you considered her when you stole my research and took off, didn’t you?” she shot back. “Don’t try to put this on me.”
Her nose was red, and Mano could tell she was struggling not to cry. Mano wished they were anywhere but here. This was too private to witness. He took Kaia’s hand and started to leave, but Jillian held out her hand.
“Please don’t go,” she said. “Noah isn’t staying.”
Noah began to scowl. “You can’t hide your head in the sand this time, Jillian.” He nodded toward Heidi and Nani. “What’s with the dolphin?”
“That’s none of your business. Except you might be interested to know Nani saved Heidi’s life while you were off gallivanting around.”
“What are you talking about?” For the first time Noah seemed to be showing real emotion.
“Your daughter was kidnapped by some maniac who planned to use her to get to Jesse. But my brother saved her. Kaia and the dolphin too. You should have been here, Noah. She’s asked and asked for you.”
“I’m here now,” he said. “But I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone I’m on the island. Not yet.”
Mano exchanged another glance with Kaia. What was that all about? And Noah kept glancing around as if he was worried someone might see them.
Jillian put her fists on her hips. “Are you running from something? I don’t want Heidi in danger. She’s been through too much already.”
His blue green eyes swept her figure. “You look good, Jillian. I’ve missed you.”
Mano saw the way Jillian’s body language changed. The rigidity left her shoulders. She must still love the creep.
She stiffened again and stepped back. “Heidi, come here,” she called.
Heidi’s blond head turned to look. Her jaw dropped. “Dad? Dad!” She stood in the waves and began to slosh through the water toward them. Her pink bathing suit had a dolphin on the stomach. Behind her, Nani leaped out of the water and did a flip. Heidi reached the sand and ran to her father. He knelt and she catapulted into his arms. He didn’t seem to mind being soaked with seawater. He stood with her in his arms, and she wrapped her legs around him and held on.
Watching them, Mano wondered how a man who seemed to love his daughter so much could do what Noah had done.
Four
Annie turned off the rice cooker. The serene kitchen decorated in shades of taupe, soothed her. Here, she was most at home, most in control. Cherry-blossom rice-paper blinds over the window above the sink added a splash of color. “Dinner, Father,” she called. Miso soup bubbled on the stove, and the aroma of teri stir-fry filled the kitchen. She lifted Japanese puff rolls, called shu cream puffs, from the oven and prepared to fill them with custard.
The aroma whetted her appetite—as long as she kept her mind from straying to the sacrifice she’d seen. The phone rang, and looking at the caller ID, she saw it was her friend Fawn. “I should have called you,” she said when she answered. “I’m sorry.”
“Was Leilani at home?” Fawn sounded worried.
“No.” She told Fawn about the heiau she and Mano found, and the remains of Leilani’s shirt.
“Did you call the police?”
“Yes, but Sam doesn’t seem too worried. He thinks Leilani has gone off on a lark with a new boyfriend.”
“I guess that’s possible.”
“Yes, knowing Leilani, I guess it is.” Annie hesitated. Mano had said not to tell anyone about Tomi, but this was Fawn. She was as closemouthed as it was possible to be. Annie opened her mouth to tell her friend, then closed it again. No, Mano had asked her to stay quiet. She would honor her promise.