Tuesday’s Child

Chapter 24

IT WAS SHORTLY PAST THE NOON HOUR IN HAWAII. THE GOLDEN sun was high in the cloudless blue of the sky. The brilliant sapphire ocean was calm as the tide rushed out. Even the sand glistened from the glorious golden sun as Sophie and Sula made their way back to the little house they shared. The warm breeze that caressed Sophie’s body felt like a mother’s gentle touch.

It took only minutes to make a sandwich and pour a tall glass of pineapple juice and carry it out to the lanai, her favorite place. She set down a small bowl of food for Sula to reward her for the ten-mile hike across the sand. The big dog ate daintily, then moved to a shady spot near where Sophie was sitting. They talked then, or at least Sophie did, and Sula listened.

“I have to say, Sula, I have never been more content than I am right now. However, I’m itching to get out and about. To see people, to say hello or smile at a stranger. I want to walk into a store, buy something even if it’s just a trinket. Mostly, though, I want to buy a tube of lipstick. You probably don’t know this, Sula, but girls need lipstick. Bright cherry red to go with my suntan. I never really had a suntan before I came here. I’d like to buy some mangoes on my own. I don’t exactly have cabin fever, but I’m getting close to it. I’m starting to feel a bit like a prisoner. I know it was important for me to come here because I couldn’t have handled the media circus back in Atlanta. I could now, though. I’m sure of it.”

Sophie slid off her chair and sat cross-legged on the floor next to Sula. She stroked the big dog’s head as she continued to prattle on. “Look at all the progress I’ve made since coming here. I can swim like a fish now, and I’m what they call toned. I learned how to do the hula. Even Kiki isn’t laughing at me now. He said I’m just as good at it as all the cousins. I took that as a real compliment. And the leis I make are just as good as the ones the natives make. Of course, that’s my opinion. I think, and again, this is just my opinion, but I’ve become something of an expert on Hawaii. I’ve read everything there is to read about this beautiful place. I know all about the flora and fauna. I know about the traditions. I could probably give a lecture on Hawaii if anyone were interested enough to listen.

“What all that means, Sula, is this. I’m ready to take my place in the world. My feet are more than ready to step forward. I miss people. Being alone is okay for a while, but now it’s time to get on with life. I want to see Patty and Nick and Kala. I want to talk all this through one last time, so I can put it behind me.”

Sophie leaned back against the chair and felt her eyes start to close. Only there in that island paradise did she nap or doze off in the middle of the day. She’d never taken a nap in her whole life.

That was when the cell phone on the table rang. Sophie blinked, got up, and flipped it open. She heard Kala wishing her a good afternoon. Sophie smiled because Kala sounded upbeat, and there was a smile in her voice. She hoped it was good news. She listened. A long time later, her face wreathed in a wide grin, she managed to say, “Are you telling me right this moment, I can hang up the phone and walk to town and actually go into a store? Okayyyy. And I can make arrangements to fly back to Atlanta tomorrow if I want to? I can even call Patty and Nick and talk for hours or until the battery on the cell phone goes dead? I can do all those things if I want to? What does ten million look like?” Sophie laughed when Kala said it was just a blue slip of paper with numbers on it.

Sophie continued to listen as Kala brought her up to date. They talked for another fifteen minutes before Sophie closed the phone and placed it back on the charger. She was so excited, she thought she was going to explode. She danced around the lanai, then ran out to the beach, threw her hands high in the air, and shouted to the world that she was free and alive and could do what she wanted from this moment on. She thanked God, the heavens, the universe, then sat down on the sand and cried like a baby. Sula was there in an instant, trying to lick away her tears.

Sophie wrapped her arms around the big dog as she continued to cry into the thick fur of her neck. “I can’t leave you, Sula. What will I do without you? But would you be happy back in Atlanta?” Sula licked at Sophie’s tears, then barked. “Does that mean you want to go with me?” The big dog barked again. “Maybe the cousin who owns you will sell you to me. I’m rich now, Sula. I’d give it all up if they let me keep you. Oh my God, oh my God! What day is today?”

Quicker than lightning, Sophie ran into the house to the kitchen, where a calendar hung on the wall by the back door. “Please, please, please,” she said under her breath as her finger traced the days. What day was it? She didn’t know. One day was just like the day before here, and it was hard to keep track of the days even if she tried. And she hadn’t. She turned on the little television sitting on the counter. She clicked on the Fox network to see the time and date. She ran back to the calendar, her fingers marking off the days. “Yessssss!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Yes, yes, yes, a million times yes.” She bent over to kiss the calendar. “I am Tuesday’s child!” she continued to scream. When she was exhausted, Sophie walked back to the lanai and reached for her cell phone.

“Kiki, it’s Sophie. I have a question for you. And I need the answer today if possible. Kala just called me and said I can return to the mainland if I want to. I want to know if Sula’s owner, your cousin, will sell her to me. I’ll love her and take care of her like she was my own child. I’ll pay him anything, anything, Kiki, if he agrees. I don’t think I can leave without her. I know one thing, though. I’m coming back here, but I have to return home for a little while. You’ll call him now? Good, good, I’ll wait for your call.”

Sula hopped up on the swing that every lanai in Hawaii seemed to have. She looked at Sophie expectantly, like she knew what was going on. Ten minutes later the phone rang. Sophie sucked in her breath and then let it out. She thought Sula did the same thing.

“My cousin said okay, and he wants no money,” Kiki reported. “Just your promise to take care of his dog. His time on the mainland, he said, has been extended by three months, so it works out for all. He wanted me to ask you if you do move here, and he’s here, will you allow him to see Sula, perhaps take her for a few days at a time?”

“Good Lord, yes. Whenever he wants. Absolutely. Assure him, okay?”

Kiki laughed. “I already did. I knew that would be your answer. Sula is yours, Sophie.”

Sophie started to cry all over again. She broke the connection and hugged the dog so hard, Sula yelped.

What to do first? Shower, get dressed, go to town? Call the airlines and make a reservation? Sit there and continue to hug Sula? Call Patty and Nick?

Sophie stretched her neck to see the clock in the kitchen. It was just going on one o’clock. She could actually do it all in the next few hours. If she wanted to. Or she could sit with Sula and daydream the rest of the day away.

“Today is Tuesday, Sula! I told you all about Tuesdays when I first got here. I wonder if you understood me back then or even now.”

Sula tilted her head to the side and barked.

“Girl, you are mine now. M-I-N-E! And your previous owner has visiting privileges. It doesn’t get any better than that!” Sophie cried between her tears.

So many things to do. An hour ago she had nothing to do. Always do things in the order of importance, Sister Julie and the nuns had taught them. Sophie ticked off her small list as she mentally put everything in order. She smiled when she realized that Nick was at the top of her list, followed by Patty. Third on the list was walking into town, and last was making a reservation to go to the mainland.

Sophie positively itched to pick up the phone and press in the numbers Kala had given her. Her heart was beating so hard and fast she thought it would burst right out of her chest. It took her three tries before she was actually able to press the numbers that would connect her to Nick. She couldn’t believe her ears when the call went straight to voice mail. Should she leave a message or not? She broke the connection. “Well, that was silly,” she mumbled. She pressed the numbers again and this time left a short message. “Hello, Nick. This is Sophie. I’m sorry I missed you.” She broke the connection a second time.

Sophie flipped open the phone again and pressed in the numbers for Patty that Kala had given her, with the same result, the call going straight to voice mail. This time, though, she was prepared. “Patty, it’s me. Kala said it was okay to call. I’m sorry I missed you.”

Well, that left the third thing to do on her mental list, taking her first walk into town. In order to do that, she had to go upstairs to take a shower and wash her hair. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she fled to the steps. “Everything happens for a reason,” was something Sister Julie used to tell her. Followed up with, “Ours not to reason why.” So much for that little ditty, because she was questioning the why of everything of late, not just the missed calls to her best friends. At that moment, Sophie wondered why Kala hadn’t given her Jon’s phone number. Maybe he didn’t have cell service in the jungles of Peru. She made a mental note to see whether, if she bought him a ticket now that she was rich, he would want to come back for a reunion.

In the shower, as she lathered up, she thought about all the things Kala had told her about Ryan Spenser. Then she thought about all the things she’d told her about Audrey and Adam Star. She shook her head, globs of shampoo flying all over the shower stall.

As Sophie worked the lather in her hair, she thought about Audrey Star and the day she had finally realized why Audrey was so mean and spiteful. It was because she knew she was different from everyone else, mentally challenged. She couldn’t think ahead, couldn’t remember most of what was behind her, and could only deal with the moment. Sophie had tried once to broach the subject with Audrey’s doctor, but he’d held up his hand and told her point-blank that none of it was her concern and not to bring it up ever again. At the time, she had considered that part of patient-doctor confidentiality. And she had never mentioned it again, not even to Kala during the trial. She wondered now whether, if she had mentioned it to Kala, it would have made a difference at the outcome. Probably not, since she was the one on trial, not Audrey Star. Well, that was in the past, and she certainly couldn’t change it now.

Downstairs on the lanai, the cell phone rang and rang as hot water sluiced through Sophie’s hair and all over her body. When she was sure all the sand from the ocean was flowing down the drain, Sophie got out of the shower and dressed. She smelled so good she could hardly stand herself. She giggled as she dried off and powdered up, dressing in a light summery green sundress that showed off her glorious tan. She rooted around in the bottom of the closet till she found a pair of thong sandals that matched her dress. She looked in the mirror and decided she looked pretty darn good, probably the best she’d ever looked in her whole life. She wished Nick and Patty could see her.

Still giggling, Sophie tripped down the stairs. She whistled for Sula, who came on the run. “We’re going to town, girl!” Sophie reached up to a hook by the front door and removed Sula’s leash. The dog knew what that meant. She whimpered happily. New places, new scents, and a nice long walk with some treats thrown in for good measure. No sooner were they out of earshot of the lanai than the cell phone on the table in the lanai chirped to life.

On the walk into town, Sophie hummed to herself, “Today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday.”

Sophie walked along at a leisurely pace, Sula at her side. People smiled, the universal language of hello, and some stopped to pet Sula. The big dog basked in the attention. An open-air market that sold souvenirs, cosmetics, and perfume drew Sophie like a magnet. She wandered the aisles and finally settled on two tubes of lipstick.

“What do you think, Sula? The Cherry Berry or the Pink Flamingo?” She waved her hand about with the two strips of lipstick as though the dog was going to make the decision for her. In the end, Sula did. She barked twice, so Sophie bought both tubes. She also bought some whimsical postcards with fat little cherubs dressed in grass skirts and leis in outrigger canoes. She had no idea who she was going to send them to, probably no one. It was mind boggling that she had just spent $47 for tubes of lipstick.

Outside again in the warm sunshine, Sophie continued to drink in the sights and sounds of the busy street. She sniffed the flower-scented air. It was potent enough to make her light-headed. She was loving every minute of this excursion.

Sophie continued to meander down the street, looking in shop windows, fingering the merchandise that was outside. She bought two T-shirts, one for Patty, a pretty pink shirt with the word Hawaii on the pocket, and one for Nick, a navy blue muscle shirt with a golfer on the pocket.

Sophie came to a stall where a grandmother and granddaughter were selling leis. She bought two for herself and waited while the granddaughter made a small one for Sula. Everyone smiled as she paid for them and walked on, finally stopping at an outdoor café of sorts. She ordered a pineapple ice and a bowl of water for Sula.

Sophie did then what she called people watching. It seemed like everyone who passed her table took the time to comment on Sula and pat her head. Sophie smiled in return, and said, “My dog,” over and over. “My dog.” Beautiful words, and Sula was officially hers. The first dog she’d ever owned.

“Time to go, Sula,” Sophie said, tossing her paper cup into a trash container. She picked up the water bowl, set it on the table, a five-dollar bill tucked underneath. Ohhh, life was soooo good. She thought about everything and nothing as she crossed the street and walked back the way she’d come earlier. She checked the souvenirs, which were basically the same in every store. She was tempted to buy a bottle of sand, but the thought was so ludicrous that she passed on it. Three doors down, she stopped and bought a bottle, giggling the whole time. Her own personal souvenir.

Ninety minutes later, Sophie’s solo trip into town was at an end. She removed her sandals, walked between several buildings down to the beach, and headed for home. No doubt about it, she was a happy camper.

Back at the house, Sophie set out fresh water for Sula, then went upstairs to change into shorts and a tank top. She was back on the lanai within minutes. It was time for her last chore from her list.

She called Information for the number of the airline and did her best to make a reservation for her and Sula for the following day. She was told Sula would have to fly in the cargo hold. That was unacceptable. She then tried buying the dog a first-class ticket, to no avail. She offered to buy out the entire first-class section and was told that wasn’t going to happen.

Then she realized if she was going to spend that amount of money, she could just charter a flight. She made more calls, one after the other, until she was finally connected to a private charter company. She gulped at the cost but told herself it was for Sula and not herself. She rattled off her credit card number and was told someone would call her back by the close of business.

When the call finally came in, Sophie again gasped at the terms and conditions. First, the professional voice asked if she would be on the pilot’s return flight. That gave Sophie pause for thought. If she was going to stay in Georgia any length of time, she had to provide accommodations for the pilot and hostess. She was told if it was a one-day layover, she was also responsible for accommodations for the pilot and hostess. Rattled, Sophie said she would call back shortly after she checked her plans.

Sophie started to pace the lanai, uncertain what she should do. It wasn’t the money; she could afford whatever decision she decided to make. How long did she want to stay in Georgia? Just long enough to meet with the Star lawyers. Just long enough to see Nick and Patty. Just long enough to meet up with Jay, Linda, and Kala and thank them in person, pay off her bills, settle her finances, get some idea of where she stood in this new life of hers.

Five days, she finally decided. Five days, then Sula and she would head back to Hawaii. Her plan on her return would be to find a house of her own, buy it, and settle in. That was when she remembered reading that there was a house on the island that had belonged to the Stars. On some hilltop. The list of holdings said it was an estate. She needed to look into that before she left.

Sophie called the charter company back, relayed her plans and was told the pilot was clear in two days. He was booked for tomorrow and the next day. Sophie agreed, and was told her charge would be put through on her credit card. She clapped her hands in glee, then called Kiki, asking him if he knew about the hilltop estate and if he could find someone to take her there. He said he would take her up the mountain the following morning at ten o’clock.

Happier than a pig in a mud slide, Sophie checked the messages on the cell phone. She had thirty-seven messages. Her eyes popped wide as she listened to them, her face wreathed in smiles. Thirty-one of them were from Nick, and six were from Patty. And the cell phone was blinking red-the battery was dead.

Quicker than lightning, she plugged in the charger and sat back to daydream until she had enough minutes charged to call Nick. While she waited she ran out to the mailbox. And there it was, a large padded envelope from Linda with her belongings. She was ripping at the envelope as she made her way back to the house. There were her pearls, her bracelet, her Timex watch, which was actually ticking and had the correct time on it, and, of course, the locket Nick had given her. Her hands shook as she clasped it around her neck. She slipped on the bracelet and decided the fake pearls weren’t needed but she knew she’d never get rid of them. They were hers, bought and paid for herself with her savings. She knew then she could buy a dozen strands of real pearls if she wanted to. She could buy diamonds by the bushel if she wanted to. She never would, she knew. She had more than enough with what was right in front of her. Money could not buy happiness. It could buy security and contentment but not happiness.

“And how profound is that, Sophie Lee?”