Episode 37

Episode 37

Randy rushed into the shelter looking frantically around. The call had came a hour before and he needed to see his baby girl at this very moment. It had only been a few days, but it seemed like years. Years of combing every beach, every hospital, calling friends and walking around the island in search of Carli. Now, it would end, if only he could find her.

“Randy! She’s in here!” Missy called, bringing him back from his frantic nightmare.

Randy rushed into the open room and saw his daughter sitting on a couch, staring at her hands.

“Carli!”

“Daddy!” she cied before running into his arms.

“Carli! We missed you so much!” Missy said as the teen stepped out of her father’s embrace. “Why did you leave?”

“I didn’t want to be sent away!”

“We’re not sending you away,” Randy interjected. “We did the research, the school sounds like a great place for the remainder of your education.”

“Your father chose a great school for you to attend, because he loves you. Like my parents loved me and sent me to a boarding school when the schools nearby were not good enough for their little girl.”

“You went to boarding school?”

“Yes, it was the best time of my life if I do say so. You will enjoy the school, it even as a nationally ranked tennis program.” Missy added.

“Really?”

Randy nodded. “I’m sorry for not including you in the decision making process, I need to learn that you are on your way to becoming an adult. It won’t happen again”

“Thanks daddy.”

“So these are the numbers that first drew my attention to the problem,” Meka said as he and Lani sipped drinks over the accounting records. He had made a few changes in the book to support his plan and he could see that she was very close to taking action about Russel’s alleged stealing. He only had to push a bit more.

“Lani!”

Meka groaned as the man walked into the diner. Lani grinned.

“Hello,” she said wary of why he rushed into the diner with such a big smile.

“I have fantastic news!”

“What?”

“I was offered a contract with the agency.”

“That’s great.”

“They want me to go to Crystal Springs for a long-term project. I want you to go as well.”

Lani’s mouth dropped.

“How dare you!”

“What?”

“How dare you steal from the diner and then have the audacity to ask me to move to Crystal Springs with you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“So you were planning on telling me when?” Roxy asked staring at Jamal.

“I was going to tell you, but it just became bigger and bigger.”

Roxy sighed.

“Honest. When we met on the cruise, I was celebrating my offer from the label. I didn’t want to tell you and then you date me because of where you thought I might be going. The business is tough and you could be offered a contract one moment and then the next, the company could go bankrupt. So I made up this alter ego for my career and then I never got around to clarifying the issue.”

“Never got around to it?” Roxy gasped. “We’ve been dating this long and you never thought to say, by the way, I’m a singer and a mildly successful one at that.”

“I know, I was wrong. I have no excuse. I shouldn’t have kept it a secret, but it went on for so long that I couldn’t tell you either. Please forgive me.” Jamal pleaded wrapped his arms around Roxy.

“I don’t know, how can I be sure that there are no more secrets.”

“This is it, I swear.”

Roxy grinned, she couldn’t stay mad at him for long. “Ok, all is well.”

“The taxi is here!” Carli screamed running down the hall. “It’s here!”

Randy grinned at Missy as they watched the teen gather her last minute things. Carli had made a drastic change for the better concerning the school, especially after talking to the tennis coach on the phone.

“Hey! Don’t I get a hug or something?” Randy asled as his daughter lunged for the door.

“Yes, of course. I was just opening the door to let in some fresh air.”

“Or was it that you are so excited that you were going to leave without your things.”

“No way, I couldn’t start the semester without these things.” Carli giggled. “I’m going to miss you, daddy.”

“You’ll be home for the holidays, and we’ll visit.”

Missy opened her arms for the teen, “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too. Take care of daddy while I’m gone.” The teen teased.

“Of course.”

“Thanks again…for everything.”

“You enjoy yourself. Don’t work too hard.” Missy whispered.

After the driver had loaded Carli’s things in the trunk, Randy and Missy stood on the curb of the street watching their daughter disappear into the horizon.

“What are you talking about?” Russel hissed hoping Meka couldn’t hear.

“You’ve been stealing from the diner. Admit it.”

“Why would I steal from the diner when I’m investing in the diner?”

“The numbers don’t lie.”

“The numbers…? Ah, Meka showed you something in the books, did he? It must be true if precious Meka said it’s true.”

Lani tensed her lips in anger.

“Well, I may be a fool in love, but I’m not a fool. I refuse to sit here and allow that man to spread lies about me. Even worse, you believe him. How could you actually think that after investing all my money into this place, helping you keep it afloat that I would steal from it? I guess you actually didn’t think, did you? Meka said it was so and you accepted it. Well, I’m done with this. Obviously you still have feelings for him and I’m fed up with playing second fiddle when I’m supposed to be your man. All I did was try to love you the way you deserve, try to show you how much I care, but instead I get this! I refuse to compete with that man anymore. I know that he won and I lost. Forget about Crystal Springs. I’m leaving Pahala.”

Lani watched as he stalked out the door and felt the rush of tears come to her eyes. How could she be such a fool. He was right, she still had feelings for Meka, but now she realized that she had even stronger feelings for Russel.

“It’s ok…” Meka said rubbing her shoulder.

Lani jerked away. “Don’t touch me!”

“Wha-what?!?” Meka asked. This wasn’t part of the plan.

“You! You got what you wanted huh! You destroyed our relationship! I can’t believe I was so stupid!”

“Lani, you got it all wrong.”

“No, you got it wrong! Get out! You’re fired! You will no longer be my accountant, and don’t bother speaking to me when we pass on the street!” She screamed before running to the back office in tears.