“This is only the beginning. I can promise you that. This—us—it’s only going to get better from here on out, distance or not, nothing will keep me from showing you how much love I feel for you every day.”
Everett holds his hand out for me to take. It’s such a sweet, simple gesture, but when he takes my hand and curls me into his arms, I feel like he is the universe and I’m the core of it all. How could I want anything more? He places a kiss on my cheek and releases his arms to reopen the front door. “Are you ready for a special outing?”
I tap my finger against my lips. “Hmm, I’m not sure. I’m the one who typically plans the surprises, and now I don’t know if I enjoy being the one who doesn’t know what’s happening.”
“Well, gosh, that’s just too bad for you. Come on, let’s get out of here, doll.” I slip my shoes on as we walk out the door, and I lock up as Everett holds the storm door open for me. “By the way, you look gorgeous today.” I swat at the sleeve of his forest green uniform jacket.
“You are so smooth, you know that?”
“With only a week left before you leave, I must get in all the compliments I can now so you have something to think about when you take off.”
“What about you? How will I be able to do the same in a couple weeks when you’re getting ready to move down to Georgia?”
“You’ve given me enough to dream about for a lifetime, sweetheart.”
I know he didn’t mean to bring the mood down, regarding us both leaving Oahu, but I feel like I just got hit in the chest by a splash of frozen water. I’ve always been good at putting reality to the side, but when it’s brought up to me, it’s a raw reminder of what I’m facing—what I volunteered for. I can’t comment with a complaint or even a sigh. This was my decision and I have no choice but to stand by it now, regardless of my slight thoughts of regret. I’m sure everyone must feel the same way before embarking on a journey like this one.
We make our way over to Everett’s polished car and he opens the passenger side door like always, waiting for me to slide in as if I’m a royal princess. Princesses don’t enlist in the Army though. It is why I have done what I have. I am not a princess, nor do I want to portray one.
Once the engine roars to life, Everett turns the volume knob to the right. There’s static for a moment as he pulls away from my house, but as we near the end of the street, one of my favorite songs plays through the speakers. It’s Frank Sinatra singing, “I’ll Never Smile Again.” Thereminder is perfect for the moment.
“Everett,” I say above the music.
He peers over at me for a brief second. “Why the pout, baby?”
“What if the lyrics to this song are true? What if I can never smile, laugh, or feel a thrill again until I’m back with you? You have brought me so much joy over the last eight months. I didn’t want to admit this out loud to you or anyone, but I’m nervous and a bit terrified to leave.”
Everett reaches across the leather bench of the seat and places his hand on top of mine. “You are following your life’s purpose and our love can survive until you prove to yourself and everyone else, how worthy you are. I promise you will find reasons to smile and laugh each day because you find the good in every part of life.”
“You’re the good in my life,” I follow.
“I am only one or part of the ‘good’ you’re speaking about. I know this change is scary—change is always frightening, but it’s exhilarating too. You are setting off on an adventure that will bring you a feeling of achievement. You can’t go through life ignoring your needs because that is where regret begins. From there, it will sink its claws in, leaving you to question all your decisions.”
He is repeating the sentiments I have expressed to him, but in different words. He’s right, and I was too. “Say, where do you think you’re going?” I ask, noticing we’re driving in the opposite direction of downtown.
“You’ll see,” he says, throwing me a quick wink.
I drum my fingertips against the pleats on my skirt as excitement masks my apprehension. “Why, you’re taking me to the beach, aren’t you?” I gush. “Of course, you are. Where else would I want to spend my birthday? This is simply perfect, Everett. Thank you.”
“Shh,” he says. “I haven’t heard you say so much with so much enthusiasm since the week we first met. You really are a bundle of nerves, huh?”
I clear my throat and clasp my hands over my lap. “I will be fine.”
“You certainly will be. And in three weeks from now, when I’m getting ready to head down to Fort Benning in Georgia, I’ll be feeling the same way. You should have seen me the week before I left Los Angeles to fly here. I was a head case and had already been through the rigorous training. I think I came to realize it wasn’t a bad type of stress—it was a new type of hunger for unfamiliar territory.”
I smile at his explanation as it clarifies what I’m feeling—less fear and more impatience for something new. The car jerks around as we roll over the rubble covered parking lot amidst a mess of large lava rocks and tangled vines of greenery—a bit of our natural habitat that didn’t burn to ashes.
Everett takes my hand as we descend the uneven pathway to the beach. “I would have chosen better shoes to wear, had I known,” I tell him, holding on with my tightest grip.
“Knowing you, your shoes will be off those cute feet of yours in a matter of seconds anyway.” I suppose I can’t help the free-spirited person I grew up to be on this island, despite my strict upbringing. If I could live barefoot on the sand and sleep against the ocean’s edge, I would.Maybe someday.
“Surprise!” Dozens of voices jolt me into losing my footing in the sand, but Everett must have known it was coming and had a good hold on me as I would have likely fallen to my face.
I clutch my free hand against my chest, finding all the familiar faces I love. “Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!”
My mouth falls open and I can’t figure out how to wipe the shocked look from my face. I’ve never had a surprise party. “You’re all here,” I say.
“Where else would we be today?” Audrey asks, running toward me with a red hibiscus lei dangling from her wrists. “Hau‘oli La Hanau—Happy Birthday, my best friend.” She places a string necklace threaded through flowers around my neck.
