Island Of Recovery

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ry was flaky; little crumbs showered over my thighs. Joseph was our ma

e here are relying on us to make their trip unforgettable. People don't forget things like that. You don't forget experiences. That young coupl

g a divorce five years down the line because the guy hasn't been able to forget

be this jaded," I s

sn't real life for them. Once they leave, they leave all

n's day better? Be the one behind that one memory that

it through another

aid smiling, having

're smoking," she sa

had lived on the islands all her life. She had started working right after high school and had been support

ly were people who wanted early morning runs or swims or elderly couples who wanted to walk the beaches while th

rfect song fo

't. I stole back into the house and came back out with my pho

, and percussion. I had chosen my favorite song from them. It was a slightly sl

t a lot of their newer fans seemed to like it very much since they had done it in their older style. I li

nd you like?"

together. Makani was steadfastly lukewarm about them, not from a lack of effort on my part. She didn't know any of the band mem

," she said, sh

members, wrote the

ther?" she asked

ard he would try not to forget her because the olde

e it? Because it's m

cathartic," I insisted.

ince they had released their independent LP. They never had any Hawai'ian tour dates, so I'd

their

as beautiful music, but their themes sometimes skewed a little dark. Loss, death, thi

nough for me to start forgetting her, but I had been fifteen when it had happened. That wasn't

got ready, and we left for work together, taking a short walk. The trail

g. There were always fresh flowers at our front desk every day. That was where we worked most of the time, checking people

fessional and warm with all the information, and I liked to engage guests, ask them where they were from, whether

. I picked it up, giving my us

ked to us like we were. He was Samoan. Big and tall, and the sort of guy you didn't really wan

squeaked, clea

it down. Why did he want to see me? I knew I wasn't in trouble, but he tended to spen

up?" Mak

ts to see m

eption area, through a door that was for staff only. I knocked before I went in. He was sitting at his desk. I smile

presidential suite," he said,

ch o

ite; he wants t

said "he" wanted ocean views. Who was he talking about? I thought up a way to make

r the entire season. It needs to be perfect. Oh, and he requested a piano in h

g a Presidential Suite for the whole summer, they had to be some sort of celebrity or billi

o it is?" I a

ian. Nick Sto

leared my throat and reeled it in. "Nate Sto

ant guest, and checks in today. I know I can trust you to make his stay unforgettable," he said, giving me one of his

g here. I was about to meet Nate Stone. I would be able to see Nate Stone every day for the

scream. I had just been talking a

et a grip. I had work to do

be meeting Nate St