Chapter Eight - Paying the Bills

When Rudy arrived at Raven’s house for the luau, there were cars parked all the way back to Kamehameha Highway. He approached the yard and nearly turned around when he saw the crowd. The girl was certainly popular.

He made his way through the pack, feeling like a swan in a duck pond when Raven spotted him. She took him by the arm and began introducing him as they worked their way through the crowd.

“This is Rudy Davis, the writer. He just moved to the islands to begin his next novel.”

When Rudy got her alone, he sheepishly explained to her that he had never been published, that writing was only a dream.

“If you don’t take yourself seriously, how do you expect anyone else to? You came here to write, you have no other means of support, that makes you a writer in my book.” She said with a smile.

“I was an artist long before I sold a piece. Besides, I know more about you than you think.”

He wasn’t sure what she meant by that last statement but he envied her confidence.

A whole pig had been slow roasting over a charcoal pit for twenty-four hours while attendants working in shifts constantly basted it with teriyaki sauce. The meat was so tender that it nearly fell into your plate.

Buffet tables were loaded with fresh pineapple, kiwi, papaya, mango, tangerine and half a dozen other fruits that Rudy couldn’t name, Of course there was poi, even if no one seemed to be eating it. You simply don’t have a luau without poi.

The dessert table displayed a wide variety of goodies based around island fruits, but the culinary hit of the evening was the Passion Fruit Chiffon pie. It was so light that you had to keep a fork on it to keep it from floating off your plate.

Throughout the evening he noticed Raven stealing little glances at him, her eyes sparkling whenever he caught her, leaving him feeling like a teenager with his first crush. She insisted that he stay until the last guest was gone. He had no clue what she saw in him but it was becoming clear that she did indeed see something.

He tried keep his hopes under control because he know that this beautiful, intelligent artist was way out of his league. It was only a matter of time before she realized it too.

When they were finally alone, they sat together on the lanai, enjoying the moon reflecting over the Pacific, while the catering crew cleaned up and policed the yard.

“Have you had any luck finding a place to live?” she asked.

“None. It’s a little discouraging. I can’t afford to stay at the hotel forever.”

This was true enough, though his resolve to find a place and stick around had been greatly enhanced since meeting Raven.

“I have a friend who has a little duplex on the beach less than a mile from here. I’ll give you his number if you’re interested.”

“Are you kidding? I’d love a beach front place in Punaluu but I can’t afford something like that.”

“Don’t be so sure. He owes me a favor. He’ll treat you right if he ever hopes to buy another piece from me. He buys my work and resells it to a scumbag acquaintance of his. We both pretend like I don’t know what he does with them.”

They walked arm in arm to Rudy’s car two blocks away, both sensing something good brewing between them.

“Thanks for coming,” she said. “Most of these people are pompous wannabe’s but they spend a lot of money on my work. I throw a luau once a year to keep in touch. It’s sheer torture but it’s a necessary part of the business, just like gallery openings. I love my work but I could do without the rest. The rest is the part that pays the bills, though.”

“Looks like it pays the bills and then some.” Rudy said, instantly regretting the comment
.
She smiled sheepishly. “I do alright."

When they reached the car she kissed him once, softly, on the cheek.

“Good night, Rudy. I hope to see you again."

She turned and started back toward the house and then turned around. "Soon.” With that she turned again and ran toward the house, skipping like a school girl.

Wild horses couldn’t keep him away.

© 2008. David Heiniger. All Right Reserved.