Keeping Kama

Chapter 20

Running past the twenty-five-mile sign, Derek wondered how he’d manage to continue running for another step, let alone another mile plus. The last five miles had passed in an excruciatingly difficult haze. Without Leia by his side, Derek would have walked the last several miles. But Leia refused to run ahead of him and leave him by himself.

Sweat dripped down his temples as the sun baked his skin, making it practically sizzle under its violent rays. Using the end of his shirt, Derek swiped at the sweat to keep it from dripping into his eyes. “I don’t know how much longer I can go on,” said Derek.

“Pick a landmark up ahead and tell yourself you only need to run to that specific spot. You can’t think about the entire mile that’s left, every runner knows that is the kiss of death,” replied Leia.

His feet throbbed, neck ached, and his back stung. “Fine.” Derek forced himself to look forward and not at the ground. Pointing up ahead, he said, “I pick that lady in the bright pink shirt holding some sort of sign.”

Without an ounce of heavy breathing, Leia replied, “I see her. Perfect.”

Focused on the lady in pink, Derek somehow managed to run past her.

Once the lady in pink was several paces behind them, Leia said, “Okay, now pick something else.”

“Umm.” Derek swiped at his brow with the back of his wrist. “I’m running to that grouping of palm trees in the park overlooking the ocean.”

They weaved around a few slower runners in front of them, Leia said, “I see it.”

Time slowed. Each step seemed to take longer than the one before, but as promised, Derek made it to the bunch of trees.

Leia interrupted his dreary thoughts. “We’ll pass by the Waikiki Aquarium soon then we’re almost there,” said Leia.

His calves seized. “I’m never doing this again,” muttered Derek.

Giving a high five to a passerby, Leia said, “That’s what I said, too, after my first marathon, but then I ran one more. It was a better experience than the one before. And then I was hooked.”

“I’m not hooked, not even close.” His throat was scratchy and dry. Derek forced himself to swallow. “I’m regretting every major life choice I’ve made up until this point.”

“But nothing— and I mean nothing beats the feeling of crossing the finish line. You’ll see,” said Leia.

Passing by the aquarium, the finish line came into view. Derek wiped tears from the corner of his eyes with the heel of his hand. He couldn’t remember the last time he cried, but he couldn’t hold back the feeling of relief of knowing this pain was nearly over. Then Derek spotted Leia’s family. All of them. Every. Single. One. Teresa, Noa in a wheelchair, Kai and Alana with their kids were several yards from the finish line, jumping up and down cheering.

A tug in his heart made Derek long for Leia’s family to become his own. He knew he was taking twelve steps forward with so much ground to cover in the middle, but for a split moment, Derek imagined a world where he was no longer alone. A world where he and Leia, together, could face any obstacle.

The last several yards passed in a somewhat catatonic state, but when his feet crossed the finish line, he was euphoric.

Leia hugged him. “I knew you could do it. Doesn’t it feel amazing?” Pulling away, her fingertips dug into his biceps. She searched his face for confirmation.

“It does.” With hands on his hips, Derek leaned forward attempting to catch his breath. Gazing up at Leia from his hunched over state, he repeated, “It really does.”

Volunteers placed medals over their necks. Then they were pushed along, moving them from the finish line toward the area where runners were reuniting with their families and friends. Someone handed him a bottle of water and an ice cold dripping wet towel. Derek swiped his salty, sweat-streaked face with it, before wrapping it around his neck to cool himself down.

They walked toward the exit of the sectioned off area, or Leia walked, and Derek hobbled along. His legs were tight and sore, and every part of himself ached. Derek wanted to find a grassy area to lie down on and possibly never get up again.

“I think I need to sit down.” Derek placed a hand on Leia’s shoulder, leaning his weight on her. “I’m not feeling so great.”

Glancing over her shoulder, Leia’s gaze skidded across his face. “You do look really pale.” She slowed her walking pace, Derek leaned on her for support.

Derek gripped his stomach with his other hand. “I think I might vomit.”

“There is some space up there.” Leia pointed to the exit of the sectioned off area. “You can sit down for a bit.”

Bile bubbled up his throat. Derek fought against the urge to vomit. They made it out of the staging area. Leia found a shady grassy area to stop at. Collapsing on the grass, Derek rested flat on his back, closing his eyes for a minute.

Soon Leia’s family found them. Their chatter sounded far away. Derek couldn’t concentrate long enough to make out what they were saying. Instead, he kept his eyes closed and forced himself to slowly breathe in and out to fight against the wave of nausea that wasn’t going away. Eventually, the knot in his stomach loosened a smidge.

Leia knelt beside him and held a water bottle to his lips. “Here sip this. I think it will help.”

Forcing his eyes open, Derek took in the view of Leia’s entire family towering over him. “Thanks for coming,” he croaked. “I know you came mainly for Leia, but it’s great to see you.”

A water bottle touched his lips. Leia urged him, “Drink. Tiny sips only.”

Alana dug into her purse, pulling out a gallon ziploc bag of snacks. “I’ve ritz crackers. Would that help?”

After taking the water bottle from Leia, Derek took a few sips. Swiping the back of his mouth with the back of his hand, Derek peered up at Alana. “Actually, a few crackers might help settle my stomach.”

Derek almost added it was what his mom always fed him when he was sick, ritz crackers and ginger ale.

Alana opened the top of the bag, pulling out the little tube of ritz crackers. “Here.” Alana held them out to him.

With a crooked smile, Derek replied, “Thanks.” He took a cracker out of the tube and nibbled on one. The salty texture immediately made his nausea lift a tad. “I think it’s helping.”

A look of relief washed over Leia’s face. Glancing up at her family that were still standing, Leia motioned downward. “Sit. My neck is getting sore looking at everyone.”

Her family sat around them in a circle on the grass under the shade of the palm trees. Teresa sat down next to Noa’s wheelchair. For a few minutes, they sat in silence with everyone’s eyes on Derek. Teresa remarked that color had returned to his face as he sipped water and ate crackers.

“I’m feeling much better.” Derek forced himself upward and into a standing position. “We can get going.”

“Whoa,” said Leia, jumping up and wrapping an arm around his waist. “We’re in no hurry. Take your time.”

“I’d rather collapse face down on my bed than here,” said Derek.

Squeezing his waist, Leia said, “I understand. We can head home.”

Kai chimed in. “We’ll drive you to your car. We were able to snag a spot not far from here.”

Everyone rose to their feet too.

Removing her arm from his waist, Leia found Derek’s hand. “Thanks, Kai,” replied Leia, interlocking her fingers with Derek’s. They moved slowly toward Kai’s van. Kai and Alana’s children ran back and forth due to Derek and Leia’s snail speed.

Teresa pushed Noa along in his wheelchair. “So,” said Teresa. “Leia says you’re staying for Christmas.” Her gaze landed on them holding hands.

Derek’s back stiffened, adding to his already aching body. “I hope you don’t mind me joining everyone for Christmas. Leia told me the entire extended family gets together and one more wouldn’t be any trouble,” said Derek.

“You’re more than welcome to join us for Christmas. The more the merrier,” replied Teresa in a flat voice. “But what happens after Christmas? You’ll go back to Los Angeles, right?”

Leia interrupted Teresa and hissed, “Mom, enough. I’ll discuss this with you later.”

Teresa waved her off and gestured toward Derek. “Derek doesn’t mind talking about this. Do you?” She raised an eyebrow, throwing a pointed glance at Derek.

“Ahh,” stalled Derek.

Derek wanted to lay out his entire plan of staying for more than Christmas. But as he glanced at Leia’s entire family eyeing him suspiciously and waiting for his reply, Derek froze, and his mind went blank. He cowered.

Luckily, Kai announced, “We’re here.” He clicked the unlocked button on his minivan, making the automatic doors roll open. “Climb in, kids. I want you to take the seats in the back, so Leia and Derek don’t have to climb back there with their sore muscles.” Kai winked at them.

Teresa kept walking without stopping. Over her shoulder, Teresa said, “We’ll see you when we see you, Derek.”

Derek didn’t have time to think about Teresa’s obvious disdain toward him.

Kai fiddled with his kids’ seats as Alana walked around to the front seat.

“Bye,” said Leia. “Thank you for coming.”

Teresa drifted further and further away, clearly not listening, or caring. Kai leaned against the side of the van, waiting for his kids to get into their seats.

Kai addressed Derek and said, “I want to give you a tour of Kama Farm and show you the changes we’ve made. So much has improved since you were last here.”

“I’d love to see what you’ve done,” replied Derek.

With the kids settled in the back, Derek climbed into the van after Leia. Kai swung the door closed. Derek wondered how he could win Teresa over. Maybe once Teresa knew he’d put everything on the line for Leia, she wouldn’t be as worried about his intentions. Though every part of Derek ached, he couldn’t help but smile as Kai and Alana’s kids fought in the back seat on the drive, Hawaiian music danced through the van, and Leia reached for his hand across the aisle giving it a squeeze. His muscles were sore, but his heart was full.