When the Wind Chimes - Mary Ting Page 0,88

didn’t hear me but I said, ‘goodnight, wife,’ back to you. Your next question?” He seemed eager to move on.

“Why did you buy the painting in your room?”

He rubbed the back of his neck and hunched his shoulder as if embarrassed. “You might think it sounds silly, but I like to think that the star on the right is me and the one on the left is my soulmate. We’re two stars drifting in the vast universe until we find our perfect match. After I found you, I knew you were mine.”

I think I stopped breathing. Overcome with a rush of giddiness, I embraced him with all of me. I had stopped believing in soulmates, but my faith had been renewed.

The two stars finally joined as one at last.

Chapter Thirty-Three — Mauna Kea

I assumed Lee was taking the five of us to a picnic by the waterfall, but he banked the helicopter away from the island to a breathtaking view. The sun beamed high in the early afternoon, casting golden sparkles along the vast ocean, while the whipped cream-shaped low clouds scattered about the blue gave me the illusion I could reach out and touch them.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You’ll see. It’s a surprise.” Lee’s voice reverberated through my headphones.

I glanced behind me at Abby, Tyler, and Bridget for answers, but they were no help. Their wide grins told me they were in on the plan. I scrunched my face into a playful grimace and turned to focus back on the endless ocean to prevent from getting airsick.

“We’re almost there. You feeling okay so far?” Lee squeezed my hand and that simple touch gave me all the comfort I needed.

“Yes, but I’ll feel much better if you tell me where we’re going.” I had taken half the pill and worn my wrist band as Lee had suggested. So far, so good.

A sly grin unfurled on his lips as he veered the helicopter lower. “Kate, look.”

My stomach dipped, but my heart soared. I pressed my nose to the window, unable to believe my eyes. “Is that ...? It can’t be.”

A thick white blanket covered the mountain like a sea of clouds, the kind I’d only seen on a plane. The sight of snow always filled me with peace, exactly the way the sound of wind chimes did.

I glanced at Lee and behind to the trio, whose smiles grew larger as they cackled.

“Surprise!” the trio cheered.

“It’s snow. It’s real snow.” I sounded like a child who had just met Santa Claus. “Is that my surprise?”

“Yes,” Bridget and Tyler shouted, clapping.

Lee lowered the helicopter. “We’re at Mauna Kea Mountain on the big island. It’s one of the places that snows in Hawaii. You told me when we were at the waterfall you wanted to see snow. I wanted to be the one to take you to see it. We didn’t get to spend Christmas together so think of it as a second Christmas with me.”

“Thank you, Lee. It’s magical. How I imagined it would be.” Tears pooled in my eyes. This man. He was too much. I loved everything about him. “But we’re not properly dressed.”

Abby rested a hand on my shoulder. “We’re good. I’ve packed everything we need.”

I twisted in my seat to get a good look at her. “You sneak. You told me that duffel bag was stuffed with a blanket and picnic food.”

She shrugged. “What are sisters for?”

We shared a laugh, and then I smiled. A silent way of thanking her for always being there for me. She never failed to be the best older sister.

“I’m guessing Mom and Dad knew?”

“Yup. Lee offered to take them, but they declined. They said it was too cold.”

It was the reason why my parents never took us to see snow in the mountains. Beach, yes, but never snow. It had worked out since Lee’s helicopter transported five at the most, anyway.

After we landed, we took turns changing into snow outfits in the helicopter. When I stepped out, the frosty air nipped my nose and bathed my face.

“I can’t believe I’m actually here.” I reached down without my gloves and pressed my hand into the ice, the cold digging into my flesh. It made a crunch sound when I squeezed.

“Can we go over there?” Tyler pointed to the crowds about a hundred feet away, icy mists escaping from his mouth.

“Hold on, Ty. Put on your hat.” Abby adjusted a backpack over her shoulder and fussed with her phone.

“The internet is horrible,” Lee said,