August 21, 1994

**The Artist POV**

**9:30 a.m.**

When I got out of the shower to start the day, Lani was still sound asleep. Given the morning we've both had, I suppose I can't blame her...

I make up a quick breakfast for two, waffles and fruit, along with making up a pot of coffee. I quickly eat, and put the rest in the toaster oven on low for Lani.

I contemplate whether or not to wake her, as I plan to go out to do some exploring and to gather some kindling so we could have a bonfire later this evening.

In the end I think she looks far too peaceful, and given our already busy morning (I can't help cracking a grin at this one), and how sore her foot has been, I opt to leave her a note and slip out for a couple of hours.

I start by leaving the quick note on the fridge for her to see when she gets up.

Lani,

Good morning again mama...😉 I've just gone out to do a little exploring on foot. I would've woken you but you looked far too peaceful, so I decided to let you rest for now. Breakfast is in the toaster oven. I should be back by lunch.

Xoxo

I wander over to the bed, place a feather light kiss on her forehead before taking off out the door.

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I start by wandering the area around the cabin but there isn't much of interest here, so I soon find myself venturing a bit further out.

Finally I come across a section of large trees, with broken branches all over the ground. This would be as good a place as any to start gathering firewood for later.

With that in mind, I start placing a variety of woods into a bag I brought with me for just this purpose, and before long I had plenty of wood to last through the evening.

Since it was still early, I think I'll take some time just to look around. It's so peaceful out here, nothing like the big city...

Soon I come across a patch of wildflowers. I think that Lani would probably enjoy these, and that they would help brighten up the cabin, so pull together a bouquet of lilacs, lavender, violets, tiger lilies, and sunflowers until my arms are almost overloaded with them. That ought to do it...

Just as I finish up with that, my eyes catch a faint shiny glint buried amongst the wildflowers. Curious, I decide to drop down and try digging up whatever it was I'd found. Very strange...

A few moments later, much to my surprise I uncover what looks to be an intact aquamarine ring the same shade as Lani's eyes, surrounded by several small diamonds. Someone's got to be missing this...

However, a quick look over the ring shows no defining characteristics. Well that's odd... Looks like a case of finder's keepers....

On a whim, I decide to pocket the ring figuring it would make a good gift for Lani once I've cleaned it up and found the right time to give it to her. It was definitely too soon to give her such an extravagant gift, but I knew there would come a time for me to give it to her...even though that day wasn't today. With a secret smile, I remove the worst of the dirt from my newfound treasure, and place it securely in my shirt pocket for safekeeping.

I decide to check my watch, and seeing that it's close to 11 a.m., I slowly start making my way back to the cabin.

I make it about halfway back when I happen to spot a mother deer and her fawn drinking from a nearby spring. I wish I had a camera to catch this...

After watching for a few moments, the deer are off on their way as I make it back to the cabin just before lunch.

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**Iolani POV**

August 21, 1994

**10:30 a.m.**

I slowly wake up and check the time, seeing it's already 10:30. Since I don't see my i epo anywhere in sight I call out for him, but get no response. I wonder where he went...

Eventually, I crawl out of bed with a stretch and make my way toward the bathroom. What a morning we've had already... I start turning red with the memory as I wonder where he could've gone.

Just as I pass the kitchen, I'm welcomed by the faint smell breakfast food in the toaster oven, and greeted by his note on the fridge. Looks like I've got enough time to get dressed, have breakfast, and start working on lunch. Guess I'd better get started...

__

I just get our lunch of cheese quesadillas and salsa on the table when he walks in with a goofy grin, and a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. All of my favourites...how did he know?

With a grin, I give him a welcome back kiss that ends much too quickly before taking the bouquet and looking for a vase to place them in.

"Looks like lunch is ready..." he says with a grin.

"Yeah, I figured you'd be hungry so I made up some quesadillas." I reply shyly "I hope you like them."

After my bad experience trying to cook for him a few weeks ago, he's pretty much taken the reins of preparing our meals, so I find myself hoping I did better this time.

"It smells delicious. Let's eat before it gets cold," he suggests, making his way to the table, and pulling out my chair.

I take a seat, and as usual, he moves to sit across from me as we start to dig into our meal.

"So what were you up to all morning?" I ask, curious.

"Well I thought maybe we could have small bonfire tonight, so I went out to collect some wood," he starts, with a twinkle in his eye. Campfire, huh?

You see, campfires bring to mind summer nights out on the beach when I was a little girl with my family, and friends, including Alika and Aloha. A small frown comes over my face at this due to my more recent history with both Alika and Aloha, but I cover it quickly with a grin. I hope he didn't see that...

"Something wrong, Lani? You don't like campfires or something?" he asks with concern.

Of course, he would have to notice... "It's not that. Just a bad memory, that's all..." I say with a tentative smile.

"Anything you need to talk about?" he asks sincerely.

"It's nothing...really. What else were you up to?" I reply in an attempt to change the subject, which apparently worked.

"I thought I'd try to see if there were any other stores or anything nearby, but mostly all I found was open forest. I came across this patch of wildflowers, and couldn't resist bringing a few back for you. " he starts, rubbing his hand gingerly against his shirt pocket. I wonder what that's about...

"About halfway back to the cabin, my attention got diverted by a mother deer and her fawn drinking from a nearby stream. I wish you could've been there, mama. I think you really would've loved seeing that."

"Sounds adorable. Maybe next time...." I reply wistfully with a smile. Sounds like someone had a busy morning...

With that, we put the finishing touches on our lunch and started clearing everything away as we discussed what we were going to do with the rest of the afternoon.

**Author's Note:  I know you guys have been waiting for a while, so I decided to give you a surprise update before I've left England...😄  I hope you enjoy.  Will take a few days before I'm able to post part 2, so please be patient with me.  Need to get home and settled before I get back to writing, but I'm excited to be back...and there's plenty to come.**