Love Between Law and Life

Chapter 15: Breakfast Breaks and Conversations

            Florence wakes up… peacefully, her hands tangled in her sheets and mind still in a comfortable state. She yawns and turns over, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes tiredly. The room is bathed in a soft glow from the sun shielded by her curtains… that must mean it was after eight in the morning. The psychic takes note of the slight fuzziness in her head and she pushes herself up, but it didn’t hurt.

            Her clothes is rough and a little stiff, nothing like her nightclothes. She looks down and notes that it was a blouse… the blouse that she was in last night. Florence tugs at it, not awake enough to put the pieces of the puzzle together. She yawns again, shivering a little at the loss of warmth as she pulls the sheets to the side.

            She takes a moment sitting to the side of the bed to pull herself together. Her limbs were still heavy and a little uncooperative, her eyelids threatening to close again. That was one heavy sleep if she was still feeling the effects of it know, it’s been a while since she’s had an entire night of sleep without visions. Visions… Bobbie!

            Florence inhales sharply, the night’s events rushing back to her head. The ‘date’ the view of the beach… the near kiss and then Noelani. They’d gone home and then Florence had gotten the visions for their case… but she couldn’t remember much after that.

She remembered listing to the side, feeling tired, a voice calling out to her. That must have been Bobbie, then that means… Florence yelps softly and whines as she presses her hands to her face. She was so glad she couldn’t visibly blush, but she could still feel the blood rushing to her face. That means Bobbie would have carried her to bed, that was so embarrassing!

Wait… it was almost eight. Kaleo! She was supposed to pick him up this morning! Kahula was probably worried, Florence was someone who always had her phone on her, especially when her son was not by her side and she might need news on him. The psychic hisses as she finds the bedside table empty of the device, missing the little purse she’d used as well. With a quick toss of the sheets, it wasn’t on the bed either. Bobbie must have it then, or it was left somewhere in the hall.

A loud ‘clang’ and muffled laughter makes her jump in surprise, her weary instincts kicking in. All traces of sleep was gone, her back bent slightly as she quietly tiptoed towards the door, a slipper in her hand. If there was one thing that she could use to defend herself, you bet it was her slipper. The laughter is soft and interrupted by words muffled by the door.

That’s when she smells it, breakfast. Someone breaking into her house usually may not be as kind as to bring breakfast. The unintelligible words break off into two sets. Bobbie, it had to be, she make sure to insist that the detective stayed over the night and the next voice she would recognise anywhere. Kaleo was laughing at something Bobbie had said.

Florence dropped her slipper and moved it with her foot to put it on, sighing in relief. She’d get answers soon enough, but right now she needed to brush her teeth and seriously get of all this sand and salt that seemed to still be stuck to her… everywhere. A change of clothes would do her well enough as well.

It takes her less than ten minutes, and the cheerful ambience where the kitchen was had not died down. Florence steps out curiously, finger combing her hair unconsciously as she trekked to her rather busy cooking area. What she finds was actually sort of surprising and quite a joyful sight to behold.

Kaleo seems to have changed into his night clothes at some point rather than the usually garb he preferred when he was sleeping over, his hair mussed and face sleepy and soft as he chats with Bobbie. His hands are folded and resting on the kitchen table, his head heavily resting on them but he feet still swung under the table where they still didn’t quite reach the ground. He looked adorable but Florence knew better than to say that lest he complained that she was so embarrassing.

Bobbie had her back to her, hesitant with the stove as she tried to fry what looked like eggs. They didn’t smell to well, but she looked like she was genuinely trying her best. She muttered something to her little helper that the psychic couldn’t quite hear but it seemed to set off another series of laughter. Florence took a second to take in the usually rough detective taking care of her son with all the softness of a golden retriever.

She’d changed from her night out clothes to something Florence recognised had to have been from her overnight bag. A soft black pants and jersey that fit loosely and comfortably. She was donning one of Florence’s slippers that looked just a size to small but must have been a curtesy accessory from Kaleo who was always told it was safer to wear slippers in the kitchen.

Bobbie looked… happy, unburdened by the stress of work and just trying to get through one day after another. She looked like she was genuinely having fun and Florence couldn’t help but stare with joy building in her heart. The detective lets out a hearty laugh and it sounds so lively. Unhindered. True.

“Mom!” Kaleo’s shout was the only warning she got before she got an armful of sleepy human. She grunts in surprise but doesn’t hesitate to pull him up for a strong hug. It lasts about a second before he starts to wriggle and protest, doesn’t want his mom holding him like a little kid. Florence laughs and sets him down, but not before she grabs him and starts tickling. He shrieks and fights against her, laughing in his complaints.

“Have you bath yet little man?” She runs her hand through his hair, chuckling as he bats her hand away with a noise of protest.

“…no.”

“Have you had breakfast yet?”

“Yep!” Bobbie waves an empty plate on the table silently with a grin, wincing as she turns to the now brunt eggs in the pan. “Roro make for me!”

“Is that so!”

“Yep! It was awesome, I got to show her everything and she make it!” He looked excited, it had to be a combination of the busy morning and the lack of sleep last night. He was tired but he didn’t seem to realise it yet so she rubbed her hand through his hair again with a smile.

“Well then, time for a bath and bed.”

“But mooooom…”

“Nope, bath and bed and I’ll take you for ice cream later, how about that?”

“Okay…” He doesn’t look to happy either way, but he sags his shoulder and walks out of the kitchen. “By Ms Roro!”

“Bye kid, thanks for all the help!” Bobbie shoots back, leaning a little to let her voice carry. She chuckles as she receives a muffled ‘you’re welcome’ as Kaleo rushes to his room. Florence snorts and hooks her fingers in her hems of her pants and leans against the wall.

“Look at you, cooking breakfast.” Bobbie snorts at this, but Florence can easily see her face turning red at the sudden attention. The detective tediously tries to pry whatever egg she managed to not burn while not turning to face Florence completely.

“Yea, well, you can thank Kaleo really. He did most of the work.”

“I’m sure he did… Ms Roro.” Florence can’t help but grin at that as Bobbie jolts and harrumphs, settling a plate on the table before taking a seat herself and gesturing for the psychic to do the same.

“Bobbie still sounded to formal since everyone calls me that so I told him he could call me Roro.” Florence raises her eyebrow as the plate is slid towards her and a cup of coffee that seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. She takes a bite out of the sandwich and hums in surprise when it tastes surprisingly better than she expected. “I hope you don’t mind I picked Kaleo up.”

“Not at all, I didn’t mean to sleep that late.”

“It wasn’t a problem, you looked like you could have done with the rest. Kahula called your phone and I picked it up, offered to pick him up in your stead.” She shrugs, rubbing the back of her neck as she set another cup of coffee down for herself. “Kahula seemed pretty please with themself and for some reason it made me too nervous to ask so I didn’t bother.”

“Yep, bet they were.” Florence groans and rolls her eyes, not even wanting to know what Leo was probably already writing on his number one trending book right now. “But seriously though, thanks.”

“Not a problem.” Bobbie looks out to the little window above the sink, taking in the sun bright sky with a slight smile. “I hope you don’t mind but the Captain called this morning about the case. He says he got information that might be pretty useful… I told him you got a vision.”

“Eh, I don’t mind, it’s Akamu.”

“I didn’t tell him what you found out though, figured I’d get permission first or we’ll tell him together on Monday.” She pulls the little pad of paper she was using out somewhere, holding it out to her. Florence takes it with her free hand, flipping to the used page and wrinkling her nose at the chicken scratch disguised as words. She wondered idly if Bobbie was really just waiting for her permission or for a translation to the mess on the page.

“Monday is fine, I know this case needs priority, but what do you say to a day off?” she groans, tossing the pad to the side and finishing the last of her sandwich. Florence continues before Bobbie could open her mouth to protest. “It’s Saturday, come get ice cream with us or something. I’m sure there is something in this place you haven’t seen yet.”

“Are you sure?” Bobbie is hesitant, reluctant to leave her spot from the table but not comfortable with the idea of intruding. Her nose twitches at the indecision before the look Florence shoots her makes the detective slump in her chair. “Well, I guess I don’t really have anything planned for today so it’s all up to you.”

‘I highly doubt you had anything planned for any day of the week if you even allowed yourself to have a break.’ Florence’s mind snarked but she doesn’t say it out loud, the last thing she needed right now with the angry face that looked more like a peach fruit or the kicked puppy look. Neither would do her heart well.

Bobbie pulled out of the driveway, chuckling at Florence fiddling with the radio as Kaleo chattered about his sleepover. She’d gone home for about an hour to bath and change her sleep-bag but now she was one her way for a road trip approved by Captain Akamu without her even realising. It was already close to noon, but it didn’t seem to dissuade her passengers.

Florence, ever the mom, had packed snacks and an extra change of clothes for all of them. They were all dressed in casual clothes and Bobbie had to admit that she never thought she’d actually be dressed for the island outside being home and after work if her ‘uniform’ for the day was dirty.

“Where are we heading first?” She asks, pulling onto the main road with ease just as Florence manages to land on a station playing pop music.

“Sightseeing of course, gotta make sure you know what you’re looking for when you’re living here.” The psychic’s grin is infectious, just as Kaleo shouts out the palace. “Well then, seems we’re starting at Iolani’s Palace.”

Bobbie bobbed her head to the music, listening to Florence explain the history and importance of the palace for the benefit of her two listeners, though Kaleo seemed to know most of the story already as he interjected eagerly to add anything Florence might have forgotten. Bobbie had to hand it to the kid, he was pretty smart to be able to keep track of the conversation all while having his focus on the game in his hand.

They eventually ended up parking next to the Palace and walking in under the surprise of the detective. She knew it was there, but she didn’t know people could tour the place since she never bothered checking it out. There was an audio she could have listened to but was a little more content to look at the flushed and excited look on Florence’s face as she explained it all to her.

The place was beautiful and filled with roaming tourist. Bobbie would’ve never bothered to visit it on her own but the presence of her own two locals made it all the more fun. “There’s the library not too far from here if you want to check it out to you know.” Florence waves her hand idly as they strolled through the walkway to the other side. Bobbie had lost track of her surroundings at one point, but the lack of mental mapping didn’t bother her for once.

“If I go to a library, you might not be able to get me out.” She laughed, Kaleo standing between them holding onto her belt as his foot catches on a stone. Florence automatically holds his free hand while Bobbie mess his hair up with a grin. “What’s next on the list?”

“Uh… there is the pearl harbour museum if you want to check that out, the only thing is that it’s some distance from here to Waikiki.”

“Well then we better get started.” Bobbie shrugs her shoulders, protesting as Florence picks the keys out of her pocket with ease, a grin on her face.

“The least I can do. Kaleo love the museum, so there and them lunch.”

“Well, you had my attention at food, let’s go.” The detective laughs harder as Kaleo nods with reverence, his smile bright and excited.

It was definitely a drive, but the traffic wasn’t as bad as New Jersey, so she didn’t have many complaints. The time was filled with tips and sites of the place they were going to visit, before it dissolved into an odd track of truth or dare that landed Bobbie singing along to some sort of high-pitched song. Florence was surprisingly well at it, unbothered by anyone that might be able to see them through the windows.

It was careless fun unburdened by anything and Bobbie could feel her heart full and happy. Her face hurt from smiling already but she couldn’t bring herself to be bothered, not when there was innocent laughter filling the car and Florence’s face was bright and filled with life.

“There is the memorial, but to get to that right now without reservation would be pretty hard at this hour.” Florence answers her inquires with wave of her hand in a vague direction to the right to where she must be referring to the place. “The tickets are free but there’s only a few and it’s easier to just get a reservation but you gotta call some time before.”

They spent a long time at the museum, Bobbie and Kaleo bounced from one exhibit to another like a pair of excited kids while Florence, ever the responsible one, kept track of them and the time. She laughed at the excitement on their faces before directing them to other sites and even places outside that had even more information.

The trio eventually ended up eating lunch much later than all of them expected, and even then, it was a little unconventional. Bobbie was used to eating stuff bought from street side vendors, but this was a whole different adventure. They ended up trying all sorts of things from a proper meal to little boxes filled with pineapple and fruits. Kaleo got to call dibs on shaved ice, while Florence found malasadas.

Seafood, Bobbie had probably eaten so many variations of the same things that she just might end up sleeping with the fishes. It was amazing, made even better as Florence guided them to their next destination, a walk on Waikiki beach. Between the palace, the museum and finding places to eat as they drove around, they’d lost a lot of time and it was nearing the end of the day, but the detective couldn’t be bothered.

It was beautiful, getting to spend the day just exploring and having fun. Kaleo was tired in the backseat already but still had his head propped up on near the window to see the low sun as he finished off his shaved ice. Bobbie smiles tiredly, following his gaze out the window when she realises she was staring at Florence.

The psychic just winks as she pulls over, the beach all around them and mostly empty from the late hour. They end up walking hardly the length of it before they sat and looked at the low sun, taking in the sound of the waves while Kaleo picked through the sand for shells and other surprises.

“I know we didn’t get to see much, but I hope you have fun.” Florence’s voice is soft but warm as she dusts off sand from her clothes, the trio trudging back tiredly to the car.

“Today was awesome.” Bobbie shook her head, her smile still plastered on her face as she steals back her own keys much to the endearing protest of the psychic. “Much more than I’ve ever gotten the chance to do in… forever, really.”

“Starting to like Hawaii?”

“I wouldn’t go so far yet… but yea, it’s pretty nice.”

Kaleo is pretty much asleep and darkness is setting in as Bobbie finally pulls in next to the bookstore. The detective waves her off when Florence plans to remove all the stuff from the van even when she adamantly states that the detective should stay over for the night. If that was the case, then they could just take it all out in the morning.

At this rate, Bobbie should just leave a bag of clothes at Florence’s because this was the third – fourth?- time she’d be going through the night bag in her van. She checks through the pictures she managed to take all day as she watched the pot of tea on the stove, listening to Florence checking in on Kaleo to make sure he was ready for bed.

Today was awesome. That’s all she could say on it and she had the psychic to thank for that.