Luckily, it was neither. Her doctor had talked about some things she could do to try to stop the headache from getting so bad if it happened again, namely not pushing herself to finish out her workday and taking ibuprofen immediately. He’d also prescribed her some of the same drug Slate had given her, since it worked so well this last time.
It was a Tuesday, and Ashlyn was on her way to James Mason’s house. It was his eighty-ninth birthday, and she and Slate had made him a special cake last night. It had killed her to not say anything yesterday, when she’d delivered his usual meal to him. She’d wanted to surprise him. And not only with the cake.
Ashlyn had talked to Carly, and she’d wholeheartedly given her support for what she was going to talk to James about today.
When she pulled up outside his house, she saw Aiden’s Chevette parked in the narrow driveway next to James’s house. It wasn’t surprising, since Tuesday was one of the days Aiden came over to help out, but it was early, and she didn’t think he usually arrived until after lunchtime.
Too excited to be concerned about Aiden’s schedule—she didn’t always arrive at her clients’ houses at the same time every day either—Ashlyn carefully picked up the cake from the passenger seat and closed the door with her foot, heading toward the front door.
Holding the cake with one hand, she knocked on the door.
Aiden opened it with a scowl on his face. “What are you doing here?”
Taken aback by his brusque greeting, Ashlyn didn’t immediately respond. She took a moment to study the man. He looked a little worse for wear. His shirt was dirty and wrinkled, his face was pale, and he seemed a little…twitchy? He was clearly out of sorts.
Deciding to ignore his attitude, she said cheerfully, “It’s James’s birthday. I brought him a cake.”
“I didn’t know it was his birthday,” he mumbled as he opened the door for her.
“Yup. Eighty-nine.” Ashlyn stepped into the house and saw James standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room. He didn’t look very happy either…but as soon as he saw her, he smiled.
“Hi, Ashlyn. What brings you by today? It’s not Wednesday, is it? I lose track of days.”
“Nope. It’s Tuesday. A very special Tuesday. I couldn’t let it go by without coming to wish you a happy birthday and bring you cake!”
James beamed. “How did you know? I didn’t tell anyone,” he said.
“I know all,” Ashlyn said mysteriously. She wasn’t about to tell him she’d specifically asked Lexie to look up when his birthday was a while ago, because she was curious.
“I haven’t had a birthday cake in a good while. Ever since my beloved Angie died,” James said softly.
“Then I’m extra glad I came by today,” Ashlyn told him.
“I’m gonna go,” Aiden said from behind her.
She turned around. “Oh, you don’t want to stay and have some cake? I didn’t mean to chase you off—”
“It’s fine,” James interrupted.
Surprised at the stern tone of his voice, Ashlyn stood in the middle of the room between Aiden and James, suddenly feeling awkward.
“I’m sorry,” Aiden said quietly, speaking to James. “It won’t happen again. I’ll see you on Thursday.” Then he turned and opened the front door and let himself out.
“I’m so sorry, James. Did I interrupt something?” Ashlyn asked cautiously.
James looked sad for a moment, then shook his head. “Nope. It’s good. Aiden hopefully learned a lesson today. Everyone makes mistakes. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. Now…what kind of cake did you make me?”
Ashlyn wanted to ask more questions about what happened with Aiden. What “mistake” he’d made, precisely. But she also didn’t want to upset James.
“Black forest, what other kind would I make for you?”
James beamed once more. “My favorite,” he told her.
Ashlyn knew that, which was why she’d made it for him. She’d heard plenty of stories about the cakes his wife used to make him every year. His favorite one to tell was the time she’d sent him a box of black forest cupcakes for his birthday when he was deployed on a ship, and they got lost in transit and didn’t get to him until a week after his birthday. They were stale and mostly crushed, but James still swore they were some of the best cupcakes he’d ever eaten.
Personally, Ashlyn was surprised he didn’t get food poisoning, but she’d kept her mouth shut about it since it was obviously one of James’s fondest memories.
She walked into the kitchen and put the cake on the small table. She held a chair out for James, and he sank into it gratefully. She scooted the glass of water that was on the table closer to him, but he shook his head.
“No. Get me a fresh glass. Please,” he said a little belatedly.
Wondering what the problem was with the other water, Ashlyn simply nodded and brought the apparently not-good glass to the sink and dumped it out. “I’ve got a better idea,” she said, opening the fridge. She pulled out a bottle of Bikini Blonde Lager, brewed by the Maui Brewing Company, from the back of the top shelf.
She held it up. “I think a birthday celebration calls for a beer, don’t you?”
James looked at his watch. “It’s not even ten,” he said.
“So? I won’t tell if you don’t. Besides, you have big plans to drive somewhere today?”
He chuckled. “Nope. And a beer sounds great. I forgot I had that in there.”
Ashlyn popped off the top and put the bottle on the table in front of him. Then she leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “Happy Birthday, my friend.”
He grinned at her.
Ashlyn felt a little teary, and she turned away to get some plates and forks to hide her emotion.
A little later, as they were each digging into a second piece of the delicious cake, Ashlyn decided it was time to give James his next present. “So, I was thinking. And before you say no, hear me out.”
James tilted his head in curiosity at her words.
“My friends Carly and Jag are getting married on Thursday. It’s a very laid-back thing they’re doing at Duke’s. You know, the restaurant down at Waikiki? I was wondering if you would go with me. Be my date.”
James stared at her in disbelief. “What about your young man? I’m guessing he’ll have something to say about me going with you.”
“Yup, you’re right. He does. He’s all for it. I already talked to him about asking you to come. And Carly’s excited to meet you. And Jag has no problem with you coming, either. I know you have to be bored, maybe even a little sad, sitting here in your house alone all the time.”
She held her breath as James thought about her invitation.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” he said after a moment. “I don’t walk so good, and I can’t do stairs without help.”
“You are never a burden,” she said sternly. “And there will be tons of people there to help you if you need it. Have you been to Duke’s before?”
“Been to Duke’s? Girl, I’m eighty-nine years old and have spent most of my life on this island. Of course I’ve been there. Their hula pie is the most amazing thing—after black forest cake, of course. I met Duke Kahanamoku a few times, you know.”