"You're the most important thing in my life, Abby. Nobody there is going to miss me."
"What about your dad?" she asked. He didn't live in LA, but she had a point. I needed to tell him. I asked her to grab my phone off the table and called him, putting him on speaker.
"Hello?" he asked, picking up.
"Dad? It's me," I said, hugging Abby close.
"How are you, son? What's going on?"
"I wanted to tell you something. I got an offer to make music in LA solo from this guy, Wes Barry," I told him.
"That's great news. Did you want a lawyer to look at the contract?"
"No need. I turned it down."
"You did? Why? I thought that was what you wanted." he said. I looked at Abby.
"It was, but things changed. I'm not coming back to LA. I'm staying on Lanai."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I'm finally happy here, Dad. LA was poison. I don't want to go back. There's nothing keeping me there."
"I'm going to support your decision, son. Your health should be your first priority. Are you happy there?"
"I am. I actually have something else to tell you. I met someone."
"You did? On the island?" he asked.
"Yeah. We've been seeing each other this summer. She helped me a lot with my addiction. She's right here; do you want to talk to her?" I asked, looking at Abby. She was biting her lip nervously. I squeezed her leg reassuringly.
"Sure, put her on."
"G-good morning, Mr. Stone," Abby said timidly. "I'm Abby. Nate and I have been seeing each other."
"Good morning, Abby. I suppose I have you to thank for Nate being in such a good mood lately?" he asked. I laughed as Abby blushed.
"Lanai is Hawai'i's most enticing island, I can't take credit for that," she said, making him laugh. "You have a remarkable son, Mr. Stone."
"I think so, too. Don't tell him I said that," he joked. "You watch out for him out there. Don't let him get into trouble."
"Of course, sir. I care deeply about him," she said, smiling at me.
"He needs more people like you in his life. Is he still there?"
"I'm here, Dad," I said, holding Abby close to my chest.
"What’s your plan of action?" he asked. "Are you going to work over there? You can still record music and distribute it independently," he said.
"I have a couple options," I said, smiling at Abby.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Abby
"Are you going to tell me how last night turned out?" Makani asked. We had just finished the lei greeting and were waiting for the performances to start. It was the last luau of the season before the post-summer slump.
"He loved the dinner," I started.