03 - Three Odd Balls Read Online Free PDF

Louise said.
    “Sex scene!” Bee Bee shrieked, and Wilson and Davy glanced over.
    “I write romance novels,” I told Davy.
    “Hot and feisty?” he asked with yet another wink.
    Mother tapped her chin. “I don’t believe Adelé Nightingale has ever put a love scene on the open water.”
    Dare I say, Tessie was right? Considering how Adelé’s lovers had managed to get passionate in just about every corner of Europe, however unlikely the terrain, how could it be that not once had any of them made whoopee on the water?
    “High time to rectify that!” I beckoned to Wilson. “More pink drinks, please,” I asked, and the three of us held up our woefully empty glasses.
    “But, Jessica,” Louise said, “something has to happen to take Skylar away from Delta once they reach the shores of Ebony Island. Isn’t that right?”
    “That’s the easy part,” I said. “Skylar has to get back to Diamond Island because he’s the only lawman of Port Mekipii Hui, and there’s a dastardly villain on the loose. Someone who’s taken to robbing every gold shipment right as it leaves port.” I sat back and watched Wilson and Davy flip-flop over. “Let’s make the bad guy a pirate-type, shall we?”
    Mother said she’d always liked those pirate movies that are so popular.
    “But the pirate is so charming and lovable in those movies,” I reminded her. “ My South Pacific Paramour will have a truly evil pirate. And Skylar the hero? He’ll be a Tarzan-type.”
    Poor Davy seemed a bit perplexed. He set down his tray and handed a drink to my mother. “I hate to burst your bubble,” he said as he handed me the next glass. “But I’m almost sure the South Pacific never had any gold.”
    “Davy, Davy, Davy,” Louise scolded and reached for the third glass. “You simply do not understand the ins and outs of these things. If Adelé Nightingale,” she pointed to me, “says there was gold in the South Pacific, then there was gold in the South Pacific!”
    “My stories aren’t exactly known for their factual detail,” I explained, and Wilson harrumphed.
    “But now, we can’t get too fanciful,” I continued after a long and thoughtful sip. “The King Kong thing will need a convincing explanation.”
    “King Kong thing?” the men asked and pulled up a couple chairs.
    “Only rumors, of course.” I waved a dismissive hand. “But our evil pirate villain guy will want to capitalize on those rumors.”
    “This is becoming a bit complicated, isn’t it?” Mother asked.
    “And that,” Louise spoke to Davy, “is why Adelé Nightingale is a bestselling author. Her fans eat this stuff up!”
    Wilson shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but what’s the evil pirate guy’s name?”
    “Oh, Jessie!” Mother jumped. “Can I name your villain this time? Please let me try. I’m sure I can think of something good.”
    “Those things should unlock your imagination.” Wilson pointed to Tessie’s glass, and I took a moment to calculate just how many hours my jetlagged, elderly mother had been sipping Pele’s Melees in the hot Hawaiian sun.
    “How many of those have you had?” I asked her.
    She removed the little gold umbrella and poked me in the arm with the tip of the tiny parasol. “I am of age, you know.”
    I confiscated the gold parasol, but otherwise decided to not worry about it. I mean, how much trouble could Tessie get into, surrounded by family and friends, and staying at what had to be the sleepiest resort in all of Hawaii?

Chapter 4
    “The Hoochie Coochie Brothers have arrived!” Buster reported as he seated us in the dining room that evening. “They’re unpacking, and then they promised to play!” He pointed to the small stage across the room and scurried away, still holding the menus he had forgotten to give us.
    Wilson and I blinked at each other. “Hoochie Coochie?” we asked.
    “Isn’t it exciting?” Mother said. “They’re ukulele players. Davy told Louise and me all