like she’d just been told she was a sweepstakes winner, jumping up from her desk. “I’ll just go get the forms,” she said. “Do you require financing?”
“No,” Theo said casually. “Just cash.”
“Wanna drive it?” Theo asked Angelique.
“I don’t think I trust myself with a new car,” she said. She loved how clean it looked, how black the seat upholstery was, and the fresh car smell that circulated round the cabin.
Theo gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I trust you. But it’s totally up to you.”
She giggled. “I’ll drive the rental.”
“Okay,” he said, sliding into the new Wrangler. “I’ll drive ahead and you’ll follow me?”
“Right.”
*****
When they got back to Kalani’s they found Moses working on the old Jeep in the yard.
“Where’s Kalani?” Angelique asked.
Sweat dripped from Moses’ face as he leaned under the open car hood. His look of frustration showed just how well things were going. “He’s inside helping his mom with something.” He looked up at the new Wrangler and frowned. “Were you driving that before?”
“Nah,” Theo said. He took the keys out of his pocket and placed them in Moses’ hand. “You tell Kalani this is for him when he comes out. All the ownership documents are in his name.”
“Huh?” Moses took the keys, looking at them in bewilderment. Then he shrugged and went back to his work. “Okay.”
“Tell him we really appreciate all he did for us,” Theo added as they got back in the rental.
Angelique smiled. “And that he has our number and we’d love to meet up with him again sometime.”
“Got it,” Moses said.
Soon they were on their way, but where Angelique expected Theo to swing onto the highway, he turned into another street.
He was just full of surprises today.
“Where are we going now?” she asked.
“I think at a certain place down here we’d be able to see Kalani through the bushes, but he wouldn’t be able to see us. Keep a look out for the yellow house.”
After parking the Jeep, they crept behind the bougainvillea bushes and caught a glimpse of Moses working away in the yard. Theo gripped her hand. He was the happiest she’d ever seen him. His heart was truly the most kind she had ever known.
It wasn’t long before the moment they’d been waiting for arrived. They heard Kalani’s heavy footsteps on the concrete and soon he came into view beside Moses.
Angelique watched as Moses put the Wrangler keys in his hand. “Those people left this. Said it’s for you.”
“Huh?”
“You heard me.”
“What?” Kalani said looking confused. “You mean they’ve rented me a vehicle? That’s so nice of them.”
“Nah,” Moses said. “The guy said all the ownership documents are in your name.”
“You’re lying.”
“Nope.”
“I don’t believe this,” Kalani kept saying, over and over again.
From their spot behind the bush of fuchsia flowers Angelique and Theo watched him almost tiptoe up to the vehicle, as if he were on sacred ground. He ran his hand over the sleek, polished hood.
“Wow,” he breathed, then turned back to Moses. “This is incredible. I just can’t believe it.”
His face was a picture of pure happiness. He stood for a moment, dead still, a look of contemplation on his face, then threw his head back and laughed.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, God!” he said, his voice louder and more joyful each time he said it.
Angelique looked at Theo and saw a single tear running down his cheek. He didn’t wipe it away. His smile was radiant.
Kalani rushed into the house and emerged seconds later with what Angelique assumed was his wife, his child, and his mother.
“Look, look!” Kalani said. “Look, a new Jeep, just for us! I can work again!”
The little girl, a tiny topknot on her head, staggered forward in her flowery dress and clapped her hands together, squealing with glee. Kalani’s wife stood, shocked, then ran to him and buried her face in