She was still sitting on her bag, staring straight ahead when Pete pulled up half an hour later. She got up without a word and opened the back door, sliding into her seat and doing up her belt. I got in next to Pete and he immediately pulled me to him for a hug.
"I'm sorry, brah."
Tess sat in the back with her face turned away.
"I'm sorry, Dipper," Pete said, lifting his eyes to the rearview mirror. "Do you want to go to the hospital right now?"
She didn't say anything so I glanced at him and nodded. He started the engine, his face grim, and pulled out of the car park toward town.
Chapter Twenty Seven
Pete waited with Tess while I joined the back of the line snaking all the way from the doors to the desk. He led her over to the seats against the wall and she sat down, shaking her head when Pete offered her a magazine from the pile on the table. As I waited, I kept an eye on Tess. She slumped against the seat, her knees nervously bouncing up and down as she stared at the wall. Pete had taken the seat next to her, his elbows resting on his knees and his head bent in prayer. After a few minutes of shuffling on the spot and craning around the queue, I stepped out of my place and made my way to the front, apologizing to the woman who was talking to the desk clerk as I leaned on the counter and explained why I was there. She looked on her computer then locked eyes with me, before sliding a slip of paper over the counter.
"Third floor. Last room on your right. They haven't taken him down yet."
"Thank you."
I met Pete's eye and he touched Tessa's arm, inclining his head in my direction. She followed him numbly to the elevator, briefly closing her eyes while we waited for the doors to open.
We stepped out into a waiting room full of people. Tess cupped her hands over her eyes, squinting at the harsh white lights as she took a couple of steps into the room. I knew most of the people there and they glanced up when we walked in, some raising a hand in welcome, others getting to their feet and making their way over to us.
"Where's Akamu?" I asked Aunty Lulu as she wrapped her arms around me.
She pulled back and shook her head, her eyes red and swollen. "He's at Onakea with your father. You should speak to him tonight."
"Is he okay?"
"He has some cuts on his feet and hands, but he'll be fine. He was with Garrett when he died."
I closed my eyes and jerked my hand over my hair. "What happened?"
"They were surfing together. From what Akamu told the paramedics, they think he had a stroke out in the water and he drowned, but they won't know for sure for a couple of days." She meant until they cut him open and had a look. Tess inhaled sharply next to me, probably thinking the same thing. "He got thrown onto the rocks. Akamu brought him in, but it was too late."
"Oh my God. Oh, my God. Oh my God," Tess mumbled as her fingers flew to her mouth.
"Aunty?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for your loss."
She smiled bravely through her tears. "Thank you for saying that."
I put an arm around Tessa's shoulders and pulled her in and Pete stepped closer, putting his arm gently around her waist. Together we walked her down the long, empty corridor to the last room on the right. My body was stiff and cumbersome. Every step closer to the door was an effort. I knew that if I let it, the sadness would literally bring me to my knees. I could only imagine how Tess was feeling.
We found the room and she waited for a few minutes before she went in, her hand flat against the door with the little rectangle window at the top and her head hanging down.
"I'm so sorry," Pete said from behind us. She pressed her forehead to the door, waving him away with her other hand. "I'll be down there, let me know when you need a ride home."
I waited until we were alone before I said anything. I knew what losing Garrett meant for Tessa, although I'd never be able to experience what she felt. From the little she'd told me about her past, it was clear that he had been the only person who had ever been there for her. She had no siblings and no parents. I couldn't fathom how alone she must have felt, how lost, knowing that the one person who shared her history was no longer there.
"You can do this," I said, pushing the door. It swung open lazily, the hinges letting out a long, thin whine.
We both leaned in and she backed up half a step, the back of her head hitting my chest. I stood my ground and after a moment's hesitation, she straightened her shoulders and walked into the room. He was lying flat on a bed, no pillow, his bare shoulders peeking out from the top of a smooth, blue sheet. He didn't look dead. He could have been sleeping if it wasn't for the red scrapes up the side of his face, the dark purple bruise that bloomed on the side of his forehead, and the cool gray color of his lips.
Tess walked to the side of the bed, her hand gently touching the back of Garrett's hand. "I can't believe this is happening."
"I'm right here."
"I have no one." She pressed her hand flat against her breastbone and looked me with glassy eyes that were full of sorrow. "I have no one."
I stepped toward her, placing my hands on her shoulders and pulling her in. “You have me.”
We were silent on the drive from the hospital to my house. When Pete pulled up outside my gate, it was getting late and all I could think about was getting Tess into bed so she could rest. She walked into the living room and dropped her bag, continuing down the hallway with heavy steps until she got to the bedroom. By the time I walked in she was curled up on the side of the bed, her fingers nervously tapping her throat.
"I'm just going to call Akamu, and then I'll be right back," I said, taking off her sandals and pulling a blanket up to her shoulders. She nodded against the pillow and closed her eyes.
I walked into the kitchen and made the call, but it was my father who answered on the first ring, even though I'd called Akamu's personal phone.
"Kai," he said sadly, blowing out a long stream of air.
"How's he doing?"
"He's sleeping. He has some cuts from the rocks but that's about it. It's lucky that he's such a strong swimmer. Did you hear that he brought Garrett in?"
I flinched. "Yeah."
"How's she doing?"
I glanced down the hall to where the bedroom door had been shut. "She's in shock I think."
He grunted down the phone. "Bring her here tomorrow. Tell her we've missed her."
"What?"
There was silence for a few seconds and then he said, "Just tell her."
I swallowed. There was no point in trying to get anything more out of him. I'd just have to get Akamu alone tomorrow. "Bye, Pa."
"Malama pono."
Chapter Twenty Eight
The next morning, I slipped out of bed before Tess was awake and made a quick breakfast of eggs and toast. She was just stirring when I walked back in carrying the tray. Neither of us had slept much during the night. Tess had tossed and turned, getting up every hour to get a drink of water or pace the house. When she finally drifted off before dawn, I managed a couple of hours before the sunlight streamed in through the blinds I'd forgotten to close the night before.
When she heard my footsteps, she jerked upright, letting me know that she'd only being sleeping lightly, and looked at the tray. "Thanks."
"No problem."
I sat down next to her and passed her a plate. She pushed the eggs around with her fork for a while, taking tiny mouthfuls every few minutes.
"I spoke to Dad last night and he wants me to take you there today. How do you feel about that?"
She kept her eyes on her plate. "Okay."
"He said to tell you that he's missed you."
She put her plate on the tray and pushed it away. "I spent some time up there when you were away."
"Did you?"
"Yeah."
She scooted back so that she leaned against the headboard and I climbed on the bed so that I sat next to her. "Why? If I remember correctly, the last time I saw you two together he wasn't exactly welcoming
you with open arms."
She picked up the edge of the sheet and pleated it with her fingers. "While you were away, I took over dropping Akamu home after work and he always wanted me to go in. And your dad, he just looked so sad and lonely all the time. I felt bad, so I kind of made him dinner."
"I don't want to know what he said to you when you did that. I'm serious. Don't tell me."
"It wasn't horrible," she said a bit defensively. "He was okay. And after a few days, we got used to each other. And up until your 'get on a plane right now' phone call, I'd been having dinner there every night."
I tried and failed to imagine Tess at my old kitchen table, spooning out the potato salad and passing the salt. "Why didn't you say anything?"
The corner of her mouth lifted quickly before settling itself back into a hard line. "I thought it would be funny when we got back, you know, for me to walk in and sit down like it was no big deal. It was meant to be one of Akamu's 'nice surprises'."
I held her hand, running my thumb over her skin. "It is a nice surprise. Thanks for doing that."
She flung my hand away and angrily scratched at her elbow. "Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Make it sound like he's this callous, evil man? You don't have to thank me for hanging out with him, Kai. I like him and I like spending time up there."
I took a slow sip of my coffee and passed it to her. She took a few gulps and passed it back. "I don't think he's evil, Tess. And you're right. Hearing that you like him is a nice surprise."
She shuffled closer, leaning her head on my shoulder and I stroked her hair as we sat in silence, passing the mug of coffee back and forth.
"Do you want to grab anything from the house before we head up?" I asked her as we got into the truck.
She stared out the window and when she spoke, her voice wobbled. "I don't want to go in there."
"Okay. How about you give me a list and I go in?" She didn't reply, but her hand came down on top of mine between us as we pulled away from the curb.
It was strange walking up to Garrett's front door knowing that he'd never step inside it again. I stopped and glanced over at the beat up armchair that he used to sit in after work while he read the paper. I could just about see him there, his gnarly feet propped up on the table and his glasses on the end of his nose. Waving to Garrett when I was out on a run had become such a regular part of my day. I was going to miss that.
I continued to the door and pulled Tessa's key out of my pocket, but the door opened before I had time to use it. There were voices I didn't recognize coming from inside, lots of them, all speaking at once.
"Are you serious, Meredith? He would have hated that -"
"Why do you think you get to make all the decisions? Just because you're the oldest? Because I have just as much right to -"
"Girls!"
"I can't believe he lived here. I mean, Mom, look at it!"
"Theresa. That's not a nice thing to say."
"It's true, though. It's not like he couldn't have afforded better."
"Will you two shut up? Daddy is dead, and all you care about is his house?"
"Sorry."
"Sorry."
"You don't sound sorry at all."
"Oh for the love of God can you girls just -"
I pushed open the door the rest of the way and stepped in, clearing my throat to get their attention. "Aloha."
Five faces swung in my direction from where they stood in a huddle by the kitchen. They were all alike, same sandy blonde hair, same pug noses, and big, blue eyes set slightly too far apart, but the youngest girl was the most like Garrett. She had his brow and chin, and I even detected a bit of his I-don't-give-a-flying-shit-what-you-think attitude.
"Hello," the mother said, stepping away from the group and striding over to me with her hand outstretched. "I'm Joan. Are you Kai? I think we spoke on the phone."
I shook her hand and looked at the rest of the girls. "Aloha."
Two of them blushed and the youngest one suddenly became interested in her fingernail.
"This is Meredith, Theresa, Penny, and Kate." The girls waved. "Look, I'm sorry about the way our call ended. I guess I was in a bit of shock. I haven't seen, hadn't seen, Gary for a while, but we spoke only last week."
"It's fine," I said, "I understand."
She sniffed back her tears. "Anyway."
"I'm sorry to burst in, I just need to pick up some things for Tess."
Joan's eyes widened and she glanced behind me at the door. "Is she here?"
"She's in the car. She wasn't up to coming in."
Her face fell. "Of course. Well, let me give you my number. We're staying at the Kau.. Kau.."
"Mom!" one of the girls hissed. "It's Kaunaoa." She rolled her eyes. "Sorry about her."
"It's fine. And it's Kauna'oa," I said, saying it slowly so that she could hear the difference.
She wrinkled her nose. "That's what I said."
"Anyway!" Joan interrupted, clapping her hands once. "Here's my number, and please do call, because I'd like to discuss the arrangements with the people he spent his last years with. I realize that he changed a lot during the time he was here, and I, well I want things to be done how he would have wanted it."
"Of course. Call me anytime, I'm happy to help."
"Wonderful."
I left them in the living room squabbling over where to eat lunch and quickly grabbed some clothes for Tess. At the last minute, I picked up her violin and tucked it under my arm as I left the room.
"Nice to meet you," I said as I passed them all on my way out.
Joan walked behind me and met me at the door, nodding at the violin. "She still plays?"
"Sometimes. Not enough."
"I'm happy to see that she still has it. Can I take a look?"
I glanced down at the case. "You want to look at it?"
"May I?"
I saw no harm in it so I passed it over. She walked over to the table and placed the case down, opening up the latches and lifting it open.
"Ah," she said, pulling it out carefully by the neck. "She's taken excellent care of it. It’s the same as the day I bought it."
"Wait," I said, walking over to the table. "You bought it?"
"Of course! Didn't Garrett say anything? It's very special and very old. It took me almost a year to find it for her."
I watched her place it back in the case and close the lid before passing it back to me.
"I didn't know."
"Well," she said, smiling up at me sadly, as she walked me to the door. "It was lovely to meet you. I've heard about you from Garrett, of course. And about Akamu. Please tell Tess that I would love the opportunity to meet her if she feels up to it."
I stopped, my hand on the doorframe. "You've never met her?"
She shook her head. "No."
"But then.."
"I've wanted to. But our paths never crossed. I've been a part of her life through Gary. And he was good at keeping me filled in on her music, and her travels."
I looked down at my truck, parked right out front and then back at Joan. She followed my gaze and tilted her head to the side. Tess was sitting in the passenger seat with her feet up on the dash, playing with the ends of her hair. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yes."
She stepped back inside and lifted her hand to the door. "Thanks for coming by, Kailano."
"Anytime."
She bit down on her bottom lip as her eyes suddenly filled with tears. "It's good, you know, to think of him here, with friends around him and then with Tessa, too. I'm happy that he had that, even if it was only for a short time."
I took a step toward her and quickly squeezed her hand. "He was happy here."
She looked down, nodding, and walked back into the house.
Chapter Twenty Nine
Akamu was waiting for us when we pulled up outside the house. He didn't look too bad at first glance but when he walked to the truck to greet us, I saw that he was limping
.
"Hey, bro," I said, as soon as I was in front of him. "Pehea 'oe?"
He shuffled around on the spot. "I'm not very good, Kai. Not good at all."
I put my arm around his shoulder and pulled him in for a sideways hug. "I'm sorry."
"But why are you sorry, Kai?"
"Because I feel sad that Garrett died, and I feel sorry that you saw it."
"Oh," he said. "I feel very sad too."
Tessa opened her door and stepped out, leaning back against the side of the truck. Her chest hitched with the effort of not crying and one arm hugged her stomach. She wouldn't look at Akamu.
"We're not at work today," Aka said, moving my arm away and walking up to her. "Because Makai is closed, Dipper. Makai is closed forever because Garrett is dead." She glanced up quickly and nodded as her eyes watered.
Akamu's eyes widened in alarm. "Are you sad, too, Dipper?"
"I'm very sad," she whispered, taking her hand in his. "But it feels a little bit better now that you're here."
He lifted their hands, his face suddenly serious. "I will take care of you now, Dipper. Pa and I already baked and - oh no!"
"What?"
"It was meant to be a nice surprise!"
I looked at my brother, my heart impossibly full. Not for the first time, I wished that every family in the world could have an Akamu.
"Aloha!" we heard my dad call from the front door. Tess glanced up at the sound of his voice and dropped Akamu's hand, taking off at a run that didn't stop until she had her arms wrapped around his back and her face buried in his shirt.
Tessa was hugging Dad. Dad was hugging Tessa.
"What the -," I said in Akamu's direction but he was already hobbling away, determined to follow Tess around like a puppy.
My dad was not a hugger. I had no idea what had happened in the two weeks that I was working on Lana'i, but I saw now that it was a lot more than just dinners after work.
I put my hands in my pockets and watched as he stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.
"You coming?" he yelled, looking over her head at me and raising an eyebrow. "Close your mouth, Kai."
I did, not realizing it was open. He smiled. He smiled.
The 'Ohana Tree Page 17