Ocean's Kiss

by Lani Wendt Young

  There was sympathy in Ronan's eyes. "Sorry to hear that. She must have put a lot of work into this garden, it's beautiful."

  Kirei's inspection of the colorful tapestry before them was distracted by something else though. Surprise. She spluttered. "Your husband?! You're married? But you're so young. You can't be much older than me."

  Ronan frowned. "Kirei! Boundaries please."

  Leila had to laugh at the younger girl's honest reaction. "You're right. I am young. I'm nineteen. And I just got married two weeks ago. My...husband and I met in high school." She still wasn't used to calling Daniel the 'H' word.

  "That's cool. So you're both steel fabricators in the business?" asked Kirei.

  "No, I mean yes. We are. I've been working here with him since like...forever. The company used to belong to his grandfather but it's his now, I mean ours now and I'm like totally expert at all that welding stuff. Like, weld-upside-down-with-my-eyes-shut type expert..." Leila knew she was babbling. Knew she was wading further and further into murky waters of idiocy but couldn't seem to stop herself.

  This is what happens when you tell lies, you idiot! Stop. Just shut up now.

  Both Ronan and Kirei were giving her funny looks. Leila's blithering finally came to a halt. Deep breath. Shaky smile. "Why don't you go ahead and look at the garden? Take all the pictures you like. I'll get you something cold to drink."

  Without waiting for a reply, Leila left them in the yard and went into the house. In the sanctuary of the kitchen, she frantically called Simone back. "You need to get over here. Now. I can't do this on my own."

  "What did he say? What did you say?"

  "Nothing!" hissed Leila. "I haven't asked him anything personal yet. What am I supposed to say? Oh excuse me strange man who looks like my new husband, can you please tell me if you impregnated a girl on a remote Tongan island twenty years ago? And if so, can you explain why you then abandoned aforementioned girl and never looked back, never did anything to see your child? Who, by the way, hates your guts for it? And now you're standing in his garden and his wife is being nice to you when she should be throwing rocks at you?"

  Simone sliced through her near-hysteria. "Fine. I get it. Stall him. I'm on my way."

  "Oh, Simone?"

  "What?"

  "Can you bring some coconut buns from your shop please? All we had to eat on that honeymoon island was fruit and fish."

  Simone made a Pfft sound of annoyance, then hung up.

  Leila quickly made some lemonade and took a tray of the iced refreshment outside. Ronan was sitting in the shade at the same table where Leila had first overheard Salamasina giving Daniel relationship advice, a very long time ago. He got up when he saw her. "Let me help with that." He took the tray and nodded over to where Kirei was taking photographs. "Thanks for this. We've been at sea for two weeks and she's sick of taking pictures of endless blue stuff. She's putting together a portfolio for this art award she's applying for. Everywhere we go, I have to factor in we're gonna take twice as long to get there because we have to stop so she can do her camera thing." It was a wry complaint but the pride in his eyes was obvious. "She's already won two competitions for her work."

  The two of them sat at the table and Leila poured glasses of the sweet tangy cool drink. "I don't mind. The place has been rather neglected since Mama Tahi died. She was a taulasea, traditional healer and spent most of her time here in the garden and in the kitchen preparing her medicines. It's good to see someone appreciating the beauty that Mama worked so hard to create."

  "You cared for her very much," said Ronan.

  "I didn't get the chance to know her as well as I would have liked to," said Leila, wondering how personal she wanted to be with this man. "I had a great respect for her. And Daniel loved her very much. He was so blessed to have her."

  "Daniel's your husband?"

  "Yes," Leila answered brusquely. She didn't want to talk about Daniel with this man. Not yet. Not until Simone was here. Not until she'd figured out HOW to really talk about him. "So where are you from?" she asked.

  "New Zealand. We got in this morning."

  "How long is your visit?" Leila was striving for casual, nonchalant interest. Just a friendly conversation with another tourist in the friendly paradise of Samoa... Part of her wanted his answer to be, 'only one day', so then they could avoid the issue altogether of any possible father-son reunions. Yes, hurry up and sail somewhere else. Me and Simone will vow never to speak of this. Ever.

  "Depends. Maybe a week. Maybe two. I've been to Samoa before but this voyage has been Kirei's first time outside of New Zealand. Going to show her around and let her decide when we should move on."

  "You've been to Samoa before?!"

  Ronan was taken aback by the note of indignation in her voice. "Yes. But only to refuel. Quick stops at the Marina and then away again. So, I'm looking forward to sightseeing probably as much as Kirei."

  There was a silence then as they both watched the younger girl snapping pictures. Leila had a million and one questions spinning in a mad tumble, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answers. It was a huge relief to hear Simone announcing his arrival.

  "Yoohoo! Leila, are you here?"

  Yes! Leila got to her feet and went to greet him. Enthusiastic air-kisses. Simone was oozing positivity and charm. "Daaaahling sass, I've missed you. That honeymoon of yours went on forrrrreeeevaaaah. I just had to rush over here and hear all about it. I brought you some coconut buns, surprise treat!"

  Before Leila could reply he moved her to the side. Artificial surprise. "Oh I'm sorry, you have visitors? I had noooo idea. Hi, I'm her best friend, Simone." He shook hands with Ronan. And air-kissed him too. Leila noted (with unwilling appreciation) that Ronan didn't seem uncomfortable in the slightest about being greeted effusively by a fa’afafine in tights, heels, a bustier. And carrying a handmade red-feathered fan. There was only the same friendly ease.

  Then Simone raised his Dior sunglasses. And did an exaggerated double-take. "OhmiGagaNess, is it? No! It is. We've met before. Earlier today."

  Leila rolled her eyes. Simone was in the running for an Academy Award with his performance.

  "Yes. I was in your store. Asked about a repair shop for my boat? And you referred me here? The name's Ronan Matiu." There was a half-smile on Ronan's face now. Leila had the dreadful suspicion that Ronan wasn't fooled by Simone's act.

  Simone was oblivious to the possible disbelief. He did his best Aunty Tala impersonation. "I just can't believe it! I had no idea you would actually be here. Like, I gave you directions but I didn't think you were really going to come here today. What an incredible coincidence that I've come to visit my very best friend in the universe and here you are. We meet again!"

  "Yes, we do," said Ronan as he walked back to the table.

  Behind his back, Simone mouthed at Leila, 'He is SOOOO hot!!!'

  'That's disgusting. He could be Daniel's DAD!!' she muttered back at him.

  Simone showed no remorse. 'Or his really dalashious cousin.' He made a face at her from behind the shelter of his feathered fan, then tottered over to join Ronan. Everyone sat down. "So, Mr Matiu..."

  "Call me Ronan."

  Fake flustering. "Oh my...well, if you insist. Rrrrrronan rrrroowwwwr!" exclaimed Simone. Leila wanted to kill him. But again, Ronan seemed to be very cool with the antics. Another grin. Simone continued. "So, Ronan, what work do you do?" Without waiting for a reply, he rushed on eagerly, "You wouldn't be a marine biologist by any chance, would you?"

  Leila choked on a sip of lemonade. Simone walloped her on the back without even taking his eyes off their visitor.

  Ronan raised an eyebrow of surprise. "Yeah, I am. How did you know?"

  Simone was triumphant. "I knew it! Oh, I mean, I guessed it. Because you have a boat. And marine biologists need boats."

  Ronan laughed. "Not all of them."

  But Simone wasn't done with his 'investigating.' Not by a long shot. He leaned forward conspiratorially. "Tell
me, are you married? Have you got any children?"

  That does it. Leila jumped to her feet. "Mr. Matiu isn't here alone. We should introduce you to Kirei." She waved at the teenager to join them.

  Simone's eyes narrowed, "Oh? And who's Kirei?"

  "Me," said Kirei as she came up beside them. "Leila, thank you. I think I got some great shots."

  Simone gave the younger girl a scathing look. "Are you his daughter? That he loves and cares for and provides for and never, ever leaves behind anywhere, no matter what!?"

  "I'm his niece. But while we’re on this trip, I’m the the person officially designated to torture him and keep him young, right Ronan?" Kirei laughed.

  Simone was somewhat mollified. "Niece. I guess that's alright then." He turned back to Ronan. "So you're not married?"

  "I don't think that's any of our business Simone," protested Leila with a desperate smile.

  "No, I'm single," answered Ronan. "But not for long. Kirei has vowed to find me a suitable wife. She's kinda scary when she puts her mind to something, so I don't doubt she'll succeed. Although I pity the woman who has to be an aunt to such a demon child."

  Ronan and Kirei's easy camaraderie reminded Leila of what she had shared with her own father and it made her sad. Is this what you would have been like with Daniel? Why couldn't you have chosen to stay in his life?!

  Kirei was staring at Simone with open admiration now. "I love your outfit!"

  It was the best way to thaw Simone's heart. He preened. "Thank you. I made it myself. I'm a designer."

  "You made that bustier? Wow. The detailing with the beads and shell-work is so intricate. It's a work of art," said Kirei.

  "Sass, all of me is a work of art," Simone replied. Blasé nonchalance, but Leila could tell he was bursting with pride and trying to keep it restrained.

  Then Kirei made it impossible for restraint. "You are stunning. Your bone structure is just epic. Can I please photograph you sometime?" she asked Simone. "I'm working on a portfolio for another art award."

  "Me?!" Simone fanned himself frantically with the red fan. So hard that downy feathers were coming loose in a fluffy cloud around him. "Of course. I do have a natural modelling presence, an indefinable visual gift. It's so refreshing to meet another artist. Sometimes it just kills the creative soul to be surrounded by those with no artistic appreciation whatsoever, you know?"

  "Thanks Simone," said Leila dryly.

  Ronan gave her a sympathetic grin. "If it makes you feel any better, I get accused daily of killing Kirei's creative soul. Especially when I question her wardrobe choices."

  Leila had to smile at that. Even though she didn't want to. He's nice. I like him.

  Thoughts which immediately made her feel guilty because this was a man capable of abandoning the woman he was supposed to love. And his child.

  Stop liking him. Keep your distance. Be neutral. You're only talking until you can figure out how you're going to tell Daniel about him. Speaking of Daniel...I better get these people out of here in case he comes back.

  Leila stood up, "Right, well now that Kirei's done with her garden pics, shall we get going to the Marina?"

  Simone and Kirei had embarked on an excited discussion appropriate for people with 'creative souls' and they weren't happy about being interrupted. "The Marina?" said Simone. "What for?"

  "So I can look at their boat and see if I can repair the storm damage," said Leila.

  "You? Since when do YOU go look at welding jobs..." scoffed Simone. Leila gave him a daggered look loaded with meaning and he quickly added, "without me! Since when do you go look at jobs without me. Yes, I'll go with you. Because I like to look at big boats. All the time. Loooove me some Big Boats."

  Leila ignored him. "Ronan, why don't you go on ahead and I'll come with Simone in his car. What's your boat called?"

  "The Moanasina," said Kirei.

  There was a dreadful silence as both Leila and Simone froze. "What did you say?" asked Leila.

  "Moanasina. That's Ronan's boat. You'll find us on the far right side of the Marina. Moanasina means..."

  "I know what it means," interrupted Leila. She stared at Ronan. "What I don't understand, is why you named your boat that."

  He was taken aback by the sudden chill. "Is there something wrong?"

  Leila and Simone exchanged looks. Kirei leapt into the awkward space. "It doesn't mean something offensive in the Samoan language, does it? Uncle named it after someone he loved a long time ago. He used to tell me bedtime stories about her when I was a kid." She nudged at her uncle with a knowing grin. "She was a mermaid from Tonga, right Ronan?"

  For the first time, Ronan's easy confidence was shaken. He looked ill at ease and there was something in his eyes. Something sad, something fragile. "Ahhh, and that would be our exit. We've taken up enough of your time. Leila, Simone - thank you for the refreshments. We'll see you down at the Marina when you're ready. Come on Kirei." He started walking back to the rental car.

  Leila couldn't stand it a moment longer. The flock of birds broke free. "Wait!" she called out. "Stop." She grabbed her phone and scrolled through photos until she found what she was looking for. She walked with purposeful strides and shoved the phone at Ronan. "This is Daniel. My husband."

  Ronan gave the phone a vague glance. Polite but warily confused now. "Umm, that's nice?" He tried to give the phone back.

  "Look again," Leila said, "really look. Go on. Can't you see it?"

  "I can see you're upset," Ronan spoke with gentle firmness, "I don't know what we've done or said but we didn't mean any offence."

  The kindness was Leila's undoing. She willed herself not to give in to the tears that threatened to betray her. She sought refuge instead in anger. Attack. "Yes, I'm upset. You are so lucky I'm not Fanua Afi anymore. How dare you walk away from him when he would have needed you most?! How could you? And you appear NOW. All nice and friendly and kind and funny, full of love and pride for your niece, so that I can see how you could have been with him? He's been through so much this year. Lost everything, risked everything! And just when we have a chance to start fresh and be happy, you show up? I want you to disappear so we can pretend you don't exist, but it's too late for that because you're here now and you DO exist and now we have to figure out what the hell to do with you..."

  There was a look of horror on Ronan's face now. He put a protective arm in front of his niece. "I don't know what you're talking about but we are leaving now. Just forget about the boat. We'll get someone else to do the repairs. Don't worry..."

  "Uncle, wait," said Kirei. She had taken the phone away from him and was staring intently at the screen. "It's you."

  "What?" said Ronan.

  "He looks like you...remember that pic of you that Mum had in the living room? From your graduation," said Kirei.

  "This is crazy," said Ronan. He ruffled his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. A familiar gesture. Then he grabbed the phone off his niece and handed it back to Leila. "Thank you again. We're leaving." He ignored Kirei's protests and started moving her towards the car again.

  Leila raised her voice. "This is a picture of my husband Daniel Tahi. He was born in Tonga, twenty years ago. His mother's name was Moanasina. His father was a marine biologist from New Zealand. Where were you twenty years ago Ronan Matiu?"

  Ronan froze in his tracks. Slowly, slowly he turned back with clenched fists and a face like thunder. "What did you say?" Each word was bitten out with low, deadly intent. His chained rage had Simone moving closer to Leila and taking her hand in his. Moral support. And physical, if need be.

  Leila raised her head defiantly. "I said, where were you twenty years ago? When a young woman, not much older than your niece, fell in love with an attractive stranger who shared her passion for the ocean and all its creatures? A young woman who believed him when he played her love songs on his guitar under the moonlight? "

  "How do you know these things?" Ronan whispered.

  "It doesn't matter how I kno
w them. Just tell me, where were you? Back then? All this time? I saw it in your eyes when Kirei mentioned the name Moanasina. There's love there. You cared for her. How could you have turned your back on her when she told you she was pregnant? How could you not once in all these years, have tried to see your son?" pleaded Leila.

  Ronan reeled as if she'd dealt him a physical blow. He paled under his tan. "I don't have a son. Moanasina wasn't pregnant."

  "Oh please," Leila scoffed. "She told you she was pregnant and you dumped her. Broke it off with her, got on your boat and sailed away."

  "Ronan?!" Kirei was aghast, staring at her uncle with new eyes. Confusion. Disappointment.

  "No, you've got it all wrong," countered Ronan. A deep steadying breath. "I don't know who you are or where you got your info from, but yes, I loved a very special woman, a very long time ago. She was the world to me. I don't know why I'm explaining myself to you..." A quick glance at Kirei off to the side, who was crying silent tears. "I wanted to marry her, spend the rest of forever together...but it didn't work out. I left. When I went back to visit a few months later, I found out she had died. She was on her way to Vavau to marry the man her mother had chosen in an arranged marriage, when there was a freak boat accident and she drowned."

  "Oh Uncle, I'm sorry," said Kirei as she moved to hug him.

  He patted her on the back. "Hey, it was a long time ago. I'm okay. I'm over it. It's that simple."

  You're over it. And yet you name your boat after the woman who broke your heart?

  "I'm afraid it's not simple. Far from it," said Simone. "What about her child? So what if your relationship didn't work out. You don't turn your back on your unborn child!"

  "I didn't. I wouldn't," argued Ronan. "Moanasina wasn't pregnant. She would have told me." Neither Simone or Leila could deny the truth in his troubled eyes, the certainty in his voice. This man was telling the truth. Or, at least, what he believed to be the truth.

  Right there, right then - it all came to that. Moanasina hadn't told Ronan she was carrying his child. It was as simple as that.

  "Moanasina lied to you. She wasn't promised to marry anyone else. She was pregnant," explained Leila.