Black Sands

by Colleen Coble

  Hearing Mano’s voice, she realized the angry shouts from the kitchen had ceased. She opened her door. “I’m fine.”

  “How about you, me, and Wilson go eat by the water? I’ll get a pizza.”

  He was so dear and so thoughtful. His shoulders spanned the doorway, and his expression seemed almost tender as he looked down at her. She wished she could believe it. “What are Tomi and Father doing?”

  “Salvaging the shish kebabs.” He grinned, and she laughed. “I think your dad is sorry and ready to apologize.”

  “He doesn’t know how to apologize.” She smiled to let Mano know it didn’t bother her. She followed Mano to the living room. As she stepped into the kitchen, she heard her brother say, “We might as well sell, Father. We won’t want to share our home with a casino.” Sadness lodged itself like a lava rock in her chest.

  “The bank is foreclosing anyway,” Tomi continued.

  Her father turned to look at her as she approached the table. “I see you told your brother you’ve lost the land that has been the Tagama property for generations.”

  Annie decided she wasn’t taking all the blame for this. “I didn’t know what to do, how to save the house. Tomi has told you about the offer for the property.”

  “I entrusted your sister with the family finances, and she has made a fiasco of them. If she’d only told me there was a problem, we might have averted this.”

  Annie stifled her gasp. It was his idea to get the mortgage in the first place. She’d insisted then they couldn’t afford to repay it. She didn’t know how to answer his outrageous accusations. “I’m sorry, Father,” she said finally. “I’m not like my mother. Money management is not one of my strengths. But you knew we had this problem.” Mano put his hand in the small of her back, and the touch of support allowed her to lift her head. “Besides, I told you when Mother died that you should handle it.”

  “I relied on you for that. It is your job.”

  What was her job? Annie didn’t know anymore. She’d thought it was important to be needed by her family, but she was merely a doormat for them to wipe their feet on. They didn’t appreciate her work, none of them. She focused on her brother’s face. “And if we sell the house, how long would we have to move out?”

  “I’ve talked to the CEO of the casino. We’d have six months. They will pay cash and expedite the sale. But they want to do it now, this week.”

  “It goes against my grain to be forced,” her father said, holding up his hand. “We have no choice. Better to sell and be known as shrewd investors than to give it away to the bank and let the casino have it for a fraction of its value. Tell them we’ll do it.”

  Mano’s hand dropped away from her back. “Uh, there’s something I’d better tell you now while you’re still deciding. I got your mortgage caught up. You’ve got a little breathing space to decide what to do.”

  Annie should have known, should have suspected he’d do something like this. “You spent five thousand dollars of your own money to pay the mortgage?” she whispered.

  He nodded; then his gaze went to her father. “So make your decision on what’s best for you. Don’t be pressured into something you don’t want.”

  Indecision swept over her father’s face. He glanced at his son. “If we don’t do it today, Father, we’ll lose the deal, and they’ll buy other land.”

  The older man nodded. “Very well. Call them.” He stared at Mano. “Mahalo for your care for my family. I’ll make sure you’re repaid.” His back was bent, and he looked like he’d aged ten years as he walked out of the kitchen.

  Tomi watched him go. “It’s hard for our father to accept change. I wish we could just stay here too. But he wouldn’t be happy with all the traffic from the casino around. It’s for the best.” He slapped Mano on the back. “You’re a good friend, buddy. Mahalo.” He went to the phone. “I’ll call and make the arrangements. Aki gave me the number.”

  “No problem.” Mano’s gaze was on Annie while Tomi dialed and started talking.

  She peeked at him from under her lashes. He should have been born during the warrior days of the early Hawaiians. He was a hero to her in every definition of the word. “Mahalo, Mano,” she whispered.

  “I was glad to help.” He shifted, and she knew the thanks were making him uncomfortable. They waited in silence for Tomi to finish.

  After he hung up, Tomi mussed her hair. “Little Annie hates change, just like Father,” Tomi said.

  She sniffed, letting him know with her expression that she was wounded. She wanted to laugh and shout with the joy that infused her. Their financial troubles were over. Her playful brother was back again. “Don’t push your luck.”

  He slung his arm around her. “You think we can salvage those shish kebabs? I’m famished.”

  “You’re always hungry.” She glanced at the discarded food and shook her head. “I wouldn’t want to eat them. Why don’t we order a pizza, and you can get us caught up on what’s happening. Have you talked to Afsoon?”

  Tomi’s open, expectant expression grew guarded. “Yeah. It’s become really hard for her to stay a step ahead of her father. She’s afraid she’s going to be discovered any moment. I’ve got to get her out.”

  “Right.” Mano said urgently. “Because of the murder, I didn’t get a chance to check with my contacts. I’ll do that now.” He pulled out his cell phone, called his mother, and asked her to go through his safe again for his address book. She promised to call him back with the number.

  “Mahalo, buddy,” Tomi said.

  “Don’t thank me yet. We still don’t have her out of there.”

  “With you on the job, she will be.”

  “Who’s up for Scrabble while we eat our pizza?” Annie asked.

  Tomi groaned. “Anything but that.”

  “Have you forgotten everything I taught you while you’ve been gone?” Annie teased.

  “It was a welcome reprieve.”

  They played Scrabble while they ate their pizza. Annie beat both men in all three games. Tomi finally leaned back in his chair, then stood. “I’m going to bed. I can’t take another whupping. Besides, the casino is sending someone over early tomorrow to pay for the property and have Father sign the papers. They ordered the title work months ago. Can you believe that? It will all be done tomorrow.”

  “And we have six months to find another place to live.” Annie looked around. She’d lived here all her life. She watched Tomi go down the hall to his room. It had been so long since he slept in that familiar bed. If only Leilani were here as well.

  “Let’s walk by the water,” Mano suggested. “I need to walk off that pizza.” He stood and held out his hand.

  Annie hesitated, then let him tug her from the chair and lead her out the back door.

  The moon was big and bright. “The full moon will be here tomorrow,” Mano said. Wilson trotted behind them to the water. The surf rolled in on waves of white foam. Mano and Annie sat on a flat rock that had just enough room for the two of them.

  Annie made a face. “I hate to be out on the night of a full moon. I know it’s just superstition, but I remember all the stories I heard about the dead walking about on the night of the akua moon.”

  Akua meant gods, and in the old Hawaiian religion, the gods could be seen walking about on that night and could kill a person. Mano smiled at her. “We’ll go for a walk tomorrow, and I’ll show you I can protect you.” The waves just missed their feet, then were dragged back to sea. He breathed in the scent of the ocean.

  “Mahalo for coming to my defense,” she said.

  “You’re welcome.” He’d do anything for her.

  “Why did you pay the mortgage? We wouldn’t have been able to pay you back if we didn’t sell.”

  “I didn’t expect to be repaid. I wanted to do it.” Lame, lame. Why couldn’t he just tell her he loved her? She couldn’t do more than laugh at him, and he’d been laughed at before. It was no big deal. He leaned down and grabbed a stick. “Fetch, Wilson
,” he said. He tossed it out toward the white foam the sea had left behind.

  The mongoose growled and dashed after the stick. He carried it back with an air of triumph, then curled around it. “He’s not giving you a chance to get it,” Annie said, smiling. “What a selfish little pig.”

  Kind of like me, Mano thought. He wanted Annie all to himself as well.

  “Wilson needs to learn from your generosity,” she said. “You’re a good friend.”

  “You’re much more than that to me.” She went still, and he wondered if he’d picked a bad time to get into this. But he’d come too far to back out now. He took her hand, and she looked up at him. Her lips were slightly parted, and he took that as encouragement. “I love you, Annie.” That was as plain as he could make it. He tipped her chin up and bent his head. Her kiss tasted of garlic and tomatoes. And longing. Her arms came around him, and he tasted the love on her lips.

  Then it was over. Annie tore herself out of his arms. “Don’t,” she said piteously. She put her hands over her face.

  “What’s wrong Annie?” He tried to pull her hands down, but she turned her back to him. Her shoulders heaved.

  “Just forget it,” she said. “I couldn’t bear to disappoint you.” She jumped to her feet and ran toward the house.

  “Wait, Annie!” Mano fumbled to his feet and tried to go after her, but Wilson dashed from under his feet and tripped him. He fell to the sand while the mongoose ran nimbly after Annie. Mano groaned when the back door slammed. No one had ever accused him of understanding women.

  Twenty-three

  Annie propped her chin on the top of Wilson’s head. He seemed to sense her agitation, because he didn’t struggle to get away but curled against her chest and nuzzled his nose into her neck. Her tears dripped onto his fur. What was wrong with her? Mano would think she was crazy to run off like that. She loved him so much it hurt, but she couldn’t give in.

  He deserved someone beautiful, someone he could be proud to be with. She remembered the one date her sister had fixed her up on, and how the guy seemed embarrassed to be seen with her. She wasn’t pretty and vivacious. She glanced at her bare feet, and the scars made her cringe. The thought of Mano someday being sorry to be with her made her mouth go dry. Better to cut it off now. If Annie didn’t know Mano better, she’d think he was teasing her. But he seemed sincere.

  There was a tap on her door, and Wilson wiggled out of her grasp and ran to the door. He pawed at it and growled. Annie thought about not answering. She wasn’t in the mood to talk to any of her family. She glanced at her watch. It was after nine.

  “Annie? It’s me.”

  Fawn’s voice was a welcome relief. “Coming,” Annie called. She went to the door and unlocked it, then stepped back to allow her friend to enter. “What are you doing out so late?”

  “I was coming home from Bible study and wanted to ask how your talk went with Gina.” Fawn’s eyes widened when she glanced into Annie’s face. “What’s wrong?” She lowered her voice and shut the door behind her.

  At her friend’s sympathetic voice, Annie’s tears flowed fresh. “Mano says he loves me,” she whispered. She covered her face with her hands and turned away.

  “And that’s cause for tears? What on earth is wrong with you?”

  “I should have known even you wouldn’t understand. You’re beautiful.”

  “So are you.” Fawn grabbed Annie’s wrists and forced her hands down. “Mano isn’t the kind of man to say something he doesn’t mean. You’ve loved him for years. You should be rejoicing.”

  “He deserves someone beautiful and talented. Someone who will be an asset to him.”

  “And you’re all that. You’ve let your father’s attitude color your perceptions too much. A real man isn’t looking for an ornament but a partner to love.” She gave Annie a slight shake. “Your outward beauty will fade, but your lovely character will bloom. You’ve got a caring spirit that is appealing to everyone, Annie. You just don’t see it. The man who marries you will be getting a real treasure.”

  Annie began to smile. “You’re prejudiced.” She wished she could believe Fawn. Mano was so handsome and wonderful, but Annie loved him too much to saddle him with someone undeserving.

  “Maybe a little. But it’s true.” Fawn plopped on the bed. “So what did Mano say? Dish, girlfriend.”

  Annie laughed. “I can’t talk about it.” Her cheeks burned. “He was very romantic though.” It was best not to even think of what he’d said, how love had radiated from his eyes and voice.

  “Ooh, I love romance.” Fawn glanced out the window. “Is he still out there?”

  Annie shook her head. “I heard him drive off a little while ago. He probably thinks he’s had a lucky escape.”

  “You’re going to go see him tomorrow and tell him how you feel.”

  “I can’t.” Her palms grew sweaty at the thought. “He’ll forget all about me soon.”

  “No, he won’t. You’re going even if I have to go with you. You’re being completely unreasonable. If a man like Mano tells you that he loves you, you’re supposed to believe him. I don’t understand why you put yourself down so much. You’re just as lovely as Leilani, just in a less flashy way.” Fawn stood and dragged Annie to the mirror. “Look at yourself. Shiny black hair, large beautiful eyes, slim and shapely. And you’re even lovelier on the inside.”

  Annie didn’t see it. She saw a small, nondescript woman with no redeeming features.

  “It’s all your family’s fault,” Fawn said angrily. “I’ve never once heard your dad compliment you. Tomi never has either. We women base too much of our worth on what the men in our lives seem to think.”

  Annie had never thought about that, but she supposed it might be true. “I didn’t have any admirers in school either though,” she pointed out.

  “Because you’ve been trained to fade into the background. You have always been so unassuming, no one noticed you. It’s about time you got over your fears and went after what you want. In this case, you don’t even have to go after it. God has dropped your heart’s desire right in your lap.”

  “He has, hasn’t he?” Annie began to feel a flutter of hope for the first time. The concept seemed foreign to her. She’d heard so much about service while she was growing up that it seemed impossible to think God might want to give her something.

  “I think that’s why you’ve let your family and your need to be needed become your god,” Fawn said.

  “I thought about what you said, and you’re right. I realize I’ll probably have to guard against that forever. It’s the one area where I feel competent and in control, like I’m making a difference.” She told Fawn about the computer’s faulty formula and the epiphany it had given her.

  “Good. God wants to be the most important thing in our lives. He wants to be our first passion, our first thought in the morning. He wants to be what gives our life purpose. For you, your family was most important. And that was wrong. I think it’s because you have the wrong view of God and who he is. You think good living is all about being a servant, and while that’s important, you forget that he really wants to be your best friend. You don’t delight in him, and enjoy the daily communion with him.”

  Annie wasn’t sure she’d ever delighted in God the way Fawn was talking about. She couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t worried she was failing everyone around her, and that she needed to try harder. “How can I do that?” she whispered. “He’s first in my life now, but how can I be a friend?”

  “Tonight when you go to bed, just tell him you love him and want to spend time with him. Read your Bible and listen to what he says. Read the Psalms and just praise him for being there for you. And try actually asking for something for yourself, some way you’d like to grow. You might try asking for the courage to believe in yourself the way he believes in you.”

  Annie nodded. “I’ll try. I’ve been reading my Bible.” She couldn’t imagine talking to God so easily. It seemed presumptuous. God wa
s God and she was just—Annie. But the surge of hope couldn’t be ignored. She would try it.

  The phone rang, and Annie went to get it. “Tagama residence.” There was a buzz on the line, then she heard the discordant sound of a voice altered by a synthesizer.

  “Annie.” The voice was sibilant like a snake’s hiss. “Time is up, Annie. Say good-bye to your sister.” The line clicked and the voice was gone.

  Annie stood frozen with her fingers gripped around the phone. This couldn’t be happening. She dropped the phone and covered her face with her hands.

  “Who is it?” Fawn asked. She picked up the phone and put her ear to the receiver.

  “He’s gone,” Annie whispered. “The voice. The voice said that time was up. It said to say good-bye to my sister.” Maybe she hadn’t heard that right. She gulped and looked up at Fawn. “We have to find her, Fawn.”

  Mano couldn’t stand the thought of going back to his hotel room, not after what had happened with Annie. It wasn’t too late to go to Jillian’s and talk to Kaia. She was a woman; maybe she could make sense of Annie’s behavior. He drove the deserted road to the Sommers’s house.

  Jesse answered Mano’s knock on the door. “Hey, buddy, what brings you out this way?” His smile faltered when he stared at Mano’s face. “Is it that bad?”

  “How long did it take you to understand Kaia?”

  Jesse grinned. “Who says I do? Is this about Annie?”

  “Yeah, I thought I’d get Kaia’s take on it.” He followed Jesse into the living room.

  “I’m afraid you’re out of luck. Kaia thought Jillian needed a distraction. They’ve gone to hula class. Can I help? Though I don’t claim to be an expert on the female psyche.”

  Mano sat on the couch. Checkers started to jump onto his lap, then sniffed his pant leg. The cat hissed and then shot under the sofa. “Checkers must smell Wilson.”

  “Yeah, he terrorizes the poor cat.” Jesse sat in the chair opposite the sofa. “So what’s up?”

  “Tonight I told Annie I loved her. She ran into the house.”