by Mimi Barbour
“None of your business! Where’s the proof you are who you say you are?”
“Don’t play with me, I read the obituary in the papers. I know the old lady has kicked the bucket.” She glared her defiance and her ample body, forced into tight shorts and a gaudy, see-through t-shirt, stalked to the door leading into the front room. “Those are her things so you haven’t taken anything away yet.”
“If you read about her ‘passing on’ then you’ll know we held the service today. Too busy to attend, aye?” The sneer could be heard precisely as she’d intended, and fear crawled up her back when the reaction she’d hope for didn’t appear. There wasn’t an ounce of shame on the other’s features. All Leilani saw was resentment and anger mixed with hate. Pi rose to stand beside her, which gave her the comfort of knowing it was two against one.
Apparently, the intruder came to a decision. She turned to look at Leilani and her stoned eyes widened when she also noticed the older man standing beside her. Her demeanor underwent a slight improvement, maybe from having the presence of a third party or maybe just because he was a male. For some reason, she changed her attitude and spoke more civilly.
“I’ve come to find the will my mom would have made. The woman was paranoid about things like that, so I know she has papers here. Since I’m her only living relative, I expect that she’ll have left me the property.” Once her words stopped, her attitude became less belligerent. Her back straightened, and the agitated hands that had been in constant motion, gripped together tightly.
“You are mistaken.” Leilani didn’t mince her words whatsoever. “The property was left to Mano Palea.” Fibbing, and not caring, she added. “The papers are with the lawyer, and you will have to talk with them about any claims you feel you might have.”
“Mano? He’s my son. So if he’s the beneficiary, I would still have the right to the property because he’s mine.”
“Over my dead body!” There was no mistaking Leilani’s meaning. Even for one as high as this girl seemed to be, she caught the tone and a frightened expression appeared for a few seconds.
“Who are the lawyers? I want to talk to them.”
“I don’t know.” She wouldn’t help this…this person in any way whatsoever.
“You do know. You have to tell me.”
“I don’t have to do anything. Now leave. You’re not welcome anymore in this house.”
Arm raised, the angry female started to charge—then stopped when Pi stepped into her path and held out his hand. The stunned look on her face would have been funny if it weren’t so sad. Standing as if turned to stone, she slowly lowered her hand and backed away. Then she turned and fled out the door. Leilani followed quickly and pulled the sliding lock into place.
Pi’s arms gathered her close. Finding solace, she loosened the grip she’d kept on her temper and let it fade. Then she hid her face and gave in to the trembling she’d hid so well. Sickened by the avarice she’d seen on the other’s face, she swallowed the bad taste she had in her mouth and hoped the sickness that swelled in her stomach would calm down.
“Oh Pi, what am I going to do? That… that woman can’t get custody of Mano, can she? He’s too precious to let her even be in the same room as him.” Saying those words broke through the control on the massive grief she’d tried to contain. It all came flooding out.
Nearly a box of tissue later, Pi still sat patiently across from her, waiting and listening. She knew she probably didn’t make any sense at all because she rambled on about her own mother, how she missed her, and about all the tasks that awaited her at home. Pi held her hand and periodically added words like, “I know. It’s been a terrible time for you.” His comforting words encouraged her to continue and let it all out.
Mixed in were the fiascos that she’d dealt with since reaching Hawaii but her main theme was the love she had for her newest, most welcome responsibility, Mano. The child she would adopt as soon as the paperwork could be complete. Kale was the only person she didn’t mention.
Couldn’t be helped, she had to let him go, stand on her own two feet and deal with her own issues. Mentally and physically exhausted, she wound down and mopped her face for the last time. A deep breath helped her gain control, and she shared her plans for the next day, albeit with a tremor in her voice and a lip still wobbling slightly.
“I’ll call the lawyers first thing and beg an appointment with Mr. Wright, Auntie’s lawyer, and I’ll inform him of the intrusion tonight, and what my aunt’s wishes truly were. She told me she wanted my mother to look after her grandson, and once she was aware of Mother’s death, she turned to me and begged me to take him.”
“She made a good choice, Leilani. You’ll make a fine parent.” Pi patted her hand once again. “He’s a lucky boy.”
She sniffed and placed her hands over his for a second. Then, as millions did every day in church, she put her palms together with her fingers upward and said seriously, “I pray that the courts will feel the same.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Miss Taylor, I’m glad you could get here this morning so early. Since my schedule is rather full, it was the only time I could spend with you. Rest assured, now that we’ve met, and I’ve heard your story, you will be admitted any time you need me. All you have to do is call. In fact, here is my personal cell number. My name is Peter, Pete to you.” He pulled a card from the stash arranged in a fancy holder and wrote something on the back before passing it to her.
She smiled and accepted it gladly. Those were refreshing words for a girl who had her world shaken recently with the rejection that still haunted. The good looker, wearing a casual outfit of dress shirt with tie, sleeves partially rolled up, and tailored slacks that showed off his well-muscled body, sat across the sleek desk from her.
His obvious admiration felt like balm to a bruised spirit. Golden hair, brushed to the side, made the intelligent blue eyes seems bluer. His white teeth gleamed like those in a TV ad. He was obviously successful and made every effort to show it to his clients.
After explaining what had happened the night before, she asked, “Can you tell me what will happen now that Kaimi has shown up with her claim? Will the courts rule for her to inherit everything as the next of kin? Or will they uphold my aunt’s wishes in favor of Mano?”
“It’s not quite that clear-cut, Miss Taylor… May I call you Leilani?”
“Yes, of course. Please do.”
“You see, Mrs. Palea believed her daughter had been killed in a boating accident. Since the incident left her as the direct descendent to the boy, the judge granted her legal guardianship. She would have been able to appoint her sister and…yourself, naturally…as the boy’s next of kin, and therefore eligible to step in on her behalf.”
Leilani had no doubt where he was heading with this line of conversation. She dreaded hearing his words.
“Now that Mano’s mother has come forward, and if she lays claim to her son, the court would look at the case very closely. I must warn you that in my experience, they normally rule in favor of the birth mother.”
“She’s not a mother.” Leilani couldn’t help her interruption. “The woman is sick, high on some sort of drugs, and only appeared after she read that Aunt Mele had died. She doesn’t care about Mano. If she did, she’d be a part of his life. She wants the property. It was all she worried about last night. Never even asked about Mano until I told her he had inherited everything.”
Pete’s expression hardened but he shrugged his shoulders and continued. “He still has. That’s indisputable. His grandmother’s will is ironclad when it comes to Mano being the beneficiary. The question is who will be his caretaker, and ultimately have his power of attorney.”
If a hand slapped her on the back of the head, it would have made the same impact as his statement. Whoever became Mano’s guardian would be the fortunate, no blessed person who would have a role in the boy’s life. Watch him grow to be a man, love him and care for him until, as an adult, he could look after himself.
Leilani felt a massive welling of fear. She wanted to be that person, to have a chance to win his love and affection. He was such a sturdy little fellow, but he loved large. Proved by the way he wouldn’t let go of his grandmother. He still wore the same clothes he’d worn the day she died, his way of clinging to her. Leilani knew her patience with his needs could be unending. Would his own mother have the ability to put him first? Not the woman she saw last night.
“How do I apply to be his legal guardian?”
“It’s not so easy. Because we know his mother is alive, we’d either have to wait and see if she’ll step forward, and from what you’ve told me, she’s threatened to do that very thing. Or there might be another way to solve the situation without having to take it as far as a court battle.”
“I’ll do anything.”
“Even something slightly unethical?”
Leilani hesitated. “Yes.” Doubt rang in her voice; she heard it and knew he had also. She clenched her hands together tightly and waited.
“You say the woman looked as if all she cared about was the money.”
“Yes, definitely! The…the avaricious cow mentioned the property before she ever said a word about her own son. It wasn’t until I told her that he inherited it, that the miserable creature showed any interest in him whatsoever.”
“So was her interest sentimental, the idea of owning the home where she grew up? Or was it the value of it that mattered?”
“Definitely the value. She doesn’t care about the house or she’d have stayed, right?”
“What if you were to offer her a settlement? Do you have any money that you could use…well, to pay her off?”
“Not enough to cover the value.” She heard her voice waver and again knew he had also. Keeping it together was becoming more difficult with every moment. Fear rode her hard, and the acrid taste in her mouth wouldn’t be swallowed. Crying inside, her heart heavier than any time in her life, she fought the impulse to scream with fury at the unfairness of life. A thought blasted into her head, seemingly from out of nowhere. “I own a house in Victoria. It’s old, but property values there are quite high.”
“You would be willing to sell?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Do you know anyone who might lend you the money until such time as that could be arranged? I think you should take advantage of Kaimi’s disorientation as soon as possible. You said she looked stunned but willing to do anything for money, even take on the responsibility of her son?”
“Going by her behavior, probably but you’re asking me to attempt to put a price on Mano.”
“Pretty much… yes.”
Shaking her head, Leilani searched her soul. Could she do this? Could she take advantage of the woman’s condition to trick her?
Again, her conscience played devil’s advocate and reminded her of the one thing she’d forgotten. “Everyone makes choices. You’re giving her a choice. She’s an adult, and Mano’s a little boy. He has no choices.”
The lawyer’s voice broke into her musings. “If it makes you feel better, think of it as giving her a share of the estate. We can draw up the papers in such a way as you will be making an investment and will retain a part ownership with Mano. I’ll draw up a legal document, a petition for the voluntary termination of her parental rights. Once you get her to sign it, we’ll file it, and a hearing date will be set. A judge would listen to the reasons for the request. If Kaimi doesn’t contest the action, you would retain custody and full power of attorney. Should I go ahead?”
“Yes. I’ll put my house on the market in Canada.” She knew her friend Shana had always loved her home, and in her position as an oncologist, she could afford to buy. With her fingers crossed, she stood to leave.
“I’d like to come by the house later and drop off the papers for you to read over. Would that be permissible?”
“Of course.”
“How about if I bring dinner and we share a meal. You can show me around and I can meet Mano.” Pete took her cold hand to shake, and instead, sandwiched it between his two large warm ones. “Don’t worry, Leilani. I’ll look after you.”
Chapter Nineteen
“What the hell are you talking about? How could she have left the hotel?”
Kale’s manager flinched at his raised voice but didn’t back down from his earlier statement. “Miss Taylor is gone, her suite has been cleared out, and the boy, of course, went with her. I believe it would have been last evening. The maid found the room empty this morning.”
“She wouldn’t have just left. Didn’t she talk to the receptionist about checking out?”
“I followed up on that myself, and it seems when she called down to have her bill processed, Cheri told her she owed nothing, and she’d have the paperwork ready for whenever she wished. Not long after, her driver picked it up from the front desk.”
“Thanks Kimo. I believe I know where she’s gone. What I don’t know is why she snuck out without informing me of her plans.”
“You were rather busy in the early part of the evening with …uhh Miss Haui.”
“Ramona! Yes, damn tiresome situation.”
“You do know she smashed a few of the finer pieces in the suite she’d occupied before she vacated.”
“Not surprising. Small price to pay, I suppose, so forget it. All I have to say is good riddance.” He shuddered, and it wasn’t in pretense. The crazy bitch gave him the willies! She’d acted as if he’d broken off an engagement and was incensed, frighteningly so. Screaming, swearing… Again, he shuddered.
Kimo, the man he trusted most to look after his interests, and who proudly held the position as manager of the hotel, grinned and purposefully shook his head. “You sure can pick ‘em, Kale.”
“Yeah, tell me about it? No more high-society chicks for me. I’ve learned my lesson.” The two men shared a grin, and then Kale was alone.
His thoughts returned to the woman who’d stolen them when he’d first met her. What in the world had happened? During their wonderful day at his beach house, Leilani’s glowing happiness had gotten through to him. Kale had noticed her gorgeous brown eyes held a soft shine whenever she’d looked his way. It had made him feel like a hero. The achievements he’d made with his talent had never been about acknowledgment in any way, not until he’d hoped to impress the Canadian beauty.
Since he’d first started creating, he’d hid away his pieces and took some kind of a sick pleasure in secreting his gifts. All because his mother hadn’t given him the praise he’d needed. Well he wasn’t a boy any longer. As Leilani pointed out, maybe it was time to let the world share his genius in his beautiful stained-glass windows.
He stood and paced the room. Cesar, in Waikiki for his vet’s visit, started to follow, and after Kale motioned with his hand, the dog sat and whined. Always able to pick up on his master’s moods, the clever canine tried in his own way to show his adoration. His rear end, though sitting as instructed, wiggled back and forth while his worried eyes followed every move Kale made.
Finally, Kale couldn’t take his crestfallen expression of pleading any longer and went over to pat his friend and rub his ears. “Don’t worry, Cesar. We’ll find out what made her run, and bring them back. Right?”
Barking in agreement, the dog jumped up and sprinted to the door. His posture screamed. What are you waiting for?
Kale looked at the animal and made up his mind. He’s right! What the hell am I waiting for? I’ll go and see Mano, and bring the dog as my excuse. Plus, Leilani did promise to show me around her aunt’s house.
A premonition skittered over him, tightening his stomach muscles and making him bite hard on his molars. The last time he’d felt such trepidation was the day he’d showed his mother his stained glass.
Chapter Twenty
The jeep coughed and spit, took a last wheezing groan, and then died. It had no intentions of leaving the shady spot it inhabited when Leilani had gone to start it earlier. She had found the keys hanging by the back door an
d decided if she had her own vehicle to drive Pi wouldn’t have to transport her everywhere.
As it was he’d promised to babysit Mano for her while she kept the appointment with her aunt’s lawyers. Funny how, as soon as he’d arrived, the horrible death gasps from the engine had changed. He’d worked under the hood with a screwdriver, no less, and within seconds, the miracle man had the car humming like it was new. For the zillionth time, Leilani wondered how she would manage without her friend.
Driving toward the house after her visit with the lawyer, she slowed down as she approached the turnoff, only to speed up again when she saw the powerful black Lexus in her driveway. Since she’d been a passenger in that car not so many days earlier, she knew exactly who owned the vehicle. Sure enough, there he was coming around from the side yard with Mano sitting on his shoulders, laughing, while an excited Doberman pranced around the two, his stubby tail wagging ferociously.
Pi, smiling and looking relaxed, waved his hands in a pantomime of storytelling. He also looked happy, his face wreathed in smiles.
Only Leilani felt as if her world had tilted and she clung precariously to stop herself from falling into a big black void. Until she had a chance to talk to Shana about the house in Victoria, she wanted nothing to do with Kale. He’d been slotted in as her ‘last resort’, and she whispered a little prayer that she wouldn’t ever have to turn to him. Please God! Don’t let me be needy. Conflicting emotions whipped at her all at once.
What if she’d made a mistake about Kaimi? In the light of day, Leilani had a hard time accepting that anyone could have been as heartless as that woman had appeared to them the night before. She had to admit that just having the woman show up had thrown her for a loop.
Maybe her fear of losing Mano had hindered her from even trying to give her own cousin, his birth mother a chance… to hear her story? What if circumstances had driven the girl into rebelling, and a helping hand could rejuvenate a lost soul?
Mind in turmoil, she drove around aimlessly, until an overpowering thirst forced her to park. At an ABC store, she bought some water and a sandwich, and then she sat on a bench to nibble and watch the world go by. After choking down a couple of bites, she fed the rest of the crust to the pecking birds, beady eyes begging for handouts.