by Mimi Barbour
Like all children, the talk of food did the trick, and Mano grinned before scampering to the ground surefooted and agile as a monkey.
The sound of water became louder as they moved further away from the house. Once through a curtain of overgrowth, Leilani got the shock of her life. “Pi, this is beachfront property. Why there’s a wonderful sandy area and even a dock.”
“Yes, it’s beautifully natural, a fine place to whittle away the day, eh Mano? Is this where you spent a lot of time?”
“Tutu and I stayed on the beach a lot before she got sick. We had to do chores first, and then we could play. I like to carve and I find lots of wood here to use.”
Leilani saw the pride in his eyes as he looked all around. He crossed his arms, and his eyes sent a message to her that was unmistakable. Don’t take me away from my home, or I’ll hate you forever.
Chapter Sixteen
Leilani needed to talk with Kale… desperately. She had no idea what to do about her situation. She’d tried discussing the future with Pi, and all he would say was for her to follow her heart. It was good advice… sure, but not very specific. She craved to be with a person of her own generation who would understand her point of view. That she had a life back in Canada, a home and a job, and couldn’t be expected to uproot everything to move here and live in a house that she had no right to claim.
Leilani’s head had been spinning in circles ever since Mano’s silent ultimatum. Thinking to get a better understanding of her choices, a clearer perspective, she went looking for papers in her aunt’s bedroom. Everything was neatly left in a desk drawer and easy to find. Her entire estate was to go to Mano when he came of age and she had made Leilani’s mother his legal guardian. Leilani noted the name of the firm at the top of the will and placed a call, only to be told that the offices were closed until Monday. Fine, she would call them back, but in the meantime, she left a message in case someone monitored the incoming calls.
Once they returned to the Jordan, Pi took Mano off to see a Christmas special, advertising that Santa was paying a visit to the hotel. It was a treat for children staying with them over the holidays, and promised to be a lot of fun. Leilani knew the boy had looked forward to going, as long as it was Pi taking him of course. He would have refused her company.
Each day, she woke up telling herself it was a new chance to get Mano to like her, to accept her. Each day he pushed harder, and moved further from her arms. Never having had a lot of experience with children, Leilani tried to be thoughtful, and kind, which didn’t seem to matter one iota. The boy wanted his beloved Tutu.
Leilani changed into a flirty pink chiffon skirt topped with a sparkly blouse. As she walked, everything either shimmered or drifted to hug and emphasize her body. Her hair, French braided in an intricate style, softened her face and highlighted her eyes. Or so she’d been told by her friend Shana who could never grow her own hair past her shoulders before she wacked it off in frustration with the thin, flyaway strands.
Feeling the worry lift with every step that brought her closer to Kale’s office, she sauntered and pretended to be unaware of the appreciative male eyes and envious female stares that followed her progress.
The desk clerk was nowhere to be seen, and so Leilani moved behind the counter toward the central office and lifted her hand to knock on the partially opened door.
“James, you have to keep that woman away from me.” Kale’s harsh voice sounded as clearly as if Leilani stood in the room. “She’s become a nuisance, and I won’t tolerate it any longer.”
“Mr. Jordan, I don’t see how I can control her. She’s taken a suite here at the hotel….”
“Yes, I know!”
“She’s very—”
“Needy. I know, but I will not be used or taken advantage of. Miss Taylor…
Oh God! Clutching her stomach, Leilani stumbled away from the door and hurried to a nearby sofa. She’d fall if she didn’t sit. Tasting the acid in her mouth, she swallowed quickly, and then swallowed again and again, trying desperately not to throw up in public. Kale’s words rang in her head. Miss Taylor! A hideous embarrassment flooded and attacked all the soft places that had earlier swelled with love. Horrified, she needed to get out, to leave and never return. To run away from the pain that could bring her to her knees.
Except that she knew she’d never get away. The humiliation would follow and mock her. A vicious part of her conscience whispered. I tried to warn you he was too good for you, but would you listen? No! Instead, you let your heart make you into a weak fool. Now look where you are.
Beyond tears, she stood, experiencing the weight of her despair and sorrow on narrow shoulders—shoulders that already carried a heavy burden. Totally crushed, she staggered to the elevator where the mirrors portrayed images that mocked her further.
Chapter Seventeen
Finally settled in the house, Mano happily sleeping in his own bed, Pi and Leilani sat together at the kitchen table. The coffee cooled in her cup while his appeared empty. “Let me get you a fill-up.” She rose slowly, arched her back, and then stepped over to the ancient stove where a pot still perked on the burner.
“Are you ever going to tell me what put those lines under your eyes and the stoop in your shoulders?” Pi’s voice was gentle, but firm.
Leilani stopped with her back still to him and closed her eyes. One huge breath was all the relief she would allow herself. Then she whispered, “I’d rather not. You can’t help this time, my friend. Sometimes a girl has to face her reality, and mine is that Mano has to come first. Do you agree?”
An evasive look appeared, and he began checking his hands closely. “That all depends.”
“On what?” She’d get an answer from him one way or another.
“On whether you end up with a broken heart.” He pierced her with a look full of wisdom and kindness. “Mano won’t really appreciate your sacrifice, because he’ll end up having to live with a woman who’ll become embittered and resentful.
“You have it all wrong, Pi. This isn’t my choice at all but I will make the best of it.” After carefully filling his cup, she replaced the pot on the burner and lowered herself back into the empty chair. Picking at the granules of sugar scattered over the table, she purposely didn’t raise her eyes. She couldn’t bear anyone to see, especially the keen eyes of the man sitting across from her.
“I’m sorry, Mea aloha beloved. If you need to talk of this, I will always be here. We’re friends now, and I care very much about Mano. So what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to go to the hotel and tell them, because of Mano’s wishes, we have moved into the house. If you see Kale, please inform him that I wish to have some time alone, to deal with my new circumstances. He can forget about us and go about his own affairs.” The last sentence almost choked her, but it needed to be said.
“You want me to use those words?” With his head still down, Pi glance from under lowered eyebrows. His stare intense and thoughtful.
“Yes, use those words. He’ll understand.” She brushed her hands together to wipe away the sugar residue, and then flattened them on the table. Before she could speak again, the back door flew open and an enraged woman hurried into the house.
She looked to be in her thirties, but then the signs of hard living could have added years to a face made up to look older. Cosmetics hid many flaws but rudeness wasn’t one of them. “If you want to enter my house, it might be more polite to knock and wait for me to let you in.” Leilani crossed her arms to confront the agitated female. Her voice held a note not many people heard. Amazed at her reaction to the stranger, the instant dislike she experienced, Leilani stood her ground and waited.
“Your house? That’s a laugh!” The evil chuckle that followed had Leilani wanting to slap another’s face for the first time in her life. Her thoughts were interrupted when the rude bitch spoke again. “Who the hell are you and where are Mele Palea’s belongings? I have a right to know. I’m Kaimi Palea. Mele was my mother.”
A well of fear rose up at the magnitude of the stranger’s announcement, the complications it could cause. What this would mean to her and to Mano? With only seconds to decide, she followed the path that offense is the best defense.
“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 though 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 everyday 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 sa
me 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.”