by Mimi Barbour
Enthralled, Leilani never moved. Just sat and watched as the boy continued to feed his wildlife friends. Soon, they finished their treat and with a squawk of thanks they flew back to their home.
“They were beautiful, Mano. Do you know what species they were?”
“Tutu says they’re Red-crested Cardinals, and come from Brazil. You can hear them sing if you listen.”
Sure enough, she heard the wonderful songs. Not certain which sounds the cardinals made…and not wanting to seem too dumb, she smiled and nodded. “It’s lovely, aye?”
He pointed at her and laughed. “You did it again.”
Mock grumbling, she responded. “You set me up, brat.”
He giggled and clapped his hands, obviously glad to have caught her.
“Come on, let’s put these dishes away and get busy. I can’t wait to see what you have in decorations. If we need to buy more, we can always zip over to the mall, right?”
“Right!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Later, after a super-fun day, an exhausted Leilani smiled as she watched Mano parade his new clothes for Pi’s inspection. Surprised and pleased, her heart swelled when he turned for her approval also.
“You look wonderful, Mano, a regular little Hawaiian boy.” The traditional shirt with its narrow stand-up collar, short sleeves and a design of green vines on a cream background suited his coloring to the tee. Matched with a pair of dark brown cargo shorts and new sandals, he looked spiffy and had a hard time hiding his delight.
Pi nodded and added. “You must hang them up, so they’ll be ready to wear in two days for the celebration at the hotel. There’ll be lots of children for you to play with. You can visit with Santa again, and Kale’s promised a huge banquet of good food to eat.”
For a moment, a sad look passed over the boy’s features and he hesitated. Before Leilani could ask what troubled him, he ran from the room.
“He misses his Tutu, doesn’t he?” “One day, he’ll share his feelings with you, Leilani. Until then, you must be patient.”
“I will. Thank you Pi for giving us today to be alone. It was wonderful. Once he showed me where the boxes were, he came up with the idea of using the wheel barrow to haul them to the house.”
“No doubt, something that Mele taught him.” The old man seemed far away for a minute, and Leilani wondered how the name of her aunt came so easily to him, a stranger. Then she forgot those thoughts when his words caught her attention. “You’ve done an outstanding job. The tree is beautiful, and so are all the garlands”
Leilani leaned back and let her gaze travel the room. They had set the medium-sized tree in front of the wide window where she knew it would share its delight with those outside, looking in. Once finished, the tree looked as traditional as any she’d ever seen. Garlands, woven over the mantle, provided a place for a very old Christmas nativity with each statue intermingled in the branches. A set of twinkle lights zigzagged in and out, which made the scene a heart-catching, gorgeous sight.
To add another holiday aspect, they’d gathered bunches of poinsettias from the gardens, tucked them in small juice glasses, and hid those around the window-laden garlands to make it appear as if the flowers grew from within the greenery. Leilani swelled with pride. It looked so good! “I let Mano choose where to put each ornament, and he put the lower ones on himself. My aunt had gorgeous decorations, and some of them look to be very old.”
“They are… I mean, I’m sure they are. I remember seeing many of that same type as a young man.”
“Of course, how silly of me! For a minute I thought you meant you’d seen them here, years ago.”
He flushed and smiled at her, and then turned to see Mano enter the room once again wearing his old outfit and a disgruntled look on his face. The little one slumped onto a chair and hid his face in his knees.
Pi pushed himself forward and stood up. “I’m thinking a picnic on the beach would be a good plan, maybe a swim for you two young’uns, while this old man enjoys a nap. What do you two think?” Quick on his toes, he’d injected cheer into an uncomfortable moment.
Catching on quickly, Leilani added. “I think even Kale might be agreeable to joining us, if I call and tell him our idea.”
As soon as she’d spoken, Mano jumped to his feet and asked her if he could use her cell phone to call Kale himself. The prickly moment passed and both Pi and Leilani breathed a sigh of relief.
Pi whispered to her as Mano ran to get her purse where she kept her cell. “Do you think Kale will have the papers finalized?”
A faint unease leaked into her bones, and she grabbed her arms. Then she rubbed her hands up and down to soothe the bumps that had attacked. “He said he would have them ready.”
“Then I have no doubt, he will.” Pi stood up and reached down for her hand. “Let’s get that picnic started. My tummy is hollow and needs a filling.”
“You’re right. Now that I think of it, I’m sure there’s some sushi left over from last night.”
Pi shook his head sorrowfully. “You’re a mean, mean woman.”
Laughing uproariously, Leilani squeezed his hand and added. “I also think there might be some egg-salad, fresh bakery bread, and cookies that Mano and I created after we had the tree finished.” With a cheeky wink, she led him toward the kitchen. When Mano ran up to join them, she put her free hand around his shoulder to include him in their fun. Her insides sang when he didn’t shrug it off.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
To his delight, Mano had Kale’s full attention after they’d all returned from the beach. Full and lazy, the adults happily lounged on the terrace. However, the boy’s natural enthusiasm and lively spirits wouldn’t let him relax. In the end, Kale agreed to play catch with him, and the two were happily occupied.
In the meantime, Pi had his old straw hat lowered over closed eyes, and he snoozed away in the late afternoon sunshine. The birds overhead trilled their songs to the rest of nature, which seemed to lull him into a very deep sleep… and no amount of noise made a difference.
Thinking about the coming party, Leilani remembered her aunt’s muumuu and how she’d wanted to try it on. It would solve all her problems of what to wear and end the worry of her having to go to the shops and spend money she didn’t have.
Without saying anything, she stood and made her way to her room, leaving the door open slightly so she could hear in case someone called her. There it was on a hanger by the mirror. She’d placed it there earlier. The dress would be perfect, as long as it fit, and from the looks of it draped against the wall, it should be perfect.
Quickly shedding her shorts and leaving on her bikini, she whipped her voluminous hair into a knot on the top of her head made stable with a couple of curved sticks. She eased the long-skirted dress over her head and moved back from the mirror.
It looked lovely like it was made just for her. Even fit her perfectly. Generous amounts of soft material graced her body, but she noticed when she stepped forward, it emphasized her form and showed off her figure. The brilliant red flowers on the white background made her visualize a lei made of red poinsettias and white orchids, which would add the perfect final touch. Of course, with some of the flowers in her hair over her left ear so she could proclaim to the world she was taken.
Daydreaming, she swished from side to side and it was only her door banging against the wall that caught her attention. Actually, it more than got her attention; it stunned the heck out of her.
She turned in time to see a furious Mano advancing with his fist raised and temper written clearly over his angry features.
“Take it off. That’s Tutu’s dress.” He screamed the words and pointed at her, his finger boldly threatening.
“Mano! Please don’t be angry. I thought maybe that I could wear it to the hotel celebration. I don’t have a muu—”
“Take it off.”
Obediently, she whipped the dress over her head and gripped it in her hand.
Mano ran forward and
grabbed it away from her. “You can’t take her…”
Seeing her reach toward him made him stop what he’d been saying, and back away. Before he ran from the room, he turned to her with a tearful parting shot.
“Leave her stuff alone!”
Then he gathered the dress to his chest, and flew out of the room and down the hall. His bedroom door slammed hard enough to rock the whole foundation.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Please don’t look so glum.” Kale put his arms around Leilani at the front door. Over her head, he gazed with delight at the wonderland of sparkling lights, and Christmas charm. How in the world did this one pocket-sized woman have so much talent?
With her head nestled against his chest, he felt the sigh that rippled through her slight form. “Things were so good all day, and then like in a horror movie the monster reemerged.”
“Mano?”
“No, me. I never thought how he’d feel to see me wearing her clothes. Now he hates me again.” Desperation darkened her features; her voice implored him to understand. “It was such fun getting the decorations put up and baking the cookies. Even the time we spent at the beach swimming and playing in the water was relaxing. But from the moment we returned to the house, and he saw the tree lights on, he went into a bit of a slump.”
“He was tired from the day at the beach.”
“No, he has so much energy that you even played ball to help him use it up. Then he walked in on me wearing his Tutu’s dress, and he’s regressed completely.”
“Love, it’s not that bad.” How could he cheer this woman up? Her heartbreak ate away at him, and he would have given anything money could buy to see the happy look return to her endearing face. Sad that money couldn’t give the woman what she wanted most. Husky with emotion, her voice interrupted his thoughts and he hugged her harder.
“You saw him. He wouldn’t eat or talk. Not to you or even to Pi. I saw tears on his face before he wiped them away, and I felt useless. I knew he wouldn’t let me comfort him.”
“Yes, I saw them too. Thank goodness for your old friend. Mano went to bed willingly enough when Pi offered to see him settled.”
“It should be me who takes him to bed. I want so much to be the one to read him bedtime stories and get his hugs.”
“I know, sweetheart and you will. He’s taking to you a little more each day. Look, now that the papers are ready, we’ll be able to approach Kaimi, get her to sign off, and accept the settlement. With those details out of the way, we can move forward. Once that’s all finished, my lawyers say there’s no reason why you couldn’t apply for custody with adoption being the final goal.”
“Oh Kale, that would be wonderful and it might help him to accept me if he knew we’d be a family. I’ve hesitated to say anything to Mano about me wanting to adopt him, in case there were any problems with the courts. I’m worried that my being a Canadian might hinder the proceedings.”
He gently moved her away, so he could look into eyes glittering with tears. “Since I’m hopeful you’ll be married to an American citizen very soon, should you even let that concern enter the equation?”
The kiss that followed almost convinced them that returning to the bedroom for another round of lovemaking was imperative. Uh huh! Not a good idea! Leilani had already agreed with him that they shouldn’t take any chances tonight. After Mano had gone to bed, he’d cried out in his sleep a few times and could awaken again at any minute. It was better not push their luck.
With a final kiss to her forehead, followed by a nose rub that teased and brought a smile, he left. Walking to his car, images of his lonely suite brought on a slight depression, which quickly subsided when he realized he’d proposed— sort of, and she’d accepted—sort of. He did a quick twirl and stopped when he saw her smiling face in the window beside the glowing tree lights.
He blew a kiss, got into his car, and drove away, satisfaction his co-pilot.
A quick peek on her prickly little ward had Leilani reaching to gently push the overly long ringlet-type curls from his eyes. The little charmer needs a haircut. She knew she couldn’t approach the subject, but maybe Pi could talk him into a trip to the barbers before Christmas Eve. With a gentle kiss on his forehead, she headed down the hall to crawl into her bed and dream of the man who made her so glad she’d been born a woman.
Chapter Thirty
“Why did you take me away from my house? I want to go home! I want Leilani!” Mano didn’t stop screaming his anger until the crazy lady slapped him across the face.
“Shut up! You will quit that yelling, do you hear me? I’m sick and tired of listening to it.” She’d grabbed his shoulders and shook; her long nails dug in and scratched his skin. “I’ve told you before. Leilani doesn’t care about you. All she wants is the land that Mele left to you. You have to stay with me now. I’m your mother, Mele’s daughter. We’re related.” Her eyes glared truth at him, but he didn’t believe her. He knew his grandmother would never have lied.
“My mother is dead. She died in a boat, in the ocean. Tutu told me so, and you’re lying.”
The mean woman, whose eyes scared him, knelt down in front of where he’d slid to the floor. “My mother probably believed I had died in that boating accident. I never told her I’d survived.”
“She cried for Kaimi… for a long time.”
“I am Kaimi, you little brat. From now on, you and me have to live together until I can dump the property. Then we’ll see how good you can be. I’m not keeping any sniveling little kid who can’t behave.”
Mano’s heart beat so hard he thought he would throw up. Without any clothes on except his sleeping shorts, the cool air made him shiver, and his face hurt from where he’d been hit. He wouldn’t rub it and let her see she’d hurt him… he just wouldn’t. Instead, he lifted Wally, his special whale, to hide behind.
Then he thought about what she’d said. This lady, who called herself his mother, wanted to sell his house. Where would he live then? All of a sudden, a vision of his friend Pi came to him. Then he pictured Leilani and felt a whole lot better… until he thought of what he’d said to her yesterday. She’d always been so nice to him, and he’d treated her mean and had yelled. Sorrow filled him, and for the first time, a few tears escaped. He used his friend Wally to wipe them away ‘cause he’d never let the ugly meanie see him cry.
“Pi and Leilani will find me, and so will Kale.” He sniffled. “They won’t let you keep me. Leilani’s my relative, and Pi and Kale are my friends. A…and you’re just a big, fat, old poopy-head.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Leilani looked everywhere and Mano was no-where to be found. Heart beating like a tom-tom, her senses screamed for her to do something. Find him! She ran to the phone and dialed Kale’s number. Two rings later, he answered, his tone low and sexy. “Hi, doll. It’s a bit early—”
“He’s gone. Kale, Mano is gone! I’ve looked—” Her voice rose with every word.
Kale’s appeasing words broke in on her tirade. “Take a deep breath and calm down, Leilani. Now, tell me what happened.”
She paced as far as the old-fashioned phone cord would let her. “When I woke up earlier I expected to find him watching cartoons and eating cereal, like every morning, but he’s nowhere around. I’ve checked all the likely places.”
“Has Pi been there? Could he have picked Mano up and taken him out?”
“Oh God! Yes, maybe. Hold on while I see if there’s a note.” She ran as fast as she could to where they wrote memos on a pad stuck to the fridge, but the paper was bare. Nothing! Racing to the phone, she bit her lip to stop the waterworks and answered Kale’s question. “No. There’s no note and Pi would never take him without leaving a message of some sorts or waking me to let me know.”
“No, you’re right, he wouldn’t. Okay, hold on a little longer, babe. I’m on my way. In the meantime, check and see if any of his belongings are missing. Enough anyway to stuff in a backpack. I remember at his age running away from home. I
believe I took a package of cookies, a bottle of juice, my favorite stuffed toy and a clean pair of underpants.” She heard him chuckle. “My mom was a stickler on me changing my underwear every day.”
“I never thought of that. Oh, Kale. He was upset yesterday. Maybe he did decide to run away. It’s just that I don’t know where he would go.”
“I’ll bring Cesar with me to track him, and we’ll soon have the little monster back home. Don’t worry. You might also want to call Pi. He’d have a better idea than either of us as to where the boy might hide.”
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll do that, and Kale…please come quick! I’m hanging on by a hair right now. I need your clear head to stop me from losing it completely.”
“I’m on my way.”
She heard the click of his phone and felt as if she’d been cut off from common sense and clear thinking to slip back into wallowing in fear and shame. Where was her cell phone? She had stored Pi’s number.
When she ran into her room to get her purse, she saw the empty hanger. Why in the hell had she thought to wear that silly dress, anyway? If she’d have known if would matter so much to Mano, she’d have enclosed it in a glass case, and hung it in his room. Before her shaking fingers could punch in the number, Pi’s special knock sounded on the front door. Dashing to answer it, she whipped it open, and then flung herself into his open arms.
“Heavens, Leilani, what has happened? You’re pale and shaking.” Pi led her over to the sofa and sat beside her, taking her cold hands in his to warm them.
“It’s Mano. He’s missing. Did you see him this morning? Do you know where he’d hide?”
“Slow down, little one. What are you talking? Mano wouldn’t run away.” Pi stood up, his attitude that of a man on a mission. While he headed in the direction of Mano’s room, his head twisted from side to side, as if he’d missed something and couldn’t believe it. Leilani heard him mumbling and it added to her fear. Pi had always shown a cool control. To see him fall apart would be the final straw. She’d lose it for sure.