by Mimi Barbour
They stepped into Mano’s room and Leilani told him about her phone call with Kale. “He said we should see if he might have taken his backpack… Oh my God! His clothes are here.” Pi had picked up the messed up bedding and sure enough, the outfit he’d worn since his grandmother had died lay rolled on the floor in a clump.
Pi muttered. “He wouldn’t have worn anything else. His stuffed whale is missing. Why would he take that and not his clothes?”
Gathering the soiled t-shirt and shorts against her chest, Leilani began to cry. “Something doesn’t feel right, Pi. Kale is bringing his Doberman, Cesar, and if Mano’s just hiding on the property, they’ll find him. Except now I don’t believe he’s run away.”
“In the meantime, do you have an address where his mother lives?” Rigid with disapproval, Pi’s harsh manner had crept into his voice, which had her head swiveling in his direction. She’d never heard him sound so cold.
The clicking of a dog’s feet on the wood floor caught their attention moments before Kale entered with the animal. Zeroing in on their anxiety, Kale quickly swept Leilani into his arms and reached out to pat Pi’s shoulder. “Don’t look so sad. It’s not the end of the world for a boy to take it into his head to run away from home.”
Pi answered first. “He didn’t run away. Someone came and took him.”
Leilani stifled her sob and nodded. “I think Pi’s right, Kale. If he had chosen to go, he would be wearing his clothes.” She held them out for the now worried man to see. “Pi says Wally, his stuffed whale is missing, but we can’t see anything else he might have taken.”
Unleashed, the dog walked around the room, a low growl issuing from between snarling lips. Then he barked, ran to the open window and leapt out before anyone could stop him. Kale followed and so did Leilani. Bringing up the rear, Pi struggled to keep up.
Rather than heading in the direction of the back-yard jungle, the animal ran toward the street and sniffed at a spot about a block from the house. Since he’d stopped and frantically snuffled all around the curb, it was obviously a place where a car had been parked. Alarmed, the others quickly joined him. The sleek dog ran from side to side whining, his pointed ears alert, and his anxious glance begging for instructions.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Kale caught Pi’s glance behind Leilani’s back and the two men were instantly on the same page. “Leilani, do you have Kaimi’s address? If not, I’m going to call a friend who’s a detective with the Honolulu police department.”
“Pete might have her address. He said he would gather as much of her background information as possible, for us to use if she got greedy. Do you think it’s a good idea for us to call in the police? They might decide to take Mano into protective custody and put him with Child Services. I’d rather not take any chances of that happening.”
Pi spoke up and agreed with Leilani. “She’s right, Kale. It’s her mother’s name on the legal documents signed by Mele, not Leilani’s. We need time to have them changed over legally through the courts. Do you think we should risk it?”
Kale looked unsure, then added. “We have to find him.”
“The poor baby must be so frightened. I’m sure Aunt Mele would have told him his mother had died. If Kaimi has him, he won’t know what to believe. I’ll go and call Pete, but if he doesn’t know, we’ll have to turn to the police and just pray that they’ll understand.” She turned to Kale. “You didn’t see her, but I did. She’s a vicious, money-hungry hussy who cares about one thing and one thing only… herself.”
As the three hurried toward the house, an older model jeep, similar to the one parked in the yard, pulled into the front driveway. They arrived in time to see the devil herself alight. Looking for Mano, Leilani peered into the disgusting mess of the interior, but the child wasn’t inside the vehicle.
Kaimi, her coarse voice sounding overly loud, spoke first. “Let’s take our business inside, shall we?” So saying, she strutted to the veranda and through the door that had been left unlocked for Kale. As if she owned the place, she walked into the kitchen and leaned back against the counter. She crossed her arms and, with a flip of her head, threw her thin, obviously straightened hair over her shoulder.
Leilani, wanting to scratch her smirking eyes out, clenched her hands to stop herself from following through. God, how could Kaimi live with herself? Just being in the same room with her made Leilani feel unclean.
Kale stepped closer. Thankful for his silent strength, Leilani noticed that the pain in her neck and shoulders subsided slightly. Pi pulled a chair and collapsed, as if his body weighed more than he could handle. He looked weary and heart-sick and Leilani had the urge to give him a hug. Instead, she moved closer to him so she could put her hand on his shoulder in comfort. Leilani spoke first, breaking up the tension. “You have Mano?”
“Oh you figured it out, did you? Yeah, I came and got him last night. Thanks for looking after him, but he belongs to me. He’s my son and I’ll be keeping him with me from now on.”
“I don’t think so, Kaimi. Legally through my mother, I have custody of Mano and I have no intention of giving him up…none whatsoever. I’ve contacted your mother’s lawyer who figures it’ll be a simple procedure to have the legal papers drawn up for me to retain custody.”
“Well Miss High and Mighty Smarty-pants, my lawyer told me that since I’m his mother, the courts will decide in my favor.”
Leilani felt her face blanch, and her hesitation gave Kaimi a reason for sneering in her direction. Before Leilani could swallow and continue, Kale spoke in a low voice, mesmerizing with power.
“By the way, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Kale Jordan, owner of the Jordan hotels. I’m also Leilani’s finance, and soon to be Mano’s adoptive father.”
Leilani clutched Pi’s shoulders harder in order not to fall over. The man speaking now was incredibly commanding. His presence screamed influence and his attitude dominated.
“I don’t know where you met your lawyers, likely in a bar, but I can assure you that I retain the most successful law firm on the island. They have agreed to take on the court case should there be one and have assured me that with your record, your claim would be repealed with no problem whatsoever.”
While fear ate away her confidence, Kaimi’s lost some of her insolence. She no longer leaned comfortably against the counter but instead stood rooted, her fists clenched. “I don’t care what your fancy lawyers say. He’s my kid.”
Leilani experienced the strength of will to fight this bitch now that Kale had given her the ammunition. “Then why didn’t you live with him, love him and act like a mother? Why lie about being killed?”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You didn’t come forward either, to let your mother know you hadn’t drowned. What kind of a person…a daughter, does that to her family?”
“You can talk about family? You’re only here to get the kid’s inheritance…his property.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m here to protect a little boy who I happen to love. Since he belongs here, I’ll never let you sell this land, if I have to fight you in every court in Hawaii. Do you understand?” With each word, Leilani approached the defiant woman until she had her face right up close enough to see the other flinch and try to look away.
Throat clearing from behind made her turn slightly to see the papers that Kale held out in her direction. She turned back to Kaimi and continued, her voice lacking none of the conviction from her earlier harangue.
“I took the liberty of having some papers drawn up in case you returned. Basically, they say that you will give up all rights to Mano and his inheritance. That you will never again put a claim on his possessions, be it real estate or any monies that come to him through his grandmother. Most important, you will sign away your entitlements as his mother and allow me to adopt him as my son.”
“Like I’d do that—”
“In return I’ll be willing to give you a fair settlement. Half of what today’
s market value is for the land and buildings and another one hundred thousand on top to sweeten the pie.”
A smile appeared on Kaimi’s avaricious face while she reached for the papers. “You want to buy my kid?” she chuckled.
“I want to buy his future!” Leilani nodded. “If you have any kind of maternal feelings inside that greedy little soul of yours, you’ll sign the papers.”
Kale had his pen ready and handed it over as a small prompt, but still the woman wavered, as if she might be able to bargain and hold out for more. Pi’s words seemed to settle her indecision.
“You will sign those papers, Kaimi, or you will never have the kind of life you’ve always thought you wanted. You know that and so do I.”
Kaimi looked at Pi and as if in a trance, she nodded and then looked at Kale. “When do I get the money?”
“I have my checkbook with me,” he said.
“Where do I sign?” She moved to the table and pulled out a chair.
Before Kale could point out the places, Pete walked into the kitchen with a strange look on his face. “The door was unlocked and I knocked but no one answered. I got your message, Leilani and came right away.”
Kale looked to Leilani but she shrugged. Then Pi spoke. “I called you, Pete. Glad you made it so soon. I think you’re in time to witness Kaimi’s signature, you and Kale.”
In no time at all, the papers were signed, and a check written by Kale lay on the table next to him. He looked at Kaimi. “Take us to Mano and you’ll get the money.” Tormenting, he waved the slip of paper worth a half a million dollars in her face.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Mano turned once again to the giant of a man who sat drinking beer and watching the fights on TV. Without any shirt, his hairy stomach hung over his shorts and looked really yucky.
From the moment, the fat creep arrived, he’d growled at Mano to stay out of his way, and so Mano had hidden under the table. The floor was sticky on his bare legs and he had to go pee, but fear held him in place. What if he got the man angry enough to hit him? He could and there wasn’t anything Mano could do to protect himself.
Mano decided then and there that when he grew up as big and strong as Kale, he’d learn to fight like the guys on the television, and then no one could scare him ever again.
Growls came from his stomach and he wished he could go into his kitchen and get a bowl of cereal, or better yet, have Leilani make him pancakes so they could eat out on the terrace. Sniffles started before he could stop them, and he used his arm to wipe at his nose.
He heard someone at the door, and figured the witch had returned. Fear struck and Mano couldn’t help it. Once it started, he couldn’t stop. He’d really had to pee bad! Sitting in the puddle, shaking with fear, he hoped the door would never open. Until he heard an angel’s voice call his name.
Like a shot, he flew from his hiding spot right into Leilani’s waiting arms. They hugged him so hard he couldn’t catch his breath but he didn’t care. He hugged her back just as hard. “Leilani!” He sniffled. “Leilani you came to get me.” Then he wailed. “I peed my pants.”
* * *
A little while later, carrying the sleeping boy to his room for a nap, Leilani went to her bedroom to have some time on her own. With all the emotional ups and downs of this day, she needed a moment to herself to relax and count her blessings.
A bath would be the perfect place to relieve some of the tension so that the hovering happiness could seep in to take the place of the painful memories.
Humming to herself, she stepped out of her clothes and donned a short housecoat that tied around her slight waist. Before she could take advantage of the steamy water, her bedroom door opened, and there stood Mano.
His bottomed lip quivered, tears filled his eyes, and then he broke. “Don’t go away, Leilani, stay here in Hawaii.” Sobs took over, and his small body heaved from the power of his fear. “Don’t go home to Canada, okay? I’m scared without you. I don’t want you to leave me.” Tears poured from under his tightly closed lids. He stood dejected, abandoned… so alone.
She ran and swept him into her arms and sighed happily as his own wrapped around her neck almost choking. His legs circled her waist and his body glued itself to hers. Soon her neck became drenched from his open-mouthed wails.
He destroyed her hair from the topknot she’d shaped earlier. Her curls became his soft pillow as they cascaded over, under, and around them both.
Her arms and swaying body cuddled him, and her soft voice shushing him finally seemed to register. He leaned back and cradled her cheeks in his small hands. “Do you want me to be your boy?”
“Oh, Mano. Of course, I want you to be my boy. In fact, you will always be my boy, my son, and nothing will ever stop me from staying with you and being your mother. Do you know what adoption means?”
He shook his head, looking at her with keen interested. His abundant eyelashes were glued together with tears.
She wiped at his wet cheeks with her hand. “It’s a law that says we’ll belong together forever.”
“You want to ‘dopt me? Be my mom?” Stars shone in his amazing brown eyes.
“Would that be okay?” She waited without taking a breath or blinking.
“Does that mean Kale will be my Dad?”
“Only if we want him.”
She saw the wheels turning. “If you’re my mom, we’d be together. But then Kale would be sad.”
“So you’d like him to join us?” God, please let him say yes.
Like tiny mirrors into his sharp mind, she watched his eyes as he calculated everything they’d said. “Do you want Kale, Leilani?”
“Very much.”
“Me, too!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Leilani smiled happily as two young members of Kales’ staff met her and Mano with Christmas greetings at the lavish hotel entrance.
“Mele Kalikimak, Merry Christmas Leilani and Mano.”
“Mahalo Nui Loa! Many thanks Mele Kalikimak! “
She chattered to both the young man and the woman, complimenting them on their traditional outfits and particularly the customary flower leis embellishing the girl’s head and the fellow’s neck. “The hotel is incredible tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Christmas lights in one place.”
Proudly, the female spoke up. “The lobby was designed by professionals and they tend to go all out.”
Leilani could see that. From the fake snow piled around the base of the largest tree to the intricate golden birds perched on the sparkly ribbon twisting through the branches, it made one think they’d entered a fairyland and that was only one tree. There were so many, she couldn’t begin to count them all. She watched Mano’s expression of awe and knew exactly how he felt. Just because she was an adult didn’t mean the affect hadn’t stunned.
“Hello, Darling. I see you’re enjoying the impact.” Kale nodded his thanks and moved to place his arm around both his honored guests. “What do you think, Mano? Is it cheery enough for you?”
“I like it, Kale. It’s cool!” Mano lifted his arms and Kale immediately picked him up and rested him on his hip. “Is Pi coming soon? I want him to see it.”
Leilani turned to send Kale a questioning look also. She’d wanted to wait for Pi at the house so they could come together, but Kale had called to say he’d be sending a limousine from the hotel. She watched as he hesitated. Distressed and unable to hide it, she sensed he had something to say that she wouldn’t like. Her heart instantly dropped.
“Don’t look like that Leilani. He’s fine. It’s just that he had to go home for the holidays, and he didn’t have the heart to tell you and spoil your evening. He sends his love for you both.”
Still feeling a little sad, Leilani had to accept the disturbing news for Mano’s sake. “You know, he never talked about himself and I suppose I thought he was alone. That we were his family. How silly! Of course, he’d want to be with his loved ones. I imagine we’ll see him once the holidays ar
e over and he returns from wherever he had to go. Right Mano?” She smiled encouragingly wanting to ease the hurt she saw building in Mano’s expression.
“I wanted to show him the Christmas trees. And he didn’t see me in my new clothes.”
“Yes he did, you tried them on for him and I’m sure he’s been to the hotel before, and saw the decorations.” She looked for help from Kale, and being sensitive to her needs, he didn’t let her down.
Jiggling the boy to get a smile, he added. “He sent a special message for you, Mano. He said to remind you that you needed to thank Santa Claus tonight. Not sure what that means… do you know?”
Mano nodded, and his face brightened. “When Pi brought me to the other hotel party, I asked Santa to bring me a special present… and he did.” The boy clapped his hands, quite happy again.
Leilani loved seeing him cheer up, and so she played along, knowing that the multitude of gifts that Pi had shoved under the tree would probably cover any toy the boy had requested. “What did you ask him for?” She teased him just a little by poking him in the stomach.
He giggled and covered up the secret spot she’d found while they’d been wrestling earlier in the day. “I told him I wanted a Mommy.” With his arms extended and his laughing eyes twinkling, he leaned a bit toward Leilani.
Such beautiful words, Leilani reached for the youngster and whispered in his ears. “I’m going to thank Santa tonight myself for giving me such a precious boy.” When she kissed his cheek, he wriggled to be put down and a frown replaced the smiles. He leaned toward her, yanked on her hand and waited for her to put her ear close to his mouth. “You can only kiss me at home… when no one is around… okay?”
“Okay! Sorry sweetie.” She saw his frown deepen and quickly added, “…and no more sweetie words in public… got it!”
As the evening progressed, Mano began to pine for his old friend more and more. He worried that Pi was unhappy, or that he needed his friend Mano. As he checked out the different Christmas designs, one tree continually caught his attention. He stopped to look at all the glittery angels smiling at him from so many of the branches.