A few minutes after Vickie hung up, Mandy entered the room. “I just talked to my friend, Ellen. She is going to speak to the church leaders and ask for permission to fly here.”
“That’s nice. I’m sure you’ll appreciate her support.” Vickie bit the inside of her cheek. I wish my oldest son cared enough to come and support me.
CHAPTER 17
Over the Pacific Ocean
Leaning into her neck pillow, Ellen tried to relax. With nothing except white puffy clouds to view out the window, all she could think about was the fact that she was on an airplane, bound for Hawaii. At times she’d have a tight grip on the armrest, like now, as the plane hit some turbulence.
She remembered when the plane left Seattle, looking out the window, she could see majestic Mount Rainier. It was breathtaking. They didn’t have anything like that back home in Indiana. What a beautiful view for the folks in Washington State to appreciate.
When the plane hit another bump, she shifted in her seat and looked away from the window. It’s best not to think about it. Focus on something else, like the flight attendant suggested earlier.
She removed the airline magazine from the seat pouch in front of her. Mandy had flown a couple of times and was probably used to it by now. For Ellen, though, this was a new experience—one she wasn’t going to forget.
Ellen thumbed through the magazine, then returned it to the pouch. Reaching under the seat in front of her, she lifted her tote bag and withdrew a journal. The last entry she’d posted had been yesterday when she’d flown from South Bend, Indiana, to Chicago, then on to Seattle, where she’d spent the night at a hotel near the airport. Both flights had been fairly smooth.
Another bump caused Ellen’s stomach to feel queasy. She hoped she wouldn’t get sick, like she had on the cruise ship to the Hawaiian Islands a couple of years ago.
Ellen opened her journal and began to write, while nibbling on a handful of pretzels. The time for this trip was about five and a half hours. She figured they were almost halfway there.
Her nerves heightened when the flight attendant announced that the pilot was going around a storm causing some of the turbulence. The passengers were instructed to keep their seat belts buckled.
Ellen glanced out the window and saw a flash of lightning in the distance. In an effort to focus on something else, she flipped back in her journal to the day she’d heard Mandy’s message about Ken’s shark attack. She had met with the ministers of her church district that evening and gotten permission to fly, since it was an emergency situation to help a friend. While not all Amish districts would have allowed such a thing, she was glad hers did, because another trip by train, and then on a ship, would have taken too long.
Once the decision had been made for Ellen to make the trip to Kauai, she’d hired one of their drivers to take her to a travel agency in Goshen. Mandy’s parents had given Ellen the money for her ticket, since Mandy’s mother was unable to travel and appreciated Ellen’s willingness to go in her place.
Ellen was glad her own parents hadn’t tried to dissuade her from making the trip. Mom and Dad understood her need to be with Mandy during this difficult time. Ellen’s friends, Sadie and Barbara, had also been encouraging, saying they wished they could join her.
Ellen had made up her mind that she would remain on Kauai for as long as her friend needed her. Since she had no job to go back to and had purchased a one-way ticket, there was no reason to hurry home. Once Ken recuperated sufficiently, she’d purchase a ticket home.
Middlebury
“You okay, Nathan?” Ezra stepped up to the counter where his boss sat staring at a pair of men’s shoes a customer had decided not to purchase.
Nathan looked up at him and blinked. “I’m fine. Just sitting here, thinking is all.” He put the shoes inside the box and peered out the window as a buggy drove by.
Ezra was tempted to ask what his boss was thinking about but didn’t want to appear nosey. He figured Nathan might be mulling over something related to his shoe store. Or he could be wondering how Ellen was doing. With her flying on a plane for a long distance, Ellen’s parents were bound to be concerned.
Ezra gestured to the shoebox. “Want me to put that back on the shelf for you?”
Nathan shook his head. “That’s okay. I’ll take care of it. I need to stretch my legs anyway.” He stepped out from behind the counter and pulled out his pocket watch. “I bet Ellen’s almost to Oahu by now. She’ll change planes there, and should arrive on Kauai sometime after three o’clock, Hawaii time.”
Ezra’s lips pressed together as he lowered his head. Apparently he wasn’t the only one thinking about Ellen. Why did she have to take off for Hawaii? Ezra kept his thoughts to himself. He understood that she wanted to help, but there must be other people Mandy could call on.
Ezra shook his head. I’m being selfish. I want Ellen here so I can see her and keep trying to work up the nerve to ask her out.
He headed toward the storage room to see if Lenore had finished unloading the boxes of shoes that had come in earlier. Ellen’s sister was young and a bit immature, but she always did as she was told.
When Ezra entered the storage room, he was surprised to see Lenore on the floor with her head bowed and eyes closed. He wondered if she might be asking God to give Ellen a safe journey.
He didn’t want to interrupt, so he stood still. He couldn’t get over how much Lenore resembled Ellen in appearance. But the sisters’ personalities were nothing alike. Ellen seemed more serious and wanted everything to be just so. Lenore, on the other hand, tended to be carefree and a bit disorganized.
Ezra slipped out of the room. I need to get busy and quit letting my thoughts wander all over the place.
Lihue
Ellen’s face broke into a wide smile when she approached the baggage claim area and saw Luana and Makaio waiting for her.
Luana opened her arms with a welcoming smile. “Aloha, Ellen!”
Tears welled in Ellen’s eyes as she stepped into the sweet woman’s embrace. “Aloha! It’s so good to see you both again.”
“It’s good to see you as well.” Makaio greeted Ellen with a warm hug. “So glad you could return to the Garden Island. Your ohana welcomes you back.”
Ellen sniffed and swiped at her tears. Seeing Makaio and Luana again was like coming home to family. During the months she and Mandy had stayed with the Palus, Ellen had felt like part of their ohana.
“Which one is yours?” Makaio asked as people’s luggage began moving along the conveyor belt.
“It’s that one.” Ellen pointed to a black suitcase with a green strap around the middle.
As though it weighed no more than a feather, Makaio swooped it right up. “Any more?”
Ellen shook her head. “I packed light and got everything I’ll need in one suitcase.” She lifted her tote bag. “My purse is in here, along with my journal and some snack food.”
Luana slipped her arm around Ellen’s waist and gave her a tender squeeze. “We have a room ready for you at the B&B, and it’s yours, rent free, for as long as you decide to stay.”
“Thank you.” Ellen teared up again. “I never thought I’d be coming back to Kauai—certainly not under such unsettling circumstances. How is Ken doing?” she asked as they headed for the parking lot.
“Not well, I’m afraid.” Luana’s forehead wrinkled. “It’s been three days since his surgery, and he’s still pretty much out of it. I don’t believe he’s been able to talk to Mandy and give her the details of the shark attack.” Luana paused. “I can hardly think about what happened to Ken. It must have been dreadful. From what Mandy told us, the doctor felt the surgery went as well as could be expected. They’re keeping him sedated, but his prognosis … Well, it’s too soon to tell.”
“There’s still a chance he could lose his arm,” Makaio interjected.
Ellen’s chest tightened. “Poor Mandy. I can only imagine how hard this must be for her. Ken’s mother too. I’m anxious to see them.”
“If you’re not too tired, we can go by the hospital now.” Makaio opened the trunk and put Ellen’s luggage inside.
“I’m fine. I slept some on the plane.” Despite the sleep she had, Ellen was exhausted from the long trip, not to mention the time change. But there was no way she could go to bed tonight without first seeing Mandy.
CHAPTER 18
You look like you’re about to cave in,” Vickie whispered to Mandy. “Why don’t you go out for some fresh air and a snack? I will stay by Ken’s bedside, and when you come back I’ll take a breather.”
“Okay.” Mandy leaned close to the bed and kissed her husband’s hot forehead. He’d been running a fever for the past three days, and it had not abated.
Clutching her purse in one hand, Mandy left the room. As she approached the nurse’s station, she spotted Ellen coming down the hall with Luana. Mandy quickened her footsteps. It was all she could do to keep from running full speed ahead to greet her friend. And if she hadn’t been in a hospital, that’s exactly what she would have done.
“Oh, Ellen, it’s so good to see you.” Choking back tears, Mandy enveloped her friend in a hug. “I can’t thank you enough for coming.” She pulled back to gaze at her friend’s smiling face.
“It’s good to see you too. I’m glad I was given permission to come.” Ellen looked over at Luana. “I’m also thankful to Luana and Makaio for giving me a room at the B&B while I’m here.”
“We’re happy to do it, Ellen.” Luana touched the yellow plumeria flower nestled close to her left ear.
“Where is Makaio?” Mandy asked, looking past Luana.
“He’s hunting for a place to park the car.” Luana shook her head. “I’ve never seen so many vehicles in the hospital parking lot. It’s almost full.”
Mandy clasped Ellen’s hand. “Let’s sit in the waiting room until Makaio gets here. Then we can all go to the cafeteria to visit and get something to eat.” She glanced at the clock behind the nurse’s station. “It is almost suppertime. I’m sure you must be hungry.”
Ellen nodded. “But I’m more anxious to hear how Ken is doing.”
“I’ll wait for Makaio near the hospital’s front door, so he knows where you are.” Luana gestured to the waiting room on this floor. “You two go ahead. Makaio and I will join you when he gets here. If Ken’s mother is here, maybe she’d like to have supper with us too.”
Mandy nodded. “Vickie’s with Ken. We’ve been taking turns sitting by his bedside, so she probably won’t eat till I go back to the room.”
Luana gave Mandy’s shoulder a pat. “When Makaio was in the hospital with a broken leg a few years ago, I didn’t want to leave his side either. Of course,” she quickly added, “his injuries weren’t nearly as serious as Ken’s.”
Mandy breathed slowly in and out, as a wave of nausea coursed through her stomach. If she was pregnant, why did her nausea occur at odd times of the day?
“I’m off.” Luana smiled, then headed down the hall.
When they entered the waiting room, Mandy felt relief that no one else was there. It would be easier to talk.
“You look tired,” Ellen commented after they’d both taken a seat. “What can I do for you, Mandy?”
Mandy clasped her hand. “Right now, just knowing you’re here is enough.”
“How is Ken doing?” Ellen asked.
“He’s running a fever and has been in and out of consciousness, but is never coherent enough to make conversation.” Mandy sniffed. “Ken mumbles a lot and sometimes yells out.” She shuddered. “Oh, Ellen, it must have been awful for him, being in that water and under attack. Taavi and Rob have told us what they saw from the beach and when they rescued Ken, but we won’t know the whole story until he’s able to talk.”
Ellen squeezed Mandy’s fingers. “I’m so sorry you, Ken, and Vickie are going through this. I keep asking myself why things like this happen.”
“I’m trying to keep the faith and believe God will heal my husband, but my fear gets in the way, making it hard to hope for the best.”
“It would be hard for anyone in a similar situation. It might help to focus on Psalm 31:24—’Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.’”
Mandy tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Thank You, Lord, for bringing Ellen here and for the reminder of Your Word.
Kapaa
Ellen rolled over in bed, squinting against the sun’s rays peeking through the partially open plantation shutters. She felt disoriented until she became fully awake and realized she’d spent last night in a cozy room at the Palms Bed-and-Breakfast. After leaving the hospital last evening, Ellen had visited with Luana and Makaio for a while. Then, unable to keep her eyes open, she’d retired to her room and fallen into a deep sleep.
Ellen lay in the same bedroom with the twin beds she and Mandy had used the last time they’d stayed. The place looked the same, with the pretty Hawaiian quilts covering the beds. The paintings of palms, beautiful scenery, and flowers still hung on the walls.
Ellen smiled, remembering the mornings she and Mandy woke up and talked about home and their families. Then they’d clamber out of bed and hurry to the kitchen to help Luana make breakfast for the guests.
She tipped her head, hearing voices coming from the kitchen. No doubt, Luana had begun fixing breakfast.
Ellen rose from the comfortable mattress and padded across the cool tile floor to the window. Opening the shutter slats a bit more, she gazed at the beautiful flowers in Luana’s garden. The rich orange-red color of the hibiscus called to her, as did the lovely off-white plumeria. While the flowers at home in Mom’s garden were lovely, none took her breath away like the tropical flowers found on the Hawaiian Islands.
The tantalizing aroma of food drew Ellen’s attention away from the pleasant scene. I must hurry and get dressed so I can help Luana.
A short time later, Ellen found Luana at the stove, frying sausage and eggs, while Makaio sat at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper.
Luana turned from the stove, and Makaio looked up from his paper. “Aloha. Pehea ‘oe?” they asked.
“Hello. I’m doing well.” Ellen was glad she still remembered some of the Hawaiian words Makaio and Luana had taught her and Mandy.
Luana pointed to the pitcher of pineapple juice on the table. “Please, help yourself. The eggs and sausage will be ready in a few minutes.”
Ellen poured herself a glass of juice and took a sip, letting it roll around on her tongue before swallowing. This was no store-bought juice. Luana had obviously squeezed it from a fresh pineapple. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Luana shook her head. “Not this morning, at least.”
“There’s something you can help me with.” Makaio glanced at his wife, then back at Ellen.
“What would you like me to do?” she asked.
“You can have a talk with my wahine and convince her to fix Spam for breakfast every day.” He winked at Ellen. “Luana knows it’s my favorite breakfast meat, yet she fixes it so seldom.”
Luana puffed out her cheeks, while wrinkling her nose. “You know that’s not true, Husband. You’re such a big tease.”
“Just wanted to see if I could get a reaction.” He chuckled and pointed at her. “And see there … it worked.”
Luana lifted her gaze to the ceiling. “Look what I have to put up with, Ellen. When you find the man of your dreams, I hope for your sake he’s not such a jokester.”
Makaio held up his hand. “Ha! You like my teasing, and you know it, Luana.”
Ellen laughed. “Some things certainly haven’t changed around here. You two are so much fun.”
“ ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine,’ ” Luana quoted Proverbs 17:22.
“ ‘But a broken spirit drieth the bones.’ ” Makaio finished the verse.
“It’s good to laugh.” Ellen sighed. “Especially when we’re faced with unpleasant things.”
“You mean,
like Ken’s shark attack?” Makaio questioned.
She nodded. “I’m eager to go back to the hospital and find out how he’s doing today.”
“And we shall—right after breakfast.” Luana set the platter of eggs and sausage on the table.
“Do you have time to go? I could always call a taxi to take me to the hospital.”
Luana took a seat and motioned for Ellen to do the same. “We don’t have any B&B guests scheduled today, so I have plenty of time on my hands.”
Ellen smiled. She appreciated this couple’s humor, hospitality, and generosity. If anyone could make a person feel loved, it was Makaio and Luana Palu.
“Those chickens sure produce a lot of eggs,” Rob commented as he and Taavi headed down the road in Taavi’s Jeep with several boxes of well-packed eggs, as well as a cooler full of fresh chicken. They’d dropped a dozen eggs off at a widow’s house and were now heading for a bed-and-breakfast also on the list.
Taavi and Rob had gotten up early this morning and stopped by the organic chicken farm to see what Vickie wanted done. It was Rob’s first time at the farm, and he’d been curious what the place looked like. The Williamses’ home was large, and so were the chicken houses.
After Vickie gave them a list of places to deliver eggs and chicken, she’d asked Rob if he wanted a full-time job, saying it could be some time before her son was able to work again. Since Rob was currently unemployed, he’d jumped at the chance. Most of the work would be done there at the farm, and he’d pretty much be on his own. It would be better than having a job where he had to deal with finicky folks, like the people he’d served when he worked at a restaurant several months ago. That wasn’t the kind of work he enjoyed. Rob would much rather be outside, where he could soak up the sun and be surrounded by nature.
“Whatcha thinkin’ about?” Taavi nudged Rob’s arm.
“Not much. Just glad I have a full-time job.”
“Yeah. I was glad when Vickie asked you to work full-time. I don’t mind helping out when I can, but with my job at the hotel and the odd hours I work, I may not be available to help at the farm that much.”
The Hawaiian Discovery Page 11