Many people have come to Malalo from surrounding islands. They heard about the war and either out of kindness or curiosity, have come to help us rebuild.
Keyon has taken over the role of leader in Malalo. And, he’s wonderful in his new position. It’s what he is meant to do. I know someday, and most likely soon, he’ll find a wife to settle down with. But, right now he’s happy doing what he loves.
Apela has started trading again. He comes to Malalo often. Even weeks later, he still apologizes for the way he acted with Makoa. When he comes here, he spends a lot of his time with Esther. While back in Lanui and Molu, he leaves his close friend, Shai, in charge. The elders have all stepped down, allowing new blood and ideas to pave the way for the island’s future.
Apela’s boat is just off shore, so he’ll be here in minutes. I’m excited. He said he would bring my nephew, Fenton, this time. I hope he didn’t change his mind. Fenton is two and a half months old now, and this will be the first time I meet him.
Banu blows into the conch shell, announcing the boat’s arrival. Esther is already on the dock waiting for Apela. It warms my heart he has found another woman to love. And, I hope for Esther’s well-being that she may have found love, again. His son needs a mother, just as much as a father.
One of the men throws a rope to another waiting to tie the vessel to the dock. In my brother’s arms is a tiny bundle. I race toward them. Apela’s face lights up when he sees Esther.
Esther takes Fenton from Apela. I hug Apela. Then I look at my nephew. He’s beautiful with dark hair and eyes like his father’s. He also has other facial features in common with my brother. But his lips are his mother’s, full and perfectly shaped.
“Do you mind?” I ask Esther.
“Not at all.” She hands me Fenton. He’s so small but feels like the biggest miracle I’ve ever held.
“I was thinking we might stay a while,” my brother says. “I mean, if that’s all right.”
Esther’s face and mine light up. “Yes. It’s perfect!” I say.
A man on the boat tosses Apela a bag. I assume it has clothes and belongings for him and Fenton.
“You can stay with me. I have plenty of room,” Esther says.
“Thank you,” Apela returns.
I give Apela a wink. He blushes. I kiss my nephew’s forehead and then hand him back to Esther. She walks ahead of us to allow my brother and I to speak alone.
“What news do you have from home?” I ask.
“I confronted Grandmother and she wasn’t too pleased with my firm tone, but she did give me some answers that had been on my mind about Mother and Father.” He purses his lips together and loses his smile.
“What did she say?”
“She told me that Mother was a healer, as you are, up until the moment you were born. You see, there is only ever one healer at a time, and that was passed on to you. She lost her ability the when you gained it.”
“I don’t understand. Then why didn’t Mother let me heal her from the snake bites if she knew I was able?”
Apela lets out a long breath. “Mother wouldn’t allow you to heal her. Grandmother said she was tired from all she had done in her short life and she didn’t want you to go through the same fatigue she had felt. She made Kahanu promise to not use you as she had been used. Father refused to be healed, too, because he wanted to be with Mother. I think that’s why Kahanu didn’t always heal everyone, because of her promise. That’s why there was death in our village.”
I think about all that Mother may have gone through to lead her to the point she no longer wished to live. Being needed for so long, and then losing all your power must have made her feel helpless. I don’t ever want my life to get to that point, but my circumstances are different than hers were. I have a choice in my future.
Apela rests his hand on my shoulder and raises my chin with his other. “What happened to our parents wasn’t your fault, and I know that’s what you’re thinking. We can’t understand why things happen, but we need to focus on building a better future for our children to be happy.”
Fenton is lucky to have him for a father. Apela will always put his wellbeing first and I’m thankful for that. “Thank you.” I hug him fiercely.
“I love you, sis.”
“I love you too, Brother.” I’ve never felt so close to him as I do now. I pull back and look at him. “I’ll let Tao know you’re here. I want him to meet Fenton.”
I leave to go search for my fiancé. We decided to wait to get married until after the village is back to normal.
Running toward the prayer hut, where Tao should be, I pass several people and wave. Knocking lightly on the door, I hear, “Come in.”
Tao’s smile is infectious. Like Keyon, he’s found what truly makes him happy. Tao says it’s because of me, his miracle, that he chose to do what he does, guiding people. His kindness is perfect and exactly what people need in difficult times or when just wanting advice on a difficult issue.
I rush into his arms. He scoops me up and lifts me off the ground.
“Hello, my ka hana mana.” His nickname for me means ‘miracle’ in Hawaiian. I love it. Our love for each other has grown each and every day. I still get flurries in my belly when I see him, especially when he looks at me with eyes as black as the night and as warm as raging fire.
“Are you free to come meet someone?” I ask.
“For you, anything.”
He sets his book on the table. I recognize it as the one he journals in and keeps all his stories of miracles and happenings he sees.
He takes my hand, and we walk out of the prayer hut.
“Where are we going?”
“To Esther’s.”
He clears his throat.
I run my hand down the length of his arm. “Trust me.”
Tao leans in and kisses my cheek as we walk. “Always.”
Her home is far enough away from the village that it was untouched during the battle. I shake the shell wind chime she has hanging outside her door. It clanks and rattles.
She opens the door. Her smile is genuine when she sees Tao and me. “Come in.”
We step inside. Small cries come from the inner room near the kitchen. Tao’s eyes narrow. I tug his hand for him to follow me to where the sound is coming from.
Apela is holding Fenton on his lap.
“We were just beginning to feed him.”
“Tao, this is Fenton, my nephew.”
Tao kneels next to the child. The baby grabs the tip of his finger. “Ka hana mana,” Tao whispers. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
Fenton’s face creases as if he understands Tao. And, I have no doubt he does. I rarely put anything past miracles. They are all around us. I’m living proof of that.
Keyon joins us for dinner with Ester, Apela, and Fenton. The moment is perfect and unforgettable.
Tao and I say goodnight and head to our home. It’s just on the other side of the center of the village.
Just before we climb the steps to our hut, Tao takes me in his arms. “I never want to go a single day without you.”
“You’ll never have to.”
He kisses me with desire and longing and passion. When he pulls away, his eyes are bright. “I love you, my ka hana mana.”
“I love you, too.”
He takes my hand and opens the door.
“I’ll be inside in a moment.”
He smiles and says, “Okay,” before closing the door behind him.
I walk to the shore and sit. As I look out over the ocean, I realize I’ll never have to worry about another coffin washing ashore.
The end of The Underwater Island series.
Also by Miranda Hardy
The Roaming Curse
Also by Ainsley Shay
The Echo Rituals
About the Author
Miranda Hardy writes literature to keep the voices in her head appeased. When she’s not in her fantasy world, she’s canoeing in alligator infested waters, or rescuing ho
meless animals. She goes to coffee shops to do most of her writing while drinking tea. Unable to reveal too much, she has the most boring superpower ever (hint: you have to be a close relative for it to work). She resides in south Florida with her two wonderful children, and too many animals to mention.
Read more from Miranda Hardy
www.mirandahardy.com
About the Author
Ainsley Shay’s passion for writing sparks from her love for the fantastical world of fiction. It’s in those enchanted and mystical places she dwells and conjures cursed and magical beings, spells, hope, madness, desperation, and love; all the ingredients for an unputdownable book. She surrounds herself with positive people and strives for balance in everything (rarely finds it, but she’ll never give up looking for it!). She sleeps with dreams and stones in her pillowcase, loves audiobooks, and has more jeans with holes than without. Ainsley lives in South Florida with her incredible husband and three amazing daughters.
Read more from Ainsley Shay
www.ainsleyshay.com
Nether Tears (Underwater Island Series Book 2) Page 11