We talked for a long time on the phone. During the call, she said her mega-rock-star client had told her about a great B&B in Lāhainā. She said she was anxious to check it out—and wanted me to go with her. I swallowed hard and said yes without a second thought. If we had the opportunity to run away to Maui for a few days, I was going to take it.
Bennie blocked out the time on her calendar and I did the same. Just the thought of spending a weekend completely alone with her made my palms sweat. I might as well have been a teenage boy anticipating his first date. For the time being, all I could do was anticipate the trip and enjoy this time with my local ‘ohana.
Chance, Lexie, and I arrived at the Palakiko home at about 6:30. The sun was low on the horizon. We had about forty-five minutes before it would set, but the shadows were already long. The colors of evening filled the horizon. Tonight, we had incredible pale blues streaked with fingers of gray and pink, all inching their way across as the clouds drifted by.
The Palakiko house was in a community where realtors casually referred to “homes starting in the low millions.” It was the kind of place where parents handed down their "old" BMWs to the kids.
The stately white home had a ten-foot covered lānai surrounding the entire structure. The red tile roof alone had probably cost more than I’d made in my lifetime, and the expansive array of paned windows had me wondering if the Palakikos kept a full-time window washer on staff.
Tom Palakiko greeted us at the front door and motioned for us to follow him around the house. The paved walkway wound through hibiscus, ginger, and plumeria. There were enough ferns to create a tropical rain forest. June was out back, reclining in a lounge chair with Kai at her side.
Kai’s foot was in a cast and June still had her arm in a sling. Solving Trinity’s Kraft’s murder had taken a heavy toll on all of us. Tol had also been injured, his leg broken in two places. The concussion from hitting his head on the floor made his lot even worse. Of course, none of us were worried about him. We felt he was just starting to get what he deserved.
When Kai saw us, she jumped up, grabbed her crutches, and seesawed in our direction. She dropped the crutches to hug me. The moment lasted long enough to bring a tear to my eye. It reminded me that, at 65, it would take me as long to recover from my tweaked back as it would for her broken foot to mend.
When she pulled away and slipped her arms around Chance, I felt as though all was right with the world. Order had been restored thanks to Kai Palakiko’s determination.
Juliana leaned over June, and they exchanged a word before Juliana approached. I suspected that right about now, she could ask the Palakikos for anything she wanted. Her quick actions had stemmed the flow of blood and saved June’s life. She picked up Kai's crutches, handed them to her, and said she needed to talk with Chance and me for a moment.
“Let’s go visit with your mom while these three take care of business. Okay?” Lexie nodded her head toward Kai’s parents.
We crossed the grass to a picnic table while Kai returned to her mother. She perched next to June with her arm draped over her mother’s shoulder and Lexie looking on. Even from here, I could see Lexie had that, "I want one" look on her face.
Chance and Juliana sat, but I declined.
“You’re riding up front on the way back.” Chance pointed a finger at me.
“I won’t argue.”
“Your back?” Juliana asked. Her gorgeous blue eyes sparkled in the evening light.
“Doing a football tackle on Tol tweaked it pretty good. I’m just thankful June made it through. You saved her.”
Juliana winced and gazed across the yard at Kai and June. They were engaged in an animated conversation with Lexie and Tom. “June and I had a chance to talk before she got out of the hospital. Her relationship with Kai had been strained for a while. At least, that’s what she thought.”
“Kai went to extraordinary lengths to prove you were innocent,” Chance said.
“Did you know she wouldn’t leave June’s side during the first few days in the hospital? She was petrified of losing her mom and wouldn’t leave—not even for a minute. That's not entirely true. It was a bedpan or the restroom." Juliana giggled. "Even Kai has her limits."
“Alexander told me she drove the hospital staff crazy.”
"It's all over the coconut wireless," Chance said.
I gazed at him. "You know about the coconut wireless?"
"Of course. It's fast, informative, and wholly unreliable. It's a great source for third and fourth-hand news."
Juliana smiled. “I'm impressed. Anyway, I had to bring everything to her. It was like she finally realized who was most important in her life. The best thing is Kai realized how much her mom meant to her and June finally saw how much Kai loved her. June’s going to be cutting back her hours at work so she can be home more. I just wish they could have seen how much they meant to each other sooner.”
“What about you?” asked Chance. “Will you be staying on?”
“I can stay as long as I want. But, June also said she’s willing to take on my case.”
“Your case?” My brow furrowed. “There’s no case against you anymore, Juliana.”
She smiled. “Not this one. The one against the army for wrongful termination. Kai made me see how I’d just let one man’s threats scare me into submission. June’s contacted an attorney on the mainland. He handles this sort of thing. As much as I love this family, I miss nursing. It was my life’s calling. I may not win, but it’s worth fighting for.”
June was still in the lounge chair and was now playing some sort of finger-wiggle game with Kai.
“McKenna?” Chance said. “What’s up with you? You look like you were on another planet.”
“Worth fighting for,” I said. “Helluva lesson to learn from a ten-year-old.”
Juliana blinked back a tear. “That’s the kind of girl she is.”
I watched as Kai swung toward us on her crutches. “Mr. McKenna, you haven’t billed me yet.”
“You’re right, kid. Chance, how much do you think we should bill for solving a murder, busting a drug ring, and almost getting killed?”
Chance shook his head. “How much money did you have, Kai? We’ll give you the ‘ohana discount.”
“Nope, nope, nope,” I said. “That’s not right. What kind of lesson are we teaching Kai if we go through all this for a hundred bucks?”
Kai gulped but kept her gaze level with mine. “One hundred nine dollars and twelve cents.”
“Right. If I remember correctly, you paid Benni the twelve cents. So, you still owe us the hundred and nine bucks.”
Kai’s face fell, but she sighed and said, “A deal’s a deal.”
I had no intention of taking Kai's money, but I did want her to feel the pain of handing out your life savings. She might never have to go without, but she might as well understand the pain others felt every day. Even if it was only for a few minutes.
“Tell you what, Kai. Chance and I would be willing to forego the remainder of our fee for services you could provide. I’ve seen him surf and, well, he needs help. And me, I keep getting stuck in these. . .” I didn’t dare say dreams. Now I’d done it. Boxed in. The kid would spread the word all over the island. My coconut wireless reputation would grow. Not what I wanted. Time to BS my way out. “I keep getting stuck in situations where I’d be better off feeling a bit more comfortable in the water. So, if you’re willing to give us a couple of surfing lessons, we could call it even.”
Kai frowned as she cocked her head. “You want me to give both of you surfing lessons for a hundred bucks?” She sounded almost incredulous.
“One hundred nine dollars,” I reminded her. “The twelve cents was already paid as a retainer.”
She let out an exaggerated huff and rolled her eyes. “I don’t know.” She scratched at her cast. “I’m grounded until this comes off.”
“We can wait.” Chance beamed at me. “I like this idea, McKenna.”
�
�Okay,” Kai said. “But, what about my expenses? And my lost time?”
“Lost time? For what?” I stammered, “You’re . . . you’re ten. Do you even have any idea what that means?”
Kai licked her lips. “My mom uses it a lot.”
How had this turned into a legal negotiation? “With you? She uses the term lost time on you?”
“Nah, when she’s talking legal stuff with her clients.”
“How much is this charge for lost time?” asked Chance.
I gaped at him. I wasn’t about to pay a ten-year-old for almost getting killed. Kai watched the clouds and pursed her lips. She started moving a finger over her palm as though she were adding numbers on a calculator. I regretted trying to teach the kid a lesson.
To my side, I heard Juliana. “Kai...” Her tone was firm, yet patient. She’d stretched out the kid’s name. A clear warning—you’re riding the edge.
With raised eyebrows, Kai looked me in the eye. Her eager smile gleamed. “Twelve cents?”
North Shore Nanny Page 12
