'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books

by Mimi Barbour

  Making a huge effort, her aunt opened her eyes and firmed her voice. “I’m sorry. You must miss her terribly. She wrote that you two were very close. A relationship I admit to envying over the years.”

  “Yes, we were.”

  “Lani was very lucky. My daughter has always hated me, and ran away as soon as she could. The only good thing she ever did for me was give me Mano, who has been a blessing for me in my old age.”

  Leilani could see the struggle it took for her aunt to speak and so she broke in to give her a rest. “He’s very handsome. I can see why you’re so proud of him.”

  “He’s a lot like his mother, prickly and hard to reach but I stopped trying with her, and she never forgave me. He needs someone patient and kind, who will love him no matter what he—” A coughing spell broke into her ability to speak. By the time she’d recovered, she’d slipped into a semi-conscious state.

  Leilani rose, the tingling in her legs a reaction to her sitting with her knees bent for so long. She stumbled to where she surmised the kitchen to be and looked around in horror.

  Dirty dishes were stacked on the table, the counter, and overflowing the sink. Cupboard doors were opened and cereal boxes and cookie packages were strewn everywhere. The smell of old food, burnt pots, and unwashed surfaces emitted an odor both offensive and disgusting.

  The room told a story only a blind person could miss. The poor little fellow had been trying to look after his grandmother. Leilani wondered at the towels and bowls left around her bed. At the storybooks on the floor, near where she lay and at the makeshift pile of blankets and a grimy pillow placed close by.

  First Leilani found a clean cup, all the glasses being used, and filled it with water. Then she filled a bowl also and found a clean towel in a linen closet in the hall.

  Within no time, she had washed her aunt and made her as comfortable as possible. Then, alarmed, she searched the label on the empty plastic pill bottle and made note of the doctor’s name. Using her cell phone, she called.

  Because of the urgent situation, her demands to speak to the doctor were met, and in a short time, she had his attention. Explaining in terms he understood, she brought him up to date on the condition of the patient. “Her prescription has run out, she needs a refill. If I send my driver to your office, will you give it to him so he can get it filled?”

  Knowing Pi would be in full agreement, she made the arrangements and breathed a sigh of relief that she’d been able to organize things to her liking. Then she figuratively pulled up her sleeves and made her way into the kitchen. A window covered by sagging sheers drew her, and she peered outside to see a virtual jungle. The child, Mano, was nowhere in the vicinity that she could see.

  If he was there, he stayed well hidden. Once again, she checked on her patient whose condition hadn’t changed. She searched out clean sheets and a nightgown, and then gathered up the paraphernalia she’d need as soon as the woman woke up again.

  By the time Pi had returned, the kitchen looked spotless and a pot of soup steamed on the stove. The table had three places set.

  “Pi, did you see the boy when you drove into the yard?” Worry claimed Leilani as once again, she looked out the window and then moved to the door that opened onto the back terrace.

  “No. He was nowhere in sight. But if you like, I can go and fetch him for lunch?”

  “Thank you. I don’t want to leave my aunt in case she wakes and calls out. However, we need to eat, and it’ll be a good chance to talk with him.”

  A short time later, Pi appeared holding the boy’s hand and leading him into the kitchen. “Come and wash your hands with me,” Pi said, obviously expecting Mano to heed. Not surprisingly, the boy followed Pi’s lead, and even used the soap Pi passed to him. “That’s good. People have to wash before eating. It proves we’re a more enlightened species than animals.”

  “Some animals clean themselves,” Mano spoke up as if he couldn’t help himself.

  “Sure they do, with their tongues. I suppose you could lick yourself clean, but for me, I’d rather not.” The grotesque face Pi made had the boy smiling, until he caught sight of Leilani smiling also. Quickly, his manner reversed back to the angry, sullen little person she’d encountered earlier.

  Chapter Nine

  Throughout the afternoon, her aunt rallied due to the medication Leilani was now able to give her, but late in the day, her breathing became worse.

  During her sponge bath she woke again, fighting valiantly to stay conscious. Her hand gripped Leilani’s shoulder and pinched it in her need for Leilani to listen. “You are so like your mother. Except that you are happy. And she was heartbroken!”

  “I wasn’t aware mother was sad when she left Hawaii,” Leilani said, astonishment overwhelming her. “I thought her marriage to my father had filled her with joy. She’d always told me he rescued her.”

  “No my dear, he just took her away from a painful past. As it turned out, when she had you, her past ended up following.”

  “Had something happened to her that made her unhappy?” Leilani always wanted to know what had driven her mother to become the bitter woman she remembered.

  Time passed as her aunt napped for a few seconds. Then she opened her rheumy eyes, searched for Leilani, and spoke as if time hadn’t elapsed. “Poor Lani! She killed the love of her life, an older man she adored above all others. They had been lovers, and he’d wanted to marry her but she talked him into waiting until after a horse show she’d entered. Oh my, she loved horses. In those days, we owned a lot more land. So my father had a small stable where we kept some animals.”

  Seeing the distress on her aunt’s face, Leilani held the straw to Mele’s mouth and let her take a few sips of water. She continued talking softly, her words hard to distinguish.

  “They went riding, and she jumped the fence, showing off as she tended to do. When he tried to follow, his horse spooked and threw him. He died instantly.”

  Coughing broke into her long speech, but the woman made a gigantic effort, even after Leilani urged her to rest.

  “I need to speak. There’s not much time. Listen. Lani didn’t want to come home even after I’d begged her. She couldn’t face the painful memories. However, I needed her, desperately. Now I need you. My daughter left me my grandson to take care of, and he needs a new guardian. You are the only relative who can make a home for him. He’s a good boy—a kind boy. Please, child, give me peace. Tell me you’ll love him.” By this time, in her need to show the gravity of her wishes, her aunt had strained toward Leilani. Her begging eyes were tear-drenched, a whitish-blue film covering the pupils.

  Soothingly, Leilani urged her to lay back. “Of course I will, Auntie. I’ll take care of him, I promise.”

  Just then, the boy himself came running into the room and threw his small body over his grandmother. “I won’t leave you, Tutu. Grandmother? Please, don’t make me.” He’d obviously overhead his grandmother’s final plea.

  Pi had followed the boy, and sensitively reached past Leilani to pull him away from the woman who fought for every breath.

  “Come boy, your Tutu is tired. Give her a kiss now.” His gentle touch seemed to sooth the boy, and after placing a tender kiss on her cheek, Mano turned into Pi’s waiting arms. The older man lifted him in a cuddle, and then he leaned over and placed a tender hand on the frail woman’s cheek. Her eyes flew open, and her profoundly emotional response to that touch puzzled Leilani.

  She watched as her aunt’s face took on a beautiful luminosity and then heard her breathing calm. A smile appeared, and a soft “ohh” escaped from parched lips. Leilani had seen the look on patients before; as if they had seen a loved one and all the fear of the unknown had disappeared. Within a short time, the peaceful woman’s breathing completely stopped. Leilani let go of her hand and kissed her soft cheek.

  Sitting back in the chair she’d placed close by, she let the tears flow. For a girl who had such a small family, losing two members in a little over a week was devastating.
Her poor aunt staved off death in order to beg help for her grandson, and Leilani blessed the circumstances that made it possible for her to have arrived in time.

  A loving touch made her turn into Pi’s waiting arms. He patted her shoulder, and the heavy obstruction that makes breathing almost impossible loosened. The pain in her tight stomach unraveled, and the roiling stopped. Sharing her misery for a few minutes, gave her enough strength to pull away and thank him.

  “It happened too quickly. I never got to know her, and now she’s gone.” Leilani glanced around, remembering the boy, and immediately, Pi noticed her agitation.

  “He’s sleeping, poor mite. Without me saying a word, he knew she wouldn’t last any longer. Told me she’d waited for you to get here. At first, he said, he didn’t want to let you in, but he thought better of it because he knew she suffered. He’s a good lad, Leilani.”

  “I’m very lucky to have him, Pi, yet he doesn’t seem to like me. At the table, he would only talk to you. He must blame me for her dying.”

  “Yes.”

  A smile broke through that made her feel lighter. “Do you always tell the truth?”

  He returned her smile with a twinkle in his eyes. “Yes.”

  His honesty lifted her spirits so much that she felt, just maybe, she could manage the hundreds of tasks facing her, which seemed insurmountable in a different country.

  As if he read her mind, Pi said, “Don’t worry, Leilani. I know a lot of people here in Honolulu. They’ll take care of your aunt, and all the many chores involved. If you like, I can call in a friend, and he will come to take her to the funeral home. Tomorrow you can make all the arrangements, with my help. In the meantime, we’ll collect the boy, and I’ll take you back to the hotel.”

  Chapter Ten

  Mano behaved fine as long as Pi accompanied them, but once he left to close down the house and make the arrangements for her aunt, the boy again became sullen and difficult with Leilani. He wouldn’t eat anything at dinner, nor would he take his clothes off when it came time for his bath.

  “I don’t want a bath in this place. I hate this silly room and I hate you!” His body shook with emotional intensity as he hurled these hurtful words.

  “Please, Mano. I just want to be your friend. We are cousins, you know—family. We have to stick together now that your Grandmother isn’t here. You know, she wanted me to look after you.” Leilani wasn’t above using any ammunition at her disposal, and if telling him her aunt had arranged this liaison, then she’d tell him that, and more.

  “Tutu didn’t even know you. I don’t know you. Go away!” He stomped over to the sofa and flung himself against the cushions. Curling up as small as possible, he hid his face against his knees.

  The knock at the door couldn’t have come at a better time. Leilani moved to open it and stood back as a well of gladness overcame her earlier frustration. “Hello Kale. Please, come in.”

  “I wanted to see if you liked your new accommodations and whether or not the staff had moved everything to meet your expectations.”

  “My goodness, Kale! This suite is like a palace. I don’t need such grand surroundings. I was quite happy.”

  He frowned at her words. “You’re not happy now?”

  “Silly, of course I am. It’s just that I didn’t expect you to spoil me like this. There was no need.”

  Rubbing his hands together as if to say ‘that’s settled then’, he leaned his head to the side, and a frown replaced his earlier smile.

  “What’s happened?” Direct and to the point, he demanded a reply.

  It never dawned on her to prevaricate. “My aunt passed away today. We only had a short time together.”

  Reaching over, he took her hand in both of his. Then drawing her nearer, he placed his arms around her slight body and leaned his chin on top of her head. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. After coming all this way, you must be devastated. Did she tell you why she’d sent for you?”

  “Yes! She gave me a wonderful gift.”

  “That’s nice. What kind of a gift?”

  “A little boy called Mano. He’s right over there on the sofa and he ha…hates me.” A tiny sob broke through, as her body trembled. Then she pushed away from his arms and straightened her shoulders. “Would you like to meet him?”

  Looking up into his face, she watched the myriad expressions that fought for control. Finally, a questioning look settled and he nodded, “Of course!”

  She led him over to where Mano now sat up, curiosity lighting his features. “Mano this is my friend, Kale Jordan. He owns this hotel, and others like it.” Leilani didn’t know why she addressed Mano first, but it seemed by his expression and in his opinion, she’d inadvertently done the correct thing.

  Shocked to her core, she watched him stand and graciously hold out his hand to shake with Kale. “How do you do?”

  Containing her grin was difficult, but Leilani forced her lips to stay firm. How delightful it was to see such a baby performing like a true gentlemen. He must have learned the manners from his grandmother.

  “I’m very well and you?” Kale played the game perfectly. Bending over slightly, he took the proffered hand and gave it the customary manly shake.

  Mano lifted his hand to a yawn that started out fake and ended up very real. “I’m tired. I’ll go to bed now.” He ran to the other room, where earlier, she’d tried to coax him into bed. With a glare in her direction, he closed the door firmly. Message sent - don’t intrude!

  Now what do I do? Leilani bit her lip and smoothed her skirt down around her thighs. Before Kale arrived, Mano had argued with her about taking a bath. No way would he be talked into removing his clothes anywhere near her.

  Different scenarios played out in her mind until a voice of reason prevailed. What the heck did it really matter if he didn’t wash for one night?

  Kale moved to sit down, reminding her she had company. Therefore, she eased onto the seat beside his and let the words gush.

  “I tried everything I could think of to talk him into taking a bath. I bribed him with chocolate, which didn’t work. Then I let him inspect the gorgeous Christmas ornaments on the tree you’ve set up here, thinking it would get him to relax. It did for a few minutes, but he quickly reverted to being stubborn. I even begged. Nothing worked. He won’t do it.” She watched a smile play on the side of Kale’s mouth until it finally took form. His wicked eyes twinkled with old memories.

  “I remember being angry at my babysitter and wouldn’t take a bath for weeks. The fact that I swam every day from our beach didn’t register that by being in the water, I was meeting basic hygienic rules.”

  His words calmed her completely. She leaned back against the sofa and watched his lips forming the words. “Why wouldn’t you take a bath?”

  The twinkle faded, and his expression hardened briefly. “If I remember correctly, it was because my mother had travelled to one of the other islands when she’d promised to stay home for my birthday party. I re-acted by being childish, but it was the only way I could show her how angry I felt.”

  “Did she apologize? Or realize that she’d let you down terribly?”

  He swiveled in her direction and a frown replaced the earlier smile. “Why would you ask that?”

  It was the first time since the elevator that she saw his haughty attitude reappear. She hoped this reflected his true nature because she liked it, rather than the ingratiatingly suave character that she’d seen around the hotel.

  “Because you had a right to be mad at her, she’d let you down. I suppose it’s the way Mano is feeling right now. Angry and hurt that his grandmother left him, and he’s hating the feeling of not knowing his future. I guess since he sees me as part of that future, he hates me.”

  Kale watched her closely and gave a sound that could have been a grunt or an indication that he’d made a decision. Either way, it got her attention.

  Not that looking at the man presented a problem whatsoever. Keeping her eyes from eating him up or her
lips from begging offered much more of an obstacle. He did have wonderful eyes. Her fingers ached to reach out and touch the long lashes that brushed his cheek whenever he blinked.

  “Leilani? Leilani, do I have dirt on my face? You keep staring.”

  “Sorry! No, your face is lovely. I mean you look fine, good. My mind is a million miles away.”

  “I noticed.” The dry note that entered his tone made her grin. “I need to visit my beach house tomorrow for the day. There are chores I wanted to look into which might take me a few hours, no longer. Maybe you and the boy could spend the time on the beach, and we could trick him into going in the water.”

  “I couldn’t possibly, Kale. Thank you for asking. There are too many things that need my attention.”

  “Not at all, Leilani. Pi stopped at the office earlier to say your aunt has been taken to the sanctuary where they will undertake all the arrangements for her service. He’s organized it all. In the meantime, it might be a good thing for you and the boy to have a break. Did you consider that being in different surroundings; you would have a better chance to bond?”

  “I never thought of it in that way. You might be right. I’ll check with Pi in the morning, okay? Can I let you know…?” The ringing phone cut off her words.

  As she spoke with her caller, she watched Kale pace the white-carpeted room. “Goodness, Pi. It’s like magic that you called this very moment. We were just talking about you. There must be a spiritual connection.” She laughed at her silliness.

  “Believe it, little one.” He didn’t laugh. “I called to tell you that everything has been arranged, and your aunt’s celebration will take place the day after tomorrow. Like we discussed earlier, I put a notice in the newspaper, and also passed out some in her neighborhood. I will pick you and the boy up if you like and tag along.”