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

by Mimi Barbour

  From the minute he’d stepped into his private sanctuary earlier, he’d felt an overwhelming need to bring Leilani to see his treasures. Maybe to feed his ego, who knows?

  All morning he’d fought the urge to rush to the beach, throw her over his shoulder, and haul the loveable creature into his paradise. Now that the moment had come, nervous streaks of fear pumped through his stomach and left him experiencing a reaction that he hated.

  Sensitivity unmanned him and he’d always hated how much he cared. Still reeling from the power of his emotions, he remembered as a young lad when he’d first shown his mother his secret hobby. How letdown he’d felt when he saw her struggle to show an interest, begrudging him the time he spent here dabbling rather than at the hotels. Dabbling!

  He stopped for a minute to catch his breath, and decide once and for all if he trusted Leilani to understand. Could he handle it if she didn’t get it…get him?

  Meanwhile, she stood with him at the entrance to the covered courtyard where he often lunched. A gasp made him study her rapt face. Then he looked to see the familiar setting through her eyes.

  Graced with a warm, oak-colored patio set, chairs to match covered with white and blue typical island materials, and many larger shade trees, the spacious area was indeed quite a feature. A multitude of poinsettias planted in fancy urns of various sizes embellished the gleaming white walls, as did the garlands that Mia insisted on using to decorate for the Christmas season.

  He supposed to one unfamiliar with the room, the area showed pleasantly, but being used to luxurious surroundings all his life, he’d become immune. After hearing her gasps of admiration, the villa-like setting presented him with a completely new perspective—an awakening. Kale swung his gaze in every direction, copying Leilani and knew the minute when she’d seen the window he’d worked so hard to make perfect.

  The pattern in the multi-colored pieces of stained glass was of a number of elves and fairies peeking out from under the fronds of island ferns. He’d designed the characters to be cheeky and mischievous, and they’d turned out exactly as he’d seen them in his imagination. The window was rich with vibrant tones of greens from dark to light and also bright reds, pinks, yellows, all constructed using intriguing types of glass. Not breathing, he waited—and waited.

  Her silence captured his attention. He finally gathered the courage to look down into her face and saw tears gathering in her eyes. She slid her fingers into his hand and whispered. “What genius made that window? It’s incredible!”

  Now, he couldn’t wait to drag her into the studio and show her more. There were so many he’d made over the years, all huge, all incredibly intricate, and all different. In his eyes, the gallery presented a wonderland. At the end of the room, a whole wall of windows, where the natural light made the room glow between the colored glass and bevels of crystals, produced a festival of prisms and had been his ultimate achievement. When she saw those, the tears began to fall.

  “I’m embarrassed by my lack of control, Kale. But beauty like this makes me weep every time.” Her slender body had turned away before he could stop her.

  The words pleased him to such a degree that he hesitated to touch and instead let his eyes eat her up. Such a tiny thing to hold so much emotion, and he knew, without any more doubts, that he needed her to belong to him…from this day forward…for better or for worse.

  He also knew she had enough on her plate right now, and it would require patience. If he became her strength through the troubled times, maybe she’d learn to love him back.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Leilani looked around at all the people who had shown up for Aunt Mele’s celebration and realized that her aunt, unlike her mother, had made many friends over her lifetime.

  These individuals truly cared that they’d lost a companion and neighbour, and it was obvious when it came time for them to file past where Leilani sat with an empty chair next to her after the ceremony.

  She appreciated seeing Kale, who had come to sit in the very front as if he wanted to be near her and she liked that he hugged her as if she mattered. Most of all, she cherished his whispered words, “I’m here if you need me.”

  Being difficult as usual, that morning Mano had still refused to bathe or change his clothes, which were becoming grimy and bearing a slight odor. When they arrived at the spacious room where her aunt’s body lay in the casket, he took one look, dropped his bouquet of flowers, and ran straight into Pi’s arms. She’d instantly nodded her agreement at his silent request to take the boy outside.

  They had discussed previously whether they would bring the boy, and she finally decided to leave it up to Mano himself. He’d insisted he wanted to come. The reality for such a small boy doomed his decision, and Leilani totally understood.

  Once the service ended and the coffin closed, they asked Mano if he wanted to say goodbye and leave his token with the many others. Surprisingly, he agreed, and with tears spilling down his cheeks, and his tangled hair like a halo of curls around his head, he knelt by the brass side and whispered words no one could make out. Then he stood tall, forced his shoulders straight, and swiped at his wet cheeks. The hard glint in his eyes made Leilani shiver. She knew there were going to be stormy days ahead and didn’t know if she was equipped to handle them.

  Before Kale could reach out to her, Mano stepped in-between and in a no-nonsense voice, he said, “I want to go home.”

  Pi, who had lingered close to the boy, answered. “We’ll be back at the hotel in no time…”

  “No! I want to go home. To my house. Now…please!” The last word had a heart-rending pleading tone that made the hairs on Leilani’s neck wake up and send shivers all over her body.

  She looked to Kale and then Pi, and knew they were waiting for her decision. Mano, aware she was now in power, narrowed his eyes and said. “My clothes are there and a bathtub.”

  “Well then, we best go and get you clean.” She smiled and nodded, then watched as the miniature devil nodded in unison. You little monkey; you got your way this time.

  Kale took her aside and put his arm around her, a gesture she appreciated, since the day before, Mano hadn’t left them alone for even a minute. Many people had hugged her that morning, and many whispered words of sympathy, but none meant as much as his. “Did you want me to come with you?”

  “No, Kale, you have work waiting, and I know Pi will stay with us. Mano is comfortable with him. We won’t be long but I do need to go through Auntie’s personal belongings to search for her will. We need to see if she’s left instructions for her final resting place before I make any further decisions.”

  “I understand. Then I’ll leave you to it.” He kissed her cheek and she watched him walk away—a man in an expensively tailored suit who carried himself like someone used to the world’s best.

  * * *

  Later, pulling into the driveway of her Aunt’s house for the second time, Leilani could see that the whole place really was as dilapidated as she’d thought earlier. It needed a huge amount of work and money to bring back the charm from days gone by but any property in Hawaii, especially this close to the city, was premium. It would bring in a tidy sum for Mano’s education and a proper nest egg for his future.

  They stepped from the vehicle where Mano ignored her, and instead, kept himself amused with the trinkets. She hesitated before entering the house. “Mano, before you go and get cleaned up will you take Pi and me around and show us everything?” Leilani added before he could refuse, “like Kale did when we visited his home.”

  She saw him ponder her request first before he nodded, “Okay. You must come this way.” Like the perfect little replica of Kale, he took them through the spacious four bedrooms, two bathrooms and then to closets and even the laundry. Then he beckoned them to follow him out the back door and into the yard.

  Old paddock fencing, surprisingly well kept though mostly unpainted, enclosed a small area where a barn-like building, that had a stable on one side leaned slightly and wa
s in desperate need of repair.

  From then on, a grove of trees bearing mango and lychees fruit were intermingled with thriving bananas, and gave the appearance of a wild jungle. Desperately needing a gardener’s help, they were being choked from the other lush bushes and weedy looking plants that surrounded them. Palm trees also had a home in the garden, and piles of coconuts were everywhere on the ground. Others, still hanging above, were dangerous if they were to fall on someone.

  Before Leilani could say a word, Mano had produced a large stick and had scurried up one of the close-by trees. Unafraid of the altitude, he knocked at the brown fruit until they came loose and dropped. He’d yelled a warning to Pi and Leilani to step back and now she understood what the little devil was up to.

  “My goodness, Pi. What in the world? You must stop him…”

  “No, we must not. He is perfectly safe and looks like he’s done this for quite some time. I used to do the same at his age. In our village, we used the fruit of the coconut and the milk.” Pi stopped when he saw Leilani watching him. “I know it was a long time ago, but some things never change.”

  Leilani laughed and relaxed. “It’s just hard to picture you as a small boy.”

  “Hey, I was a handsome lad in my time. Did a lot of foolish things.” All of a sudden, he glanced over to the left and his face became very sad.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Pi is fine, we must worry about our little mischief maker, instead of a foolish old man who’s lived his life. Come, we’ll coax him down.”

  He looked upwards and yelled. “Enough showing off, Mano. We want to see the rest of the property, and then we need some lunch.”

  Like all children, the talk of food did the trick, and Mano grinned before scampering to the ground surefooted and agile as a monkey.

  The sound of water became louder as they moved further away from the house. Once through a curtain of overgrowth, Leilani got the shock of her life. “Pi, this is beachfront property. Why there’s a wonderful sandy area and even a dock.”

  “Yes, it’s beautifully natural, a fine place to whittle away the day, eh Mano? Is this where you spent a lot of time?”

  “Tutu and I stayed on the beach a lot before she got sick. We had to do chores first, and then we could play. I like to carve and I find lots of wood here to use.”

  Leilani saw the pride in his eyes as he looked all around. He crossed his arms, and his eyes sent a message to her that was unmistakable. Don’t take me away from my home, or I’ll hate you forever.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Leilani needed to talk with Kale… desperately. She had no idea what to do about her situation. She’d tried discussing the future with Pi, and all he would say was for her to follow her heart. It was good advice… sure, but not very specific. She craved to be with a person of her own generation who would understand her point of view. That she had a life back in Canada, a home and a job, and couldn’t be expected to uproot everything to move here and live in a house that she had no right to claim.

  Leilani’s head had been spinning in circles ever since Mano’s silent ultimatum. Thinking to get a better understanding of her choices, a clearer perspective, she went looking for papers in her aunt’s bedroom. Everything was neatly left in a desk drawer and easy to find. Her entire estate was to go to Mano when he came of age and she had made Leilani’s mother his legal guardian. Leilani noted the name of the firm at the top of the will and placed a call, only to be told that the offices were closed until Monday. Fine, she would call them back, but in the meantime, she left a message in case someone monitored the incoming calls.

  Once they returned to the Jordan, Pi took Mano off to see a Christmas special, advertising that Santa was paying a visit to the hotel. It was a treat for children staying with them over the holidays, and promised to be a lot of fun. Leilani knew the boy had looked forward to going, as long as it was Pi taking him of course. He would have refused her company.

  Each day, she woke up telling herself it was a new chance to get Mano to like her, to accept her. Each day he pushed harder, and moved further from her arms. Never having had a lot of experience with children, Leilani tried to be thoughtful, and kind, which didn’t seem to matter one iota. The boy wanted his beloved Tutu.

  Leilani changed into a flirty pink chiffon skirt topped with a sparkly blouse. As she walked, everything either shimmered or drifted to hug and emphasize her body. Her hair, French braided in an intricate style, softened her face and highlighted her eyes. Or so she’d been told by her friend Shana who could never grow her own hair past her shoulders before she wacked it off in frustration with the thin, flyaway strands.

  Feeling the worry lift with every step that brought her closer to Kale’s office, she sauntered and pretended to be unaware of the appreciative male eyes and envious female stares that followed her progress.

  The desk clerk was nowhere to be seen, and so Leilani moved behind the counter toward the central office and lifted her hand to knock on the partially opened door.

  “James, you have to keep that woman away from me.” Kale’s harsh voice sounded as clearly as if Leilani stood in the room. “She’s become a nuisance, and I won’t tolerate it any longer.”

  “Mr. Jordan, I don’t see how I can control her. She’s taken a suite here at the hotel….”

  “Yes, I know!”

  “She’s very—”

  “Needy. I know, but I will not be used or taken advantage of. Miss Taylor…

  Oh God! Clutching her stomach, Leilani stumbled away from the door and hurried to a nearby sofa. She’d fall if she didn’t sit. Tasting the acid in her mouth, she swallowed quickly, and then swallowed again and again, trying desperately not to throw up in public. Kale’s words rang in her head. Miss Taylor! A hideous embarrassment flooded and attacked all the soft places that had earlier swelled with love. Horrified, she needed to get out, to leave and never return. To run away from the pain that could bring her to her knees.

  Except that she knew she’d never get away. The humiliation would follow and mock her. A vicious part of her conscience whispered. I tried to warn you he was too good for you, but would you listen? No! Instead, you let your heart make you into a weak fool. Now look where you are.

  Beyond tears, she stood, experiencing the weight of her despair and sorrow on narrow shoulders—shoulders that already carried a heavy burden. Totally crushed, she staggered to the elevator where the mirrors portrayed images that mocked her further.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Finally settled in the house, Mano happily sleeping in his own bed, Pi and Leilani sat together at the kitchen table. The coffee cooled in her cup while his appeared empty. “Let me get you a fill-up.” She rose slowly, arched her back, and then stepped over to the ancient stove where a pot still perked on the burner.

  “Are you ever going to tell me what put those lines under your eyes and the stoop in your shoulders?” Pi’s voice was gentle, but firm.

  Leilani stopped with her back still to him and closed her eyes. One huge breath was all the relief she would allow herself. Then she whispered, “I’d rather not. You can’t help this time, my friend. Sometimes a girl has to face her reality, and mine is that Mano has to come first. Do you agree?”

  An evasive look appeared, and he began checking his hands closely. “That all depends.”

  “On what?” She’d get an answer from him one way or another.

  “On whether you end up with a broken heart.” He pierced her with a look full of wisdom and kindness. “Mano won’t really appreciate your sacrifice, because he’ll end up having to live with a woman who’ll become embittered and resentful.

  “You have it all wrong, Pi. This isn’t my choice at all but I will make the best of it.” After carefully filling his cup, she replaced the pot on the burner and lowered herself back into the empty chair. Picking at the granules of sugar scattered over the table, she purposely didn’t raise her eyes. She couldn’t bear anyone to see, especially the keen eyes of the m
an sitting across from her.

  “I’m sorry, Mea aloha beloved. If you need to talk of this, I will always be here. We’re friends now, and I care very much about Mano. So what do you want me to do?”

  “I want you to go to the hotel and tell them, because of Mano’s wishes, we have moved into the house. If you see Kale, please inform him that I wish to have some time alone, to deal with my new circumstances. He can forget about us and go about his own affairs.” The last sentence almost choked her, but it needed to be said.

  “You want me to use those words?” With his head still down, Pi glance from under lowered eyebrows. His stare intense and thoughtful.

  “Yes, use those words. He’ll understand.” She brushed her hands together to wipe away the sugar residue, and then flattened them on the table. Before she could speak again, the back door flew open and an enraged woman hurried into the house.

  She looked to be in her thirties, but then the signs of hard living could have added years to a face made up to look older. Cosmetics hid many flaws but rudeness wasn’t one of them. “If you want to enter my house, it might be more polite to knock and wait for me to let you in.” Leilani crossed her arms to confront the agitated female. Her voice held a note not many people heard. Amazed at her reaction to the stranger, the instant dislike she experienced, Leilani stood her ground and waited.

  “Your house? That’s a laugh!” The evil chuckle that followed had Leilani wanting to slap another’s face for the first time in her life. Her thoughts were interrupted when the rude bitch spoke again. “Who the hell are you and where are Mele Palea’s belongings? I have a right to know. I’m Kaimi Palea. Mele was my mother.”

  A well of fear rose up at the magnitude of the stranger’s announcement, the complications it could cause. What this would mean to her and to Mano? With only seconds to decide, she followed the path that offense is the best defense.