by Edie Claire
Maddie stopped scrubbing the dishes. Now she was really confused. “You?”
Malaya shrugged. “I joined before I got married. But I haven’t been active in so long, I’m not sure it still counts anymore.”
That explanation didn’t help in the slightest. “But Kai said it was his father’s family,” Maddie repeated. “The family he actually lived with, were they his godparents or what?”
“No, he lived with his grandparents, my first husband’s parents,” Malaya answered, stirring something. “When he wasn’t on campus, anyway. He moved on and off. He shared a place with one of his cousins for law school.”
Maddie found her eyes fixating on a small, floating island of white suds. It was rapidly popping itself into oblivion. Her brain felt the same. My first husband’s parents. Malaya had been married before she married Aki? Kai had never said one word to Maddie about that. He sure as hell hadn’t said a word about considering some other couple in Utah his grandparents. Gloria had used the word. But not Kai.
“Maddie?” Malaya said softly. “Something wrong?”
The island of suds dissolved to a flat, thin film. Maddie blew on it and finished it off. “No, of course not,” she replied cheerfully, resuming washing the dishes. “I shouldn’t be asking you any of this, anyway. It’s none of my business.”
Malaya snorted her pretty snort and returned to the stove. “Since when has that ever stopped anyone from asking me anything? I’m sorry if I said something that surprised you. I assumed you would know already, but I guess there’s no reason you would, being so young when you were here and then leaving when you did.”
Maddie said nothing. She scrubbed vigorously at a melamine plate with a rooster on it.
“I was widowed when Kai was just a baby,” Malaya continued. “Aki adopted him after we got married. I’m guessing Kai never told you he was adopted?”
Maddie shook her head. Her eyes felt hot. The intensity of emotion she felt was unfathomable. No, he hadn’t told her. But what did it matter? Why did she care? What possible, freakin’ difference did it make? It wasn’t her business!
“There’s something you have to understand,” Malaya continued gently. “Aki was the only father Kai ever knew. Lana'i was the only home he ever knew. I never kept anything a secret from him, but it’s hard to explain to a toddler, you know? His birth father was just a face in some pictures, but he loved Aki and Aki loved him. We were a family and Chika was his sister. When he started school he came home in tears because the teacher had called him by another name. He wanted to be a Nakama like the rest of us. He wanted to be Aki’s son.”
Maddie’s own eyes threatened to tear up, and she cursed her ragged emotions. “I can see how he would feel that way.”
Malaya nodded. “Kai asked Aki to adopt him, and of course Aki wanted nothing more. It was a hard thing for Kai’s grandparents to accept, but bless them, they’re such good people — I know they were hurt when he changed his name, but they said they understood and that it was the best thing for him.”
Maddie finished scrubbing the dishes. She felt like a heel. If Kai hadn’t wanted to share all this stuff with her way back then, so what? He was a boy. He didn’t want to talk about it.
“Anyway,” Malaya continued. “Everyone knows that Kai isn’t Aki’s biological son, but nobody goes on about it, out of respect, you understand?”
“Of course I understand,” Maddie agreed. She gave the dishes a final rinse. While she was in the midst of stacking them, a long-buried memory bubbled up in her mind. “Did Kai’s grandparents ever visit him here?” she asked.
“As often as they could afford to,” Malaya answered. “Which was only every three or four years, when he was small. Why? Did they come when you were here?”
“I think so,” Maddie answered, frustrated at the scantness of the memory. “I remember him having ‘relatives’ come from Utah for a visit, but I can’t remember meeting them. Which is kind of funny, if you think about it. Considering how often I was over here.”
“Well, that might not have been an accident,” Malaya replied. “There was a time when Kai was pretty sensitive about the situation. He didn’t want everybody reminded that he’s half haole.”
Maddie dropped a knife in the sink with a clatter and whirled around. “He is not!”
Malaya stopped what she was doing and smiled with amusement. “You know something I don’t, Maddie girl?”
Maddie stood perfectly still. Her limbs felt cold. “But—” she stammered. “He doesn’t look half haole!”
Malaya cocked an eyebrow. “You think he looks half Japanese?”
Maddie swallowed. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t. Kai’s skin wasn’t quite as dark as Malaya’s, but it was darker than either of his sisters’ or Aki’s. Besides, he would have told her that. “Yes?” she answered uncertainly.
Malaya chuckled. “Chika and Gloria are half Japanese. Not Kai. Come here, look at this.” She turned down the stove burner and led Maddie out of the kitchen and over to a bookcase in a corner of the main room, from which she pulled out a thin photo album. She flipped through some pages of snapshots of herself as a high school girl, stopping when she reached a full-page studio portrait.
“Here,” she said fondly, turning the album so Maddie could see better. “This is our wedding picture, me and Kevin. Ack! We were babies, weren’t we?”
Maddie was not going to say anything. But the familiar young girl in the picture did indeed look no older than Gloria. Fantastically pretty and brimming with life, she hung onto her husband’s arm with a wide smile and a devil-may-care glint in her eye.
“Don’t ask,” Malaya grumbled. “I was eighteen. And yes, I was pregnant.”
Maddie’s heart beat quickly as her eyes moved to the boy, who looked little older than Malaya. He was tall. Of course. How many other clues had she missed all this time? He was “white,” albeit dark-complected, with curly black hair and vivid blue eyes. His face was roguish with a strong, square jaw, and his smile was easy, if ever so slightly crooked. To describe him as ‘tall, dark, and handsome’ would be technically correct, but to Maddie’s mind ‘wickedly dashing’ was far more apt. The couple looked picture-perfect, star-struck, and ready to take on the world — or knock over a bank, depending on their mood. “The two of you look like a movie poster,” she said honestly.
Malaya laughed a bit ruefully. “Yes, well. We thought so, anyway.”
Maddie studied the boy’s image again. She could easily see some of Kai’s features in him. Kai had Kevin’s forehead and jaw, his height, his build. But he had Malaya’s eyes and her cheekbones, not to mention her softer, gentler smile. “How did you meet?”
Malaya sucked in a breath. She put the album down, led Maddie back to the kitchen, and returned to her work at the stove. “The summer after I graduated from high school, I went to work on Maui, doing housekeeping. I was living with an auntie, trying to make some money before starting community college in the fall. Kevin and his cousin were working in the same hotel. Kevin was living with relatives too, just for the summer, because he was supposed to start his mission later that year. You know, his mission for the church.”
Maddie nodded. She picked up a towel and began to dry the dishes she’d washed.
Malaya stirred the noodles and smiled to herself. “I have no excuse. I was young, irresponsible, thrilled to be someplace besides Lana'i for the first time in my life, and head over heels in love. Kevin was almost nineteen and from the mainland, which as far as I was concerned made him the most worldly man alive. His cousin Rich, now there was a wild child — something Kevin’s parents didn’t know when they sent him to Maui, or Kai never would have been conceived, I can promise you that. But Kevin wasn’t like Rich. He might have gotten a little carried away with aloha, but when we found out I was pregnant he never thought twice about it — he called his parents right up, told them he was sorry to disappoint them but could they please send some extra money so he could bring his pregnant fiance home and
marry her?”
Maddie’s eyebrows lifted. “And they did? They were okay with that?”
Malaya grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t say they were okay with it. Kevin did break the church’s rules, and his mission was cancelled, and it changed all their plans for his education. But as I said before, the Fords are good people. They sent the money, they took us both into their home in Provo, and they welcomed me into their family with open arms. I’ve never felt anything but love from Stan and Amy, and they’d do anything for Kai.”
Maddie was quiet a moment. “Wow.”
“You’re telling me,” Malaya agreed. “I honestly believe they would have adopted me right along with Kai after Kevin died, if I’d been willing. They always treated me like I was their own daughter.” Her eyes brightened with moisture. “Kevin’s death was a horrible shock to all of us. He was killed in a bicycle accident with a car at a city intersection. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. It probably shouldn’t have surprised us as much as it did because he was always so reckless… at everything. But at the same time, he just seemed too full of life to die.”
She buried her face in her cooking. “I hated to upset the Fords even more, but I couldn’t stay in Utah. It was so cold and bleak that winter… and as good as everyone was to me, I was just so lonely for Nana and everyone back here. I needed my family and I wanted to bring my baby back home. I wanted to raise him in the sunshine.”
“And they were okay with that, too,” Maddie surmised.
“They were heartbroken,” Malaya replied. “But they didn’t argue with me. Amy even confessed that if she were me, she would feel exactly the same way. Even though they’d just lost their son, and they knew it meant I’d be taking their grandson thousands of miles away from them.”
“Wow,” Maddie said again.
Malaya smiled. “You know, people ask me sometimes if it doesn’t bother me that they ‘stole Kai away’ after high school. Tempted him out there for summer vacations, then offered him money for college.” She chuckled to herself. “I’ll tell you this, Miss Maddie. You’ll never hear one bad word come out of my mouth about Stan and Amy Ford. Ever. And that’s the truth.”
The front door opened. Malaya dropped her spoon and hastened into the front room, and Maddie followed.
Aki and Kai — who, Maddie noted, looked like a giant standing next to his father — greeted them with guarded smiles. Nana was with them also, and her soft brown eyes twinkled at Maddie with welcome.
“Well?” Malaya prompted.
“We’ll get him a lawyer,” Aki said softly. “My brothers have some contacts in Hilo, and so does Kai. We’ll start making calls first thing tomorrow.” He bowed to Maddie with a smile. “Lovely to see you again so soon, Tomato Chan.”
She returned the gesture. “Likewise.”
He looked up, then glanced around the remainder of the small house with a frown. “Where is Gloria?”
Malaya’s forehead creased. “I… don’t know. I thought she’d be home by now. You haven’t heard from her?”
Aki’s face paled. His entire body stiffened with tension, and he muttered a Japanese word Maddie had never heard him use before, but which she remembered was one of old Mr. Hiraga’s favorites. She didn’t know its translation but could guess its intent.
Aki sprang into motion and dashed through the door into Gloria’s room.
Malaya followed. “What is it?” she demanded.
“Has she taken anything?” his voice rang out from the small chamber.
“Who can tell in this mess?” Malaya shrieked. “What’s happened? Tell me!”
“Is this her purse? Her wallet?”
“Yes! Why?”
Aki reappeared in the main room with his wife close on his heels. He paused for breath, seemingly to calm himself. “I am upsetting you all for nothing. I apologize.”
“What is it, Dad?” Kai echoed. “You might as well tell us.”
Aki rubbed his face with his hands, then smoothed them over his nearly bald head. He had always been such an incredibly patient and even-tempered father, Maddie couldn’t help but sympathize with his current misery. He had always doted on baby Gloria, especially. “One of the men told me that Dylan’s been talking about moving on,” he explained quietly. “He’s bored of Lana'i and wants to live someplace with a little more ‘action.’”
“Well, amen and hallelujah, Jesus!” Nana exclaimed. “That’s good news!”
Aki’s face turned grim. “This man also overheard Dylan telling Gloria that he would take her with him.”
The room went silent.
“But she wouldn’t go,” Kai pronounced, looking to his mother for confirmation. “Would she?”
Malaya exhaled loudly. She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I don’t know, I don’t know. That girl’s head these days… Who knows?”
“It doesn’t matter!” Nana proclaimed with certainty.
Malaya opened her eyes and looked at her mother, as did everyone else.
Nana drew up to her full, diminutive height. “Think sense. This boy doesn’t need her. There’s girls everywhere! He tells her what she wants to hear. If he leaves, he leaves alone.” Her voice lowered. “Most likely, without her even knowing when he goes.”
“But Nana,” Kai argued. “What if he does care enough to take her with him?” He turned to his father. “Did Dylan say where he wanted to go?”
Aki’s face turned even grimmer. “He’s asked for a company transfer to the resort in Mexico. Or Costa Rica.”
“Costa Rica!” Malaya shrieked.
“No, Mom,” Kai assured, although his voice sounded equally horrified. “She’s still a minor. She couldn’t get there without a passport and papers.”
“There are fakes!” Malaya cried. “If she left the country she might never get back in!”
Nana sighed and shook her head.
Gloria popped open the front door and slipped inside.
All heads turned to stare at her.
The teen surveyed the now-silent assembly with a puzzled look. “What?” she said petulantly. “Did somebody die or something?”
Chapter 13
Malaya growled like a lion. If she could have breathed fire, she would have. “Where have you been?”
“At Ellery’s!” Gloria shot back. “I told you that!”
“That was hours ago!”
“Well, you said dinner would be late, didn’t you? You texted; I adjusted!” Gloria cast a glance toward the kitchen table. “And I obviously didn’t miss it! So what’s the big deal?”
Everyone including Maddie let out a collective sigh of relief.
“There’s no big deal,” Kai answered, stepping over and sweeping his little sister into a sideways bear hug. “We’re just happy to see you, that’s all.” He dropped an affectionate kiss on the top of her head, and even as Gloria made a show of stiffening in response, Maddie could see that she was hiding a smile.
“Let’s just eat,” Malaya snapped.
Maddie decided to make herself useful. She headed into the kitchen and set the table as best she could without getting in Malaya’s way. The task was not particularly easy. Six adults made for a tight fit around the table, and that was with two people on stools instead of chairs. Maddie took one of the stools and regretted the choice immediately. Not only did the seat sit her higher than anyone else at the table, but it wobbled her like a drunkard besides, and she felt awkward enough already. Since Kai had returned to the house with his father, she hadn’t once been able to look him in the eyes.
“Oh, crap!” Gloria said loudly, breaking a lengthy silence as they all dug into their noodles.
Maddie looked over to find the girl’s gaze fixed on her as if noting her presence for the first time.
“I forgot!” Gloria continued, her face beaming with mischief as she looked at Kai, then at Maddie again. “I missed the big reveal! How did it go?”
Maddie’s face reddened.
“What are you talking about?” Kai asked.
> Gloria rolled her eyes. “I mean, give me a play-by-play! Did Maddie surprise you at your office? Did you recognize her?”
Maddie couldn’t look at Kai, so she looked at Nana instead. Then she looked at Malaya. Then Aki. Every one of them appeared far too interested in the topic for comfort.
“Yes, she did surprise me,” Kai answered. “And yes, of course I recognized her.”
“I don’t believe you,” Gloria teased. She turned to Maddie. “Did he really?”
Maddie’s cheeks were on fire. “Yes, he recognized me.”
“Well?” Gloria prompted. “Then what happened?”
“Nothing,” Maddie answered.
“Oh, come on,” Gloria wheedled suggestively. “Something had to—”
“Well, it didn’t!” Maddie retorted, a little too sharply.
Gloria rolled her eyes again. “Kai!” the girl chastised. “What is wrong with you? Is there no hope whatsoever?”
Kai glared at her, but didn’t speak.
“Gloria,” Aki warned in a low voice.
“What?” Gloria protested. “I’m only pointing out what everybody’s already thinking, aren’t I? I mean seriously, look at her!”
All eyes darted involuntarily to Maddie, who had just managed to pick up a full load on her chopsticks.
“He’s twenty-five years old!” Gloria continued. “What else is he waiting for?”
Maddie’s noodles fell off.
“Gloria!” Aki said louder.
Maddie scooted her stool back and dove down under the table. She’d made a considerable mess. How convenient.
“I’m only asking the question,” Gloria protested.
Nana cleared her throat. “Seems like a reasonable enough thing to talk about to me.”
Maddie’s heart fell as she plucked the wayward strands off her leg and the floor. Et tu, Brute?
“You have some advice on healthy relationships you’d like to share with everyone, Gloria, child?” Nana continued pleasantly.
Silence. Maddie straightened up and raised her head. Gloria was now staring at her own noodles. Nana, who was sitting close on Maddie’s left, winked slyly. “Didn’t think so,” she mumbled.
