The Hawaiian Quilt

by Brunstetter, Wanda E. ; Brunstetter, Jean;

  Winter had its own fragrance. Even snow sometimes smelled like rain. One thing she could always count on this time of the year was the pleasant aroma of wood smoke in the air. As much as she missed Hawaii, if she lived there she’d probably miss some things about winter here.

  As Mandy approached their phone shack, she stopped to check for messages. The chilly wind picked up again, as quickly as it had stopped, causing the falling snow to pelt Mandy’s face. She found welcome relief inside the small wooden building, despite its lack of heat.

  Taking a seat on the cold metal chair, Mandy pressed the answering machine button. The first two messages were for her father, and the third one was for Mom. Mandy waited for the fourth message to come up. Her heartbeat quickened when she heard Luana’s voice.

  “Mandy, this is Luana Palu. I received your letter, and I’m so excited. After comparing the picture you sent me with the one I showed you of our missing quilt, I’ve concluded that the one you found is almost certainly Makaio’s and mine. I can’t begin to imagine how it could have gotten all the way from Hawaii to Shipshewana, Indiana. You finding it has to be more than a coincidence. I see it as a God-sent miracle.”

  Tears welled in Mandy’s eyes and spilled over onto her cheeks as Luana’s message continued. “If you would be willing to send me the quilt, I’ll gladly pay you for it, and also reimburse your postage. Please give me a call as soon as you can.”

  When the message ended, Mandy remained in the phone shack several more minutes, feeling elated with this awesome news and thinking things through. She could box up the quilt and mail it tomorrow, but it might take a few weeks to get there, or might never make it at all. Apparently it had taken nearly two weeks for her letter and picture to reach Hawaii, or she would have heard from Luana sooner.

  I’d rather take it there myself. Mandy moistened her chapped lips with her tongue. Mom and Dad won’t approve of me flying, even though I haven’t joined the church, but I’m going to talk to my cousin Ruth and see if she will help me book a flight to Kauai.

  South Bend, Indiana

  Mandy’s heartbeat quickened when, one week later, she sat in the airport, waiting to board her plane. Flying was a new experience for her, and traveling alone for such a distance made it even more frightening. Yet her excitement over making this trip to Kauai overrode the nervousness. She could hardly wait to see Luana and Makaio’s expression when she took their quilt from her suitcase and presented it to them. She’d never dreamed she’d have an opportunity to visit Hawaii again, let alone hand-deliver their lovely wedding quilt.

  Mandy reflected on her parents’ reaction when she told them Ruth had not only booked her flight to Kauai but also loaned her part of the money for a round-trip ticket. Mom was stunned and begged Mandy not to go. Dad said it was Mandy’s choice. He not only gave her time off from work, but he encouraged Mandy to do what she felt was right.

  It’s not like I’m going to stay there forever. She gripped the handle of her carry-on bag. I’ll only be staying at the B&B two weeks. Then I’ll return home, and everything will go back to normal.

  Mandy’s flight would go to Detroit, Michigan. From there she would change to a plane taking her to Los Angeles, and another plane would fly on to Lihue, Hawaii. The airport in Lihue wasn’t far from where the cruise ship docked when she and Ellen got stranded on Kauai.

  She smiled inwardly, thinking about Ellen’s response when she’d told her about finding the quilt and the plans she’d made to take it to Kauai herself. Ellen had clasped Mandy’s hand and cautioned, “Don’t miss your plane on the day of your return flight or I’ll have to come and get you. Of course, since joining the church, I won’t be allowed to fly unless it’s an emergency.”

  Mandy had giggled and replied, “If I get stranded again, you’ll be the first person I call, because it will be an emergency.”

  “Will you see Ken while you’re there?” Ellen’s furrowed brows revealed concern.

  “No, he got married in November, so it wouldn’t be right for me to seek him out. I’ll be enjoying my time with Luana and Makaio, though, and it’ll be fun to see how much little Primrose has grown.”

  “Please give them my best.” Ellen’s sincere hug told Mandy her friend had sent her off with a blessing. Even Sadie, Barbara, and Gideon wished her well, saying they would pray she had a safe trip.

  It’s nice to have good friends, Mandy thought. Both here and in Hawaii.

  On the plane, Mandy sat with her nose pressed against the window, in awe of all she saw. Flying wasn’t nearly as frightening as she’d imagined. In fact, she rather liked it.

  When the airplane first took off, she’d seen what looked like miniature buildings and vehicles below, but as the pilot took them higher into the sky, the buildings were replaced with nothing but white, fluffy clouds, giving the appearance of cotton. In some places, the edges of the clouds were lit up by the sun’s reflection. It was so different than watching clouds from the ground. Some were tall and billowy, like pillars against the bluest of skies, and others so distinct she could imagine touching them.

  “Beautiful,” Mandy whispered, briefly closing her eyes. Being up this high gave her an inkling of how it must be for God looking down on the world He created.

  Mandy’s eyes snapped open, and she clenched her fingers when a vibration went through the plane. Quickly, she looked out the window again but saw nothing amiss.

  “Is this your first time flying?” the elderly lady beside her asked.

  “Yes, it is.” Mandy smiled. “Can you tell?”

  The pleasant woman nodded slightly.

  “This is all so new to me. Since the minute I took a seat, I’ve been intrigued with everything going on.” She extended her hand. “Sorry, I should have introduced myself earlier. I’m Mandy Frey.”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Charlotte Lowell.” She shook Mandy’s hand. “I felt the same way on my first flight many years ago. The bumps and vibrations we might be feeling are nothing to worry about. It’s only a bit of turbulence.”

  Mandy felt herself relax. On this, her first opportunity to fly, she felt as if God had put this nice lady beside her on purpose.

  Please keep us safe as we make this journey, she silently prayed. And watch over my family and friends while I’m gone.

  Kapaa

  “Your feet are gonna start to ache if you don’t sit down and relax,” Makaio told his wife. “Mandy’s room is ready, and it won’t be time to pick her up at the airport for two more hours. So you may as well join me for a glass of mango lemonade and some of those macadamia nut cookies you made this morning.”

  Luana shook her head. “Those cookies are meant to be a treat for Mandy when she gets here. They’re one of her favorites.”

  “Doesn’t mean we can’t eat a few of them now.” Makaio stepped up to Luana and kissed her cheek. “E hele mai—come and take a seat.”

  Luana sighed. “Oh, all right, but we’re only drinking the lemonade. If I set out any of the cookies, you won’t be able to stop at one. Pretty soon, the whole jar will be gone.” She went to the refrigerator and took out the pitcher of lemonade, placing it on the table, along with two glasses. After taking a seat, she poured for both of them.

  “Ah, this hits the spot.” Makaio drank half his drink then paused and smacked his lips. “Yep, that’s real good stuff.”

  Luana glanced at the clock again. “Where do you think she is now?”

  “Who?”

  She swatted his arm playfully. “Mandy. Who else?”

  He shrugged. “Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean headed toward here. Probably two hours out if the plane’s on time.”

  “Maybe we should head for the airport now. She’s supposed to arrive at 8:21 p.m., and I want to make sure we’re there on time to pick her up.”

  Makaio rolled his eyes. “It takes less than thirty minutes to get to the airport from here.”

  “But traffic could be bad. You know how it gets sometimes coming out of town.”

>   “You’re right, but it’s usually worse when people are getting off work or heading out to a luau or some other function.” He gestured to his watch. “Let’s wait another half hour.”

  “Okay.” Luana leaned back in her chair and tried to relax. The last time she’d been this excited was when she became a grandma. She’d missed Mandy and looked forward to seeing her again. To add to her excitement, she could hardly wait to see the quilt Mandy had found. It still didn’t seem possible it could be her and Makaio’s wedding quilt.

  No matter how hard Luana tried to keep her emotions in check, the thought lingered: What if it isn’t our quilt after all? If not, it’ll feel like we’ve lost it all over again. But then, how many quilts would have the initials L. M. sewn in the corner, as the picture of the one Mandy found showed? Well, in a short time, my questions will be answered and we’ll know for sure.

  Chapter 37

  Lihue, Hawaii

  The minute Mandy entered the baggage claim area, she spotted Luana and Makaio, both wearing eager expressions. She ran toward them, excitedly. Before any words were spoken, Luana’s warm hug encompassed Mandy.

  “It’s so good to see you,” they said in unison.

  Then Makaio stepped forward and pulled Mandy close. Tears flooded her eyes, and she gulped on a sob. In some ways it felt like she’d been gone longer than nine months. In another way it seemed as if she’d never left at all—most likely because there hadn’t been a day when her thoughts hadn’t returned to the islands and the people she’d come to know and love. Oh, how she had missed the warmth and beauty of Kauai. Even more, she’d missed spending time with her Hawaiian friends. It would probably be harder to leave this time, but at least she’d have fourteen full days to spend with Luana and Makaio before returning home.

  “Let’s get your suitcase.” Makaio pointed to the revolving conveyor belt where her checked luggage would be coming.

  As Mandy stood waiting for her suitcase to appear, she took in the sights around her. She saw the familiar landscape of the hills in the distance and felt a warm breeze coming through the open areas in front of the building.

  “There it is!” she shouted, when her luggage appeared. “The one with the green ribbon tied to the handle.”

  Once Makaio retrieved her luggage, the Palus led the way to their car. Before getting in, Mandy paused and lifted a silent prayer: Thank You, Lord, for bringing me here safely.

  “How were your flights?” Luana asked as Makaio directed the vehicle onto the main road.

  “A little bumpy sometimes, but it didn’t bother me much—especially when the nice lady sitting beside me helped calm my fears.” Mandy rolled down the back window a crack and breathed in the fresh, balmy air, feeling her whole body relax. “I could get used to traveling by plane. It’s so much quicker,” she commented, resting deeply against her seat.

  “Were you nervous making connections?” Makaio asked.

  “A little at first, but my cousin Ruth has flown before, so she told me what to expect.” Mandy put the window down farther and held on to her head covering.

  “You didn’t break any church rules by flying, I hope.” Luana looked over her shoulder with concern.

  “No, because I have not yet joined the Amish church—although, my mother wasn’t too happy about me coming.”

  “She didn’t want you to return our quilt?” Luana’s tone was one of surprise.

  “Mom wanted me to mail the quilt, but I felt better returning it to you in person.”

  “Speaking of the quilt,” Luana said, “I can hardly wait to see it. I’m almost one hundred percent sure from the picture you sent that it’s the same one we were given as a wedding present.”

  Mandy smiled. “One of the first things I’ll do when we get to the B&B is open my suitcase.”

  Kapaa

  When Mandy entered the bed-and-breakfast, she felt as though she was at home. With the exception of a few new plants in the living room, everything looked exactly as it had when she and Ellen left last April.

  “We have the Primrose Room ready for you. Is that okay?” Luana asked.

  “Yes, it’ll be perfect. Speaking of Primrose, when will I get to see your sweet baby granddaughter?”

  “Ailani will be coming to work tomorrow. She always brings the baby with her.” Luana picked up a framed picture sitting on a side table. “Can you believe how much my granddaughter has grown?”

  “She’s adorable.”

  “Yes, we feel truly blessed.”

  It was tempting to ask how Ken was doing, but Mandy figured it wasn’t a topic that should be discussed, since as far as she knew, he’d gotten married back in November. Even though she no longer dwelled on the feelings she’d once had for him, occasionally she thought about the friendship they’d established and hoped he was doing well.

  Makaio set Mandy’s suitcase on the floor. “Should I take this to your room now so you can unpack your things?”

  “You can leave it there for the moment. I’m going to open it now and take out the quilt.”

  Mandy went down on her knees and unzipped the suitcase. Then she lifted the covering out and handed it to Luana.

  Makaio inhaled sharply, and Luana gasped, clasping her hands to her chest. “It … it’s our beautiful wedding day quilt!” She lifted one corner and pointed to the initials. “See here—L. M.” Tears gathered in her dark eyes and dripped onto her cheeks. “I truly never thought I would see this again, much less that it would be found in such an unexpected place.”

  Makaio slipped his arm around his wife’s waist, then gave Mandy a wide grin. “Mahalo nui loa—thank you very much.”

  Wiping away her own tears, Mandy barely managed to say, “You’re welcome.”

  It did her heart good to see and actually feel how much they appreciated receiving this quilt. Luana and Makaio showed Christ’s love to others as they entertained strangers almost on a daily basis. It was her utmost pleasure to see them get something in return. She thanked God for allowing her to be instrumental in getting their beloved Hawaiian quilt back where it belonged.

  “We can talk more about the quilt after you’re settled in,” Luana suggested. “I’m sure after your long day of travel, you must be exhausted.”

  “I am a little weary,” Mandy admitted. “It’s hard to believe I started out this morning in Indiana and arrived here on Kauai before the day was out.”

  “While Makaio is putting your suitcase and carryall in your room, I’ll put some water in the teakettle, and we can have a little snack out on the lanai before it’s time for bed. It’ll be good to catch up with each other’s lives.” Luana winked at Mandy. “Oh, and I made your favorite macadamia nut cookies.”

  Mandy moistened her lips. “Sounds wonderful.”

  The following morning when Mandy woke up, she took her purple muumuu out of the suitcase and slipped it over her head. While she was in Hawaii she would dress like she had during her previous stay. Once Mandy joined the church, which she felt obligated to do, there would be no opportunity to wear the dress again. It was like one last fling during her rumschpringe days. At least I’m not doing anything totally crazy or wild like some young people do, she thought, looking at herself in the mirror.

  It was tempting to go outside, pick a pretty flower, and put it behind her right ear. Instead, Mandy secured the black scarf she’d brought along to the back of her head in preparation of going to the kitchen to help Luana with breakfast. It would be like old times, except this morning she was the only guest in the house. Luana had mentioned last night that they didn’t have any other B&B guests scheduled for the next two days. Mandy had already determined when those guests checked in, she would help out by making beds, cleaning rooms, and offering to do anything else that would help Luana. It was the least she could do in exchange for the free room they’d offered her. Makaio had tried to reimburse Mandy for the amount she’d paid for the quilt when she’d found it at the thrift store. But she’d been adamant, saying the money she’
d paid should be considered a gift.

  Mandy lifted the window to enjoy the Hawaiian breeze and listen to the birds’ sweet melodies coming from the trees. A flash of gray and white appeared, landing on a branch. The red-headed bird looked like one she’d seen once before in the Palus’ yard. Weerit, churit, weerit, churit, it chirped.

  “Hey, I should be the one scolding you.” Mandy giggled, remembering how a bird looking a lot like this one had left its calling card on her muumuu. Even the memory of Ken wiping the splotch from the shoulder of her dress held a special place in her heart.

  When good smells from the kitchen began to waft upstairs, Mandy quickly closed the window. I need to quit thinking about Ken and see if Luana needs help with anything.

  Mandy’s nose twitched when she entered the kitchen and smelled a sweet aroma. “Something smells familiar.” She peered over Luana’s shoulder and studied the batter in a large bowl. “Is it my favorite mango-flavored pancakes with sweet coconut syrup?”

  Nodding, Luana smiled. “It’s one way I can thank you for bringing our quilt back to us.”

  “It was my pleasure, and I’m happy it all worked out. I will carry the memory of giving it to you for the rest of my life.” Mandy slipped into a colorful apron. “Now what can I do to help?”

  “Nothing really, unless you want to…” A knock at the door interrupted Luana. “Would you mind seeing who that is, Mandy? I’m about to start cooking the pancakes, and I don’t want them to burn.” She reached over and grabbed the spatula from the pan.

  “No problem.” Mandy hurried across the room. Turning the knob, she opened the door. Heat flooded her face when she looked into Ken’s blue eyes as he stood, holding a carton of eggs.

  “Mandy!” His eyes widened. “I sure didn’t expect to see you here this morning. What brings you back to Kauai, and how long will you be staying?”