She spotted the orange Plastic Fantastic poking upright out of the sand; Mishael was nearby. Todd pointed to a lawn chair when he recognized her. “Have a seat,” he told Toni. Mishael was sipping a bottled iced-tea. He got up and opened the cooler. Celina wasn’t around.
“Toni, do you want something cold? A bottled water, tea or…” Mishael asked. She took a water and sat down, putting her essential bag between her feet.
“Well done, Mishael!” she said with enthusiasm. “Impressive! Riding vintage at that!” she added between approving smiles.
Mishael beamed. His father pointed to her bag and said, “Toni, you’ve earned your bonus! And to think, in three days you will be back to Santa Fe. You’ve made the conclusion of Mishael’s tour a wonderful success. Thank you, again.” Toni noticed, he said nothing about another job offer as was insinuated in June but still... Was the emergency money now her bonus? Well, now!
There was some small talk. And then, Todd asked Mishael to help him walk the beach chairs, umbrella and cooler to the car. Celina left shortly after Mishael came in from the water. She took a few things with her back to the bed and breakfast but there had been too much for Todd to take in one trip to the car. After dropping Celina at their room, he returned, parking on the street.
Todd said his goodbyes. He and Celina would be leaving in the morning. He hugged Mishael tightly before looking into his eyes with frank admiration. When Todd got into his rental car, Mishael said, “Dad, I am sending something to you in the mail. It’s a birthday gift. Please look for it.... When do you leave New York?” Mishael’s half sister, Misha was due to start school and accordingly, they would be returning to Santa Fe next week.
“I’ll send it to the ranch,” Mishael said.
“I look forward to it but son, it’s your birthday not mine!” Todd reminded him.
Mishael nodding, said, “Father, the D’Almata way is not the way of America. Besides, a son may give his father a gift at any time he chooses!”
“I’ll see you at your birthday celebration… Give it to me then,” Todd told him. So, it was agreed.
Walking away, Toni asked about the gift the prince had for his father, Todd Nelson.
“It is a Bible. It will help him if he will heed to the great God of the universe,” Mishael told her. Toni nodded. She wondered if twenty years from now, all of D’Almata would be describing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as “great God of the universe.” Toni often used that particular phrase when she was differentiating between gods and GOD.
Then Mishael said anxiously, “Toni, you are leaving next week for Santa Fe? I didn’t realize. Hugh said you were coming to D’Almata?”
Toni shook her head. “What? Oh, you’re mixed up. Your cousin offered me a teaching position but I haven’t accepted his offer and even if so, I have obligations back home,” Toni told him. She wondered how much Hugh had said about the job offer to Mishael.
“Yes, but my birthday?” said Mishael. “Hugh told me you wouldn’t miss my birthday celebration.”
“Your birthday…? Well, of course,” Toni stammered. Toni missed birthdays all the time. Birthdays had never been a commemorative goal of hers and when her children were small she forced herself to make it special for them. Even her own fiftieth hadn’t seemed worth noting except that she was getting older, and more wrinkled and absent minded. Not that Toni didn’t love the party and the gathering of friends and family, because she did, but… In truth, she hadn’t thought much of Mishael’s birthday although now she understood that she must think of it. She said, “I am planning on sending you a wonderful gift.”
“Well, that is not necessary – please don’t. Just bring it when you come. I will be cross... very cross if you do not attend.” Mishael ended the conversation by lifting his chin and strutting ahead toward the judges’ stand where he secured the Plastic Fantastic in care of a surfing buddy, leaving Toni in his wake.
“Well, now…” said Toni as she followed him through the menagerie of beach goers.
When they returned to the house after watching most of the events at Forecastle, Toni found out what had happened earlier – at noon. She coveted a nap but the others were hungry and she was curious about the intruders.
Rifta had straightened the garage, confiding that it had been “a real aftermath” when he had finished with “those guys.”
Hugh said, “They informed us under duress,” he looked over at Rifta who smiled at this statement – “that they had been told we would be gone. No one was to be home. The young man was no other than the photographer we hired for your birthday party, Toni. That explains the phone call about the loss of the pictures. Also, he was the same hooligan that was here the night of your… your almost abduction.”
Toni looked from Rifta to Hugh and then to Mishael. Mishael was listening unemotionally while working through a bag of Bar B-Que potato chips. She said, “I don’t understand? The pictures?”
Hugh said, “Yes, the next day after the party. I got a call saying the pictures were ruined in an automobile accident… The photography studio was apologetic. I think if we did some investigation, we would find that the studio doesn’t even know this scoundrel but he somehow played the part of a photographer and their representative.”
Rifta said, “Monsters, these guys.”
“The men were hired to plant drugs, illegal drugs in your apartment and here in the house, but we caught them.” Hugh said in anger with a significant look towards Mishael. “Mishael, I think some one does not want you becoming the next king of D’Almata,” Hugh told him.
Mishael slapped his hands together to get the potato chip crumbs off but also to introduce a distinct statement. “What else is new? Cousin Huram, it seems to me that this effort has been in the making since I can remember. Is that not so?”
Hugh sputtered something in their own language and then he said in English, “Yes, but your birthday which is pivotal to only one other person in line for the throne, makes this specific power play noteworthy.”
Mishael said something in the D’Almatan and then in English he added, “And so, we will not discuss this now as it is time for lunch.”
Toni had already put sandwich fixings from the refrigerator onto the countertop. After receiving a nod of surrender from his cousin, Mishael looked at Toni and then, at the lunch preparations and then to her again with significance. Toni understood this to mean – Conversation over; get busy with lunch.
Before sunset, Mishael was back in the water at the Beachcomber break. Rifta stayed at the house while Hugh and Toni went with Mishael.
Hugh got a table in the restaurant and Toni joined him after only a few minutes with Mishael.
Hugh had watched her when she stood in the sand looking at Mishael as he paddled out past the impact zone. Returning to the boardwalk, Toni came through the restaurant doors obviously deep in thought but she smiled at Hugh when she saw him looking at her. Although the swelling was down, Hugh sported a classic black eye.
Knowing he was altogether conscientious about his appearance, Toni decided this was not Hugh’s first black eye. He wore it with indifference.
Since she had eaten lunch late, she was not hungry in the least but agreed to a piece of pizza if Hugh ordered one. Pizza was one dish that the Beachcomber did well and they had ordered one and sometimes two every other day over the last several weeks.
After the waitress left their table, Hugh glanced about before saying, “I think you understand now what has happened with Mishael. The enemies’ plan was not a shrewd one.”
Toni nodded. She said, “It is strange. I do wonder if these people might not try something violent against Mishael… now that their other plan has fallen apart.”
Hugh shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.” He took the drinks from the waitress and then added, “She was trying to get Todd Nelson to change his mind before Mishael’s birthday; after that day the rules change. Maybe another depraved effort, then.”
“She? Do you mean Rose Cervant
es? I guessed it was her but then I knew you two to be friends…” Toni’s voice trailed off. Something inside her chest squeezed dully. Sad news brought on the same sort of effect.
Up went the eyebrows. “Friends? I suppose we were friends,” he said allowing his eyebrows a rest. “In D’Almatan politics, you keep one’s enemy near at hand – sometimes as close as a friend. Yes. We were very close but I over calculated. Although, I understood her intention, I did not know I was part of her plan to unseat Mishael.”
Just how close were they? Now, Toni felt a lump in her throat. She had her eyes on the water, hoping to see Mishael get a wave on the Plastic Fantastic. Toni had assumed a similar scenario but Hugh’s words made her uncomfortable. She managed to say, “Well, now…”
Hugh glanced at her sharply and then said with force, “I know now that God would have me make different strategies. Perhaps, as I proceed with God’s help, I will not over calculate again.
“You see, when Rose realized that I was not going to be her pawn, she retaliated against you,” Hugh said. “You became her target for two reasons.” When Toni looked him in the eye, she noted that His grin was mischievous. Her heart did a nervous jig and she quickly turned back to the water.
“Your birthday party revealed that not only Mishael but his cousin was growing excessively fond of you,” He told her.
Awkward! Toni took a sip of her water and nodded, her eyes averted.
“Also, Todd Nelson put the final days of Mishael’s Tour-before-Duty in your hands, in a way. His assumption about you was proven correct when he talked with Mishael and saw how the summer was progressing.” Hugh was watching the water too, as two locals caught waves when a set arrived. Mishael didn’t get one.
“I am guessing her strategy was to denigrate you before the Nelsons and when she didn’t succeed, she planned to forcefully remove you. After her first failure, the second time she would have the police do it I suppose but I am not certain. Either way, if the drugs – cocaine according to Rifta, were found in the main house – say in Mishael’s room, his father, Todd would have reacted strongly.” Hugh said this and then lifted a shoulder to shrug. “Would he have changed his mind about Mishael, defaulting to Misha his daughter to ascend to the D’Almata throne, instead? Probably no, but I don’t know how much Rose Cervantes set Todd up with innuendos and outright lies.
Given these circumstances, who knew Todd’s reaction?
He added, “Also, D’Almata has some stringent laws concerning our royalty... For good reason, of course. The planted drugs would have proved Mishael’s undoing.”
The pizza arrived. Toni shifted her thoughts to food as she was suddenly hungry. It was all the talk but because Hugh was the one talking, she decided it was actually all the listening that piqued her appetite. Toni asked Hugh to bless the food. He did in a simple way but added, “… and thank you for bringing Toni into our lives. Bless her too.”
Saturday morning dawned red. There was a storm stalling hundreds of miles off the coast and the swell from Friday and now Saturday, was evidence.
Looking dejected, Mishael waved to Billie who head and shoulders, could be seen moving towards them through the crowd. Toni wondered at Mishael’s sudden mood swing. She watched as he met up with Billie. Noise amplitude with the people and the surf and the contest announcements forbade her from hearing what they were saying. Billie appeared serious and with Mishael looking as if he was going to cry, she determined someone or something caused the prince to lose confidence.
What was going on? Rifta standing next to her, nodded toward Mishael and said, “Yes, it’s the number six.”
Toni recalled that the number was prevalent concerning Mishael and this contest… including, his number in the heat and his division.
Billie had taken Mishael’s forearm and they were praying. A moment or two later, they were smiling, even laughing as they headed for the shade under the gargantuan blue and yellow umbrella. Billie coming a pace behind, gave Toni a wink above Mishael’s head.
The number six? Could it be that the D’Almata superstition was threatening to throw Mishael off his game? Toni decided to ask Billie later.
The water condition couldn’t have been better. The swell was chest high and glassy. The wave came straight on due to the storm, breaking and angling predominantly off to the left as Toni examined it from the beach. The only missing factor was a moderate offshore wind. At present there was no wind, at all. The deck banner was limp when they left the beach house earlier for contest.
It was 8am when the horn sounded twice to commence the second and final day of the 3rd Forecastle Annual Surf Contest.
Alex Salerno did the best for his heat. In the end, he won as he outmaneuvered the other amateurs. Rick, Billie and Mishael were high-fiving and hugging even strangers who got too close to their victory revelry.
And then Mishael’s finalist heat commenced. Anticipation tempered with calm filled Toni’s chest. It was immediately obvious that Mishael was out skilled by his two competitors but he was getting some favorable waves. Number Two wearing red in the contest was disqualified when he interfered with a wave Mishael already had possession of. Number Two refused to give way and the judges made a harsh terminal call. Mishael was wearing orange matching his board which made it easy for Hugh and Rifta sitting high in the bleachers.
Billie, Dianna Cliff and Toni watching from the sand looked hopelessly at one another because Mishael was going to come in a poor second and time was running out.
A classic, well-formed set approached and both Mishael and Number Four paddled to meet it and to drop in. There had been several waves peeling both left and right but nothing surfable – not like the first wave of this set. As it began to peel, north and south, the competitors both caught it. With less than fifty feet between them, one went right and the other surfer went left. Mishael was regular foot taking off at the peak. Number Four in yellow was goofy foot.
This was Number Four’s last legitimate wave for the finalist heat. He was far ahead of Mishael already but Toni concentrated on Mishael.
She heard Billie shout, “It’s pitching out… He’s going to get barreled!” Toni began jumping up and down. She was screaming useless directions to the now tubed Mishael. Dianna grabbed Toni and picked her up. It was mayhem among spectators as they tried to watch both performances of the contestants. Yellow had a strong clean ride but nothing like Mishael’s. Mishael got air when the wave closed out although Toni was sure that particular maneuver was purely accidental. The judges loved it.
Mishael walked away the winner of the ‘Guy’s 15 to 17 Intermediate’ competition at the 3rd Forecastle Annual Surf Contest.
Chapter 24
After the high excitement of the surfing contest, Sunday might have been anticlimactic except both Hugh and Mishael were new converts filled with Holy Spirit enthusiasm and expectation.
Rifta was making breakfast – not having gone to bed yet from his night shift, when Toni came through the kitchen door.
“All quiet last night?” she asked him.
“Now, yes. Those guys didn’t like the medicine I give, no?” answered Rifta with a chuckle.
Toni put some water on for tea. She said, “I suppose not. So, what happened to them out there in the garage once you were finished?”
“Hugh said he send them to D’Almata to rot in his dungeon if they come again… That good,” Rifta said grinning like a five year old at the circus. He poured his last cup of coffee for the morning and began to make a fresh pot for Hugh and Mishael.
“Does Hugh have a dungeon?” Toni asked, forgetting about the intruders.
“Here Hugh, ask him,” Rifta said as he nodded toward the staircase. Toni looked over to see Hugh ready for church was descending the stairs. She had no plans of asking him but Rifta said, “Toni wants you tell about your dungeons.” Toni shook her head disapprovingly.
Hugh came over and inspected the brewing coffee pot. He said, “Dungeons… the family jail but they are rarely occupied
nowadays.”
Toni couldn’t decide how serious the conversation was and duly she changed it. She said, “Ruth wants to give you three men a farewell luncheon today after church. I told her we would bring ice cream. I don’t know what she has planned but I know for sure you all have had a genuine taste of Christian fellowship Americana.” She arose from the counter stool to prepare her tea. Rifta was busy with the eggs.
Hugh said somberly, “The Forecastle Church on the Rock and Ruth’s lunches afterward are what a Christian Church should be, I suppose. I will miss these Sundays we have had this summer.”
Toni handed him the cream after she splashed some into her own cup. She said, “I’ll miss them too but you will see that God has something wonderful for you as you pursue Him and your new faith.”
Hugh sat at the counter and waited for Rifta to serve him. Toni got out the silverware and some paper napkins. She seated herself across from him as he spoke. “Yes, I am hoping so,” he said and then he smiled wide and his eyebrows did a curtsy. “I sense it and you know, I feel like a child again. It is like a miracle because who would feel this… this new lease on life? I know God has forgiven me.”
Rifta threw a mixing spoon ungraciously into the sink. It made a clattering racket. Hugh looked past Toni but she didn’t turn. Toni kept her eyes on Hugh. Rifta said, “Yes, God did the job on those monsters Friday… you think?”
Toni replayed the imagery of Rifta catching the men in the garage as they readied to plant drugs in her apartment upstairs.
Hugh said, “Rifta, God used us. Although, I haven’t known this great God of the universe for long, I’ve known a lot about Him. He uses people many times to do his work.”
“Ah, so God used me to beat the…” Rifta hesitated here and Toni was sure he was trying to refrain from cursing in front of her. He went on… “Beat the bananas out of those monkeys. Hmmm, I think I hear God is love, yes? He no like war and that sort of… beatings.” Toni wanted to jump into the conversation but she waited to see what Hugh would say.
Cynic, Surfer, Saint (Scenic Route to Paradise #1) Page 19
