The Islands

by Di Morrissey

  Crying gently, Helena took the lei from around her neck, kissed it and dropped it into the sea. Her daughter did the same. The baby was asleep, rocked by the canoe and unaware of the grief that surrounded him. The flowers floated towards the bobbing wooden bowl.

  And as the sun sank below the horizon, a wave suddenly rose up and surged towards the group, lifting them as it rolled beneath the canoes, breaking after it passed. But the great breast of water carried with it the flowers and the calabash, upending Abel John’s ashes and taking all beneath the sea.

  ‘He is gone. It is over,’ said the kahuna and they turned for shore where the watchers waited.

  But the men who’d surfed with Abel John caught the wave and rode it, calling and shouting in exhilaration. And as they rode they took off their leis and flung them into the water.

  The feasting, the talk story, the music went till the moon rose and bright stars lit the night sky. Catherine was exhausted. She was worried about Eleanor. The fire and spirit seemed to have gone from her. The damage to the hotel complex was staggering, but where once she would have been determined to start over, the death of Abel John seemed to have diminished her. She blamed herself for his death because she hadn’t stopped the destruction of the heiau and the removal of the sacred stones.

  ‘That wasn’t you! It was your partner! He insisted on doing it. He brought over the workmen. It was not your fault,’ said Catherine firmly.

  But Eleanor was deeply depressed and wouldn’t be comforted.

  As Catherine helped Beatrice into her car while they waited for Kiann’e, she sighed. ‘Will things ever be the same again?’

  The imposing older woman put an arm around her shoulders. ‘No. Times have changed. It is how it is. Your life is changing, too. It is time to move on. Your time here is over. Go home. It is best.’

  Catherine was silent as they drove away with Beatrice’s royal command ringing in her head.

  Kiann’e reached over and touched her hand. ‘Don’t be sad. Remember the happy times here.’

  ‘Oh, I will. I always will,’ said Catherine, feeling a sudden rush of powerful emotions and memories. ‘Being in the Islands has changed me forever. Thanks for being my friend, Kiann’e.’

  They smiled at each other in the dimness of the car, a wistful, sad, warm smile, each wondering when their paths in life would cross again.

  16

  SWEAT WAS A WET sheen on the horse’s coat as Catherine rode to the top of the knoll where they stopped, the horse shaking its head from the exertion and exhilaration. She slid from the saddle and wiped her hand along its damp neck, fondling the horse she’d come to love as deeply as its sire, Parker.

  ‘Well done, Pani. Think we might have broken our record.’

  She tied the reins loosely to a tree and sat on her favourite rock on the knoll as the horse began to forage. As it always had, this place gave her a sense of peace and calmness after the turbulent last few days when her memories of Hawaii had resurfaced after years of being tucked away in a special box in her mind.

  She heard the steady rumble of the four-wheel drive coming up the slope behind her.

  ‘Were you two training for the Peel Cup? You bolted up here.’ Rob got out and handed her a picnic basket. ‘The girls have the Esky and the food. Thought you’d have the billy boiling by now.’

  ‘I wanted to sit and enjoy the view. There’s so much to think about.’

  ‘Are you getting excited about going back to Hawaii after all this time, Mum?’ asked Emily, putting down the heavy food hamper.

  ‘Kind of. They say you shouldn’t go back to places,’ said Catherine. ‘And I’m sure it’ll be very different. Except for Kiann’e and Aunty Lani, I’m not sure who’s left from my time there.’

  ‘Your old newspaper pal, your boss, he’s still around if he’s involved with the book launch,’ said Rob.

  ‘That’s true. Vince must be pushing seventy.’

  Catherine smiled at her younger daughter. ‘It’s a shame you two can’t come, Ellie, not very good timing for your end-of-semester exams or for Emily getting time off work.’

  ‘I know, it can’t be helped. Anyway, this is a trip for you and Dad to enjoy.’

  Rob dropped his arm around Catherine’s shoulders. ‘I’m happy to tag along. When did we last have a holiday together, alone?’

  ‘Three years ago. New Zealand. And after a week you wanted the girls to come and join us,’ said Catherine. ‘Was I such boring company?’

  Rob kissed her cheek. ‘You’re never boring, my love. But it was such a beautiful place and all that snow . . .’

  The girls started setting up the picnic and gathering twigs to light a fire.

  ‘C’mon on, Mum, we’re starving.’

  ‘We could be saving ourselves a lot of trouble and eating down there at the barbecue and gardens we built up for our guests,’ said Rob. ‘And then Dave gets to do all the hard work.’

  ‘No, no way, Dad. This is our special place. That’s for the visitors. This is for us,’ chorused the girls.

  As her husband and daughters got the lunch ready, Catherine lingered at the lookout. While the landscape hadn’t changed since she first came up here as a child, she was, as always, amazed when she gazed down at the changes to Heatherbrae itself and how it had gone from carrying stud cattle to, as Rob put it, ‘feeding and watering holidaymakers’. How proud she was of what she and Rob had achieved, how they’d weathered tough and good times together.

  ‘You okay?’ Rob sat beside her and handed her a glass of wine as the fire crackled behind them and the girls began frying onions.

  ‘I was thinking back to how it used to be. My twenty-first, when Dave fell in the pool and now he’s working with us. What a shame your parents can’t be here to enjoy this picnic with us.’

  Rob’s usually happy demeanor dropped for a moment. ‘I thought I’d never forgive my father for losing Craigmore, but now I’m sorry he didn’t live to see what we’ve done here. And poor Mum, even though she seems calm and happy, she has no idea what’s going on. Half the time she doesn’t know who I am or where she is.’

  Catherine knew that his mother had never really understood what Rob’s father was doing when he lost all their money on racehorses and finally had to sell Craigmore. And the loss of the property was the last straw in Rob’s marriage. Barbara had never liked the country life and she liked it even less when there was no money.

  ‘You know, I admire your dad so much,’ Rob continued. ‘How fantastically well he’s done, not just with his cattle but in his law firm, too. He’s been so generous in the way he’s helped set this all up,’ said Rob.

  ‘He’s thrilled you’re here, running Heatherbrae. Mum’s so happy the way things worked out.’

  Rob leant against her. ‘And you? No regrets? Pleased with what we’ve done?’

  ‘Rob, I’ve been blissfully happy since the day I married you.’ Catherine linked her arm through his.

  ‘I kick myself for not grabbing you before you went overseas after your twenty-first. But I guess we had to make mistakes, marry the wrong people, learn a few lessons. But now . . . this Hawaii thing, I can’t help wondering if I’m second best,’ said Rob jokingly.

  ‘Rubbish! Are you trying to make yourself out to be a pathetic creature?’ said Catherine digging him in the ribs. ‘You have made me more content than I ever dreamed possible. We have so much going for us.’

  ‘Not to mention two gorgeous daughters,’ he added, giving her a quick kiss.

  ‘Did someone mention us? Mum, the salad is ready. Shall we throw the meat on the fire?’ Ellie smiled at them. Both girls admired the devotion and love of their parents and each dreamed of being lucky enough to find a partner and have a marriage as solid and loving as Rob’s and Catherine’s. Their life was filled with fun and laughter as well as a deep love and respect.

  As the smoke and aroma from their campfire wafted into the crisp blue sky, Catherine studied the distant scene where she and Rob had established t
heir eco-farmstay resort. When cattle prices had slumped Rob and Catherine decided to try something new, inspired by Catherine’s friend Eleanor. Together they did the figures, planned and built the romantic farmstay, which a new type of tourist soon discovered. The cosy cottages, hidden among gum trees, offered country space and peace, an opportunity for families to participate in rural life or just unwind and rethink the pace at which they lived in the city and reassess their priorities. Gradually more cottages – furnished with the attention to detail Catherine had learned from Eleanor – grew into a self-contained development. Keith and Rosemary had been very excited by the idea and had invested in it. They had then bought a place in town and started to travel, leaving Heatherbrae to Catherine and Rob.

  Aware of Eleanor’s sensitive inclusion of Hawaiian culture at the Palm Grove, Catherine had invited several local Aboriginal families, stockmen and elders to become part of Heatherbrae’s farmstay staff. They were involved in all the aspects of the business, including Dave’s campfire cookout, music, storytelling and taking visitors riding or on mini walkabouts.

  There was a communal dining pavilion, swimming pool, outdoor barbecue and campfire area as well as an old-style bush camp and a small stage where there were informal singalongs, poetry readings, storytelling and dances. There were activities from art classes to nature rambles and many visitors liked to work on the farm with the animals. Catherine always drew on her experience and observations of the Palm Grove by trying to keep the atmosphere warm, friendly and natural. She had written and talked to Eleanor over the years as she and Rob had developed Heatherbrae into a first-class country retreat. Rob said it seemed that Eleanor’s spirit hovered like a guardian angel over their development.

  ‘So we’d better maintain her standards or else,’ Catherine had laughingly told him. She thought of the warm and generous-spirited staff at the Palm Grove and hoped that those who worked for them at Heatherbrae felt like family and part of the enterprise too. Their old friend and neighbour Dave and his wife and family lived on the property. Catherine and Rob oversaw the entire running of the resort where they still ran a few stud cattle, as well as feed and some organic vegetables. Having listened to her Aboriginal head stockman talk about the old days and ways of nurturing the land, they began to experiment with conserving the water that flowed from a nearby natural spring.

  Ellie came and sat next to Catherine. ‘You look so far away, Mum. What are you thinking about? Hawaii?’

  ‘Not at all. I was thinking about Heatherbrae. What your father and I have achieved. How happy I am.’

  ‘Oh, Mum, that’s lovely.’ Ellie put her arm around Catherine’s shoulders. ‘But you will enjoy going back to the Islands won’t you? We’re so impressed with you writing a book.’

  Catherine smiled. ‘It is something, isn’t it? I just hope he’d approve. Lester was modest and a bit of a loner, but he was very aware of his achievements. The hard part is going back knowing Eleanor isn’t there anymore.’

  ‘I wish I’d met her. I’m so pleased that you named me after her. She would have been so proud of you writing a book about Lester. Do you have any photos of her when she was young? I’ve only seen ones when you knew her.’

  ‘No, I don’t, come to think of it. She left a lot of her Hawaiian collection and some personal pieces to Beatrice and Lani for them to put in a museum.’

  ‘What are you two talking about?’ Emily sat down beside them.

  ‘I guess we’re talking about Eleanor and my book launch,’ said Catherine. ‘My book. I’m still not used to saying those words. I never thought it would ever be published.’

  ‘Why did you write it if you didn’t think it would get published?’ asked practical Emily.

  Catherine thought a moment. ‘I’d put all those memories away for so long that when I got the parcel from Lester’s estate a few years ago and found he’d left me all his albums, scrapbooks and the very first medal he won for swimming, I felt I owed it to him.’

  ‘To tell his story . . . The Waterman. But why did he leave those things to you? Didn’t he have anyone else?’ wondered Ellie.

  ‘No, Lester didn’t have any family, although Eleanor and Ed had always been kind to him,’ said Catherine. ‘He might have left his things to her, but she died long before him. I don’t think Eleanor ever got her light and joy back after that tsunami destroyed the Palm Grove and her life’s work. Lester was way ahead of his time with being a fitness fanatic. Maybe that’s why he lived well into his nineties, even if he did have really bad arthritis. But most of his contemporaries died before him.’

  ‘He sounds a sad man,’ commented Emily.

  ‘Maybe to outsiders he seemed lonely. But I don’t think he was, as long as he was close to the sea. He would have been very lonely stuck in some place for old people on the mainland,’ said Catherine.

  ‘Are there still watermen in Hawaii?’ asked Ellie.

  ‘Ah, there’ll always be watermen,’ said Catherine softly. ‘The ocean is a great definer of men. Men will always challenge the power of the waves even though it is the sea that controls them.’

  ‘Men trying to prove themselves,’ said Emily.

  ‘Only to themselves. The championships, the big money, the commercialism, that’s new. And different from what watermen are about.’ Catherine prodded her girls. ‘Hey, what’s happening with our lunch?’

  In bed that night, Rob lay on his back, his hands under his head, staring at the ceiling. Catherine glanced at him and put her book down.

  ‘Shall I turn out the light? You’re not reading.’

  She rested her head on his chest and he put his arm around her, smoothing her hair.

  ‘Cath, I’m so proud of you. Having a book published is a wonderful achievement. I’m so excited about this trip. I’ll see the places that you loved and I can’t wait to meet Kiann’e and Aunty Lani. I feel I’ve known them all our marriage.’

  ‘Rob, I love you so much, that’s a lovely thing to say. Every day with you has been wonderful and it just gets better and better. How is that possible?’

  ‘Ah, we must be getting used to each other.’ He kissed her. ‘Better get some sleep, we have to be up before six to meet that private plane bringing in a group of guests tomorrow.’

  As the late afternoon golden light streamed into the screened sunroom that had been her mother’s sewing and knitting space, Catherine put down her cup of tea and picked up the advance copy of her book – The Waterman.

  The publisher had done a beautiful job of illustrating Lester’s story with the photographs Lester had taken over the years. Catherine had gone through his albums and carefully selected the photographs she wanted for the book before sending them to her publisher who returned them to Kiann’e for safekeeping. It had been strange sifting through the photos at Heatherbrae where the winter frost on the garden and paddocks was a contrast to the pictures of sunny sand and surf.

  Lester’s photos of himself, so handsome, of the famous Waikiki beach boys, of the Duke, of surfers outside the Outrigger Canoe Club and of his collection of boards depicted a world that seemed very far away. His pictures, of old Waikiki; boys climbing coconut palms, the original hotels, hula dancers, some of the old plantation homes now gone, the outriggers filled with tourists, a fisherman casting a net, Hawaiian keikis playing in the tidal pools all captured an essence of the Islands. That appeal still survived and still attracted visitors. The stunning and serene beauty, the warmth of the people and the knowledge that the Islands were separated from the rest of the world and its worries by a great sea of blue, meant you became part of island life, drifting to its rhythm: the sway of palms, its music and song and its constant heartbeat – the throb of the waves.

  Catherine had decided that she would take Lester’s scrapbooks and albums back to Hawaii with her and give them to Kiann’e to see if they could be housed in an appropriate place. Dear old Aunty Lani might have a suggestion too. Although she was getting on, she’d promised to fly over from Kauai, where she now l
ived, for the book launch in Honolulu. She told Catherine that Uncle Henry mightn’t be able to make it as he had good and bad days now and he was just as happy to stay on his porch in the sun. Catherine had promised to visit them both after the book launch.

  Catherine put the book to one side and flipped through Lester’s albums. She’d had copies made of her favourite pictures but there were blanks in the album not just where she’d taken out photos for the book. There were many other gaps where pictures had been removed over the years and she wondered why.

  On her way to the bedroom she began to plan what to pack, remembering how warm, tropical and casual the Islands were, and found she was full of excitement and anticipation. What great fun she and Rob would have there. She had a pile of summer clothes piled on the bed when Rob raced in.

  ‘Cath, darling, quick! Dave’s come off that bloody mad horse. I think he’s broken his leg.’

  ‘Oh, no! Have you rung for the ambulance?’

  ‘Yes. He seems to be holding up okay but I’m sure he’s going to be out of commission for a bit. Sandra will go to the hospital with him.’

  ‘Rob, this is going to leave us very short handed, isn’t it?’

  ‘We’ve got that big group just in, so we have a full house.’ Rob looked at Catherine. ‘How would you feel if I didn’t go to your book launch?’

  ‘Disappointed, but you’re right, the business comes first. But it’s very upsetting.’

  ‘Cath, I’ve got an idea,’ said Rob suddenly. ‘Why don’t you ask Mollie to join you? Didn’t she go there with you before?’

  ‘Mollie came to visit a couple of times. She loved the Islands . . . that’s a brilliant idea. I bet she’d love it. She met Lester. They both thought each other was great.’

  ‘There you go then,’ said Rob sounding relieved. ‘Give her a call.’

  ‘Fabulous! I’ll drop everything,’ shrieked Mollie. ‘I was going to suggest I go over but Jason said I shouldn’t horn in on you and Rob. Of course I should be there! My God, I think I still have the muu-muu I bought when I went to see you there. It’s about the only thing I can get into these days. Ooh Waikiki, here we come. I’d love to see Kiann’e again.’ Mollie bubbled over with plans and reminiscences. ‘Say, Cathy, you should send Bradley a copy of the book. Where is he these days?’