Aloha Love

by Yvonne Lehman

  “Pansy packed them away,” he said. “She labeled all the boxes.”

  Leia piped up. “She will have Christmas with the baby Jesus.” She looked at Jane. “Is that right?”

  Jane had begun going to the ranch three mornings a week for Leia’s lessons. She was also telling her about the difference between the myths about Little People and the truth about Jesus.

  “Yes, she will celebrate Jesus’ birthday in heaven, and we will celebrate it here. By the way, do you know about. . .” She was reluctant to say it. “Santa?”

  “Oooh.” Leia clapped her hands. “Yes, I saw Santa another Christmas. He brings presents.” Her eyes grew big and excited. Then a worry line formed above her nose. “Is he a Jesus story or a Little People story?”

  Jane looked to the men who had nailed the wooden pieces to the bottom of the tree trunk and set it on the stage. Mak glanced over his shoulder at her, as if wondering what she’d say. Rose and Matilda were hanging garland. They didn’t offer to answer. Okay, she’d try.

  “It’s a story, like the stories of the Little People.” She looked around, hoping to signal the others to step in at any moment because she wasn’t even sure what she would say. “Santa is a symbol, like Little People are a symbol. Do you know what a symbol is?”

  Leia shook her head.

  “It’s like the lei is a symbol of Hawaii. You greeted me with one. It’s welcoming me to Hawaii. Santa is a symbol of someone giving gifts because God gave us the gift of His Son, Jesus, to the world.”

  Leia smiled. “Okay.”

  That seemed a little too easy. Looking around, Jane saw that others smiled. They seemed to think it was okay.

  Good. She’d take it further. “In America, Santa comes down the chimney.”

  “The chimney?”

  Mak tossed out, “We don’t have chimneys here.”

  “What’s a chimney?” Leia wanted to know.

  “Well,” she said to the eager little girl. “There’s a fireplace where we burn logs and the smoke goes up the chimney.”

  “Won’t he get burned up?”

  “He doesn’t really do that. It’s just part of the story.”

  “Oh,” Leia said. “Santa could come down our stovepipe. If he was”—she brought her hands close together—“about this big, like the Little People.”

  When nobody disagreed, Leia added, “He would be a little symbol.”

  “Okay,” Jane said. Maybe Leia wasn’t ready for theology.

  When Leia delivered an ornament to Rose, Mak stepped up to Jane. “Not bad,” he said, “for a woman.”

  She jested, “Maybe you should dress up like Santa and make the message clearer.”

  “Not a bad idea. Maybe next year.”

  Jane felt good about him. He was making an effort to become more involved with people and his own family. Yes, maybe next year. . .a lot of changes would have taken place.

  The thought hit her like a thunderbolt.

  Next year.

  What would she be doing next year?

  Jane looked down, and her gaze landed on her ring. Next year, would she be in the U.S.A., celebrating Christmas as Mrs. Austin Price?

  Twenty-six

  Although Hawaii had its mountain topped with snow and a volcano spewing fire, the town and Mak’s ranch were situated in the green valley where temperatures remained pleasant. The sun kept shining even when it rained a light mist.

  “It’s not going to be a cold Christmas,” Jane said somewhat wistfully as she sat around Uncle Russell’s kitchen table with Matilda, Pilar, Rose, and Leia making silk leis.

  “That doesn’t slow down the celebration,” Rose assured her. “Everybody comes out to celebrate on Christmas Eve.”

  “It wasn’t always that way,” Uncle Russell said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “The Hawaiians worshiped false gods.”

  “I guess the early missionaries brought Christmas to the islands,” Matilda said. “Come sit down.” She gestured to the chair near the table. “We can scoot.”

  “Wouldn’t want to chance spilling this coffee on those leis,” he said. “I’m fine.” He moved the chair back farther and sat in it. “The early missionaries brought the message of Jesus and salvation. But the Puritans had left England for religious purposes. They were against some of the customs and revelry that flourished in Europe. Since the Bible didn’t teach anything about Christmas, they didn’t even talk or preach about it. They brought Christianity to the islands, but not Christmas.”

  “So how did it come about?” Jane asked.

  “Inevitably some whalers, business people, and travelers from other countries would be here at Christmastime. They would celebrate and give gifts and the word got around that was another way the white man worshiped his God.”

  “But you say it’s a big thing now?” Matilda said.

  “Yes, the king can be credited with that. About thirty-five years ago, long before Pansy and I came here, the king had spent Christmas in Europe. When he came back, he declared Thanksgiving as a national day to be celebrated on December 25. But since most people on the island are now Christians, they consider December 25 as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.”

  Rose commented, “And it’s grown bigger every year. It’s really spectacular.”

  “Yes,” Leia said. “I’m bigger, and I’m going to sing in the choir.”

  “So are we all,” Matilda said. “Not in the children’s choir.”

  “So am I,” said Pilar with a big smile. “And Susanne.”

  Despite the beautiful weather and the mist that the others called rain, Jane got caught up in the spirit of Christmas. The house looked festive, and they made plans for food and parties, including one for Leia on Christmas Day.

  “What we ladies need to do,” Matilda said. “is go downtown for lunch and go shopping. I’ll treat.”

  “Yes, yes!” Leia was about to come off her seat.

  “Sounds like a great idea,” Uncle Russell said. “I’ll just take myself a nap and later on get to work on my Christmas Eve sermon.”

  Unable to decide where to have lunch, Rose made a suggestion. “Why don’t we order a couple of plates and sample various foods?”

  They entered the first in a line of Hilo restaurants and soon dipped into a bowl of Hawaiian Portuguese bean soup and fresh fish caught right at the shore and flavored with ginger, soy, and garlic. “I must try breadfruit,” Jane said. “Are people looking at us funny?”

  “No, no,” Rose assured them. “This is what all visitors or newcomers to Hawaii do. They just think you’re Americans or Europeans.”

  “Oh,” Matilda scoffed. “I thought I would be inconspicuous in this muumuu.”

  They all laughed. Matilda stood out in any crowd. They had all decided to wear muumuus, a casual style of island dress that was lighter and looser than western dress. Rose lent Matilda one. Jane purchased one from a store. Her preference however, was pants since she was riding not only to the ranch several times a week, but also along the beach and along trails bordered by lush foliage.

  After lunch, they walked down the street and saw a couple of boys staring in the candy store window and singing. “Oh, they’re singing a song we made up at school,” Pilar said. “Do you know it, Leia?”

  “Some of it,” she said.

  The two girls walked up to the boys, and with all four putting forth their best efforts, they were finally satisfied with their chant:

  Candies red as a sunset sky

  Cakes that please the tongue and eye

  Sugared flowers not for a lei

  But for children on Christmas Day.

  As they walked on, Matilda said, “I thought of giving them a penny or so, but children need to wait for goodies at Christmas. Makes it more special.”

  “What do you want for Christmas, Leia?” Pilar asked.

  “I want a new saddle and to ride Cinnamon all by myself.”

  Jane exchanged glances with Rose and Matilda. They already knew the surprise awa
iting Leia. It would be both her birthday and special Christmas gift.

  They spent the afternoon visiting one shop after another.

  “Look at all those pastries,” Rose said, pointing to the bakery window. “And the confectioners will have candy like you don’t see any other time of the year.”

  Jane marveled at all the toys, dolls, fabric, jewelry, books, Bibles, and Christmas decorations representing many countries. Everyone was friendly and would even stop to introduce themselves instead of bustling around in a rush.

  After the wonderful, fun-filled outing, Rose took Jane aside and held her hands. “Jane, I want to thank you for what you’re doing for my son and my granddaughter.”

  Jane started to protest, but Rose shook her head. “Don’t be modest. You’re exactly what Mak needed. No one else had been able to get through to him. The rest of us were just nagging. But you have made him think. Made him feel again. I think he’s in the process of healing. Just. . .thank you.”

  She wrapped her arms around Jane, and they embraced. When Jane stood back, she could honestly say, “It’s my pleasure.”

  The expression on Rose’s face was warm. She smiled before walking away to the cart. Jane thought about what she’d just said. She’d never had the opportunity to give of herself like this before. Of course, she helped out, visiting the sick and taking food when there was a need. But this was different. Teaching Leia to ride, and the difference between Little People and Jesus was a highlight of her life. That was such a wonderful opportunity God had given her. Also, being a friend to Mak. Yet she received so much from him. She could not imagine enjoying the island so much without him.

  As she watched the cart disappear down the road, her aunt observed, “You’re going to twist that finger right off one of these days.”

  Jane gave her a look. Maybe the finger, but the ring had to stay on it. Without it, as Matilda had emphasized, she would not be teaching a little girl to ride, or riding across the range and associating with that challenging man, her friend. . .Mak MacCauley.

  Twenty-seven

  Mak stood on the crowded beach with the other islanders. Last year, he’d done his duty and brought his mother and Leia. He’d swooped Leia up onto his shoulders so she could see everything and get an early glimpse of Santa. His heart had not been in it.

  Now, he stood without a member of his family, was not an active participant, but felt a part of it. He spoke to those near him and they commented on the festivities. He applauded with the others when the candles on the huge Christmas tree were lighted. The tree was adorned with garlands of colorful flowers.

  A band of men began strumming their bragas. School-children were wearing white blouses with red and white skirts reminiscent of hula skirts. Red leis hung across their chests and down their backs, and red bands of leis circled their heads. They sang and signed the language with their graceful hands. Marching down the beach in front of the islanders, they sang Christmas songs. Pilar and Susanne walked side by side, singing.

  Susanne’s parents, his friends the Honeycutts, would be around somewhere. He hadn’t kept up that friendship very well. Only now did he stop and think they had lost Maylea, too—as a friend.

  Thinking of a friend, he felt a smile when the church adult choir, singing their hymns, came onto the beach. Pansy was conspicuously missing, but Jane, Matilda, and his mother were there. His mother had volunteered to sing with them this year, and she had been happier lately than he’d seen her in years.

  They were followed by the children’s choir, all wearing white dresses with the red leis and headbands that had been assembled in Rev. Russell’s kitchen.

  The choir director led everyone on the beach in singing “O, Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Noel.” After the sky turned from orange-red to gray, fireworks exploded like myriad multicolored stars over ships displaying flags in the harbor and the boats along the shore.

  He wondered what Jane thought of all that. That the stars and everything else in Texas were bigger and better? Texas couldn’t be bigger than the ocean.

  A canoe came into sight. Children began to yell and wave and crowd the shoreline. Santa arrived in his canoe, dressed in red. His flowing white hair and beard moved in the gentle night breeze as men wearing red leis rowed him to the shore. He stepped out with a big canvas bag from which he drew a gift for every child.

  After Santa returned to the canoe, men bearing torches led the way to the church. Mak hesitated. He hadn’t attended a service in so long—except for two funerals.

  It was like he was seeing the church for the first time, although he’d grown up in it. His eyes wandered to the attendees, who crowded into the high-backed wooden pews and meshed together around the walls. A few stood at the doors and open windows, still able to see the church adorned with cypress branches, a Christmas tree with flowers and gifts, and candles of red and green. Rev. Russell delivered his message of Christmas, the birth of the world’s Savior.

  That was his pastor. Many of these people were his friends. His students sang. His mother and child sang their praises to God and the Savior. This was a world he hadn’t allowed into his heart in more than three years.

  After the final prayer, the torchbearers distributed red and green candles. The first one was lighted by a whale-oil lamp and then used to light another. The procedure was repeated throughout the congregation, representing their fellowship one with another.

  He thought of the money the king had spent to illuminate his palace. His little girl, holding one little candle, was as important to God as the king.

  He lit his own candle from another and passed the flame to the wick of another. One could go through the motions of living without really being alive.

  Then the reverend was asking everyone to stand, and he began singing “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.”

  Mak needed to let Jane know just how much her friendship meant to him. Maybe he’d get the opportunity tomorrow when his new friends came for Christmas dinner.

  ❧

  Mak had not been so excited about Christmas since he was a child. No matter how festive a Christmas Eve, there was a church full of islanders for the Christmas Day service. Mak sat with his mother and Leia on the pew with Matilda and Jane. Leia sat very straight and kept smoothing her pretty new red dress his mother had given her that morning.

  They would all go to his home after the service and have a feast Coco and his mother had been preparing for days. Maybe next year, he’d have a luau for all his workers, like his dad used to do. But for now, this would do. Getting back into life was almost overwhelming for him.

  The fabulous dinner and nice gifts were a treat for them all. Leia was completely happy with the new saddle she got for Cinnamon, and more than once, Mak saw her look at it and feel it, her eyes shining with the hope that she might finally be able to ride Cinnamon all by herself. She kept saying she wasn’t afraid anymore.

  “I think it’s time for my present to you,” Jane said.

  Leia loved the stylish little riding suit to go with the boots Mac had bought for her, with Jane’s help. She ran from the room and returned, turning and posing.

  Jane described her perfectly. “You look like the world’s greatest equestrienne, Leia.”

  Everyone applauded.

  Mak picked up the saddle. “It’s time.”

  He had her wait in the corral while he brought out Cinnamon. He helped her up. Jane held the reins and walked them around the corral. “Now you do it,” she said, “like I taught you.”

  Mak didn’t expect what happened. He was not a crying man. But seeing Leia—his and Maylea’s child, yet a person within herself—was overwhelming. He left the corral, and after composing himself, he came out with her surprise.

  Fortunately, Jane had already taken Leia off Cinnamon, otherwise the child might have jumped off and broken her neck. She stood frozen, her hands on her face, her little lips forming a big O, and her eyes wide.

  Mak led the snow-white pony into the corral and handed the re
ins to Leia. “Happy birthday,” he said.

  Her eyes roamed over the beautiful pony. “The pony is for me?” She pointed to her chest.

  “Yes, she’s yours.”

  “Ohhh.” She dropped the reins and ran.

  He thought she would run and maybe try to get on the pony, but she ran to him, threw her arms around him, and said, “Oh, thank you, Daddy. Thank you. I love you so much. You must love me”—she spread her arms—“a whole bunch.”

  Had she doubted it?

  “Okay, your pony’s getting lonesome.”

  She stepped away and asked, “Can her name be Hoku?”

  “Whatever you like,” he said, “but why Star?”

  “Because,” she said as if he should know, “this is not a Little People story. Miss Jane said it’s real. Jesus was a little baby. And a star was moving in the sky. A biiig one. And kings brought gold like Miss Tilda gives to everybody. He was important, and the kings kept looking at the star, and it helped them find the baby.” She smiled broadly. “I’m important to you, and if I ever ride off like the wind like Miss Jane does and if I get lost, this Star will bring me back.” She punctuated that with a nod.

  “Sounds like a deal to me,” he said. “But you know you have to get to know Hoku before you can ride her. You and she can grow up together.”

  “But I can ride Cinnamon.” She pursed her lips. “I mean, when you and Miss Jane tell me.”

  “You’re one smart little girl.”

  Smiling, she turned to pat the neck of Hoku firmly and speak softly to her.

  ❧

  Jane couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas. She felt like she celebrated it in a way that Jesus would be pleased. She silently wished Him a happy birthday and thanked Him for the people she cared about and with whom she had spent Christmas Day.

  When the others went out to the surrey, Mak said to Jane, “Just a moment.”

  With happy voices sounding outside, Mak looked down at her. “You’ve given so much to me and my family. How can I ever repay you?”