Darkness Past

by Sherryl Hancock

  The night before the wedding, there was what would have traditionally been a rehearsal dinner. However, since the wedding ceremony was very casual, what would have been a rehearsal took only minutes and had everyone in the Gang encouraging its end so they could party.

  At the dinner, Kana and Palani gave Midnight, Tiny, and the officiator of the ceremony baseball-style caps to designate who they were in the wedding.

  “Keilani, your hat designates you as the ‘Kahuna,’ the priestess of our wedding,” Kana said, her voice serious. Palani handed the Hawaiian woman a pink hat with white stitching.

  “Midnight,” Kana said, as Palani handed her the black hat with bright yellow stitching, “yours says ‘Big Kahuna.’ Kahuna in Hawaiian means a skilled person, an expert in your field. So you’re our Big Kahuna,” Kana said with a wide smile.

  “Now, Tiny,” Kana said as Palani handed him his hat, also black with yellow stitching. “You’re the ‘Other Kahuna,’ only because ‘noho mau ma ka hale o ʻilio’ wouldn’t fit on the hat.”

  Tiny laughed, as did Kana’s family as well as Palani’s. But of course no one in the Gang understood that, so he explained.

  “That roughly translates to ‘a permanent resident of the dog house,’” he said, narrowing his eyes at Kana, but grinning all the same.

  Kana laughed.

  “Now, before the party gets out of hand, and before Tiny breaks out that bottle of Patrón he’s promised me,” Kana said, winking at Tiny, “Palani and I want to thank all of you. Without your understanding, support, and overall putting up with our shit, we wouldn’t be here today.”

  “We’ve put up with your shit for a long time, K,” Tiny put in, smiling sarcastically.

  “Palani makes it worthwhile,” Spider added.

  “That and watching you get caught finally,” Dave added.

  Rick made a face at Dave. “You just wanted to be last.”

  “Just because you were first,” Dave countered.

  “Excuse me, I was first,” Spider put in.

  “Oh yeah,” Dave said, glancing at his long-time best friend.

  “Yeah, thanks for forgetting,” Tammy said, narrowing her eyes at Dave.

  “Oh, you’re in trouble now,” Spider said.

  Dave winked at Spider’s wife. “Nah, Tammy loves me.”

  “Not that much,” Tammy replied, grinning.

  Kana smiled. “Can we get back on track?”

  “Sorry, K,” Dave and Spider both said, looking like naughty schoolboys.

  The rest of the group chuckled.

  “Anyway,” Kana said, looking at the two pointedly, “let’s eat.”

  The party that ensued involved all the usual Hawaiian luau cuisine—roast Kalua pig, teriyaki chicken, macadamia nut-crusted coconut shrimp, long rice, potato-mac salad, traditional Hawaiian poi, and fresh fruit, including pineapple, papaya, mandarin oranges, bananas, and watermelon. They also drank mai tais and enjoyed a fully hosted open bar.

  Tiny did indeed have a bottle of Patrón tequila for Kana. He’d promised her that he’d make sure she had a good time and was fully relaxed the night before the wedding. As always, he didn’t let her down—neither did her extended family.

  The Malifas as well as Kana’s parents, Aveolela and Kao, looked on as Kana and the rest of the Gang drank shot after shot, toasting whatever came to mind.

  “I still can’t believe Kana held out the longest,” Spider said between shots, shaking his head.

  “Well, she cheated,” Tiny said, giving his partner a narrowed look.

  “I didn’t cheat.” Kana grinned, feeling the beginnings of a good buzz.

  “You cheated,” Joe agreed.

  “Definitely cheated,” Rick said.

  “Don’t you get into this,” Midnight said, poking Rick in the ribs. He laughed.

  “Listen to your woman,” Kana warned Rick.

  “Why? You never listen to yours,” Palani put in.

  Kana turned to her open-mouthed; Palani only smiled.

  “I thought you loved me,” Kana said.

  “I do,” Palani said, getting up from the bar stool she was sitting on to Kana’s right and standing in front of her, putting her arms around Kana’s neck. “But you don’t listen to me.”

  “Ohh…” many of the men in the group said, grimacing and laughing too.

  “I listen when it’s important,” Kana said, looking down at Palani.

  Palani kissed Kana’s lips, then pulled back, looking her in the eyes. “It’s important that you don’t get too wrecked tonight,” she said, leaning up to kiss Kana again. “Because if you do”—she kissed her again—“and you’re hungover for our wedding”—another kiss—“I will kill you,” she concluded with a big smile.

  The whole group let out an “Ohh!!” as Kana and Palani laughed.

  Palani held up her hand. “Before you get my woman any more trashed, I have something I want to give her.”

  Palani pulled out a small box, wrapped in silver paper with a navy blue ribbon around it. She handed it to Kana. Kana took it and kissed Palani again, smiling down at her.

  Kana untied the ribbon and unwrapped the paper, opening the box to find another velvet-covered box inside. She gave Palani a reproachful look.

  “What did you do?” she asked, her tone chiding.

  “Just open it,” Palani said, smiling.

  Kana opened the box and stared down at the necklace within. It was a pendant on a chain. The chain was a silver color—platinum, Kana suspected—and Byzantine style. The pendant was about the size of a quarter, with a diamond in the center and tiny black diamond baguettes set in a sun pattern around it. At the edge of the pendant were symbols carved in black. Kana examined them closely, then looked at Palani with a warm smile on her face and a great deal of moisture in her eyes.

  Palani took the box from Kana’s hands, showing it to the group and explaining the symbols carved on the four points of the pendant.

  “This symbol on top represents Ele’Ele, who was the first Samoan woman. This,” she said, pointing to the symbol on the left side, “represents Afa, the Samoan storm god, and this on the right is Pele, the goddess of fire and the volcano. And this last one on the bottom,” Palani said, looking back at Kana, her eyes shining, “represents Alalahe, the goddess of love.”

  Palani handed the box back to Kana. “Read the inscription on the back,” she told Kana softly.

  Kana turned over the pendant, having to squint to read the tiny print there. It was in Hawaiian. “It says, ‘Aka‘aka loko i ka ike a ke aloha,’” Kana read out loud, her voice breaking on the last as she looked at Palani.

  “It means,” Tiny translated for everyone, “‘the secrets within me are seen through love.’”

  Kana pulled her into an embrace, kissing her lips, then cheek, then ear, and whispering, “Aloha au ia ‘oe.” It was “I love you” in Hawaiian.

  “I love you too,” Palani said, so everyone would know what Kana had just said.

  The Gang looked on, smiling and enjoying Kana’s happiness.

  Kana reached for her shot glass, holding it up to Tiny. He obliged by pouring her a shot. Kana knocked it back, then set the glass aside.

  “Okay, my turn,” Kana said, reaching into her jacket.

  “Kana Akua Lee…” Palani said, her voice reproachful but her smile warm.

  “She got that habit from you, Nathan,” Kana told Tiny, giving him a stern look.

  Tiny just smiled back at her, his look saying “So?”

  Kana handed Palani a box covered with navy blue velvet. “I had some help with this,” Kana said, winking at Joe.

  Joe grinned, inclining his head to Kana.

  Palani looked from Kana to Joe, then back at Kana, trying to determine what she meant. When she opened the box, she understood. She stared in awe at the creation nestled inside.

  It was a necklace and earring set. And Palani had never seen anything more beautiful in her entire life.

  “Oh, Kana…” she murmure
d in awe.

  Kana smiled at Joe, thrilled at Palani’s reaction. Joe nodded approvingly and winked at Kana.

  “I used Joe’s jeweler in London to design this,” Kana said, putting her arms around Palani’s waist.

  Palani nodded, tears in her eyes now. “It’s incredible.”

  And indeed it was. The pendant, on a gold chain, was a hibiscus flower, created in the most delicate pearl and mother-of-pearl. The petals of the flower were outlined in tiny sapphire baguettes. The earrings were smaller versions of the same hibiscus flower. Palani had never seen anything like it before.

  “You had these created?” she asked Kana.

  “Yes,” Kana said. “I wanted you to have something just for you on our wedding day.”

  Palani smiled brightly. “Thank you, Kana, so much. They are so beautiful.”

  Palani hugged Kana. Then she turned to Joe and hugged him as well.

  “I just put them in touch,” Joe told Palani. “Kana came up with the design and worked with him on every step.”

  “A lot of long phone calls to London,” Kana said, “plus emails and faxes.”

  “Oh my,” Palani said, widening her eyes.

  Palani walked over to where her parents and Kana’s sat, while Kana did another shot with the Gang.

  “Good job, K,” Joe said, smiling.

  “Definitely,” Rick said with an approving nod.

  “Might have to talk to Joe’s jeweler next,” Dave said.

  “Like bloody hell,” Susan muttered, shocking everyone.

  When she saw everyone was looking at her, Susan realized that everyone had heard her. Her eyes widened dramatically, and she put her hand to her mouth. Everyone burst into laughter then. It was a fun night.

  The morning of the wedding dawned bright. Palani, who had absolutely refused to do the traditional thing of spending the night away from Kana, woke first. Lying next to Kana, she looked up at the woman she was to marry that day. It seemed almost unreal. Things in her life had changed so much in the last two years. There were no doubts, not even a second’s worth. Kana was who she was meant for; she knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt. In truth, she couldn’t wait to start their lives together. She loved that they were actually committing to each other. It meant so much to her.

  Palani knew that Kana was basically placating her by going through with the marriage ceremony. It wasn’t currently legal in California for people of the same sex to marry. Palani also knew that it went against Kana’s grain to do something that wasn’t legal. It wasn’t that it was illegal, but to Kana, if it wasn’t binding, what was the point? There was a point to Palani—it was a commitment to stay together and work things out when they went wrong. It was what Palani needed from Kana, and she loved Kana all the more for compromising her beliefs to make her girlfriend happy.

  Palani touched Kana’s cheek softly, then leaned up to kiss her on the lips.

  Kana’s eyes were open when Palani looked at her again.

  “Good morning,” Palani said warmly.

  Kana kissed her tenderly. “Good morning,” she murmured in reply, caressing Palani’s cheek. Kana’s lips covered Palani’s again, intensifying when Palani moaned softly.

  Within minutes they were making love, taking the time to enjoy each other before the craziness of the day started. Afterwards, Palani stretched languidly.

  “Promise me we’ll start every morning like that on our honeymoon,” Palani said, her tone warm and sated.

  “That sounds like a perfect idea,” Kana said, smiling.

  They were honeymooning in Hawaii, at her parents’ hotel. Mika and Anone had offered them the honeymoon suite, and Palani had accepted after discussing it with Kana. Palani hadn’t wanted to impose her parents on their honeymoon if Kana didn’t want that. Kana had always said that if it would make Palani happy to stay in their hotel, then it was just fine.

  “I’ll make sure my parents don’t plan any breakfasts with us,” Palani assured her, smiling.

  “Good,” Kana said with a grin.

  After they’d gotten up and showered, Palani dried her hair. Kana put on the clothes that she usually worked out in, walking back into the bathroom to braid her hair.

  “You have an appointment at eleven thirty,” Palani told her.

  “For what?” Kana asked, looking worried.

  “Don’t do that,” Palani said, reaching up to smooth the worry lines at Kana’s brow. “I already told you that I’m leaving you alone on the hair and makeup thing.”

  “Good,” Kana said. “So what do I have an appointment for?”

  “A massage,” Palani said.

  Kana’s mouth dropped open. “How long will that take?”

  “Around an hour for the massage, maybe an hour to travel there and back. Why?”

  “Don’t you need me for anything?” Kana asked.

  “Everything is taken care of,” Palani said, putting her arms around Kana’s neck. “I want you to feel totally relaxed for the wedding.”

  “That’s probably going to depend on what I’m wearing,” Kana said.

  “Well, then,” Palani said, walking over to her side of the closet and pulling out a garment bag, “you should probably take a look at this.”

  Kana gave her a narrowed look, then took the bag from her, hanging it on the top of the closet door and unzipping it. She pushed back the sides of the garment bag and stepped back, staring at the suit that hung there. It was black with a tiny white pinstripe, with a crisp white collared shirt. The material was wool, but it felt incredibly lightweight and smooth. Kana read the label—it was a Dolce & Gabbana suit. And it was incredible.

  Palani handed her a box that said Prada on it. Kana opened the box—inside tissue paper nestled a brand-new pair of black leather Prada boots. They were ankle length, the leather was butter soft, and they had a two-inch heel, like Kana always wore. They too were incredible.

  “My God, babe, do I even want to know how much you paid for this stuff?” Kana breathed, her face alone telling Palani she loved it.

  “Probably not,” Palani said, grinning.

  “How much?” Kana asked.

  “About a thousand for the suit and six hundred for the boots,” Palani said, grimacing at the shocked look on Kana’s face.

  “Jesus…” Kana said, shaking her head, her eyes going to the suit again. “It’s fantastic, babe, it really is.”

  Palani bit her lip. “I do need you to go to the tailor this morning and make sure the suit fits just as it should.”

  Kana nodded, still gazing at the suit. She glanced at Palani then, and saw her unsure look. Turning to her, Kana took Palani’s face in her hands and kissed her deeply.

  “I love it, babe,” she said. “You know me so well.”

  Palani beamed at Kana’s words. She had felt that the suit would be perfect Kana. It was totally her style—sleek, strong, but with an innate style that was beyond description. When Palani had seen the suit in the boutique, she’d felt it had been made for Kana.

  Later that evening, Palani found out how right she was. When she walked down the stairs to the rock landing at the beach, she saw Kana standing waiting for her. Palani couldn’t believe her eyes. Kana looked so incredible. The suit fit her perfectly, her dark skin showing starkly against the crisp white shirt. At Kana’s throat shone the pendant Palani had given her as a wedding gift. Platinum hoop earrings mingled with jet-black hair that fell unbound past Kana’s shoulders. Even Kana’s makeup was darker than it usually was, making her face more exotic and beautiful. Palani could only stare wide-eyed at Kana as she walked toward her.

  Kana, too, was having a hard time believing how beautiful her partner was. Palani wore a dress in the style of a traditional sarong, but that was where the similarities ended. The sarong was made of ivory silk mingled with lace. It molded Palani’s perfect shape and flowed down to her ankles. She wore delicate ivory silk sandals that laced up her slender ankles. Her hair was a cloud of silken black curls, her flowered wreath a mixture o
f ivory roses and small purple orchids, with ribbons of ivory and tiny orchids trailing down to mix with her waist-length hair. Her makeup was perfect, making her eyes practically glow and her face seem ethereal. Around her neck was the necklace Kana had given her, and at her ears were the earrings.

  Mika took Palani’s hand from his arm and guided her to Kana’s outstretched hand. The two women smiled at each other. Mika stepped back, nodding to Midnight and Tiny. Midnight was dressed in a sarong of white with a delicate purple Hawaiian print on it. Tiny was dressed in white slacks and a shirt of the same material as Midnight’s sarong. It was a classic Hawaiian wedding.

  The wedding proceeded, with the priestess explaining to everyone that “aloha” was the Hawaiian word for love, and that Palani and Kana had come together today to join themselves to each other in love, in aloha.

  “Kana and Palani, you are entering into marriage because you want to be together. You are marrying because you know you will grow more in happiness and aloha more fully as life-mates. You will belong entirely to each other, one in mind, one in heart, and in all things. No greater blessing of happiness can come to you than to have this devoted aloha, which you now publicly avow. Keep this understanding of your marriage alive in the days ahead. May your aloha continuously grow truer and more wonderful with each day you enjoy together.”

  There were the vows, which were the usual wedding vows. However, when Kana said her vows, she added a phrase in Hawaiian. “Ua ola ae nei loko i ko aloha,” she said, smiling down into Palani’s eyes.

  “Life is once more alive within me for my love of you,” the priestess translated.

  Palani repeated her vows and added her own phrase as well: “Ka‘u ia e lei a‘e nei la.”

  “I pledge my love to you alone,” the priestess once again translated.

  After that, Kana’s parents stood up, walking to the rock landing. They each held a lei made of green tea leaves and white orchids. Kana turned to her parents and bowed her head to them. Kao put his lei over his daughter’s head, then Aveolela did the same, leaning up to kiss her daughter’s cheek. Once Kao and Ave were seated, Mika and Anone stood, repeating the ritual with Palani. Kana and Palani turned back to each other again. There was a ring exchange, where they gave each other wedding bands. Kana’s was platinum to match the engagement ring of platinum and black diamonds Palani had given her. Palani’s was gold, matching the engagement ring in the shape of the hibiscus Kana had given her.