Authors: Colleen Coble

Dangerous Depths (35 page)

“No, she’s at her cottage. Could we talk a minute?”

“Sure.” Akoni stepped aside to allow Bane and Ajax to enter. He rubbed the dog on the head as he passed. “Is anything wrong?”

“It depends on Leia.” Bane said. He went down the hall to the living room. “Is Ingrid here too?”

“No, she’s at the hospital. Working is her sanity right now.” Akoni lowered his stocky frame into the rocking chair. “So what’s up? What did you mean about Leia?”

Bane sat on the sofa. “I’d like you and the rest of her family to come to the ukulele festival tonight. With your permission, I’m going to attempt to give her an engagement ring.”

“Attempt?” Akoni smiled. “You’re not sure?”

“You know how determined she can be. She doesn’t want to marry anyone. Because of her birth defect, she’s got it in her head that she doesn’t want kids and can’t deprive a future husband of children. She had genetic testing done, and the odds aren’t good.”

Akoni answered slowly. “I had no idea.” He fell silent a few moments before he spoke again. “Ingrid can be stern, but she adores her children, Leia especially. I think she saw Leia as much like herself. That’s why she is always so hard on her.”

Bane had never seen pride in Ingrid’s face. He wondered if it was wishful thinking on Akoni’s part. “I guess it’s why we broke up in the first place, but I’m just now figuring it out. Will you and Ingrid come?”

Akoni looked at the floor. “I don’t know, Bane. I haven’t been out in public since the arrest. My presence is liable to be more of a distraction than a help. The reporters will swarm me if I go out. I don’t know if Ingrid will even be seen with me. She isn’t even talking to me right now.”

Bane leaned forward. “I think you might be the only one who can give Leia the courage to risk a life with me. Will you come?”

“I’ll have to think about it. I can’t answer right now.”

Bane tried not to show his disappointment. “It starts at seven. Please come.”

He stood and Akoni rose as well. The men shook hands. “Good luck,” Akoni said. “I wish you the best even if I don’t make it.”

As Bane and Ajax left the house, his hope for the evening waned, and he prayed his plans weren’t about to explode in his face.

L
eia took another whiff of the sandalwood that drifted up from the
kapa
snuggled around her body. Bane had left half an hour ago, but she still sat on the couch, thinking about what he’d said. Her heart recognized the truth he’d spoken. She thought of her sis-ter and how much joy Eva had brought to all of them. She wouldn’t change anything about Eva. Maybe for Eva’s sake, Leia would like to have seen her different, just so she could live a “normal” life, whatever that was. But Eva was happy. Her smile brought delight to all of them, and even her dreams had saved Leia and Bane. If God hadn’t created Eva just the way she was, all their lives would have been different.

She finally folded the cloth and carefully carried it to her bed-room, where she put it in a cedar chest to make sure Hina couldn’t get to it with her claws. Her gaze fell on her Bible. Bane had asked her to pray. Picking up her Bible, she began to leaf through the pages. She’d read Psalm 139 before, and it had angered her, but she turned to it again, telling herself she’d try to look at it with an open mind. Her gaze focused on verse 16.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

The truth hit her in a way it never had before. God knew every single day of surgery she’d gone through. He fashioned the days she would have. There was some purpose for the way he’d made her, for the way he’d created Eva. Did she trust God enough not to know that purpose? Tears sprang to her eyes, and she struggled to hold them back. She’d always said she’d never cry again. Never. But the tears refused to be blocked. They poured from her eyes in a cleansing flood as she sank to her knees and acknowledged she could trust the Lord. The anger and disappointment with God fell away as she prayed.

She wiped the tears from her face, her fingers lighting on the tiny scar on her lip. This time she didn’t flinch. This scar was a badge of God’s love for her. The weight was gone from her shoulders. She had a party to get ready for, though she still didn’t know how she was going to answer Bane. Did she have the courage to reach out for her happiness? She prepared for the evening in a fog. She hadn’t worn the red sundress she’d bought on Maui last month. It was a sarong-type that hugged her figure and fell to just above her knees. She showered, washed and dried her hair, and dressed. Her hair looked more lustrous tonight, her eyes brighter. Her cheeks bloomed with color. She didn’t look half bad. Slipping her feet into sequined slippers, she went to her car. The ukulele festival was held at Kiowea Beach Park on the south shore. As she drove toward the beach, she could hear the music calling over the waves. Her gaze scanned the golden sand for Bane’s tall figure. He was usually easy to find because of his height. She parked and then hurried toward the crowd gathered around the musicians.

The fragrance of flowers struck her first. She glanced around and saw masses of bouquets all around the clearing: ginger, orchids, plumeria, all her favorites. She searched until she spotted Bane. He was just getting
ready to play.

His face lit up with pleasure when he saw her. He put down his instrument and came toward her. “You’re just in time.” He picked up something at his feet.

Leia’s gaze took in the beautiful lei. It had to be Malia’s artwork. Tiny seashells mingled with perfect white blossoms. Bane slipped it over her head, and the sweet scent made her senses reel. He took her by the hand and led her through the flowers and the crowd. She glanced around and stopped when she saw her father. “
Makua
, you’re here?”

“Bane told me something exciting was going to happen tonight. I didn’t want to miss it. And your mother insisted we come. She says we’re not going to hang our heads.”

“Mama said that?” Leia couldn’t keep the incredulity from her voice.

“Your mother has her issues, but she’s sticking by me, Leia. I’m grateful for that.” Her father’s smile faltered. “Your mother is over there somewhere with Eva. I was just getting her a drink.” He pointed toward the refreshment stand.

Leia saw her mother’s blonde head. The disappointment she’d felt over her mother’s coldness began to dissipate. Her mother couldn’t change her nature. God had ordained her mother’s days too. It was best if Leia simply accepted what love her mother was able to show. Pressing her father’s arm, she stepped into the crowd with Bane.

His family was here as well, and even Kaia and Jesse had returned. They were seated near Mano and Annie with Malia on the other side of Annie. Malia had picked
Tûtû
up from the assisted-living home, and their grandmother looked bright and alert tonight as she chatted with Luana. Kaia’s color was high, and her eyes were bright with expectation. A strange smile hovered on Mano’s lips. He looked almost—proud. Even Malia’s smile seemed to stretch across her face. What was going on? She gave the family another glance, then followed Bane.

Several rocks jutted through the sand in the open area where the musicians were playing. Bane seated her on one, picked up his ukulele and began to strum. His fingers picked out the chords. When he opened his mouth, she was shocked. He never sang.

“
Aloha nui loa
.” His rich tenor filled the night air. The words meant “I love you very much.”

Leia flushed hot and cold as the meaning of his song penetrated. Bane was private and rarely even held her hand in public when they’d been engaged. He was staring now—his gaze full of love and longing. He wasn’t trying to hide what he felt from the world. The Hawaiian song spoke of his great love and longing for her and ended with a proposal of marriage. She’d never heard it, and she wondered where he’d found the song. When the chords of the ukulele echoed away, he put down the instrument and came toward her. He went to one knee in front of her. The crowd began to cheer and whistle. Leia put her hands on her cheeks, and the heat radiated up through her palms.

Tenderness radiated from his eyes. “I wrote this song for you, Leia. Did you understand all the words?”

She nodded, her throat too tight to speak. Tears hovered at the backs of her eyes. She wouldn’t cry, she reminded herself.

“Well? Are you going to answer me?” he asked.

She couldn’t think, couldn’t decide what to do. Bane’s face was turned up to her, and the love in his eyes broke through her fear. He’d braved this crowd to reveal a softer side she’d never seen. How could she hold on to her fear in the face of such devotion? “
Aloha
au ia ’oe
.” She whispered Hawaiian words for
I love you
. “I don’t think I have any choice but to say . . . yes.” With her surrender, the tears pushed past the walls she’d erected and flowed down her cheeks. She found she didn’t mind at all.

“There’s always a choice. But I’ve taken down the barrier I’ve had up, Leia. My heart is yours.”

“You sound almost poetic,” she said. His grip on her hand was so tight it was almost painful, but she didn’t mind.

“That was the part inside I was hiding. I hope you don’t mind if I bring you flowers and sing you love songs.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She leaned forward, and their lips met in a kiss. She inhaled the scent of him along with the love in his touch. With Bane she would never feel inferior or dam-aged. The crowd clapped even louder, and she heard Eva’s shriek of happiness, a joyous sound that illuminated life, the good, the bad, and the incredible adventure. The scars healed, both inside and out. She pulled away. “You realize Hina will be thrilled.”

“I think I just became a cat lover,” he said, bringing her face down for another kiss.

Hawaiian Language Pronunciation Guide

Although Hawaiian words may look challenging to pronounce, they’re typically easy to say when sounded out by each syllable. The Hawaiian language utilizes five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). Please note that sometimes the
w
is pronounced the same as
v
, as in Hawaii.

a–ah, as in car:
aloha
e–a, as in may:
nene
i–ee, as in bee:
honi
o–oh, as in so:
mahalo
u–oo, as in spoon:
kapu

Dipthongs: Generally, vowels are pronounced separately except when they appear together:

ai, ae–sounds like
I
or
eye
ao–sounds like
ow
in
how
, but without a nasal twang
au–sounds like the
ou
in
house
or
out
, but without a nasal twang
ei–sounds like
ei
in
chow mein
or in
eight
eu–has no equivalent in English, but sounds like
eh-oo
run together as a single syllable
iu–sounds like the
ew
in
few
oi–sounds like the
oi
in
voice
ou–sounds like the
ow
in
bowl
ui–an unusual sound for English-speakers, sort of like the
ooey
in
gooey
, but pronounced as a single syllable.

Words Used in This Book

‘ae
(EYE): yes

aloha
(ah-LOW-hah): hello as used in this book. Aloha is a wonderful word though. It’s a blessing of love, mercy, and compassion bestowed on the receiver.

aloha au ia ’oe
(ah-LOW-hah OW EE-uh OY): I love you

aloha no
(ah-LOW-hah NO): oh no!

aloha kakah’aka
(ah-LOW-hah kah-kah-HAH-kah): good morning

aloha nui loa
(ah-LOW-hah NOOEY LOW-ah): I love you very much

a’ole loa
(ah-oh-lay LOW-ah): certainly not

ha’iku
(HI-koo): flower

haole
(ha-OH-lay): white person, any foreigner

he’e holua
(HAY-ay WHO-lah): lava sledding, an ancient Hawaiian sport

ho’olohe
(HO-oh-low-hay): listen to me

honu
(HO-new): sea turtle

hula ku’i Moloka’i
(WHO-lah KU-ee MOW-low-kye): an ancient, fast dance with stamping, heel twisting, thigh slapping, dipping of knees, and fist doubling as in boxing, vigorous gestures of such pursuits as drag-ging fish nets, and unaccompanied by instruments

imu
(EE-moo): firepit for cooking luau pig

hahuna
(hah-WHO-nah): expert

kala mai ia’u
(CALL-ah my EE-ow): excuse me

kapa
(KAH-pah): Hawaiian bark cloth, the finest tex-tured of all
tapa
(bark cloth made in other parts of the world)

kapu
(KAH-poo): taboo

keiki
(KAY-kee): child

konane
(koh-AH-nee): ancient Hawaiian board game

kope
(KOE-pay): coffee

kua kuku
(KOO-ah koo-koo): wooden anvil for beating
tapa

kupuna
(kah-POO-nah): grandparent, ancestor

lâ’au pâlau
(LAU puh-LAU): ancient Hawaiian club

mahalo nui loa
(mah-HAH-low NEW-ee LOW-ah): thank you very much