Courageous Love: A Christian Romance Novel (The Hawaii Love Series, #1) (14 page)

Michelle began eating her lunch and slowly looked across at Daniel. She imagined he felt uncomfortable but was unsure whether she wanted to ease his discomfort. After all, she was still upset that he had sided with her father earlier. She held the kabob up to her mouth, instantly feeling the nausea rise up. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard, holding the kabob several inches above her plate, and opened her eyes to find her parents, Daniel and Ano staring at her.

She smiled, brought the kabob back up to her mouth and began to nibble, trying to keep the sick feeling down. Her parents exchanged confused looks and then went back to their meals. After a few minutes of silent eating, Larry wiped his mouth with his napkin, crumpled it onto his plate and shoved himself back from the table. Daniel still had half his lunch left and was unsure whether or not he should stop too. But before he could give it too much thought, Larry spoke.

“You know, the Clemens family is quite a prestigious family here in Oahu,” he began, talking to no one in particular. Elizabeth and Ano kept eating, having heard this a million times before. Michelle used her father’s storytelling as an excuse not to eat and placed her silverware on her plate.

Larry continued. “You see Mr. Louis,” he paused, trying to show some authority, “Daniel.” Daniel looked up with a mouthful of food and smiled as Larry continued. “My great grandfather was an evangelist in Hawaii. He was very close to the Queen Liliuokalani. In fact, they had an amazing friendship. The Queen was the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands and the two of them were very close friends.”

Daniel ate slowly, unsure whether he was expected to participate in the story or just listen. “My father in fact,” Larry continued not paying any attention to Daniel, “my father George ran Trinity Ranch before me, and he made it one of the largest cattle ranches in Oahu. I, with the help of Ano and my other hands,” Larry smiled curtly at Ano, “have managed to increase our standing to the largest cattle ranch in Oahu and one of the largest in all of the islands.” Larry paused to take a sip of lemonade before continuing. “I’m not the only upstanding Clemens, either. My brother is a senator and my sister Leila is a famous singer here.”

Elizabeth smiled at Larry, knowing full well that he was trying to exert his authority over their house guest. She loved Larry, even though he was often reserved and distant. She knew he was trying to communicate the best way he knew how.

“You see Daniel,” Larry stopped and looked directly at their guest, “this is why it is so important for Michelle to marry someone who has a strong family background.”

Michelle rolled her eyes and wanted to stop her father from any further embarrassment, but the nausea kept her from opening her mouth.

“That is why I had planned for her to marry Kana. His family owns one of the largest pineapple plantations on Oahu.” Larry tried to make his point loud and clear. He didn’t know anything about this Daniel Louis guy, but he was pretty sure he was not of the family stature his daughter deserved.

Daniel placed his napkin in his lap and sat back, understanding perfectly well what Michelle’s father was trying to say. “So,” Larry continued, looking straight at Daniel. “What exactly are you doing here in Hawaii?”

Daniel looked across at Michelle and then at Elizabeth and Ano. All eyes were on him and everyone seemed genuinely interested in hearing his response. Everyone except Larry. Daniel began, “Well, I am a stuntman and was here shooting a movie with Marshall King.” He wasn’t sure why he dropped the actor’s name, but he did.

Ano’s eyebrows shot up. “Marshall King? The Trouble in Paradise guy?” Daniel nodded. “I love him! Man, he’s great!”

“So you are an actor?” Larry said with distaste in his words.

“Yes, well, a stunt actor,” there was that phrase again. Daniel wasn’t sure which was worse in Larry’s eyes, stuntman or actor. He figured it didn’t matter much at this point and continued, “I was on my way back to California ...”

“To your fiancée?” Larry interrupted, still not believing there was a fiancée back on the mainland.

Daniel looked at Michelle, then at Larry, uncomfortable to be talking about Kimberly in front of them but especially in front of Michelle. “Yes, my fiancée,” he dodged the question quickly and moved on. “But I ran into your lovely daughter at the airport.” Why had he said lovely? He looked across at Michelle. Her face was flushed and her eyes looked watery. Daniel wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed, flattered or sick. “Literally, I ran into her as I was trying to find my gate. I knocked her to the ground and our tickets fell all over the place. I guess I mixed them up when I went to leave and that’s when they got switched.”

Larry watched Daniel closely as he told his story. If he was lying, Larry couldn’t tell. He decided to press him from another angle. “And what about your family? Are they in California with your fiancée?” Larry insisted on using that word as often as possible just to see if he could catch Daniel in a lie.

“No sir,” Daniel replied, trying his best to be as polite and respectful as possible. “My family is in Michigan. I have two brothers who are both lawyers. My mother is a teacher and my father is a science professor at the University of Michigan. I haven’t seen them in a while,” Daniel trailed off, unsure whether or not to share all the private details of his life. But knowing that this family was Christian, Daniel figured he had nothing to lose. “My brothers and I are Christian. And although my mother finally came to Christ, my father still hasn’t accepted Jesus.”

Everyone at the table stopped eating. Michelle looked across at Daniel as he continued. “I speak to my mother regularly, but my father and I are not close.” He fixed his eyes on Larry while Michelle stared at Daniel, thankful for his honesty. Empathy filled her heart, and she ached for his hurt as she had felt the same estrangement from her father. And despite the fact that she was only feet away from Larry right now, she still felt that gaping distance between their hearts.

“But I pray for him every day,” said Daniel.

After a few moments of heavy and awkward silence, Larry finally spoke. “Well, that’s too bad. Family is very important, and so is faith.” He then turned to Michelle. “Michelle has decided to put her work before her walk with God. Isn’t that right Michelle?

Michelle was caught off guard by her father’s inquisition and was too sick to fight him. “No Father, that’s not right,” she said lamely.

“Well, when are you going to settle down with a good Christian man with a solid family history? You know that Samuel Inouye is still available?” Larry actually smiled a little and then looked at Daniel. “He’s the grandson of Princess Grace Hekekia.”

Michelle had enough. “Father, please stop talking about this. I’m not marrying anyone right now.” Her flushed face got redder.

“I’ll talk about whatever I want in my own home! You bring a stranger in here after all these years and tell me that you’re not even planning on getting married?” Larry raised his voice as he spoke.

Michelle began to argue back. “No, I’m not getting married. No, I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know one thing,” Michelle rose and shoved her chair back. “I know that I will make my own decisions, and you will not control my life!” Michelle excused herself from the table abruptly as Elizabeth and Ano sat quietly.

Larry raised his voice as he called after Michelle, “I will do as I please! I’m your father!”

“Mr. Clemens,” Daniel said, trying to calm Larry. “Michelle really is a special girl and maybe you could be a little more understanding.”

Larry snapped his head toward Daniel. “Mind your own business!” he yelled as he pushed his chair back and left the room. Kahili appeared out of nowhere and began clearing dishes as Elizabeth helped. Daniel got up to follow after Michelle and Ano stayed at the table, happily eating the remaining kebabs everyone else had left behind.

M
ichelle sat on the front porch swing breathing heavily when Daniel found her. He sat next to her and began talking. “Michelle, you’re a good woman. I know I don’t know you very well, but I can just tell.” He took a deep breath and continued. “I have a dad too. I think that your dad is just trying to be protective. He wants the best for you and just doesn’t know how to share his feelings any other way.”

Daniel went on, not sure if Michelle was listening. He could hear her breath and feel the pain she was experiencing. “You know, guys just aren’t, well, we aren’t always very good with our emotions. Sometimes it’s hard for us to relate to women. I can’t imagine how hard it is for your father to relate to you as his daughter.”

Michelle looked up, thankful that Daniel was there talking with her. “It’s just that I wish I had a closer relationship with him. He’s always been distant, and no matter what I do, it’s never good enough for him.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Daniel, understanding exactly what Michelle was feeling. “Maybe you just need a little more time and then you can rebuild a better relationship.”

Michelle laughed. “That’s probably not going to happen. Especially when he finds out I’m pregnant.”

Daniel caught his breath. He was already in unchartered territory with Michelle, but this was even more foreign. Pregnant? He tried not to show his shock as Michelle went on.

“You see, I was dating this guy that I thought I loved ... actually I did love. It’s just that I wasn’t sure we were right for each other. We were talking about marriage, but I don’t know ...” she trailed off.

Daniel sat still, thinking about his engagement to Kimberly and the uncertainty he felt about that. It was no coincidence that he was sitting here having this conversation with Michelle.

“I wouldn’t move in with him,” Michelle went on. “Even though I kind of turned my back on God, I had some morals. I refused to live together until we were married. But,” Michelle laughed sarcastically as she finished, “I guess I should have asked for a purity ring at least. That would have kept me out of trouble.”

“What happened?” Daniel asked.

“I got pregnant!” Michelle said. Daniel looked at her questioningly. “I found out right before he dumped me. And then, I was so upset about Lilo and being dumped that I never even told him. I just got on a plane and came home.” Michelle’s eyes filled with tears. She wanted desperately to be held, to be comforted.

Daniel wanted to wrap Michelle in his arms and take all her hurt away. He knew it was wrong, he knew he was engaged to Kimberly, but he felt so close to Michelle. “Everything is going to be okay,” was all he could find to say.

“I don’t think so,” Michelle said. “You saw how unreasonable my father can be. I just feel so alone. I don’t want to be a single parent. I want to find the right guy. Not the guy my father has picked out. But the right Christian guy my heavenly father has picked out for me.

“When I was young I dreamt about getting married to a wonderful Christian man. I imagined us raising our children together and having a beautiful, faith centered life.” Her voice trailed off. “But life didn’t work out that way. I lost my way, got off track. I guess when I deserted God and my faith and decided to do things my way, that’s when things really went downhill and all my problems began.”

Daniel wanted to say so much to Michelle. But he didn’t. “God will provide the right man for you,” he continued, trying his best to comfort her. “He will provide the right man, the right Christian man who will accept you and your baby. You just have to remain faithful.”

“Ha!” Michelle laughed out loud. “Really? So, let me ask you ... As a single man who has never been married before, would you choose to marry a woman carrying another man’s baby?”

Daniel stopped and reflected for a moment. “If I truly loved the woman,” he paused and looked at her. “I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

Michelle raised her eyebrows in mock shock. “Well, you truly are a rare, noble man.” She sat back and looked up at the clear afternoon sky. The two sat on the swing watching the cattle in the distance. A feeling of comfort and peace settled over both of their hearts, and they began to feel more drawn to each other as the afternoon dwindled on.

“There you are,” said Elizabeth. “I’m heading back to the hospital to see Lilo. Are you coming with me?”

Michelle got up and looked at Daniel. “I really do need to see my grandmother,” she hesitated, not wanting to leave him.

“Okay,” he said, unsure how to respond but knowing he didn’t want to be separated from Michelle. “I’ve got some calls to make anyhow,” he said, trying to act casual.

Elizabeth saw the discomfort in both of their eyes. “Well, I’m not sure how many visitors your grandmother will be up for anyhow. Let me call first.” She disappeared into the house, and Michelle and Daniel heard her voice from the front hall.

“Hello, this is Elizabeth Clemens. I’m calling to check on Lilo Patterson.”

Daniel looked at Michelle, “Patterson? That doesn’t sound very Hawaiian,” he said.

“My grandfather was American and my grandmother is Hawaiian. They met in World War Two on the Big Island when my grandfather was stationed there,” Michelle explained to Daniel as Elizabeth talked with the person on the other end of the phone. After a few moments, her mother hung up and returned to the porch.

“I guess Lilo is just now waking up and is very tired. I think three visitors might be a little overwhelming for her. Would you two mind waiting while I go spend some time with her?” Elizabeth asked, knowing that they would oblige her request.

“Of course, Mother,” said Michelle. “We can keep ourselves busy. We’ll take a walk along the beach or something. Just call me if you need anything.”

Michelle kissed her mother and watched her head toward the detached garage. “I feel so bad for her,” said Michelle as she and Daniel walked out into the brilliant Hawaiian afternoon sunlight. “I can’t imagine how upset I’d be. I mean I love Lilo, no doubt about it. But she’s my grandmother, not my mom. I don’t even like to think about losing my parents.” Michelle’s voice caught in her throat when she thought about her strained relationship with her father and what Daniel had said earlier.