Courageous Love: A Christian Romance Novel (The Hawaii Love Series, #1) (9 page)

K
ana’s tall, lean body came out of the shadow of the crowd. “Wow, this is a surprise!” Kana’s deep voice rose from behind Kaiko. “Hi, Michelle.”

“Hi Kana,” she said, not surprised at all to see him. In fact, that was one person Michelle was certain she would see, no matter how much she tried to avoid him. Even though Kana had had a crush on Michelle since they were in elementary school, the feelings were never mutual. “How are you?” she asked politely, hoping not to engage him in any conversation. It was late, she was tired, and the last thing she wanted to do was have a drawn out talk with someone she had no interest in.

“Good, really good. Actually,” Kana moved past Kaiko and stood next to Michelle. “I’m an intern at a local environmental law office in Honolulu. How long are you on the island for?”

“I’m not sure,” Michelle said, looking past Kana to the path that would take her home. “It all depends on how Lilo does.”

Kaiko’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh no! Lilo? Is that why you’re back?”

Michelle looked to Kaiko, knowing that Kaiko loved Lilo just as much as she did. “She’s very sick.”

Kaiko put her hand on Michelle’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry Michelle. Your grandmother was always so nice to me when we were kids. She is such a generous and caring woman.” Shaking her head, Kaiko gave Michelle another hug. “I’ll pray for Lilo and for all of you,” she whispered in Michelle’s ear before letting her go.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that you’ll be staying a while.” Kana moved back and forth from foot to foot, trying to make conversation. “By the way, the Festival of Legends of Haleiwa is in a few days. Maybe I could take you to it?”

Michelle was too tired to choose her words carefully but tried anyhow. “Oh, thank you for being so thoughtful Kana. But I really don’t know what will be happening with my family.” She looked in the direction of the ranch again, wanting to get headed home before her body gave out.

“You should be so excited that your parents have been chosen to be the reigning king and queen of the festival,” Kaiko added, jumping to the other side of Michelle.

“Oh, right, yeah, yes I am,” Michelle tried to play it off as if she knew. But inside, she wondered why her mother hadn’t informed her of the honor. The Festival of Legends of Haleiwa was an age-old tradition on the island. Her family had attended every year since she could remember. Relatives on both sides of her family tree had been honored in the Festival for decades. Her mother had always discussed the upcoming festivities with her in past years. Michelle figured that with Lilo’s health declining, it must have slipped her mother’s mind.

Kana sensed Michelle’s anxiousness. “Can I accompany you to the ranch to help you with your luggage?” He could see she was tired but also wanted to spend as much time with her as he could. It had been eight long years since Kana had laid eyes on Michelle. But she hadn’t changed a bit. If anything, he thought she was more beautiful than ever.

“Sure,” Michelle said, too tired to beg off and grateful for the help. The emotions of the past day, along with the pregnancy, had Michelle completely exhausted. “Thanks.”

Kana grabbed the handles of her luggage and started wheeling them down the street as he walked next to Michelle. Kaiko stepped in front of Michelle and held her arms out for another hug.

“I’ve got to get to work, but come in and see me. I’d love to catch up.” She squeezed Michelle tightly. “And please let me know how Lilo is doing?” She looked into Michelle’s eyes and smiled her exuberant, loving smile. “See you soon!” Kaiko waved good-bye to Michelle and ran off to meet her crowd of friends as they made their way toward the Hula Surf Restaurant.

Kana waited until Kaiko left and then fell in beside Michelle, walking in step with her. “Remember the Mallawena brothers?” Kana began updating Michelle on friends they knew in school. “Well, one is in jail, and the other is at the same law firm as me!” Kana went on, telling Michelle where people were, what they were doing, and who had left the island.

“You know, like you and Justin?” Kana added when he mentioned two other classmates that left Oahu for the mainland. Michelle pretended to ignore Kana, too tired to be hurt by the comment. Everyone on the island knew darned well that Justin had been a bad idea and that the relationship had perished.

“Speaking of which,” Kana continued, trying to pry as much information out of Michelle as he could, “Did you ever settle down? I noticed you aren’t wearing a wedding ring.”

Kana was anything but subtle. His good looks could attract most women. But once they got to know his personality, the attraction came to a dead stop. Michelle couldn’t believe that Kana had actually gotten more abrasive over the years. She figured that a college degree and a prestigious job would make him more tactful. But, apparently, it had done just the opposite.

Michelle kept walking, uncomfortable that Kana was bringing up a painful and very personal topic in such a callous way. “I was in a serious relationship, but it didn’t work out,” she said.

She tried to change the subject and added, “So, tell me about your job. Environmental law, huh?”

Kana was only too happy to talk about himself. “Yeah, it’s really great. I’m not sure if I’ll go for my law degree. I mean, I have my undergrad, but the finances ... well, you know.” Kana’s voice reflected a hint of anger that was almost imperceptible. But Michelle heard it.

“So, I decided to take what I had and put it to good use. The firm was looking for someone with my expertise and they offered me a very good position. I get to audit and approve all sorts of pilot programs for different agricultural projects. Actually,” Kana went on. “I’m the one that got your father’s irrigation program approved.”

“Oh?” Michelle said, not even sure what Kana was talking about. Had her mother mentioned the irrigation project? Michelle was so tired and emotionally spent that she couldn’t remember.

“Yep. If it weren’t for me, that project would still be on hold and Trinity Ranch would be in quite a difficult position.”

That got Michelle’s attention. “What do you mean a difficult position?”

Kana kept walking, a smug look on his face as he relished the opportunity to boast. “Didn’t your father tell you? Oh wait, that’s right. You two haven’t spoken in a long time, right?”

Kana knew the answer and didn’t wait for Michelle to reply. “Well, I talk to your father all the time. In fact, we’ve become quite close.”

Michelle’s stomach turned as Kana spoke, and she knew it wasn’t because of her morning sickness.

“After things started to slow down at our farm, I began spending more time here. I actually interned with Ano and George part-time. But I guess you wouldn’t know that.”

His attitude was cockier than Michelle had remembered. How was it that Kana and Kaiko could be so different, she wondered?

“The internship was wonderful and your father, Larry, taught me so much. I took what I learned here and brought it with me to the firm. And then, I guess you could say it was sort of a favor, when Trinity wanted to cut costs by providing their own irrigation, I pulled some strings to push the project through.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” was all Michelle could think to say. She really didn’t care about the project, the firm and the relationship that Larry and Kana had developed. All she cared about right now was Lilo.

“So,” Kana said as they continued to walk, “I guess you could say that even though your father didn’t get his wish for you and me,” he chuckled, “I’m kind of part of the family anyhow.”

Definitely not morning sickness. Michelle’s stomach turned again, and she reminded herself that no matter what Kana said, they were not related and never would be.

Michelle remained silent as Kana kept talking. “Speaking of which ...  you said you’re not in a relationship right now?”

Hoping to deflect Kana’s interest, she spoke with a firm voice, “I’ve decided to take a break from dating and focus instead on my relationship with God. I realize with Lilo getting sick, that I’ve been selfish and have neglected my family relationships for many years. Now it is time to focus attention on them again.”

Kana didn’t bother hiding his disappointment. “That’s too bad,” he said. “I mean, not too bad for your family or God, but too bad that you’re not interested in a relationship.” He went on, trying not to be too obvious. “I mean really, I don’t think God would want you to deprive the world of what you have to offer. I mean, God has a man picked out for you, you know that, right?”

Michelle answered absently, “Right.”

Kana continued as they approached the hill leading to the ranch, “He’s probably in your life already. I mean, he might even be someone you already know.”

“Uh-huh,” Michelle said as she crested the hilltop.

“I’m just saying, if you are ever ready to date again, I would be available; I mean, if you want someone to hang out with. I guess I’m just saying,” Kana stammered, trying not to blow his cool. “Just don’t give up.”

“Uh-huh, thanks,” Michelle said, not really paying any attention to Kana. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She stopped at the top of the hill and looked down on the valley that was Trinity Ranch.

“Let me walk you to the house. I’m sure your father won’t mind,” Kana said, getting in one more comment about her father.

“No, thanks. I think it’s best if I go alone.” Michelle didn’t know what her homecoming would be like. But she imagined it wouldn’t be all rainbows and butterflies. The last thing she wanted was to arm Kana with more ammunition that he could use against her with her father.

“Thanks for being so considerate and helping me with my bags,” Michelle forced a smile from her lips.

“Anytime Michelle. It’s the least I can do. I mean, you are practically family. And maybe someday ...” Kana let the offer hang in the air, hoping Michelle would grab it.

But Michelle didn’t hear Kana’s eager response. Her head was filled with sounds, sights and smells of her childhood as she headed down the path that would take her to her final destination.

A
ll the memories of her years at Trinity Ranch came flooding back to her. The green pasture in front of her conjured up images of her and her siblings rolling around with each other on the lawn. She saw her younger self help her father as a calf gave birth. She remembered spending quiet mornings heading out across the lawn to fill the feeding troughs for all the cattle.

Trinity Ranch sat on the outskirts of the Pupukea-Paumalu Forest and encompassed 11,000 acres. The massive expanse of land touched three climate zones including the ocean, the rain forest, and the valley. On average, the ranch herded 6,000 to 8,000 head of cattle, which made it the largest on Oahu and second largest on all of the Hawaiian Islands. Michelle’s father spent years ensuring that the ranch was environmentally responsible. He had implemented rotational grazing protocols that gave the cattle the maximum nutritional opportunity while minimizing the negative impact on the land. Unfortunately, the drought of recent years had made the sensitive grazing technique incredibly more expensive to operate.

Regardless of the harsh environmental conditions, the ranch still took Michelle’s breath away. As she stood on the crest of the hill, she looked down across the pasture to the white farmhouse sitting at the base of the forest. Acres of fields were laid out like heavenly blankets, all glistening with dew from the afternoon drizzle. Michelle looked over the farmhouse to the mountains behind it and then looked to her side, to the other volcanic peaks dotting the island landscape. She closed her eyes and breathed the fresh ranch air in, letting the salty surf air mingle with the pasture scents filling her senses.

Images and memories pressed hard on her heart as she envisioned her father’s serious face. Never one for taking it easy or making light, Michelle’s father rarely laughed. Memories of her father were all ones of worry and seriousness. He spent so much time concerned about everything on the ranch. Her heart grew heavy as she thought about the relationship she would have liked to have with her father, one of laughter, closeness and love—and the childhood relationship she actually had. She thought of the tension between her and her father and the way she felt so neglected by him. His first love was the ranch, and as a child, Michelle thought he loved the farm more than he loved her. That was one of the main reasons she fell so hard for Justin when he paid attention to her.

Michelle had been starved of attention and never got it from her father. When Justin came along and gave Michelle everything she had been craving, she grabbed onto it for dear life, no matter what the cost.

“Is this my Michelle?” Ano, an older ranch hand approached Kana and Michelle. “Oh my gosh, it IS you!” Ano had been like an uncle to Michelle. He had been on the farm since Michelle was born and had watched her grow up.

“Kana, good to see you.” Ano walked over and shook Kana’s hand. “How are you?”

“Good Ano. How’s the irrigation project coming?” Kana asked.

“Well, you tell me,” Ano said, waving his arm out across the lush, green landscape of Trinity Ranch.

Kana just smiled. “We couldn’t have done it without you, bro,” said Ano, putting a hand of gratitude on Kana’s shoulder.

Michelle watched the two chum it up like they were best of friends. She was glad to see Ano but also sad that Kana had developed such a close relationship with her family. She felt more like an outsider than ever before, and she hadn’t even gotten to the house yet.

Kana turned to Michelle and gently grabbed her arms. “Michelle, remember, I’m here if you need anything. I hope I’ll see you around. Aloha.”

“Thank you,” Michelle said as Kana turned to walk back toward the main road.

“And how are YOU?” Ano asked, grabbing Michelle’s bags as they walked toward the main house.

“I’m great,” Michelle said. “Things are going well, really well.” She knew now wasn’t the time or place to share her dirty laundry.

“Well, you look as beautiful as ever,” Ano said, winking at her as they walked. “I remember watching you grow up from a little girl on this farm. The rest of the household will be so happy to see you too.”