Paradise Wild (19 page)

After she got Michael quieted, she went back to Corinne’s bedroom. She found Jared packing the rest of Corinne’s things with little care, just dumping the contents of drawers into the bags.

When Jared noticed Florence at the door he growled, “Any more damnable bags and I’ll have to bring along a cart tomorrow!”

“You will probably have to do that anyway, Mr. Burkett,” Florence replied. “For I’ve changed my mind about going back to Boston. After seeing how cantankerous and disagreeable you are, I’m not about to leave my Cori alone in your care.”

“Cantankerous, am I?” Jared scowled.

“You certainly are,” she assured him, determined to hold her ground.

Jared finally showed a smile. “Well, don’t just stand there, woman. Get busy if you and the little one are coming with me.”

A little over an hour later, the open carriage was jammed full of clothing, trunks, and bags. There was no room left for Florence, so Jared helped her up onto the driver’s seat beside him. She held the baby on her lap.

Michael had slept through the packing of his room, but he was awake now, and gurgling softly, fascinated at the starlit sky above him. Jared leaned over to look
down at him, though he couldn’t see him clearly in the dark.

He shook his head as they started down the hill. “I still can’t believe Corinne would travel with a baby,” he remarked casually. “Babies require patience, and that’s something my wife doesn’t have.”

“You would be surprised, Mr. Burkett,” Florence replied, hiding her smile. “Cori has even more patience than I do where Michael is concerned. She’s really quite fond of him.” Then, cleverly alleviating any future suspicion he might have, she said, “Why, you sometimes think
she
is his mother, not I.”

Florence was shocked at herself. The lie had been just the right thing to say. And it had come so easily. What was happening to her?

Dawn was nearing, the sky a somber gray and getting lighter. But the house was still dark, and Jared carried a lamp along with the change of clothes he had for his wife when he entered his bedroom, quietly locking the door from the inside. Corinne was still asleep.

He walked over to the bed and laid Corinne’s clothes down, then held the lamp high to cast a better light. He remembered the last time he had looked down on her sleeping form, on the night of their wedding. How long ago? He recalled the date and was shocked. It would be a year ago tomorrow. Would she remember?

Jared had thought about that night often before Corinne came to Hawaii. He had dwelled on the beauty of it, on her beauty, on her surprising response to him, her wild passion that had inflamed his own. During those exquisite moments, he had forgotten why he had married her. For that short time, it had been a true marriage.

But hate had rooted in him first. And so he had put her behind him, had worked desperately to forget those wonderful moments.

Corinne stirred and smiled in her sleep, making Jared wonder what she was dreaming about. Her glorious hair
was fanned out behind her. Gold and copper glinted in the lamplight. She looked so innocent, so childlike. But, of course, he knew better. Yet he still had an almost irresistible urge to reach out and touch her, to feel the silky texture of her skin. His lips burned to taste hers, recalling the sweetness.

Jared’s better judgment returned and, with a dark scowl, he marched over to the bathroom and started cold water running in the sunken tub. He made enough noise to wake Corinne, then came to the door to see if he had succeeded. She was just sitting up in bed and looking around, bewildered.

Jared was furious at himself for the weakness he had almost succumbed to, and he directed that anger at her. “Get dressed!” he heard himself shouting. “I want to be on the road by sunrise!”

Corinne turned startled eyes in Jared’s direction, only to see the bathroom door slammed shut. As she stared at the closed door, her eyes changed from yellow-green to sparkling emerald. Taking a deep breath, she mastered her fury. It would not do to anger Jared. She had to get back to Michael, yet she couldn’t tell Jared about the baby. Somehow, she must talk him into letting her go. She had already been separated from her son for nearly an entire day.

She would reason with Jared, cajole him. She could not afford to anger him any more. Michael was at stake now, not her pride.

“You have to be reasonable, Jared,” Corinne ventured, calling through the door, forcing a pleading note into her voice. “I have a maid on this island. I can’t go off and just leave her stranded.”

Jared came out of the bathroom wearing white trousers that molded his powerful thighs. He was still put
ting on a cream-colored shirt and didn’t bother to look up at her when he answered.

“Your maid is here, Corinne. So there will be no stops on the way.”

Corinne’s eyes widened and her face turned white. Florence here? Dear God, where was Michael? Had Jared seen him?

“How?” she managed to whisper.

“I picked her up last night, along with the rest of the things you kept in your lovers’ hideaway. The poor woman spent half the night sorting out the mess I made of your clothes once I got her here. Soon Ho is packing a cart now—more damnable weight to make the journey slower. You really are a good deal more trouble than I had bargained for. A maid and a baby, too! How you talked her into sailing to Hawaii with a tiny baby, I can’t understand. Now hurry and get ready, Corinne. I have even less patience than usual this morning.”

Corinne turned away so he wouldn’t see the giddy relief on her face. Florence had done it! She had remembered their story and stuck to it! Her Michael was safe…and he was here! For just a moment, Corinne almost wished she could hug Jared. She had Michael again!

When Corinne and Jared approached the carriage, she saw Florence already seated, the bassinet on the seat beside her.

“You’ll have to put a cover over that bed if you don’t want the little one to get sunstroke,” Jared mentioned to Florence as he got into the driver’s seat.

“Why can’t you just put the carriage top up?” Corinne demanded. “Or is it all right if we get sunstroke?”

“I don’t trust you enough to put the top up, dear
wife,” he told her coldly. “I want you where I can see you.”

“So Florence and I are supposed to just suffer in the heat?”

“Make use of those straw hats on the seat. That’s what they’re for.”

She let it go at that, eager for him to be occupied with driving so she could talk to Florence. Florence was just as eager. As soon as they turned onto Beretania Street, she leaned towards Corinne.

“Are you all right?” she whispered.

“Yes, yes, but what about Michael? What did you tell Jared?”

Florence smiled reassuringly. “That story we concocted.”

“Did he believe it?”

“Yes, I’m sure he did. He was only surprised that you would bring a baby along with you.”

“Thank heavens.” Corinne sighed. “Oh, Florence! I was frantic at being separated from you and Michael. Jared has been a beast.”

“He wasn’t none too pleasant last night, I’ll tell you,” Florence said huffily.

“Was Russell there?”

“No, he was out looking for you. He’ll have a fine surprise when he returns and finds the house empty.”

“But tell me everything you told Jared about Michael. I can’t take the chance on contradicting anything.”

“I will, Cori, only let’s not take the risk of him overhearing us now. I’ll tell you as soon as we get a moment alone.”

They went slowly through the city streets, which were congested even at that early hour. But once they passed through Kalihi and rode on towards Aiea, there
was less traffic. Then Michael started fussing, no longer content to let the ride lull him.

Florence dug into the basket. Soon Ho had packed and drew out a bottle of sweetened water.

“I didn’t feed him this morning,” Florence confessed. “I knew you would be hurting. But I didn’t know we would be in an open carriage. This water will have to do him for now.”

“No, give him to me,” Corinne ordered.

“Cori, you can’t!” Florence gasped. “Jared will see you! And so will anyone we pass on the road.”

“Jared and I are back to back,” Corinne whispered back. “And I’ll use Michael’s blanket to hide what I’m doing. But I can’t stand this pain anymore. I’ve got to nurse him.”

“Very well,” Florence said reluctantly. She handed Michael to her. “I just hope your husband doesn’t lean over to see what you’re about.”

Stars were winking in a blue-black sky when the carriage finally pulled off the beach road. They turned onto a sandy drive that led to a sprawling single-story house set far back from the road.

Corinne was exhausted and she knew Florence was, too. Heat had suffocated them most of the day. They were deplorably filthy too, from the red dust that had settled on them as they passed the miles and miles of cane fields.

Once they rounded the end of the majestic Koolau mountain range and started traveling on the windward side of the mountain, the view became fascinating and made the rest of the journey tolerable. The landscape was almost junglelike, and wildly beautiful on the mountain side of the road. On the other side they skirted bays, the ocean always present. Sometimes the road veered right to the shoreline. And then came the sunset in all its splendid colors, and Corinne was spellbound. She marvelled, and forgot for a short while why she was in the carriage.

Now they were at their destination, and Corinne stared at the white house, bathed in moonlight. She was relieved to find that it was not the shack she had been expecting. The house was wide in front, and set on
pillars high above the ground. Tall pine trees, spaced closely together, formed walls on both sides of the house from the road all the way to the beach behind it. Only one space was open between the pines, in front of the house on the left. This space led to a small stable on the other side of the trees.

The huge long yard in front was a garden. Flowers grew everywhere—around trees in the yard, along pathways, around the house. Scents came to her through the warm salt air, scents of fruit and ginger, the blossoms muted whites, yellows, and reds. Gardenia grew in profusion. There were stunted plumeria trees in full bloom, and a magnificent colvillea tree with its red-orange buds carpeting the ground beneath it. Stately coconut palms skirted the road like a gigantic fence, swaying gently in the ocean breeze.

Corinne reached across the carriage and gently shook Florence’s shoulder while Jared stepped down from the driver’s seat. “We have arrived.”

Florence woke with a start. “Michael?”

“He’s still sleeping,” Corinne replied.

Michael had been a darling all day since she had fed him, not fussing at all because of the heat and dust. Corinne had been able to nurse him three times, and the pain in her breasts was completely gone now.

“We shouldn’t have let him sleep so much today,” Florence said as she sat up and rubbed her eyes tiredly, forgetting Jared’s presence. “Now he’ll keep you up half the night.”

Corinne nearly choked. She looked at Jared in panic, but he didn’t seem even to have heard. He was looking at the house and grinning. Corinne followed his gaze and saw the front door open slowly. Someone was peering out, holding a lamp high in the air, trying to see who the visitors were.

Suddenly, the door flew open, and the lamp was set down on the porch. Corinne stared aghast as a woman of mammoth girth came bouncing down the porch steps and, despite her size, seemed to fly toward them. Jared met her halfway and Corinne watched in amazement as he picked the huge woman up off the ground and swung her in the air.

“Ialeka, put me down!” the woman ordered sternly, then laughed as she tried to get out of his bear hug. “You break your back lifting this old woman.”

Jared chuckled and let her down. “The day I can’t sweep you off your feet, I’ll be an old man, Aunty Akela.”

She hugged him to her, then pushed him abruptly away as if the show of affection embarrassed her. She stood back and folded huge arms across an equally huge bosom.

“I like know why you no send word you coming?” the woman asked, that stern note in her voice again. “And why you no come sooner, huh?”

“I’ve been busy, Aunty.”

“Too busy to come home after you return from mainland?” she asked gruffly, then threw her hands in the air. “
Auwe!
Malia mad as a shook bee. You wait till she see you!”

Jared smiled tightly. “Where is Malia?”

“Where you think this time of night?” Akela said, as if the answer was obvious. “She sleeping.”

“Well, don’t wake her tonight. I’m too tired to put up with any tantrums. Just heat up some water for a couple of baths, then you can go back to bed yourself.”

“What you mean, couple?” she asked, looking suspiciously toward the carriage.

“My wife and her maid are with me,” Jared ex
plained reluctantly. When the revelation didn’t seem to surprise her, he grimaced. “You already know?”

The woman nodded with a grunt. “Now
you
know why Malia so mad. Naneki not so happy too. Good thing she stay Kahuku, visit my cousins.”

Jared groaned. He had not considered Naneki. How could he have forgotten that his mistress was a servant in the very house he was bringing his wife to? Did Corinne affect his thinking that much?

“What is that the
wahine
carries?”

Jared saw that Corinne and Florence had stepped from the carriage. Florence held the bassinet in her arms.

“There is a baby—”

“A
keiki?
” Akela exclaimed and ran forward without waiting for Jared to continue.

Corinne became alarmed when the huge Hawaiian woman ran toward them and stopped next to a terrified Florence to peer into the bassinet. When she reached inside the little bed and attempted to pick Michael up, Corinne nearly pounced on her.

Florence anticipated Corinne’s move and stepped in front of her. “Please, madam, he’s sleeping,” Florence said quickly.

“He no sleep.” Akela dismissed Florence’s protest. She reached again for Michael, this time lifting him from the bassinet. Florence and Corinne were taken aback when they saw tears in her eyes. She gazed down at the baby. “I wait long time to hold Ialeka’s
keiki
.”

Jared came up behind her, his face grim. “The baby is not mine, Aunty. He belongs to my wife’s maid.”

Akela looked at Jared, then back down at Michael. Then she shook her head knowingly and, against protests from Florence, carried Michael to the front porch
and sat down on the step, examining Michael critically in the light of the lamp.

They all followed the large woman to the porch, and Corinne’s heart beat frantically. She wanted to snatch Michael away from her. She couldn’t do that, though. Nor could she say anything, not with Jared standing right there beside her, bewilderment in his eyes. She would have to let Florence talk for her, and hope that she did so quickly.

Akela was frowning. The
keiki
she cuddled in her arms was the image of the
keiki
she had helped Ranelle to birth twenty-eight years ago. Only the eyes were different, and she looked at the two
haole
ahine
and saw the eyes of the mother, and the mother was not the
wahine
she had taken the
keiki
from. The mother was the other one, the pretty one with the gold hair and anxious face.

She looked at Jared accusingly. “Why you deny this
keiki?
You think to fool Aunty Akela?”

Jared stared incredulously at her. “What in damnation are you talking about?”

Corinne pinched Florence into rapid speech. “Really, Mr. Burkett. This woman’s insinuations are insulting,” she said indignantly, and bent down to take Michael from the old woman.

Akela stood up, towering over Florence, and glared down at her. “Why you say this
keiki
yours?”

Florence gasped. “Because he is! Now give him to me!”

“Give her the boy, Aunty,” Jared ordered, his voice cold. “I don’t know what you’ve got into your head, but you’re wrong.”

“No!
You
wrong!” She pierced him with dark eyes, and then pointed a denouncing finger at Corinne. “That one is the mama, not this one!”

Jared turned to Corinne. She was hypnotized by the growing suspicion in his eyes. His face was a mask of fury and she rebelled at the thought that he might just believe this old woman.

“Don’t you dare look at me like that!” she said in an offended tone.

“Corinne, if——”

“This is ridiculous!” She cut him off, then lowered her voice. “If you will just think about it, Jared, you will see how foolish all this is. That baby is too old to be yours. If I had a baby, I certainly wouldn’t deny him. I wish Michael were mine. I have helped Florence care for him and I’ve actually grown to love him a great deal.”

Jared sighed, running his hands through his hair. “She’s right, Aunty. The baby couldn’t possibly be mine. We were married only a year ago tomorrow.” Corinne’s gasp drew Jared’s eyes back to her. “You didn’t remember that, did you?”

Corinne’s back stiffened. “Why should I?” she shrugged. “The day holds no fond memories for me.”

Jared felt his anger building. Could she really have forgotten their wedding night, the night that had haunted his dreams ever since?

Jared saw that they were all staring at him in surprise. Was his rage so obvious? He would have to get a grip on himself. He had never before let his feelings be so transparent.

What was happening to him?

“Go into the house,” he told them. Then he went off to unload the baggage and see to the horses while Akela led the other women inside. The house was dark and quiet. Akela carried the lamp from the porch through a large living room in the center of the house. Stuffed sofas, sandalwood tables, potted palms, and a
piano dominated the room. Beaded doorways were on each side of it, and Akela went through the one on the right which showed a narrow corridor leading to three rooms.

“You sleep here,” she told Florence in a whisper, opening the middle door.

She went inside and lit a lamp on a tall bureau. The room was not large. It was oddly long and narrow, but looked comfortable, with a small bed and a chair and desk against one wall. Woven matting covered the floor, and there was a large wardrobe and even a separate bathroom at the end of the room.

“Very nice,” Florence remarked.

“Shh,” Akela whispered. “Malia sleeping next room. No wake her, or be trouble.”

“Well, I’ll be as quiet as I can,” Florence replied, but Akela was already leaving the room, indicating that Corinne should follow.

“I don’t like that woman,” Corinne whispered as she leaned over to kiss Michael good night.

“She’s very astute, if you ask me,” Florence replied. But go on now. Michael and I will be all right.”

Corinne left Florence and found Akela waiting impatiently at the end of the corridor. She followed her into a much larger bedroom at the front of the house. Once a porcelain lamp was lit on a bedside table, Akela started out the door.

“Who is Malia?” Corinne asked, but Akela ignored her question.

The big woman stopped at the door and gazed at Corinne thoughtfully. “I know you lie about
keiki
, but we be friends anyway, for you give my Ialeka a son and that is good. Someday he know and be happy.”

It took Corinne a moment to reply indignantly, “Michael is not mine!”

But Akela had shut the door behind her. Corinne began pacing. That woman was going to ruin everything if she persisted.

When Akela came back a short while later with hot water for a bath, Corinne ignored her. She pretended an interest in the room that would be hers, noting that it was long, like Florence’s, though much wider. A large bed with wooden posts sat in the center of the left wall, covered by a quilted rose silk spread. There were tall cupboards on both sides of the door, and across the room was another door, leading to the bathroom. To the right of the bathroom was a window and a big stuffed chair in front of it with a matching foot rest upholstered in dark green brocade, shot with silver. Two more windows with lacy rose curtains looked out on the front yard with all its flowers. Between them was a chaise, an odd-shaped mahogany coffee table before it.

Corinne moved to the dresser beside the bed, noticing pictures in silver frames. There were two of them, one of a man and woman, and another of a little girl with long black hair in pigtails and an impish smile. Corinne stared at the first picture, wondering if these two people were Jared’s parents. The woman was stunning, with silky black hair and blue-gray eyes exactly like Jared’s. Was this the woman her own father had loved?

“Your bath ready,” Akela said, startling her.

Corinne turned to thank her, but the big woman with salt-and-pepper hair in a tight bun was already out of the room. Corinne didn’t waste any time. That hot bath sounded heavenly. Akela had even scented it with a delicate sandalwood fragrance, and Corinne was grudgingly grateful, deciding she just might like the big Hawaiian woman after all. She quickly disrobed and climbed into the large tub, then leaned back and relaxed
for the first time that day, letting all her problems drift away with the fragrant steam.

A loud thud in the bedroom shattered her quiet peace and Corinne bolted upright. When no other sounds were forthcoming, she realized that Jared had brought her baggage into the room. She relaxed again and took her time, not wanting to leave the tub even after the water had turned cold. But she was already finding it difficult to keep her eyes open.