May 29, 1984
Andrew Belden folded up his tray table, and tucked the magazine into the pocket on the seat back. Looking to his right, he had to smile. Tessa had her seat reclined; the footrest extended, and was curled up under her personal blanket. She was still more than a little a bit of a mystery to him, this half-woman, half-child he had inherited. She was smart; he was constantly amazed by how much information she could learn and retain--not to mention her natural ability with language.
Tessa’s way of looking at the world was of interest to Andrew, because of the level of maturity she exhibited. She moved through life, already knowing that the unexpected could happen. She had none of the “I’m invincible” attitude he saw in his other nieces and nephews, for Tessa had learned about mortality the hard way. Yet, here she was, curled up and sleeping, wrapped in her blanket.
He looked at the blanket, and shook his head. It was very tattered and obviously loved, the browns and greens faded, the palm trees hard to discern from the rest of the beach scene. Several tears had been carefully sewn over the years, and with the exception of the week she had been unconscious, Andrew had never known it to be out of Tessa’s possession.
The flight attendant walked through the first class compartment, checking on each of the half dozen occupants. She stopped in front of Andrew. “Can I get you anything, Sir?” she asked, smiling as she saw Tessa in her cocoon. “Hard day?” she asked.
Andrew nodded. “A long one,” he said. “We left New York at eight this morning.”
“That makes for a long day,” the attendant agreed, “Our expected time of arrival in Kahalue is in about three hours, at seven o’clock, local time. That would be around one in the morning, your time.” She looked again at Tessa. “I think your daughter has the right idea.”
“My niece,” Andrew corrected. “I’m glad she can sleep so easily. I’m taking her home.”
“How long has she been away?”
“Almost three years.” At the raised eyebrows, Andrew hastened to explain, “She and her mother were visiting the U.S, when her mother was killed in an accident. This is the first chance I’ve had to bring her back.”
“Is your niece a Hawai’ian native?”
“Mostly.” Andrew smiled. “Tessa was born in the U.S, in San Diego. Her parents were on their way home, when little Miss Impatience decided she needed to be born right now. She came home to Hawaii about two weeks later.”
“Then she is kama’aina.” The attendant hesitated before speaking. “It is hard for those of us who love Hawai’i to leave for long periods of time. It is very good of you to bring her back, but please remember: Hawai’i is part of the United States. Your niece was visiting the mainland, and was born in California, not a different country. Now, may I get you a drink or a snack?”
“Just coffee, please,” Andrew said, lowering his voice as Tessa stirred.
As the girl emerged from her blanket cocoon, she mumbled, “Do you have any POG?”
“We do,” the attendant replied. “I’ll get you a glass. We’ll begin meal service in about thirty minutes.”
“Mahalo.” Tess sat up, blinking her eyes as she moved her seat into an upright position. Carefully folding her blanket, she tucked it beside her. “Uncle Andy,” she said in an exaggeratedly serious tone, “you really need to work on your geography. Not all of the states are attached.”
With equal solemnity, Andrew nodded. “I’ll try to remember that, you little meanyhoney.”
Tessa giggled. “That’s menehune. Men-eh-who-knee. And I’m not. A menehune, I mean.”
“No,” Andrew grinned. “You’re just a mean-y niece-y for teasing your dumb old uncle.”
“Actually,” Tessa told him. “I’m pretty impressed with my dumb old uncle. Most people don’t even try to understand the language or the culture of Hawai’i. I really appreciate the effort you’re giving.” She hesitated, a twinkle in her eye, her mouth twitching, teasing the dimple in her cheek. “Even if you do end up mangling most of it.”
“Kolohe keiki!” Andrew said with a huge grin, hugging his niece, and laughing at the astonished look on her face.
Pulling away, Tessa attempted to pull on her most insulted air. “I am not a naughty child,” she said haughtily, “I am makua opio, a young adult.” Her air failed, and she collapsed in a stream of giggles. “Trust you to learn the insults first. I’m very impressed.”
Andrew grinned again, ruffling his hand through her hair as the attendant arrived with their drinks. Taking a sip of his steaming coffee, he whispered, “Mahalo, ka’ u keiki.”
“A’ole’pilikia,” Tessa responded, drinking her juice. “I mean it. Despite the teasing, Uncle Andy, you’re doing really well.”
“I’ve had a good teacher,” Andrew told her, watching as she stifled a yawn. “Are you planning to go back to sleep?”
“I think I’ll eat first,” Tessa said. “I don’t have to sleep, you know. I can stay awake and keep you company. We can practice language or discuss business.”
Andrew smiled his appreciation. “There will be plenty of time for that. You go ahead and do what feels comfortable.”
Tessa thought for a moment. “In that case,” she said, “I’ll probably sleep. It makes the trip go a whole lot faster.”
“Is this where I point out that the trip will take the same amount of time, whether you are asleep or awake?” Andrew asked.
Tessa responded by sticking out her tongue, and refolding her blanket.
“Auntie Shelby!” Tess squealed, her eyes bright with excitement. Andrew turned away from the luggage carousel in time to see his niece throw herself into the welcoming arms of a tall, leggy blonde.
Grabbing the second, and final, piece of checked baggage, Andrew made his way over to the sobbing, hugging duo. Tessa turned, her face wet with tears. “Uncle Andy,” she said, “this is my honorary auntie, and Mama’s business partner, Shelby Ikahara.”
“Ikahara?” Andrew took the woman’s hand, a puzzled look on his face.
Blue eyes twinkling, Shelby explained,” My maiden name was Swenson.” She laughed. “Harry, my husband, always gets a kick out of the way people react to my name. You’ll get to meet Harry and my crew in a while. Did they feed you on the plane?”
“We had a decent snack,” Tess told her. “But it was a couple of hours ago. What is Uncle Harry making?”
“He was marinating chicken when I left,” Shelby said. “And he mentioned something about long rice and vegetables.”
“Yum!” Tessa rolled her eyes skyward. “Uncle Andy, you are in for a treat. Nobody makes chicken long rice like Uncle Harry.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Andrew assured her. Turning his attention to Shelby, he asked, “Are you sure we won’t be imposing?”
“Not at all. I’ve prepared our ohana house, and Harry loves to share his cooking skills.” Shelby clasped Andrew’s hand. “Sarah was more than a business associate. She was my sister. Tessa is family. Ohana, our extended family, is very important to us. You’re both more than welcome in our home. We’ll get you settled in Sarah’s house tomorrow, when the sun is out.”
“Thank you. I mean, mahalo.”
“Very good!” Shelby smiled widely, and hugged Tessa once more. “I see you’re teaching him.”
“I’m trying,” Tess replied with an impish grin. “If only I could get him to realize that he is still in America.”
“Hey!” Andrew responded with good humor, “Give me time. Hawai’i wasn’t a state when I was born. I’m an old man, and set in my ways.”
They were laughing as they followed Shelby out into the parking lot.
Shelby’s ‘a while’ turned out to be an hour to go twenty-four miles, and Andy seriously contemplated giving in to motion sickness for the first time in his life. The road, once they drove past the tiny town of Paia, became twisty-turning and very, very narrow. While Tess sat in the back seat, her face pressed against the window, Andy tried to keep his stomach from lurching as the car dodged enormous potholes squeezed between waterfall cliffs and sheer drops to the ocean. The scenery was breathtaking, but the ride was terrifying.
Finally, Shelby turned down a dirt road and pulled up to a squat, rambling, yellow brick, house. No sooner had Shelby turned off the car, than a lovely young girl came flying out the door, squealing, “Teeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss!”
“Lilllllllllllllllllllllliiiii!” Tessa responded, launching herself out of the car.
Andrew shook his head, as the two girls erupted into a babel of giggles, sobs and indecipherable talk. Shelby glanced at him sympathetically. “They’ve always been like this,” she told him. “But they’ve never been apart for quite so long. I suggest you ignore them until they talk themselves out. In case you were wondering, that is my oldest, Lili. She and Tessa have been friends for nearly sixteen years.” She opened the trunk. “Come inside, and I’ll get you settled and introduce you to the rest of the family.”
Grabbing the suitcases, Andrew followed his hostess into the house, leaving his niece to her own devices. He didn’t think she even noticed.
“You could leave her here, with us.” Harry Ikahara spoke the words softly; his dark eyes warm with invitation. “We would welcome her as another daughter.”
“I appreciate the offer,” Andrew said sincerely. “Really, I do. I can tell after just a few hours, how much you all care about Tessa. But I don’t want her so far away from me. She seems to think she’ll be happy with my brother and his family, and they’re only a short distance from me. I’m selfish enough to want her close, with family.”
“We consider her a member of our family,” Harry began, only to have his wife silence him with a look.
“We do,” Shelby picked up her husband’s thread. “And we always will. Andrew, know that Tessa is always welcome in our home--as are you. I can understand your feelings, but Tessa is Hawai’ian. We kama’aina. are tied deeply to our homeland. Do you plan to sell her Hawai’ian properties?”
“No! Not at all,” Andrew assured them. “I will not sell any of Tessa’s inheritance without her approval. I am, however, beginning to train her in the management aspects or her holdings.”
“That’s a good thing,” Harry said. “She should understand what she has, and how to use it to her best interest. The Hana property, alone, is worth a large sum of money, not to mention the condo in Kihei. From what Sarah had said, Tessa stands to inherit a large portion of land from her grandmother as well. I suppose Kal knows more about that.”
“You haven’t met Kalahiki’ola Kaneohe, have you?” Shelby asked.
“No,” Andrew answered. “I’ve communicated with him through letters, but we’ve never met face to face.”
Shelby bit her lip. “One of the reasons we asked you to stay with us tonight, was to make sure you got to meet Kal in the daylight. He came in yesterday, and is staying in the ohana house at Sarah and Jack’s place. It’s where he always stays, just so you know. The main house should be aired out and ready for you by the time we get there tomorrow.”
“Is Kal a werewolf or a vampire?” Andrew asked, only half joking. “Is that why I should only meet him in daylight?”
Shelby laughed, a tinkling sound that merged well with her husband’s deeper chuckle. “No, Kal is completely human, all man, by all means. He’s just more intimidating in the dark.”
“Kal is a big man,” Harry put in. “He’s very physical, very muscular, and very much a warrior. Truthfully, I’ve never known him to be less than gentle-spirited, but he is physically imposing--and he knows it. He isn’t above using it, either.”
“He can’t have Tessa,” Andrew spoke the words without thinking first. “Sarah told me that Kal wasn’t capable of taking care of her. Sarah said he doesn’t live in this world.”
“That’s true enough,” Shelby told him. “Kal believes that Hawai’i should be a sovereign nation, that the throne was illegally usurped. It is true, really, but not a realistic ideal.”
“And Kal knows it, too,” Harry interjected. “He’s a brilliant man, our Kalihiki’ola, he just likes getting folks all riled up. He depends as much on the tourist trade as anyone else. No, Kal might dream of living free and happy on the land, but he knows where the butter for the breadfruit comes from.” Harry turned serious. “Kal’s boys are grown and gone. He won’t try to take Tessa from you, Andrew. Not as long as he feels you respect her roots. She may not be pure Hawai’ian, by blood, but she is kama’aina, and Kal is adamant about traditions. As long as you try to understand his ways, he’ll accept you. You were Sarah’s choice for her daughter. Kal will respect his sister’s wishes, as long as he feels that you respect his traditions.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem,” Andrew said. “Tessa is firmly rooted here in Hawaii. Personally, I find what she has told me to be fascinating, and I can’t see any reason for her to move away from her history.”
“With that attitude, you should do fine.” Shelby covered a yawn. “I don’t know about you, Andrew, but I’m exhausted. I think it’s time to call it a night.”
“It has been a long day,” Andrew agreed. “I’ve enjoyed our conversation so much, I nearly forgot how long it has been.” He hesitated. “I’d like to check on Tess before I go off to bed. Would that be okay with you?”
“Of course.” Shelby rose gracefully to her feet. “I’ll let you peek in on the girls before I show you to your room. Hopefully, they have talked themselves to sleep.”
They had. Leaning against the doorframe, Andrew watched his niece sleep. For the first time in forever, Tessa slept with a smile, her face turned toward the open window. The white sheet covered her body, and the ragged blanket rested under her head. Andrew was barely aware of Lili, asleep in the other bed, his attention focused entirely on Tessa and her even breathing. A sense of peace came over Andrew as he watched the girl sleep.
Shelby’s hand on his arm broke him from his reverie. As he followed her out the door and through the screened breezeway he couldn’t help but comment, “I haven’t seen her so relaxed in a long time.”
“It’s because she’s home,” Shelby replied, opening the door to the ohana house. “I am so glad you brought Tessa home. Sleep well, Andrew. Sleep well.”
He did.
