Arriving in Oahu
“I’m so excited!” Diana could barely contain her enthusiasm as the plane circled Oahu in preparation for landing. “We’re almost there.”
Tessa shook her head and smiled. “Calm down,” she warned her friend. “We still have to get through the baggage claim and meet Uncle Kal.” She looked around the first class cabin. Brian sat directly across the aisle, next to Miss Trask. Having slept for the majority of the six-hour flight, he looked a little groggy. Right behind them sat Honey and Trixie. Trixie was nearly as excited as Diana, almost vibrating in her seat as she watched the islands come into view through the window. Next to her, Honey seemed serene, as she kept one hazel eye on her bouncy best friend and another on Brian. Tessa caught her calmer cousin’s eye, and they shared a knowing smile.
They flew over Pearl Harbor as they landed. Diana pointed at the white memorial. “Is that it, Tess?” she asked. “When are we going?”
“That’s the actual memorial,” Tessa told her. “We’ll take the boat out from the visitor center, and we’ll go the day after tomorrow. Uncle Andy wanted to go, too, and he won’t be here until tomorrow.”
“Can’t we go tomorrow, when he gets here?”
“It’s a big tourist draw, Di,” Tessa explained. “We need to go early so we can make sure we get a chance to go out to the memorial. They only make a certain number of trips per day.”
“Oh. Okay.” Diana sat back in her seat. “I’m just so excited. I want to be on the ground now.”
Tessa giggled, as the fasten seat belt sign flashed on. “Well, hold on, Princess Di. We’ll be on the ground in less than five. Aloha, my friend. Welcome to my home.” She squeezed Diana’s hand tightly as the plane began its descent.
*****
Once they had retrieved their luggage from the baggage claim area, Tessa scanned the airport, looking for her uncle. Usually, Kalahiki was easy to pick out of a crowd, but even with the airport more than half empty, he was nowhere in sight. “That’s odd,” she said to Miss Trask. “Uncle Kal said he’d meet us. I wonder where he is.”
“Perhaps he was delayed in traffic,” Miss Trask offered. “We can wait outside for a while and see if he appears. If not, we can rent a car and drive to the hotel.”
“You gave him the right information, didn’t you, Tess?” Trixie asked.
Tessa leveled a glare at her perky cousin. “Of course! I sent him the entire itinerary.”
She grabbed her suitcase and led her group to the automatic doors. Once outside, she turned her face toward the sky, savoring the warmth of the late afternoon sun.
“Hey, cuz,” a deep voice caused her eyes to pop open. “Wazzup?”
“Mak?” Tessa looked at the tall young man and broke into a grin. “Whatcha do here, bra? Where da Kal?”
Mak grinned back at her and spoke in perfectly enunciated English. “Pop got stuck on the other side of the canyon. I’m here to see my favorite hapa cousin and her mainland friends.” He reached out and enveloped her, his arms strong and smelling of citrus and sunscreen. “I have a week, and I’m staying at the house with Tutu, and...” he paused. “Kai.”
“Kai’s here, too?” Tessa nearly bounced with excitement. “I thought he was off the coast of Africa or some place like that.”
“They finished early, and he wanted to see you before he heads off on his next adventure.” Mak looked up. “Are you going to introduce me?” he asked.
“Oh!” Tessa flushed and turned apologetically to her friends. “I’m so sorry. Everyone, this is my cousin, Mak. One of my Uncle Kal’s boys. Dr. Michael Makauna Kanehoe. Mak, these are my cousins, Brian and Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler, my dearest friend, Diana Lynch, and our fearless chaperone, Miss Margery Trask.”
“It is a pleasure to meet all of you,” Mak said formally, shaking the hands of each. “Aloha, and welcome to Oahu.”
“It’s a pleasure.” Brian stepped forward. “Tess introduced you as ‘doctor’. What kind of doctor are you?”
“I’m a dentist.” Mak grinned, his teeth flashing white against his darkly tanned skin as Brian looked aghast at the man’s orange and white aloha shirt and baggy cargo shorts. “Honest. I have a practice in Kahalue, Maui. Teeth are my business.”
“You just don’t look like any dentist I’ve ever seen.” Diana’s cheeks went pink. “You look more like that fire dancer in Tessa’s video.”
Mak’s deep, booming laugh rang out long and loud. “I’ve been known to do that, too, although my father and brother are better at it. Kai put himself through grad school by fire dancing at luaus.”
“Kai?” Trixie’s brow wrinkled. “Is he your brother?”
“My twin, actually. Recently crowned Dr. Caleb Maunakai Kaneohe, Ph. D. He’s in the van, driving around the parking circle. Why don’t we go find him?”
The Bob Whites followed Mak of the cobblestones and over to the traffic area. They waited on the center curb until a slightly battered blue and white box van pulled up. The words across the side proclaimed “Sunrise Scuba and Surf” over the picture of a surfer shooting the perfect curl. The driver’s door popped open, and a man, who was Mak’s image, only in a U of Hawaii t-shirt with the sleeves torn off, jumped out to help them with their bags. Brown eyes sparkling, he grabbed Tessa in a big hug and spun her around. Not waiting to be introduced, he did it himself. “Aloha! I’m Kai--the handsome brother.” Kai ducked as his brother swung a mock punch at his head. “Welcome to Oahu.”
*****
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay, Brian?” Honey worried as she watched her boyfriend unfold his lounge chair.
“I’m fine, Honey,” Brian told her for the tenth time, trying to keep the exasperation out of his voice. “I’m just a little tired from the trip, so I’m going to nap here on the beach while you swim. I’ll swim tomorrow.”
Tessa took a beach towel from her orange and grey striped bag and unrolled it with a flourish, draping it across the chair. “I think that’s a great idea, Bri,” she told him. “You can take it easy, and keep an eye on our things.” She grinned at him. “All four bags. Is that okay with you?”
Brian had to laugh. “Only four?”
Diana giggled. “We’re having dinner in a few hours, so we only brought a few snacks down. Tomorrow, we’ll try to bring more.” While Brian settled into his chair, she grabbed the hem of her large purple t-shirt and yanked it up over her head, revealing her brand new, very brief, very red bikini.
Brian swallowed hard, trying to avert his eyes as Trixie and Tessa followed suit, revealing their slightly more modest, but very becoming bikini suits. As they ran for the waves, Honey reached for the discarded cover-ups, folding them neatly and setting them on the beach bags. Hesitating, she turned to Brian. “You’re sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m fine.” Brian closed his eyes. “Okay,” he admitted. “I’m feeling a little guilty.” He waved his hand at the expanse of white sand beach and rolling ocean. “Here I am, with my brother’s and best friends’ girls, in bikinis, while they’re working at camp all summer. So, yes, I’m a little down, but mostly, it’s because I’m tired. I’ll be better tomorrow, I promise.” He reached up and squeezed her hand.
“I’m going to hold you to that one,” Honey told him, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Here.” She slowly pulled her bright yellow shirt up and over her head, giving him a prolonged view of her own new suit. The green top dipped deep between her breasts, ending in a wide black band that encircled her chest and tied in the back. The black-trimmed matching green shorts rode low on her slender hips, exposing both her narrow waist and shapely long legs. Brian stared. He could feel his mouth dropping open, but was unable to prevent either that or the long sigh that escaped.
“You like?” Honey asked, a faint blush staining her cheeks.
“I like. I really like.” Brian managed to pull his attention back into focus. “I think guilt might be overrated.”
Honey giggled. “I think so, too.” She kissed him again, this time her lips resting briefly against his. “You rest. I’m going to swim.” She pressed her shirt into his hands.
“I’ll be here when you get back.” Brian watched her run into the waves, her body diving gracefully into the breaking surf. Maybe this would be a good summer after all. He relaxed in the woven beach lounger with her shirt resting on his chest, his dark eyes covered by his sunglasses, one hand dangling aimlessly over the side, fingers sifting the sun-warmed sand. Farther down the beach, the four girls frolicked in the waves, as Tess instructed her cousins and friend in the finer points of body surfing.
“Hey, cuz,” Kai Kanehoe interrupted Brian’s reverie, dragging a second chair across the sand and plopping into it. “Howzit da head?”
Brian rolled to his side to face his new shirttail relation. “In English?” he asked with a small grin.
Kai laughed and tucked the pidgin away. “How are you feeling? Nani told us you’ve been ill. You look like you have a headache.”
“Why do you call Tess, Nani?” Brian was honestly curious. “You do it, your brother does it, heck, even Dan does it sometimes. Why?”
“For the same reason I’m called Kai and my brother Mak.” Kai brushed a strand of dark hair away from his face. “It’s part of our Hawai’ian name and used as a term of endearment. When Mak and I were born, it was still a law that all babies have an English or Christian name. Mine is Caleb. Mak’s is Michael. Pop’s is Joseph. By the time Tessa and John were born, the law had been revoked, but the tradition continued, as did our own tradition of using our Hawai’ian names. And you did not answer my question.”
“No, I guess I didn’t.” Brian rubbed his free hand across his chin. “I’m a little tired from the trip, but other than that, I’m fine.” He grinned. “I was actually just sitting here wondering if I should be feeling guilty for enjoying just sitting here, while my friends are working their butts off at camp.”
“That would be the missing bird-boys?” Kai queried. At Brian’s nod, his voice took on a deliberately casual note. “Your brother, Mart, Honey’s brother, Jim, and Dan. Tessa’s Dan?”
“Yes,” Brian confirmed, crossing his hands behind his head. “Tessa’s Dan. He’s the one you want to talk about, isn’t he?”
Kai laughed, deep and rumbling. “Too obvious, huh?”
“A little,” Brian told him, “But only because I’ve been in a similar position with my little sister. How much of the story do you already know?”
“Of the story, we know everything. Andrew was very good about passing the information on to Pop, and he told us.” Kai shook his head in dismay. “It was very disturbing, and I have no desire to rehash it. What I want to know--what we all want to know--is about this Dan character.” Kai leaned forward, his dark eyes serious. “What kind of man is he? How does he treat my cousin? Would you trust him with your sister? Those kinds of questions.”
“Hmmmm.” Brian sat up, adjusting his chair. “The short version would be: Good, well and probably.” He laughed at the expression on Kai’s face and relented. “Dan’s a good guy,” he explained. “He’s my friend. He came with a lot of baggage, which I’m only just beginning to understand. He isn’t always the most open person, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He’d do anything for Tess. He loves her.” Brian held up his hand, warding off Kai’s protest. “Yeah, yeah. I know that they’re young, but he loves her. I’ve seen him with her when she was freaking out. He was gentle and strong and completely there with her. But she doesn’t walk all over him, either.” He shook his head. “I can’t explain it. They just work together.”
“He makes her happy?”
“Happy? Yes.” Brian’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. “And occasionally frustrated and angry, because that’s what real life is like.” He shrugged. “If you want more details, you’ll need to ask Tess.”
Kai snorted. “She’ll tell me to mind my own business.”
Brian snickered. “You do know her.”
Kai nodded. “I’ve known her since she was three weeks old. Pop took us to meet the plane when they flew home. She was such a beautiful baby, full of smiles and sunshine.” A dreamy look appeared in his eyes. “We, Mak and I, we didn’t see her much during the year, but we all spent our summers at our grandparents’. Keoni and Nani were a lot younger than we were, but we all got along pretty well--swimming and surfing, riding and playing. Tessa has always been full of life and fire. Stubborn as a mule and as charming as anything.”
“Sounds like all of them,” Brian remarked, his eyes wandering to where the girls played in the surf. “I used to think that Trixie was stubborn, but the last two years have taught me that it’s a girl thing. Trixie’s just more obvious.” He pointed to the girl in the black and green bathing suit. “I’ve been dating Honey for almost a year.” He licked his lips. “She is the sweetest, kindest, most loving girl in the world. She really does live up to her nickname.”
“But?” Kai asked, “Because I definitely heard a but in there.”
“But,” Brian continued, “she is more stubborn than my sister. I didn’t think that was possible. She’s tenacious and determined. She just disguises that little fact with tact and politeness.”
“What about the other one? Diana?”
“Ahh. Diana.” Brian changed positions. “Diana is an interesting girl. Everyone is always telling her how pretty she is, and she is gorgeous, but there is so much more to her. My brother, Mart has been panting after Di since he was in grade school. He knows her, though. He knows what’s an act and what’s real, and he knows not to underestimate her. She’s much smarter than she lets people think she is.”
“What about Trixie?” Kai asked.
“Trixie is Trixie,” Brian told him. “She’s impetuous, tenacious and bullheaded and occasionally single-minded in her determination. But she’s also compassionate, kind and amazingly insightful.”
“I heard that she goes with your girl’s brother.” Kai grinned impishly, the dimples on either side of his mouth flashing.
Brian scowled at his new cousin, but his expression changed quickly when Kai laughed. “Trixie’s dating Honey’s brother, Jim.” He breathed out in an exaggerated sigh. “Jim happens to be my best friend and my roommate.” He shook his head. “It was hard for me when they started dating. I mean--she’s my baby sister. But then Honey reminded me that I was dating Jim’s baby sister and that she is actually a few months younger than Trix. That kind of put it into perspective. Besides.” Brian shrugged again. “Trixie and Jim aren’t going to last unless he stops trying to control her every move.”
“So Jim’s controlling?” Kai looked concerned. “Is he abusive?”
“No, not at all.” Brian leapt to Jim’s defense. “Jim just wants to keep Trixie safe, and that has a tendency to grate on Trixie. Safety and Trixie are often at odds.”
“I’ve heard she’s an adventure seeker,” Kai admitted. “Did she really break up an arms dealing ring?”
Brian shuddered at the memory. “Yes. And she thwarted an art theft ring, an antiques thieving ring, a jewelry smuggling ring, three sets of counterfeiters, found a missing child, discovered a rare species of fish, and broke up an infiltration of gang members in our little town.”
“Wow! I thought Andrew was exaggerating.” Kai shook his head in awe. “I wonder what she’ll find here in the islands, “ he mused. He laughed as Brian groaned and covered his face with Honey’s shirt.
Still laughing, Kai from his chair and uncovered Brian’s face. “I’m going to call in the girls. It’s nearly dinner time.”
“Our reservation is for seven, right?” Brian squinted at his watch. “It’s only five-thirty.”
Kai looked at him with one raised eyebrow. “A ten minute walk back to the hotel, followed by the elevator ride to the thirty-second floor. Four young women. Two showers.” Kai made a balance with his hands, weighing the options. “I think we’ll be lucky to make the reservation.”
Brian laughed. “I see your point. You go get them, and I’ll pack up our stuff.”
As Kai strode down the beach, Brian quickly folded up his lounge chair before carefully pulling out four large towels. As the four girls ran giggling and dripping toward him, he handed each a towel.
Tessa dried her face and quickly tied her towel sarong style around her chest. “First dibs on the master shower,” she called out to the others.
Trixie stuck out her tongue at her cousin. “Fine! I’ll call the second shower.” She reached for her beach shirt, pulling it over her ocean-flattened curls, and flinging her towel over her shoulders. “Or do you want to race?”
“Not me.” Diana wrung out her long hair before tying her towel around her waist. “I’m not running through the sand in flip-flops. You two shower first, and Honey and I will drink lemonade on the... terrace?”
“Lanai,” Tessa corrected. “I think we’ll have to order lemonade on our way up. All that’s left in the refrigerator is tea and P.O.G.”
“P.O.G.’s good,” Honey piped up, her hand creeping out to take Brian’s. “Pineapple-orange-guava juice. Yum! Would you like to join us, Kai, out on the lanai?”
“No thank you,” Tessa’s handsome cousin replied. “I’m going back to Tutu’s to change. Mak and Pop and I will meet you at the restaurant.” He flashed the ‘hang loose’ sign. “Catcha on the flip, cuz.”
“Shaka, cuz. O da kine.” Tessa reciprocated. She picked up the extra chair, and they headed away from the beach.
*****
As they sat around the large oval table overlooking the ocean, Tessa was content. Mak and Kai were at their charming best, and although Kalihiki was still among the missing, Brian, Miss Trask, Di, Honey and Trixie all seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. The pupus and salad had been cleared, and as the waiter brought in the entrees of mahimahi and steak, a large and familiar form appeared in the entryway of the restaurant. “Uncle Kal!” Tessa exclaimed, pushing back her chair and racing toward her uncle.
He gathered her in his strong arms, whispering, “Keiki” as he embraced her. “Do you have room for two more?” he asked.
“Two?” Tessa pulled back, just as Andrew Belden stepped into her line of sight. “Uncle Andy? I thought you wouldn’t be here until tomorrow!”
“Surprise!” Andrew responded, reaching for his niece. “I finished early and caught the first plane out.”
By the time he had released her, Trixie and Brian had joined them. Andrew hugged both in turn. “So,” he asked, “what’s for dinner?”
“Steak and some fish called mahimahi,” Trixie replied. “It smells really good, and we have tons.” Trixie took her uncle’s hand and tugged him towards the table, her brother, cousin and Kalihiki following behind.
The waiter quickly found two more chairs, as Tessa introduced Kalihiki to Miss Trask and her friends. They sat down and dug in, sharing tastes and making plans.
Pleasantly full, they said goodnight to the Kanehoe men and walked the four blocks back to their hotel. “Wow.” Andrew Belden took in the three-bedroom suite. “This is nice. Very nice.”
“We have the master suite,” Tessa told him, giving him the nickel tour. “The hotel brought in a trundle, so we can sleep all four of us in there. Miss Trask has the single next to us, and we put you and Brian in the room off the kitchen. Your bathroom is through there.” She pointed at the arch to the left of the kitchenette. Throwing her arms around him, she squeezed hard. “I’m so glad you’re here, Uncle Andy.”
“I’m glad, too, Sweetie. I’ve missed you.” Andrew looked at his watch. “It seems later than nine.”
“That’s because you’re still on Central time.” Tessa grinned up at him. “Your body thinks it’s two in the morning.”
“Stopping in Seattle for four days helped me a lot,” Brian volunteered, joining them in the living room. “My body only thinks it’s midnight.” He stifled a yawn. “But that’s late enough. I’m for bed.”
“Me, too,” Tessa agreed. “Hopefully Di is finished in the bathroom.” She reached up to kiss Andrew’s cheek. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Tess,” Brian said, as he headed for his bedroom. “See you in the morning.”