“Then maybe it’s time I had my own house.” Wilson was her solace, her companion when loneliness stalked her. She sent Mano a silent plea, and he stepped forward and plucked Wilson from her father’s hand and deposited the mongoose in her arms. “Mahalo,” she whispered, then ran for her bedroom.
Ignoring her father’s angry shout, she dashed down the hall and slammed the door behind her. Wasn’t she allowed to have a life of her own, things of her own, a pet? She’d given up everything for her family. They had no right to dictate her life to this degree. Her chest heaved. She wanted to throw something, but she kept Wilson tucked under her chin and tried to control her distress.
She should pray. The thought came out of nowhere, but she obeyed it anyway. She had to let God be the boss, the center. Her life was to be about pleasing him now, not herself. The tension began to ease from her body as she turned her hurt and confusion over to her real authority.
She heard a sound when she lifted her head. Wilson moved at the soft knock on her door. “Annie?” Mano called. “You okay?”
Hearing Mano’s voice, she realized the angry shouts from the kitchen had ceased. She opened her door. “I’m fine.”
“How about you, me, and Wilson go eat by the water? I’ll get a pizza.”
He was so dear and so thoughtful. His shoulders spanned the doorway, and his expression seemed almost tender as he looked down at her. She wished she could believe it. “What are Tomi and Father doing?”
“Salvaging the shish kebabs.” He grinned, and she laughed. “I think your dad is sorry and ready to apologize.”
“He doesn’t know how to apologize.” She smiled to let Mano know it didn’t bother her. She followed Mano to the living room. As she stepped into the kitchen, she heard her brother say, “We might as well sell, Father. We won’t want to share our home with a casino.” Sadness lodged itself like a lava rock in her chest.
“The bank is foreclosing anyway,” Tomi continued.
Her father turned to look at her as she approached the table. “I see you told your brother you’ve lost the land that has been the Tagama property for generations.”
Annie decided she wasn’t taking all the blame for this. “I didn’t know what to do, how to save the house. Tomi has told you about the offer for the property.”
“I entrusted your sister with the family finances, and she has made a fiasco of them. If she’d only told me there was a problem, we might have averted this.”
Annie stifled her gasp. It was his idea to get the mortgage in the first place. She’d insisted then they couldn’t afford to repay it. She didn’t know how to answer his outrageous accusations. “I’m sorry, Father,” she said finally. “I’m not like my mother. Money management is not one of my strengths. But you knew we had this problem.” Mano put his hand in the small of her back, and the touch of support allowed her to lift her head. “Besides, I told you when Mother died that you should handle it.”
“I relied on you for that. It is your job.”
What was her job? Annie didn’t know anymore. She’d thought it was important to be needed by her family, but she was merely a doormat for them to wipe their feet on. They didn’t appreciate her work, none of them. She focused on her brother’s face. “And if we sell the house, how long would we have to move out?”
“I’ve talked to the CEO of the casino. We’d have six months. They will pay cash and expedite the sale. But they want to do it now, this week.”
“It goes against my grain to be forced,” her father said, holding up his hand. “We have no choice. Better to sell and be known as shrewd investors than to give it away to the bank and let the casino have it for a fraction of its value. Tell them we’ll do it.”
Mano’s hand dropped away from her back. “Uh, there’s something I’d better tell you now while you’re still deciding. I got your mortgage caught up. You’ve got a little breathing space to decide what to do.”
Annie should have known, should have suspected he’d do something like this. “You spent five thousand dollars of your own money to pay the mortgage?” she whispered.
He nodded; then his gaze went to her father. “So make your decision on what’s best for you. Don’t be pressured into something you don’t want.”
Indecision swept over her father’s face. He glanced at his son. “If we don’t do it today, Father, we’ll lose the deal, and they’ll buy other land.”
The older man nodded. “Very well. Call them.” He stared at Mano. “Mahalo for your care for my family. I’ll make sure you’re repaid.” His back was bent, and he looked like he’d aged ten years as he walked out of the kitchen.
Tomi watched him go. “It’s hard for our father to accept change. I wish we could just stay here too. But he wouldn’t be happy with all the traffic from the casino around. It’s for the best.” He slapped Mano on the back. “You’re a good friend, buddy. Mahalo.” He went to the phone. “I’ll call and make the arrangements. Aki gave me the number.”