Kaia jogged to her truck and drove out to the lagoon to her grandfather’s cottage. Bane had told her this morning he was going to help their grandfather in the garden today.
Mynas called from the trees as she got out in front of the cottage. She found Bane pulling weeds beside their grandfather. Tutu kane’s dark eyes brightened when he saw her. “Ah, lei aloha, you look as bright as the mynas.” He held up a dirt-covered taro root. “Hungry?”
She smiled. “Um, no.”
She glanced at her brother. He raised his eyebrows. “What’s up, sis? You look frazzled.”
“What a day I’ve had,” she said, bending down to pull a handful of black wattle. “First I found the lab has been sold to a man who wants to enclose the lagoon and put Nani and the others in captivity for a sea park. Then he tells me he’s giving me to the navy to help patrol the waters offshore with Nani. I’m about ready to give up the whole thing. I’ll never break that communication barrier.”
Her grandfather smiled. “I’ve got a hammer you can use.”
She laughed. Her grandfather’s wit always cheered her up, but she needed some advice. She glanced at Bane. He straightened up and brushed the dirt from his hands. “Need to talk?” He nodded toward a white iron garden bench surrounded by hibiscus to his left. Kaia nodded, and he headed for it. She followed and sat beside him.
Bane stretched his legs out in front of him. “Give me the scoop.”
She shrugged. “I just did.”
“There’s more to it than you said. You hate change—admit it.”
She held up her hand. “Okay, guilty as charged.”
“I’ve always believed things happen for a reason, Kaia. God might be shutting this door and opening another opportunity for you to reach Nani. One that will work.”
“I don’t see how,” she said. “I’ll have very little time to work with my equipment. This could set me back, maybe for good.”
“Give God time to work, and look for the opportunities He sends. There is a reason this has happened. Don’t shortchange Him.”
Kaia hadn’t thought of that. “Maybe you’re right. But I sure don’t see how this is a good thing.” She knew things didn’t always work out. Even when her life went well, she waited for the other shoe to drop. And it always did. She wished she could be more like her brother. But his faith was way beyond hers. While she was a Christian too, her own faith was as weak as a newly hatched chick—her own fault, she knew. It had been weeks since she’d even been in services. Her research had consumed her attention lately.
Bane grinned. “I see the resistance in your eyes, Kaia. I have a feeling you’re in for a major lesson of some kind this summer. Relax and enjoy the ride.”
Easy for him to say. He didn’t have to kowtow to a certain navy commander. She sighed and went to do her duty.
She rolled her window down and let the sea air in the truck as she drove out to Barking Sands. The SPs made her wait at the gate for Jesse. He looked frazzled when he appeared fifteen minutes later.
“I really appreciate this,” he said again as she climbed into his Jeep Wrangler.
He accelerated quickly and the momentum threw her back against the seat. “Where’s Heidi?”
The Jeep rocketed around a corner, and Kaia grabbed the door for support. Jesse didn’t answer until his SUV slid to a stop in front of a building.
Jesse killed the engine. “She’s here with Donna.”
Kaia got out and followed him inside. She had to admit she was curious to see this Donna. Jesse led her down a long hallway clad with institutional tan tiles and painted a sickly green. He stepped into a room filled with banks of computers. The dizzying display of electronic equipment dazzled Kaia; then she saw Heidi seated beside a woman with red hair. Donna’s face brightened when she turned and caught sight of Jesse. The proprietary expression on her face deepened when her gaze wandered to Kaia.
“Donna, this is Kaia Oana. She and her dolphin are going to help patrol the waters offshore.”
Donna nodded coolly. “Pleased to meet you,” she said, her tone indicating anything but pleasure. Her eyes tilted upward at the ends in a way that made her appear exotic and interesting.
“We’ve come to take Heidi off your hands,” Kaia said, glancing at the little girl who was engrossed in a computer game. “Ready to go meet the dolphins, Heidi?”
Heidi dropped the mouse and sprang out of her chair. Donna’s face darkened. “Heidi and I have been having a good time, haven’t we, Heidi?” She put her hand on top of Heidi’s head.
“Sure, but I want to see the dolphins!” Heidi slipped her hand into Kaia’s. “Can we go now?”
Kaia didn’t want to be rude. “In a few minutes.”
“You don’t know how much I appreciate your help,” Jesse said to Donna. He extended a hand to Donna.