“One master with sleeping room for four more in the galley.”
“Could she share your bed? And some backup would be good. Would Bane have time to join us?”
“I think so. He’s been wanting something to do.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll head over to the base and get some gear.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”
“Who’s going to tell the navy I’m pulling out of the project?”
“I will,” he said. “I’m going to take great pleasure in it.”
Eighteen
Faye let her gaze trace the contours of her son’s face. The strong jaw, the curling lashes that were just like hers, the slightly pointed ears he inherited from his grandfather. He was staring at her as if he expected her to disappear any minute. She averted her eyes. No wonder he thought she’d leave. She had done it before.
It did no good to dwell on her past failures, she reminded herself. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” she whispered.
Bane blinked slowly as if awakening from a long sleep. “Makuahine?”
She hadn’t heard the Hawaiian word for “mother” in so long. The melodious sound of it brought tears to her eyes. She blinked her eyes rapidly. “Yes, Bane. I’ve come home,” she said simply. It would be up to him to accept or reject her. She had no power to sway his feelings, no excuses for what she’d done.
A light crept into his eyes, and he took her in his arms, wrapping himself around her as if she were the child. Her oldest keiki. She remembered when he was born, the way the coppery odor of blood and the salty smell of the amniotic fluid had clung to him and overlaid the sweet scent of his own newness. She held him now and thought she could never let him go again.
When his strong arms finally released her, she clung to him for a long moment then reluctantly let go and stepped away. Searching his eyes, she found questions she wasn’t sure she could answer. “I’m so sorry, Keikikane,” she whispered. “I was selfish and willful. I can only ask your forgiveness. I have no excuses for what I did.”
The light in his eyes faded. “Why did you leave? And why didn’t you take me with you? You took Kaia.”
She lifted her shoulders helplessly. “It would be impossible to explain how trapped I felt, Bane. And I knew taking you and Mano would kill your grandfather. You keikis were the light of his life. Besides, the man I left with was only willing to take Kaia.”
“You picked a man over your own children?” A frown wrinkled Bane’s brow.
“Yes.” The bald truth was all she could offer. “I was young and stupid. I’ve since learned just how stupid. I never got over hearing your voice call for me the night I left.”
Bane’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his neck, and he ducked his head, but not before she caught the sheen of moisture in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Bane. So sorry. You have no idea how I wish I could go back and change everything.”
He backed away, then turned and raced down the beach. Faye started to go after him, then she stopped and sank to the sand. She fell face forward and sobbed out her grief and remorse. Her children couldn’t blame her any more than she blamed herself.
Kaia tried to squelch the excitement she felt as she stood on deck and waited for Jesse to join her. Bane had been quick to agree to accompany them, though his voice had sounded strained when she called. From her perch on the railing of Seaworthy Lab’s boat, she could see Bane’s pickup pulling into the parking lot. He got out with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
Kaia waved to him. He lifted his hand in greeting then jogged to the pier. He tossed her his bag then hopped aboard.
“Mahalo,” she told him.
“Hey, no problem.” His strong, brown legs were clad in shorts.
His eyes seemed dark. Kaia frowned and wondered if he’d had another run-in with Mano. He looked great though. Some girl was going to get a wonderful husband in Bane one of these days. Not that she’d seen him noticing all the lovely women casting glances his way.
“What are we doing tonight?” he asked, settling into a deck chair. “I brought my GameBoy for later. I’m going to trounce you.”
“You’ll have to wait awhile,” she told him with a smile. “Until dark, I’m going to work with Nani on learning words, then we’re going to cruise back and forth in the waters off base. Jesse thinks we might see more a little farther out.”
“Sounds fun.” Bane rubbed his hands together. “I’m surprised you didn’t invite Mano.”
Kaia hesitated. She wasn’t sure how much to tell Bane, but if he was going to help them, he needed to know the truth. “We think Pele Hawai′i might be involved.”
Bane stared at her. “You mean Mano might be mixed up in espionage and sabotage?”
“I hope not. But it doesn’t look good.” She told him what Lei had said at the rice mill.