“Yes,” Faye admitted.
“I suppose he welcomed you with open arms.” Kaia’s lips twisted. She could imagine Bane’s response.
If her mother thought she was going to be welcomed with a fatted calf like the prodigal son, she was mistaken. The most Kaia could summon right now was a mess of pottage.
Twenty-two
Kaia ran toward the ocean. She heard Jesse shout her name, but the waves beckoned her, and she could see Nani zipping through the water to greet her. As she ran, she shucked her shorts, tank top, and slippers off until she wore only her swimsuit. The warm sand grated against the soles of her feet.
She reached the edge of the water and waded in. When the water was to her knees, she dove into the next white-crested wave. The warm water welcomed her in a loving, unconditional embrace. Nani bumped against her, and Kaia reached out and grabbed the dolphin’s nostrum. She closed her eyes and listened to the song of the sea whisper to her aching heart.
She’d always imagined what it would be like if her mother came back. In her dreams, she was able to coldly tell her mother she had no desire to see her. There was no pain in her dream, no wrenching agony of being torn between love and hate, betrayal and loyalty.
She put her feet down on the bedrock of lava and sand and stood. “God, be my foundation right now. I can’t stand this by myself,” she whispered. Nani nudged her knee, and she leaned down and ran her hand over the warm inner tube of dolphin skin. Nani rolled to one side and one eye stared up at Kaia as if to ask if she could help.
Kaia sank into the water and let the waves lap around her neck. Her knees scraped bottom, and she steadied herself then put both arms around Nani. The tears she’d managed to hold back began to mingle with the salt water on her cheeks. The little girl in her wanted to run back into the house and feel her mother’s arms around her. She’d lacked that all her life. Why would she want it when she’d always had the love of her grandparents though? That should have been enough.
She had dim memories of her mother. A faint fragrance of blossoms, a tinkling laugh, soft hands. Maybe that’s where these longings came from. Faye was very different from the image Kaia had of her mother. She remembered a ready smile and loving arms before her mother left. Faye was nervous and uncertain, not at all the confident, laughing mother.
But people change. Was her mother really as sorry as she claimed, or was it all a ploy? Tutu kane was getting older. Could Faye have come back to make sure she inherited the family property? Kaia wouldn’t put it past her. She had proven herself capable of anything.
She stayed in the water until her fingers turned to prunes. She could see Jesse sitting patiently on a piece of driftwood on the beach. Her cat, Hiwa, was at his feet. Giving Nani a final pat, she rose from the water and walked toward him. He stood as she came out of the water and handed her the shorts and top she’d discarded.
“Mahalo.” She pulled on her clothing and picked up her slippers. “Sorry I ran out like that.”
“I understand.”
His tone surprised her. “How would you know? You grew up with both parents. They’re still alive.”
“I understand that forgiving myself was harder than forgiving someone else. I had to face what I’d done to Christy and my son and let go of it.”
“I can’t.”
“I know. You’re afraid.”
Her eyes widened. He’d put his finger on it exactly. “I didn’t realize it until you said it, but I am scared. Scared I’ll let my guard down and learn to love her and she’ll betray me all over again.”
He nodded. “She’s going to have to earn your trust.”
“I don’t think she can.” Kaia started toward the house. “It will take more than a pretty smile and a casual ‘I’m sorry’ to make me believe her.”
“Try,” he suggested.
“I’ll think about it,” was all she could say.
Jesse didn’t bring up Faye to Kaia again. He figured if she wanted to talk about it, he’d listen, but there was nothing he hated worse than someone badgering him. Kaia surely felt the same. Faye was gone when they went back to the house, and Oke said nothing as Kaia stalked through the living room and down the hall toward the bedroom wing.
Oke shook his head sadly and went to the kitchen. Jesse crashed on the couch. After four hours of sleep, his cell phone awakened him. It was Jillian, who told him her flight was getting in tomorrow. Yawning, he promised to pick her up then stood and went to find Kaia. They needed to get moving. The danger facing them hadn’t diminished just because Kaia had personal problems.
Bane was in the living room talking in soft tones to his grandfather. Jesse glanced around but didn’t see Kaia or Heidi.
Oke saw him. “If you’re looking for your niece and my granddaughter, they are out working with Nani.”
“Alone?”