Megan
“If I told anyone that I spent my first morning in Maui inside a church, they would think I’d lost my mind or that I was lying,” said Kendall from the front seat. The sun wasn’t even up yet, and Lelani was driving the four of them to a place that Marcus had told Megan about last night.
“We’re not going to be inside a church building,” Megan said from the backseat. “It’s church on the beach. A sunrise service. The guy told Marcus that it was something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been up this early in my lifetime.” Kendall yawned and stretched sleepily.
“All I can say is it’s a good thing our bodies are still on home time,” said Anna, “or else I wouldn’t have been able to get up this early.”
“Everyone can sleep in tomorrow,” Megan assured them. “And every day until we go home.”
“This is the place.” Lelani pulled off the road to a beachside area where a number of other cars were parked. The wind was blowing and the sky was a dusky dark-gray color. The ocean seemed to match.
“This sure doesn’t look like the Maui that I imagined,” said Kendall as they walked through the sand.
“There are the guys,” Megan whispered, pointing at the Jeep just pulling into the parking area. For some reason she felt she needed to be quiet now—as if there were a hush over the still-sleeping world.
The girls waited for the guys, then they quietly joined the small crowd gathered right on the beach. Megan estimated there were about fifty in the group, and from all walks of life. In front, three musicians (with a guitar, ukulele, and some kind of flute) were playing what sounded like a Hawaiian-style hymn. Everyone was singing. Even though Megan didn’t know the words she felt the peacefulness of the beat and the melody seeping into her. And she felt at home.
The singing continued in this quiet and reverent way until the first rays of the sunrise began to break through, coming from behind them and spilling over the mountain and into the sea. As if following the lead of the sun, the songs grew more joyful, until they were singing a full-blown praise song that Megan and Marcus actually knew. Tambourines and drums came out, and everyone was clapping and singing wholeheartedly.
The group sang a few more similar songs, then the musicians joined the other worshippers, and a man in a Hawaiian shirt stepped forward and introduced himself as Rick. “Some people call me Pastor Rick, some just call me Rick, and some call me names I shouldn’t use here in church.” Everyone laughed, and then he prayed for a blessing on their time together. After that he opened his Bible and read a simple parable (the one about the shepherd who went looking for one of his hundred sheep), then shared briefly about what that meant to him.
“I was a lost sheep once,” he told them. “I had gone my own way and made a mess of my life …” He explained how he’d started smoking marijuana and got caught up in some crazy money-making scheme, and how it all crashed down on him. His own family would have nothing to do with him. “I felt hopeless and lost and ready to give up. I was at rock bottom.” He smiled and held out his hands. “And that’s when my shepherd found me.”
He talked more about how he felt called to be the one who goes out looking for lost and lonely sheep, and how finding one was better than having a big flock that didn’t appreciate what they had. “Not that I’m saying our church is like that.” He chuckled. “I guess what I’m saying is that I see my friends here more like the shepherds who will be out there looking for lost sheep.” Everyone said amen, and then they sang more songs. Pastor Rick asked for prayer requests and they prayed again, and then the service was over.
“As usual, we’ll have a picnic here in the park,” Rick called out, “and everyone is welcome. Mahalo!”
The man who had told Marcus about the beachside church came over and greeted them now, extending the invitation to have lunch with their group of seven.
“I’ll check with the others,” Marcus told him, but Megan suggested they were getting antsy to leave. “This is our first day in Maui and I think our friends want to have some fun,” Marcus explained.
The guy slapped Marcus on the back and grinned. “Tell them they came to the right place! Aloha!”
“That was a cool service,” Marcus told Megan as they went to join their friends.
“I actually got goose bumps when the sun came up,” Megan admitted, “and not because I was cold either.”
“Yeah, me too.”
But the others were ready to begin their day, already making plans about who was going where. Edmond and Anna wanted to be dropped in town, where they could make arrangements to take a whale ride on a raft. Kendall just wanted to find a nice beach.
“There’s a great beach right outside the guesthouse,” Lelani told her.
“That’ll be perfect.” Kendall smiled as she looked out toward the turquoise blue ocean, framed by gently swaying palm trees. “Now, this looks more like the Maui I imagined.”
“I think I’d like to stick around my parents’ house today,” said Lelani. “But if anyone wants to, feel free to borrow my car.”
“I want to go surfing,” said Marcus.
“I’m with you there,” said Gil. “We could drop Anna and Edmond in town, then check out the rental store.”
Megan was unsure as to what she should do. Part of her wanted to tag along with Marcus and Gil and try surfing, but she sensed that Lelani might need her today. “Do you mind if I stick around the guesthouse today?” she asked Lelani.
“Not at all.” Lelani looked relieved. “I would appreciate it.”
“Would you like to meet my parents?” Lelani asked Megan after Kendall had gotten her beach stuff together and headed outside.
“Sure.” Megan smiled nervously.
“And hopefully we’ll get to see Emma too.”
“Hopefully.” Megan wasn’t so sure.
“I’ll warn you,” said Lelani, “this probably won’t be much fun.”
“I didn’t expect it to be.” Megan patted Lelani on the back. “But I’m here for you, okay?”
“Thanks.”
Megan followed Lelani through a beautifully landscaped courtyard that led to an immaculate pool area and finally up to the backside of the larger house. “This place is so gorgeous,” Megan whispered. “The plants and flowers and everything—it’s like an oasis in here.”
“Thanks to Sam’s and Meri’s handiwork.” Lelani’s expression grew serious as she pushed what looked like a doorbell by the back door. “They take care of the house and grounds.”
Megan wanted to question why Lelani didn’t just walk into her parents’ home, but she knew that things were different in Lelani’s life.
“Lelani,” said a short heavyset woman. “Aloha!”
“Aloha, Meri,” Lelani said politely. Then she introduced Megan. “Is my mother home?”
“She is still in her room.”
Lelani nodded. “Is Ginger with the baby?”
“Yes.” Meri nodded. “They are in the nursery.”
“Do you mind if I go and see them?”
Meri looked uncomfortable, standing in the doorway as if she was contemplating blocking their entrance.
“It’s okay, Meri,” Lelani assured her in a gentle voice. “If Mrs. Porter complains, I will take all the blame.”
Meri just sighed and slowly stepped aside.
“This way,” Lelani whispered to Megan.
Just like the exterior, everything inside this house was perfect. Polished dark hardwood floors, oriental rugs, bamboo furnishings, large vases of stunning fresh flowers. Megan knew enough about interior design and expensive homes to know this one had to be worth a bundle.
“Here we are,” said Lelani as she quietly knocked on a door.
A young woman with her brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail opened the door, but when she saw Lelani, her eyes grew wide.
“It’s okay, Ginger.” Lelani spoke quietly as she pushed her way past. “I just want to see my baby.”
“But Mrs. Porter said—”
“I don’t know what my mother has told you—” Lelani stopped speaking when she saw the small, dark-haired baby sitting on the butter-colored carpet. She wore a blue-and-white flowered sundress and held a pink ball in her hands. She was as pretty as a picture. “Hello, Emma,” cooed Lelani as she dropped to the floor next to her daughter.
“Her name is Kala now,” said Ginger in a chilly voice.
Lelani frowned up at her. “Kala?”
“Yes. For princess.”
“I know what Kala means.” Lelani looked back at the baby, who was looking curiously at Lelani. “Do you want to play ball?” She gently took the ball from the baby and rolled it back to her. The baby picked it up and smiled. Then Lelani did it again and again.
“Does your mother know you’re here?” asked Ginger.
“Yes.” Lelani didn’t even look up, just continued playing with the baby.
“I’m Megan,” she extended her hand to Ginger. “Lelani brought some of her friends here for spring break. We’re staying in the guesthouse.”
“I know that you’re staying in the guesthouse.” Ginger eyed Megan with suspicion. “But does Mrs. Porter know that you are in her house?”
Lelani picked up her baby now, still cooing and talking, and Emma (or whatever her name was) seemed to be enjoying the attention.
“Are you saying that we’re not supposed to be in the house?” Megan asked Ginger.
Lelani nodded at Megan. “Probably not. How about if we take Emma back to the guesthouse?”
“But you’re not supposed to—”
“It’s okay, Ginger,” Lelani spoke gently but firmly. “Why don’t you just take a little break? Emma is fine with me. After all, I am her mother.”
That seemed to shut Ginger up. Then, as quietly as they came in, Lelani and Megan left with the baby. Back in the guesthouse, Lelani put Emma on the floor and continued to play with her, talking to her like she’d been doing this forever. Megan just sat back and watched. She was surprised at how comfortable Lelani seemed with the child. And Emma seemed perfectly happy as well.
“You seem to know what you’re doing,” Megan observed.
“How’s that?” Lelani looked up from the peek-a-boo game she was playing.
“I mean you seem like a natural.” Megan smiled as Emma giggled. “I’ve never been that good around kids. You look like you’ve been doing it your whole life.”
“I love kids.”
The door to the guesthouse opened and a tall slender woman who looked like a slightly older version of Lelani walked in without knocking. She wore a white silky dressing gown and her long dark hair was mussed as if she’d just gotten out of bed.
“Lelani!” she said loudly. “What do you think you are doing?”
Lelani looked up calmly. “Playing with Emma.”
“I have not given you permission to—”
“I didn’t think I needed permission to play with my own daughter.” Lelani’s voice continued to be sweet and calm as she gathered Emma into her arms and stood. Megan went to stand by her, preparing herself for what she suspected might be a showdown.
“The baby is not to leave the house.” Lelani’s mother scowled at both Megan and Lelani. “I thought I had made that clear.”
“It may be clear to you.” Lelani smoothed Emma’s hair. “But those are your rules, Mother, not mine.”
“You will play by my rules, or you will leave my premises.”
“Fine.” Lelani nodded. “Then we will go.” Now she looked directly at her mother. “But Emma is going with us.”
“Lelani!” Her mother looked stunned.
“It’s not the way I had planned this,” continued Lelani. “But if you want to act like this, I suppose I’ll—”
“You have no right to—”
“Emma is my daughter. I have never signed her over to you or anyone else, Mother. I have every right to take her with me if I wish.”
“I will call the police.”
“Go ahead, Mother. And when they come I will tell them the truth and I will ask you to produce the paperwork that proves Emma belongs to you.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Lelani didn’t answer, but Megan saw her eyes glistening with tears, and she knew how hard this must be. Lelani, more than anyone Megan knew, loved peace. She hated confrontations of any kind. Megan knew it was time to intervene. And she was ready!
“Listen, Mrs. Porter, there must be a—”
“Who are you, anyway?”
“I’m Lelani’s friend. Megan Abernathy. And I think there should be some way for everyone to sit down and discuss this whole thing calmly and rationally.”
Mrs. Porter just blinked.
“Yes,” agreed Lelani. “That’s what I want, Mother.”
“Then why did you steal Kala from the nursery?”
“I didn’t steal her, Mother. And her name is Emma, not Kala.”
“Ginger told me that you stole the baby!”
Now Emma was starting to fuss. She probably sensed the bad vibes in the room. Lelani took her aside to soothe her and Megan decided to step in again. “Ginger got it wrong,” she calmly told Mrs. Porter. “Lelani simply said she was taking Emma to the guesthouse so that Ginger could have a break.”
Mrs. Porter’s eyes narrowed at Megan. “But I explicitly told Ginger that—”
“Don’t you think that if Lelani wanted to kidnap her own child, she wouldn’t come back here to the guesthouse with her?” continued Megan. “If she was trying to steal her away, we would’ve gotten in the car and just taken off. Lelani obviously only wants to spend some time with her daughter.” Megan stepped closer to Mrs. Porter now, peering into her face, taking in her flawless features, so similar to Lelani’s—except for the coldness. “I have to be honest with you, Mrs. Porter. I do not understand the way you treat your own daughter. Are you saying she’s not welcome in your house? It feels as if you’re holding Emma hostage. Why is that?”
“You do not know what you are talking about.”
“Feel free to enlighten me.” Megan waited.
“My daughter was given every privilege. Everything was handed to her. She could’ve done anything she wanted with her life. And yet she brought shame onto our house.”
“By getting pregnant?”
Mrs. Porter took in a sharp breath and narrowed her eyes.
“Everyone makes mistakes.” Megan softened her voice. “I’m sure that even you have made mistakes. That’s what being human is about. But we have to forgive each other.”
“I don’t have to forgive anyone if I don’t want to.”
Megan blinked. “That must be a miserable way to live.”
“It is,” said Lelani as she rejoined them. She looked directly at her mother. “Aren’t you tired of being miserable?”
Mrs. Porter laughed. “I am not the least bit miserable, Lelani. If anyone has been miserable, I’d say that it’s been you.”
Lelani nodded. “Yes, I have been somewhat miserable, Mother. Because of the way you’ve shunned me, the way you sent me away, the threats and accusations … all that has made me miserable. But I’m ready to move on now. I’m ready for it all to end.”
Mrs. Porter looked slightly hopeful. “Good. I hoped you’d come to your senses.”
“I have, Mother. And that means I’m ready to take responsibility for myself and for my daughter.”
Mrs. Porter’s brows shot up. “So, I was right. You are planning on taking her.”
“That’s not what I said, Mother. I said I want to take responsibility for my role in her life. To be honest, I’m not even sure what that means.”
Her mother laughed again. “Of course. You march in here, acting all high and mighty, and when it comes right down to it, you are completely clueless. Oh, yes, it just figures.”
“Maybe I am clueless,” admitted Lelani. “But I do know this: I am committed to finding out what is best for my daughter. And then I will do everything within my power to see that she gets it.”
“She already has it.” Mrs. Porter’s voice became more condescending. “She has everything she needs right here. She’s had it all for the past nine months, and she’s been perfectly happy, perfectly cared for. Really, what could you possibly give her that we have not?”
Lelani’s chin quivered slightly, but she didn’t answer.
“I know what Lelani could give her,” said Megan. “She could give her love.”
Mrs. Porter laughed again. “How cliché. Well, for your misinformed little mind, she does get love here. Everyone in the house loves her. They adore her. She is our princess. Our little Kala.” She reached out her hands to Emma now. “Come to Mommy, my little princess.”
And to Megan’s irritation, the baby reached out her chubby arms and Lelani allowed her mother to take Emma away from her. But first she leaned down and kissed Emma’s forehead and then she locked eyes with her mother. “This isn’t over.”
“Oh, I didn’t think that it was, dear.”
Then Mrs. Porter left and Lelani closed the door, then crumbled onto the couch and sobbed. And the cries that came from her reminded Megan of a wounded animal, deep and guttural and totally brokenhearted. Megan didn’t know what to do. And so she just sat by her, stroking Lelani’s sleek black hair with her hand and saying, “It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be okay …” again and again.
“What happened?” asked Kendall as she emerged from the beach looking pink and flushed.
“Her mother,” whispered Megan.
And to Megan’s total surprise, Kendall sat on the edge of the coffee table opposite Lelani and put her hand on her shoulder. “Don’t you worry, Lelani, your friends are here to take care of you.”