The aroma of Kalua pig and poi drew everyone into the kitchen for Kahili’s delicious lunch. She served fresh fruit salad and citrus water with the meal as everyone began chatting about the events of the past day.
“So we can all go in my SUV or we can take the truck too. What do you think?” George asked, piling another helping of rice and poi into his mouth.
Ano and Kahili exchanged knowing glances and then looked at the other end of the table where Daniel and Michelle were lost in their own little world.
George caught their signal. “Okay, two cars it is then,” he said as he continued to eat.
“Okay gang, I know you love my cooking, but Elizabeth said we need to be there before dinner, so let’s get a move on.” Kahili began clearing up any empty dishes and putting the extra food away. Mave disappeared upstairs to gather a few things Elizabeth had asked her to bring for Larry.
“Ano, let’s go check with Mali one more time and see where he’s at with those goons.” George finished filling his mouth just as Kahili swept the plate up from him. He wiped his mouth, dropped the napkin on the plate as it was airborne and then headed off to the office with Ano on his heels.
“I’ll be right back,” Daniel said to Michelle. She got up and began helping Kahili while Daniel followed Mave upstairs. Michelle watched and wondered what he was going to do but dismissed the thought as Kahili piled a stack of dishes in her hands.
“C’mon little one, watch yourself. My hands are not any bigger than yours!” She patted Michelle on the back and ushered her over to the sink.
George and Ano emerged from the office just as Kahili and Michelle finished the dishes. “Where’s everyone else?” George asked.
“I’m right here,” yelled Mave from the laundry room. She came out carrying a soft sided suitcase full of clothes and toiletries for Larry. Elizabeth had told her that he might be at the hospital for a week or more depending on how well the surgery went.
Michelle looked around, wondering where Daniel was. She walked over to the front door just as he came down the stairs. All thoughts of what he was doing vanished as she saw him. She still couldn’t believe that this man had come for her, for HER. And that he loved her! She was living a fairytale.
“Let’s go see how that ornery old man is doing,” George said, smiling at them and heading through the front door.
That’s when Michelle’s fairytale burst. She had forgotten that Larry wanted to talk to Daniel, and that he still didn’t know about the pregnancy. The weight of keeping that secret was bearing down on Michelle, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hide it for much longer, emotionally or physically.
Daniel sensed her mood change and pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay, everything’s gonna be okay,” he said. He wasn’t sure she believed him. He stopped and looked her straight in the eyes. “Michelle, do you trust me?” he asked.
“Trust you? I guess, I mean, I barely know you, but ...”
“But do you trust me?” Daniel asked again.
Michelle hesitated. George beeped the horn of the SUV and Ano and the ladies were already in the truck and headed down the dirt road. Michelle jumped at the sound of the horn.
Daniel touched the side of her face with his hand, drawing her attention back toward him. “Do you trust me?”
Michelle started to squirm under the intensity of his stare. But when she looked at him, really looked into his eyes, she relaxed. A smile touched her heart and her lips. “Yes, yes Daniel. I do trust you.”
“Then let’s give this to God and together, trust Him to work it all out.” He squeezed her hand again and kissed her playfully on the lips. Then he pulled her down the steps and into the waiting SUV.
“Finally!” George said as he pulled down the road after Ano. “Let’s go!”
As they rode, George filled Daniel and Michelle in on the news he had received from Sheriff Lualani. Michelle and Daniel listened in silence, still having a hard time believing the extent of Kana’s involvement. They knew they had to tell Larry. But they were worried, with all that had just happened with his injuries, Lilo and the return of Daniel, how he would take it. Larry had always liked Kana and had wanted desperately for Michelle to marry him. Even after the family’s honor had been tarnished, Larry still held a soft spot for Kana and had begun to see him as his own man, not just an extension of his family. He had watched Kana learn the business and follow Larry’s lead and the mentoring had been a good way for Larry to bond with Kana. They were all a little worried how Larry would react to the truth about Kana.
They arrived at the hospital and made their way up to Larry’s floor. When they got to the nurse’s station, Michelle and George went to ask directions to his room while the other four waited in the lobby down the hall.
“Are you all family?” asked the nurse, eyeing the crowd in the lobby. “Because it’s only immediate family.”
“Yes, we’re all family,” said George, impatient to get in to see how his son was doing.
The nurse darted her eyes back toward Kahili, Mave and Ano, certain that they were not all family. “All immediate family?” she asked again, giving George a warning look.
George shuffled his feet and then bent in over the desk. “Listen,” George said, laying on his best old man charm. “That’s my son in there. I’m his only living relative, aside from his daughter and son-in-law here,” he pointed to Michelle and Daniel and gave Daniel a wink. “And these others, they have been on our staff since before my son could walk. They’re closer than most of his family. It would just crush him if he couldn’t see them.” George waited for a response.
The nurse looked back down the hall, back at George and then at her roster. “I’m sorry,” she said as she looked up at George, “but only immediate family.”
George stepped back, looking frustrated. Then, his expression changed, and he leaned in close to the nurse one more time. “Is that your little girl?” he asked, pointing to a picture on the nurse’s desk.
“Yes,” the nurse said, not taking her attention away from George.
“She like horses?” George asked. Michelle watched knowing exactly where her grandfather was going with this. He was good, she thought.
“She does,” the nurse said slowly.
“She take lessons?” George asked, slowly baiting the hook.
“No,” the nurse replied, willing to play the game.
“She want to?” George threw the final cast into the water.
“For free?” Michelle was impressed with this nurse. She knew how to play.
George looked at the rest of the group and then back at the nurse. He motioned to her to give him a pen and piece of paper. He scribbled something down on it and then tossed it back to her. “Unlimited lessons for one month in exchange for unlimited visitation for one month—for both of those patients.”
The nurse looked at the paper, scribbled something on it and handed it back to George. “I have two daughters,” she said smugly waiting for George to make his move.
He paused, not wanting to let her win but having fun just the same. He reached over and held his hand out. “Done.” They shook on it as they both laughed.
“Just be quiet and make sure I’m on duty when you come,” said the nurse as she gave the room number to George.
George mouthed the words ‘Thank You’ to the nurse and then escorted Michelle and the rest of the gang down the hall to Larry’s room.
George knocked gently before opening the door. He peeked inside and saw Elizabeth sitting in a chair next to the hospital bed. Larry was dozing softly under a white blanket. George and Michelle walked in softly, leaving the others outside until they had made sure Larry was up for visitors.
Elizabeth smiled and waved them in when she saw it was them. George and Michelle went over to her and kissed her. Michelle pulled up another chair and sat next to Elizabeth, staring at Larry in disbelief. It had only been days before when she was just down the hall visiting Lilo. It didn’t seem real to be here now for her father.
“How is he?” George asked, checking Larry out as he stood next to his son’s bed. The covers hid the rest of Larry’s body. All that they could see were the wires from the IV and the tubes hanging down for the blood pressure cuff.
“He’s doing okay,” said Elizabeth. “The specialist said he will definitely have to have the knee surgery, they’re just not sure if it will be tomorrow or the next day. They say he will have to have rehabilitation and will probably be in a wheelchair for a few weeks.”
George laughed at that. “Oh, he’ll love that!” he scoffed, knowing full well that Larry would never stand for being in a wheelchair—and he’d never sit for it either. Larry was a stubborn, prideful man, and he would probably be walking out of here a day or two after his surgery.
“What about his other leg, the broken femur?” Michelle asked Elizabeth.
“They will reset it when they do the knee surgery. That will heal faster but will also require rehab. But the rehab is on the first floor of the hospital, so that’s good.”
“And how are you,” said Michelle, concerned for her mother’s emotional well-being.
Elizabeth turned her head, smiling kindly at Michelle. She reached over and grabbed her hand in hers. “Oh, dear, I’m fine. I won’t lie, I was a little frightened,” she paused. “Okay, a lot frightened last night. But your father is a strong man. And I know God is watching over him and all of us. I have more faith than fear.”
Michelle was glad to know her mother was holding up okay. Larry began to stir as they were talking, opening his eyes slowly and looking at Elizabeth. Then he rolled his head to the other side and saw George. Although George wasn’t as tough as Larry, George was still a strong man. Michelle couldn’t remember if she had ever seen him go soft. But as Larry opened his eyes, George reached down, grabbed his son’s hand, and Michelle saw George’s eyes well up.
“Son,” he said, patting Larry’s hand. “Son, are you giving the nurses a hard time?”
Just like George, thought Michelle. Always making jokes. But she could see behind the jokes and knew that was George’s way of handling stressful situations.
“Hi Dad,” Larry said, smiling weakly. “What happened? How’s the pump? Did you find out who did it?”
George signaled for Michelle to go get the rest of the group. Mave and Kahili entered first and doted over Larry. After several minutes of fussing, they took Elizabeth down to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee and some fresh air outside.
Ano walked over to the side of the bed Elizabeth had been on, and Daniel stood at the foot of the bed. Larry’s expression didn’t change when he saw Daniel, but something in him shifted. He wanted to not like this man, for so long he tried not to like him. But this man saved his daughter’s life and then his. Larry knew that God was trying to show him something.
“Well?” Larry asked, looking from George to Ano. “I can tell you know something. What is it? What happened? And how did those guys get access to the pump?”
“Larry,” George said, resting a hand on his son’s shoulder. “It was Kana.”
The room fell silent. Larry’s body stiffened as the words were spoken. Thoughts began swirling in his head. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t want to believe it.
“Kana? Kana? That’s impossible!” Larry protested. But it was in vain. The pieces began to fall in place as Ano and George laid out the whole sordid plan.
“Kana had taken all of the information from your irrigation system, the profits, the amount of expenses you had for finishing, and figured how much you would save. When he was analyzing everything for the firm, he realized that you would be putting a big dent in Murphy’s operations. And Murphy, having dealt with Kana for the environmental reports, knew that Kana was in a situation to help. The opportunity presented itself for both of them. Murphy wanted to stop the irrigation program but needed an insider to complete the job. And Kana needed a leg up and a guaranteed position in a thriving ranch on the mainland. And, he needed the cash to help keep his farm going today.” George explained everything as Larry sat in silence.
“Sheriff Lualani said the two thugs that attacked you were only supposed to set off the explosion. Kana gave them the key and instructions on how the system worked so they could sabotage it. He also told them when to do it, knowing that you usually took your evening ride around the same time every night. But they showed up late. They were supposed to set it up to explode while you were gone and then Kana would arrive when you came back from your ride, so that he could be a witness to it with you and look like a savior trying to save the farm. But he showed up before the thugs because they got lost. That’s why he was here when you returned and the system exploded.” George looked at Ano.
Ano finished explaining what they had been told by the Sheriff. “No one ever meant for you to get hurt. But those two were going to complete their assignment no matter what. It just so happened that you were there, and they weren’t about to let you or anyone stop them.”
Michelle and Daniel watched Larry try to absorb it all. After several minutes, Larry finally spoke. And for the first time in a long time, his voice was soft and broken. “I’m so stupid,” he said, feeling the weight of his pride come crushing down on him.
“I can’t believe I let Kana’s flattery blind me from his real intentions. I let my pride get in the way,” Larry said.
Michelle felt so bad for her father at that moment. Despite how mean he had been to her, despite his hard demeanor and his cold attitude, he was her father. He was prideful, there was no doubt about it. But his intentions had always been good. And in this moment, he was hurting, physically and emotionally.
She ran to the side of the bed next to Ano and grabbed her father’s hand, taking Elizabeth’s seat in the chair. Larry let her hold his hand and was too ashamed to look at her. Instead, he spoke to the ceiling.
“I was quick to judge, held grudges and ignored the family that was right in front of me. All of these years, I ignored my family for people I thought were more honorable and had more integrity. I was a fool,” Larry said as his voice cracked.
Michelle felt tears sting the corners of her eyes. Ano and George looked at each other. “Well, I just wanted to see you and let you know that we’re going to do everything we can to get that system up and running again,” said Ano. He smiled slightly and then left the room.
“Son,” George said looking down at Larry. “God’s been working on you for a long time. He’s been chipping away at that ego and pride of yours and now, I think you’ve finally let Him break through. I’m proud of you son, and I love you.” George patted Larry on the shoulder again and then left the room, leaving Daniel and Michelle alone with Larry.
“Father,” Michelle began to speak, but Larry held his hand up to stop her.
“Michelle,” Larry said softly as he turned to look at her. “I’d like to speak to Daniel alone, please.”
Michelle was flustered. She didn’t know what to say. She thought for sure that her father would say something kind to her, but instead she got his cold, controlling attitude. She looked at Daniel and saw that he was okay with it. She looked back at Larry with questioning eyes. “Please, Michelle, please,” was all he said.
Confused and slightly irritated, Michelle dropped Larry’s hand and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
The silence was palpable as Larry and Daniel looked at each other from opposite ends of the bed. After a few long moments, Larry spoke first.
“Daniel, first I want to thank you for saving me last night.” The sincerity was apparent in Larry’s voice. “Second, I want to thank you for saving Michelle on the bridge again.” Daniel began to protest but Larry stopped him.
“And third, I want to thank you for coming back and confessing your feelings for Michelle.”
Daniel didn’t know what to say to that. He had every intention of coming and speaking his heart to Larry, to fight for Michelle if he had to. But now he realized he didn’t have to do any of that. He walked over, took a seat next to the bed, and the two men began to talk.