The Ohana Part 34

Susan wrote long letters to Steve, but he never responded. He didn't have a phone so the post was her only source of contact. His actions hurt. Thoughts of Steve filled her with pain and regret. Perhaps, she thought, she should have given up everything. Wasn't that what love was about?

When she could stand it no longer, she flew to Hana, rented a car, and drove to his house. It was empty. Puzzled, she drove to Hasegawa's General Store.

The proprietor shook his head. "I no see Steve for long time. I think he go away. Don't know where."

Susan sat in her car and cried. She pounded the steering wheel with the heel of her hand. "You stupid fool!" she shouted to no one. "How could you have let him go?"

After her tears were spent, she hiked for two and a half hours along the Pipiwai trail that crossed the Seven Sacred Pools. The tranquility and serene beauty of the waterfalls calmed her. Watching the water plunge 400 feet down the lava rock walls, she realized why Steve felt centered in Hana. She felt G.o.d's presence amidst the powerful majesty of the falls and the solace of the Infinity Pool. It occurred to her for the first time her search for a meaningful existence should start by finding G.o.d instead of a man to fulfill her dreams and to erase the ache in her heart.

"If it's meant to be, he'll come back to you, she told herself." Saying it rea.s.sured her. She wept at the edge of the Infinity Pool. For the first time in her life, she cried out to G.o.d, "Bring him back G.o.d. Please, bring him back to me."

It began with a little art gallery in Whaler's Village. Because of Susan, he decided to return to the world. She displayed such genuine appreciation for his art, he wondered if other people would react the same way. Before she'd left him in Hana she said, "Your talent is a gift. You're being selfish. You need to share this with others."

When he hauled three paintings and a sculpture to the gallery in his pick-up truck, he had no idea it was the beginning of a new life for him. The salesgirl was so excited she called the gallery owner in from a game of golf to see his stuff.

The owner took one look at the paintings and asked, "Do you have enough for a show?"

"I have three year's worth," Steve replied. "All except one of them is for sale."

Within two years, Steven's art was shown in New York, California, Paris, and Rome. He became a celebrity in the art world. His canva.s.ses and sculptures sold faster than he could produce them. But he felt like he was giving a part of himself away with each canvas and sculpture. Money was just a way of keeping score.

When he began to make serious money, he approached his Aunt Meg in her Lanikai estate about buying the property in Hana.

Aunt Meg grasped his hand in hers and leaned forward with a twinkle in her eyes. "Okay. But I don't want money."

"What do you want?"

"A painting."

Meg sat in a wicker chair; the ocean framed her delicate face now threaded with fine lines around her eyes and silvery gold hair. She was still a beautiful woman. The sea provided the perfect canvas for her face. But he knew there was only one way he wanted to paint her.

As a young child, his mother had taken him to visit Aunty Meg at her home in Tantalus. As they drove through the gates, their car pa.s.sed a huge monkey pod tree. Meg stood under the tree, her back to them. At the sound of the car she turned slightly and Steve saw her profile in the dying light. It took his breath away. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. As their eyes met, they connected on a spiritual level. The little boy grew up to be a man whose nature was so similar to elusive Aunty Meg.

He raised his hand in greeting. She smiled and waved back.

Steve painted two oils for her. The first depicted Diamond Head, exactly what she asked for and typical of his first works. The second gift brought tears to her eyes. It was a painting of her Tantalus estate at dusk. Great kiawe and monkey pod trees hung heavy with gloom. The dying sun glimmered through the trees. Under one of the trees was a lone figure with her back to the viewer. Aunty Meg's profile lit the canvas. The melancholy piece was haunting and visually arresting.

Aunt Meg hugged him. "Oh Steve," she said as she pulled away. "It's beautiful."

Danny was there for the unveiling. He encircled Meg's waist with his right arm and drew her closer to him. "You look so sad there," he said.

"When I was younger, I was sad most of the time." Aunt Meg put her head on Danny's shoulder, then looked at her nephew. "I don't know how you knew."

"We're cut from the same cloth," he said.

Aunt Meg kissed Danny's cheek. "But I'm happy now. I'm blessed to have the best husband in the world."

She stepped close to Steve and put her hands on either side of his face. "Someday you'll be blessed with someone who loves you with all her heart. You'll meet your match."

Steve bought the Hana property.

As his fame grew, so did the number of women who pursued him. But Susan was his soul mate. Yet he continued to avoid her because he was still on the road to recovery from the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder had sucked the lifeblood from him. He didn't want to disappoint her. Not ever. And to insure that, he needed to heal.

Honolulu: 1977 Steve stood across the street from the building where his father's office was located and nervously ran his fingers through his cropped hair. He looked at his reflection in the gla.s.s window behind him and smiled at the unfamiliar sight. He was clean shaven and wore a Polo s.h.i.+rt tucked into khaki trousers.

He decided he better look good since he intended to ask her to marry him. It had been four years since he had seen Susan. While she hadn't heard a word from him, he had kept in contact through his mother. Her letters kept him informed about Susan, and he knew she was still unmarried.

She was his first and last love. He had been more than a little jealous of Jimmy. It never occurred to him she might love him too. Their timing was bad. Now he was back in the world, and wanted her by his side.

I've come back, Sue, he thought. My flashbacks are gone and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

He kept all the letters she wrote him. When he didn't respond, the letters got fewer and farther between until they stopped altogether. He really couldn't blame her, why should she keep writing when he refused to write back?

Before he came to Honolulu, he re-read each one. Steve was certain of himself now. He didn't want to run anymore.

Now, with so many words left unsaid and unwritten, he wondered what he would say when he saw her. He'd rehea.r.s.ed enough. He wanted to tell her what how he had taken her advice and became an artist. Not just any artist, but a successful artist.

He wasn't the only one who had done well. His mother said she had risen quickly through the ranks to become a.s.sistant vice-president.

Yes, Susan, he thought. We've both come a long way.

He took a step into the street when he saw her walk through the front door. He started to call her name, but saw she was arm in arm with a handsome man about her age. The sun brought out the red highlights in her black hair and her upturned face focused on the stranger. Steve's heart stopped at the sound of her laughter. She looked happy.

He hesitated, unsure as to whether or not to approach her. Perhaps the man was a cousin or merely a good friend. Steve watched, transfixed, as Susan and the man stopped and stood still. Susan turned and faced the dark-haired stranger as he slipped his arms around her. They gazed at each other. The look that pa.s.sed between them left nothing to the imagination.

Steve took a step back onto the sidewalk and slipped out of her life once again.

Chapter Forty-six.

Honolulu: 1978 Jackie stared at the doctor. "You made a mistake."

Dr. Wong took off his gla.s.ses and rubbed his eyes. "I'm afraid not. The tests are indisputable."

Jackie leaned forward, gripping the arms of her chair. "Then take more tests."

"Jackie ..." Gerry placed a hand on her shoulder.

Jackie shrugged his hand away. "Shut up!"

Gerry turned to Dr. Wong. "I'm sorry," he said. "It's the shock."

"Leukemia is not necessarily the life sentence it once was." Dr. Wong put his gla.s.ses back on. "There is hope through a bone marrow transplant."

Gerry nodded. "But we have to find a donor who matches up with Ashley."

"Yes. Ashley will quite possibly live a long and healthy life-if a match is found," Dr. Wong replied.

"And if not?" Gerry asked.

"She has a year. Maybe."

Jackie's eyes filled with tears. "But she's only ten years old," she gasped. "She's a baby."

"Cancer is no respecter of age." Dr. Wong handed Jackie a tissue. "Ask your family to do the test." He blinked. "I hope you have a big family."

"All we need is one person," Gerry replied.

Jackie dabbed her eyes then looked up at her husband. "How are we going to break the news to Ashley?"

Mary was relieved when Sean agreed to meet her at the Kahala Hilton Hotel lobby instead of his office. She didn't give him a reason and he didn't ask. When she walked into the grand lobby with its unique multi-colored gla.s.s chandeliers tinkling in the breeze, he was already waiting for her. With her heart pounding, she extended her hand. "h.e.l.lo, Sean."

Sean grasped it and waited for her to sit in an armchair before settling in one to the side of her. Despite the lines around his eyes and mouth and wavy gray hair, he was still handsome with an eternally boyish smile.

"Nice to see you again, Mary. How's your family?"

"Not good." Mary shook her head. "My granddaughter Ashley has cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant. The entire family has been tested but so far, no match."

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Sean said. "Have you exhausted the list?"

"Yes." Mary took a deep breath, then exhaled. "But there is one other option. Jackie's biological father."

"Have you tried to locate him?"

Mary swallowed. "I'm looking at him."

Sean stared at her. "Excuse me..."

"You gave me some books and bought a music box from me before you went off to war." Mary's voice quivered.

"I remember that night, Mary, but ..."

"You're Jackie's father."

Sean fell back in his chair. Mary watched his face as he tried to come to grips with what she told him. Before either of them could say anything else, a young woman walked over. "Coffee?" she asked.

Mary noticed the tray she carried in her hands. "Yes," she said.

When the coffee had been poured and the server had walked away, Mary continued. "My granddaughter's life is at stake." Her hand shook as she tore open a packet of sugar for her coffee. "Because of this, there can be no more secrets."

Sean put his hand to his brow. "I'm sorry. I need a moment." He picked up a spoon and absently stirred his black coffee. "All this time, I never put it together. You, the music box, a hapa haole daughter..."

"A moment of weakness for both of us." Mary sipped her coffee while staring out at the sapphire ocean lapping against the golden sand beyond them. From where she sat she could see dolphins leaping gracefully from the pool below her. The Kahala was her favorite hotel in Honolulu. She used to bring Ashley here when she was younger to have lunch and watch the dolphin show. What an incredible child. Bright and beautiful with a good heart.

"You never once said a word." Sean's hesitant voice brought Mary back. "Your life must have been very difficult."

"I never wanted to involve anyone else. I accepted the consequences. Why disrupt someone else's life?" Mary bit her lip and looked down at the cup in her hands.

"Does Jackie know about me?"

"I wanted to tell you first." Mary gazed at Sean and thought how strange it was she hadn't noticed until this moment both Jackie and Ashley had Sean's eyes and eyebrows. Except their eyes were dark. Still, the shape was the same.

"You want me to be tested." Sean took the spoon out of his cup and rested it on the saucer. "And if I'm not a match?"

"Please, Sean. I have no choice now but to tell the truth and ask you to do the same. Otherwise, Ashley may die."

"You're right, we can't let that happen. I'll have to tell my sons."

"Of course." She exhaled so forcefully tiny ripples danced across her coffee. "Thank you, Sean. I'm relieved ..." Mary couldn't finish her sentence. Let him think she was relieved he'd taken the news so well. Truth was, she'd been afraid he'd ask if she were sure he was Jackie's father. That would have made her feel like a wh.o.r.e. "I know this must be difficult for you."

Sean smiled. "She's my granddaughter. The only one I have."

"Sean Duffy is my father?" Jackie put her hand on her chest. "Has he always known?"

"No. I just came from seeing him." Mary hesitated. "He's going to be tested."

Jackie sat on the chenille-covered sofa in her living room. "This is all so overwhelming. I can't believe you kept this a secret all these years." Jackie frowned. "Why didn't you ask him for help before? We were so poor."

Mary shook her head. "He went off to war and I figured it was my problem."

"Why is it always the woman's problem?" Jackie began picking at imaginary lint on slacks.

"You're asking questions I can't answer."

"Is he going to tell the rest of his family?"

Mary looked down. "His sons. Yes."

"I wonder if he's ashamed of his hapa haole daughter," Jackie touched her chin with her finger and stroked it.

"Don't be bitter. If anything, it's my fault. I don't know what I was thinking back then. Maybe I was selfish. I didn't want any interference where you were concerned." Mary reached out and squeezed Jackie's hand. "Let it go. The important thing now is Ashley."

Jackie hugged her mother. "I'm sorry, Mom. I've been horrible lately. But the good news is I've gotten sober. It's good for me to think of someone other than myself. I even started going to church to pray."

"When I was younger I wanted to go to church because it made me feel more American. Now, I go for a different reason."

Susan sat across the lunch table from her mother. For the first time she noticed new lines at the corners of her mother's mouth and the almost imperceptible droop to her eyelids. She wondered if it were due to age, the stress of Ashley's illness, or the never-ending problems in her parents' marriage. Susan vowed to never find herself trapped in an abusive marriage like her mother's. Now her mother had dropped a bomb. Sean Duffy was Jackie's father. "Were you in love with him?" she asked.

"I don't know how to tell you this without disappointing you" Mary kept her eyes on Susan. "But it just happened. We were two people who needed someone for that one moment in time. We came together to fulfill something deep within. There was never any talk of love."

"Do you regret it?"