Aloha Love (19 page)

“You’re not supposed to,” his mom said.

“Jane can rearrange, or we can build a new house after we’re married.”

“But that takes time.” Matilda’s hand shooed him away. “This is a woman thing, trust me,” and they insisted upon giving new master bedroom furniture to him and Jane instead of using what had been his mother’s.

He didn’t even know how to argue with those women.

After receiving a wedding invitation, the king sent his regrets but offered a guest cottage on the palace grounds for their honeymoon. Since it was such a long boat trip to Oahu, his mother, Matilda, and Leia were taking the king up on the offer instead. Mak and Jane agreed they’d rather stay at his—their—house.

When they’d all had dinner at Russ’s house one evening, Jane told Mak they’d have a lifetime for making adventurous trips. And he didn’t need a wedding rehearsal; he should just do as he was told.

“You have my condolences,” Austin said. He’d also said he wanted to make sure Jane was happily married before he left the island. Mak had gone with him to look over some property Austin might buy, and Mak thought that had a lot to do with Austin prolonging his stay. Austin told him he planned to go back and marry Rebecca. He’d already sent a letter so Rebecca could be making her plans.

The day finally arrived.

Doing as he was told, Mak holed up in Austin’s hotel room. He did not see Jane all day and was told he wasn’t supposed to.

When evening came, Austin drove him to the beach.

The public was invited, and it looked to Mak like more people lined the three-mile stretch of beach than at Christmastime. But then, Jane was now more of a celebrity than Santa. She’d become an island hero, and all the little girls wanted to be jockeys. Jane said they’d probably settle for being equestriennes.

Austin drove Mak right up to where chairs had been set out for personally invited guests. Mr. Buckley stood with his hands folded in front of his black formal suit and top hat.

Mak walked down the aisle, looking from side to side, greeting the guests.

But where was Jane?

Rev. Russell stood smiling, in a light green robe beneath a white arbor elaborately decorated with every color and type of flower imaginable. “Stand here,” the reverend told him, and Mak stood at one side of the arbor and faced his guests.

Music began. Mak looked to the side where a band of men he knew, some of his own paniolos, strummed love songs on their bragas. One began to sing. Pilar and Susanne, in light green dresses, passed out leis like the ones the two girls were wearing to the guests in chairs.

But where was Jane?

Seeing a movement up the beach, he thought his heart might beat right out of his chest. Riding up on her little white pony was his little girl. Mr. Buckley aided her in dismounting and handed her a basket.

In a white dress with a green sash and wearing a colorful lei, she paraded down the aisle, carefully dropping orchid petals. Seeing that she had some remaining when she reached the arbor, she looked concerned, then turned the basket up and let the rest of the petals float to where Jane should be standing. With a big smile, she turned, sat in a chair beside his mom, and smoothed her skirt, looking like a little lady.

Hearing a cry go up and applause begin, he looked. Big Brown was galloping along the beach with Jane astride him, a long white cover over her lap and thighs and streaming out behind her like a wave on an ocean.

Several persons helped her get rid of the cover, groomed her long, brown, sun-brushed hair that took on the golden glow of the sun. While love songs were being sung, Jane’s father escorted her down the aisle.

Happiness flooded Mak’s soul, yes, his soul as well as his heart, as he thanked God for this gift that, not long ago, he could never have imagined could be his. White flowers and green leaves encircled Jane’s head. She carried a bouquet of white orchids and green leaves, with long green ribbons flowing from it.

As the color of the sky changed to deep gold with a touch of crimson, Pilar and Susanne handed both the bride and groom a white and green lei.

“You may exchange the leis as a symbol of your love for each other,” the reverend said, and Mak slipped the lei over Jane’s head and lifted her long, soft, fragrant hair, taking a moment to revel in the feel of it as he had never dared do before.

She placed her lei over his head.

Mak could not take his eyes from her. The reverend said many things and one that registered was, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

At the appropriate time, Mak slipped on her vacant finger a band set with small emeralds that matched the larger set of the engagement ring they’d picked out together.

She said it had to be green, in memory of the night of the sunset when he’d taken her breath away.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

And he did.

After a moment, Jane leaned away. “Remember your instructions to a racehorse. Don’t give it your all until you come into the home stretch.”

He exhaled heavily. “Good advice.”

The reverend had the guests stand and led them in singing “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.”

Mak and Jane hurried up the aisle. He mounted Big Brown and lifted Jane in front of him. As they rode across the beach in the golden, crimson evening toward the ranch, Jane turned her face toward him. “I’ve practiced this,” she said. “
Aloha au la oe
.”

Thanking God for his being the most blessed man in the world, Mak said, “I love you, too.”