'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books (17 page)

Astonished at their compatibility, she lolled and remembered her earlier climaxes, then thanked the gods that this wonderful man could give her such pleasure. With each of the other two, very short relationships she’d managed, she’d always been left wanting and frustrated. Guess that when you pick duds, what can a girl expect?

She grinned and desultorily made her way to the shower. After a quick perusal in the mirror and time spent daydreaming about the most intoxicating night in her life, she searched the closet for her suitcase and chose a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.

While doing so, a gorgeous muumuu of her aunt’s caught her attention. The flounces at the neckline and on the hem of the long skirt were soft and pretty while the intricately designed colors of bright reds and whites worked their magic. It was one of the loveliest creations Leilani had ever seen, and in fact, it reminded her of one that her mother had worn many years ago. Probably why her heart leapt when she caressed the material and sighed with pleasure at the thought of how it would enhance any female body.

Her watch told her there wasn’t time to try it on now, but she’d certainly check it out later. After all, they had a Christmas celebration at the Jordan to attend, and she’d want to look her best.

Sure enough, as soon as she entered the livingroom, she found her little ward perched in front of the television while chomping a bowl of cereal—his favorite breakfast food. Dressed in the clothes that no doubt would be falling apart soon, he ignored her entry and continued his meal.

“Good morning, Mano,” she said, as she did every morning. “I thought to make some macadamia nut and banana pancakes for breakfast. Can you save a little room in your tummy for some?” Knowing the child had an endless appetite, she had no doubt he would have jumped for joy if it had been Pi making the request. As it was, she was pleased to note that he didn’t immediately refuse her offer. Instead he looked at her, his eyes blinking, while he fought an inner battle.

“Okay. I like pancakes.” Four of the most beautiful words she’d ever heard.

Delighted, but careful not to show it, she said. “They’ll be ready soon. We can eat on the terrace if you like.”

“I’m watching cartoons.”

“Okay, then I’ll watch with you. Be back in a jiffy.” She went into the kitchen and threw a high-five into the air, skipped a few steps, and then bustled around to get all the ingredients. In no time at all, with the room smelling delightfully homey, she had a platter full of fluffy pancakes, some crispy bacon and two glasses of orange juice laid out.

When she went to call Mano, he stood and turned off the TV before following her into the other room. “Guess we can eat outside. Tutu always ate there so we could feed the little critters.” His voice changed to sound just like her aunt’s, and she had no doubt Mano mimicked her words.

Laughing, she passed him a plate, waved at the array, and suggested he help himself. Having been scolded before that he could get his own food, she didn’t dare step wrong on what promised to be a breakthrough day.

They both took a placemat and slid open the patio doors so they could step onto the terrace. Potted planters that had returned to life with Leilani’s constant care, and Pi’s magic touch, were bountiful with petunias and geraniums embraced by ivy and other tropical vines. Some hung from the rafters and others were placed strategically around the parameters of the wooden floor and steps, but all added to the beauty of the shaded area.

“So, today you’ll be showing me where to find the Christmas decorations, and we’ll be making the place ready for Pi’s inspection, aye?”

“I guess.” He ate with a healthy appetite. Nonetheless, his manners were impeccable and unconscious. Leilani had no doubt they were the teachings of his grandma and firmly embedded, even though to date he’d only shown them whenever Pi had been around. It was wonderful to see that he had relaxed enough with her that he didn’t bother to be naughty.

“How come you say “aye” all the time?”

“I don’t!” She stopped to think. “Do I?”

He nodded and looked down with a definite smile intermingling with his adorable dimples.

“It’s a Canadian custom, I suppose. Many people tease us that we say it all the time, but I never noticed that I have the habit.”

“You do. But it’s okay. It’s not a swear word or nothin’. “ He shyly took a few small pieces of his pancake and crumbled them into tiny pieces and then threw them toward a shelf. The one where a number of times Leilani had placed a plant only to find it taken down and put somewhere else.

She sat without speaking and watched the boy’s activities. Within a few seconds, two colorful birds flew from a nearby tree and swooped down to peck at the tidbits. Their heads were red and they had a kind of a topknot of feathers, while their bodies were dark gray on top and whitish underneath. Their beady dark eyes watched her warily but ignored Mano as if he’d earned their trust.

Enthralled, Leilani never moved. Just sat and watched as the boy continued to feed his wildlife friends. Soon, they finished their treat and with a squawk of thanks they flew back to their home.

“They were beautiful, Mano. Do you know what species they were?”

“Tutu says they’re Red-crested Cardinals, and come from Brazil. You can hear them sing if you listen.”

Sure enough, she heard the wonderful songs. Not certain which sounds the cardinals made…and not wanting to seem too dumb, she smiled and nodded. “It’s lovely, aye?”

He pointed at her and laughed. “You did it again.”

Mock grumbling, she responded. “You set me up, brat.”

He giggled and clapped his hands, obviously glad to have caught her.

“Come on, let’s put these dishes away and get busy. I can’t wait to see what you have in decorations. If we need to buy more, we can always zip over to the mall, right?”

“Right!”

Chapter Twenty-seven

Later, after a super-fun day, an exhausted Leilani smiled as she watched Mano parade his new clothes for Pi’s inspection. Surprised and pleased, her heart swelled when he turned for her approval also.

“You look wonderful, Mano, a regular little Hawaiian boy.” The traditional shirt with its narrow stand-up collar, short sleeves and a design of green vines on a cream background suited his coloring to the tee. Matched with a pair of dark brown cargo shorts and new sandals, he looked spiffy and had a hard time hiding his delight.

Pi nodded and added. “You must hang them up, so they’ll be ready to wear in two days for the celebration at the hotel. There’ll be lots of children for you to play with. You can visit with Santa again, and Kale’s promised a huge banquet of good food to eat.”

For a moment, a sad look passed over the boy’s features and he hesitated. Before Leilani could ask what troubled him, he ran from the room.

“He misses his Tutu, doesn’t he?” “One day, he’ll share his feelings with you, Leilani. Until then, you must be patient.”

“I will. Thank you Pi for giving us today to be alone. It was wonderful. Once he showed me where the boxes were, he came up with the idea of using the wheel barrow to haul them to the house.”

“No doubt, something that Mele taught him.” The old man seemed far away for a minute, and Leilani wondered how the name of her aunt came so easily to him, a stranger. Then she forgot those thoughts when his words caught her attention. “You’ve done an outstanding job. The tree is beautiful, and so are all the garlands”

Leilani leaned back and let her gaze travel the room. They had set the medium-sized tree in front of the wide window where she knew it would share its delight with those outside, looking in. Once finished, the tree looked as traditional as any she’d ever seen. Garlands, woven over the mantle, provided a place for a very old Christmas nativity with each statue intermingled in the branches. A set of twinkle lights zigzagged in and out, which made the scene a heart-catching, gorgeous sight.

To add another holiday aspect, they’d gathered bunches of poinsettias from the gardens, tucked them in small juice glasses, and hid those around the window-laden garlands to make it appear as if the flowers grew from within the greenery. Leilani swelled with pride. It looked so good! “I let Mano choose where to put each ornament, and he put the lower ones on himself. My aunt had gorgeous decorations, and some of them look to be very old.”

“They are… I mean, I’m sure they are. I remember seeing many of that same type as a young man.”

“Of course, how silly of me! For a minute I thought you meant you’d seen them here, years ago.”

He flushed and smiled at her, and then turned to see Mano enter the room once again wearing his old outfit and a disgruntled look on his face. The little one slumped onto a chair and hid his face in his knees.

Pi pushed himself forward and stood up. “I’m thinking a picnic on the beach would be a good plan, maybe a swim for you two young’uns, while this old man enjoys a nap. What do you two think?” Quick on his toes, he’d injected cheer into an uncomfortable moment.

Catching on quickly, Leilani added. “I think even Kale might be agreeable to joining us, if I call and tell him our idea.”

As soon as she’d spoken, Mano jumped to his feet and asked her if he could use her cell phone to call Kale himself. The prickly moment passed and both Pi and Leilani breathed a sigh of relief.

Pi whispered to her as Mano ran to get her purse where she kept her cell. “Do you think Kale will have the papers finalized?”

A faint unease leaked into her bones, and she grabbed her arms. Then she rubbed her hands up and down to soothe the bumps that had attacked. “He said he would have them ready.”

“Then I have no doubt, he will.” Pi stood up and reached down for her hand. “Let’s get that picnic started. My tummy is hollow and needs a filling.”

“You’re right. Now that I think of it, I’m sure there’s some sushi left over from last night.”

Pi shook his head sorrowfully. “You’re a mean, mean woman.”

Laughing uproariously, Leilani squeezed his hand and added. “I also think there might be some egg-salad, fresh bakery bread, and cookies that Mano and I created after we had the tree finished.” With a cheeky wink, she led him toward the kitchen. When Mano ran up to join them, she put her free hand around his shoulder to include him in their fun. Her insides sang when he didn’t shrug it off.

Chapter Twenty-eight

To his delight, Mano had Kale’s full attention after they’d all returned from the beach. Full and lazy, the adults happily lounged on the terrace. However, the boy’s natural enthusiasm and lively spirits wouldn’t let him relax. In the end, Kale agreed to play catch with him, and the two were happily occupied.

In the meantime, Pi had his old straw hat lowered over closed eyes, and he snoozed away in the late afternoon sunshine. The birds overhead trilled their songs to the rest of nature, which seemed to lull him into a very deep sleep… and no amount of noise made a difference.

Thinking about the coming party, Leilani remembered her aunt’s muumuu and how she’d wanted to try it on. It would solve all her problems of what to wear and end the worry of her having to go to the shops and spend money she didn’t have.

Without saying anything, she stood and made her way to her room, leaving the door open slightly so she could hear in case someone called her. There it was on a hanger by the mirror. She’d placed it there earlier. The dress would be perfect, as long as it fit, and from the looks of it draped against the wall, it should be perfect.

Quickly shedding her shorts and leaving on her bikini, she whipped her voluminous hair into a knot on the top of her head made stable with a couple of curved sticks. She eased the long-skirted dress over her head and moved back from the mirror.

It looked lovely like it was made just for her. Even fit her perfectly. Generous amounts of soft material graced her body, but she noticed when she stepped forward, it emphasized her form and showed off her figure. The brilliant red flowers on the white background made her visualize a lei made of red poinsettias and white orchids, which would add the perfect final touch. Of course, with some of the flowers in her hair over her left ear so she could proclaim to the world she was taken.

Daydreaming, she swished from side to side and it was only her door banging against the wall that caught her attention. Actually, it more than got her attention; it stunned the heck out of her.

She turned in time to see a furious Mano advancing with his fist raised and temper written clearly over his angry features.

“Take it off. That’s Tutu’s dress.” He screamed the words and pointed at her, his finger boldly threatening.

“Mano! Please don’t be angry. I thought maybe that I could wear it to the hotel celebration. I don’t have a muu—”

“Take it off.”

Obediently, she whipped the dress over her head and gripped it in her hand.

Mano ran forward and grabbed it away from her. “You can’t take her…”

Seeing her reach toward him made him stop what he’d been saying, and back away. Before he ran from the room, he turned to her with a tearful parting shot.

“Leave her stuff alone!”

Then he gathered the dress to his chest, and flew out of the room and down the hall. His bedroom door slammed hard enough to rock the whole foundation.

Chapter Twenty-nine

“Please don’t look so glum.” Kale put his arms around Leilani at the front door. Over her head, he gazed with delight at the wonderland of sparkling lights, and Christmas charm. How in the world did this one pocket-sized woman have so much talent?

With her head nestled against his chest, he felt the sigh that rippled through her slight form. “Things were so good all day, and then like in a horror movie the monster reemerged.”

“Mano?”

“No, me. I never thought how he’d feel to see me wearing her clothes. Now he hates me again.” Desperation darkened her features; her voice implored him to understand. “It was such fun getting the decorations put up and baking the cookies. Even the time we spent at the beach swimming and playing in the water was relaxing. But from the moment we returned to the house, and he saw the tree lights on, he went into a bit of a slump.”