CHAPTER TWO – Today.
Simone, Samoa.
Subject: The Gift to surpass all others.
AMAZEBALLS! I love my iPhone4. Love it, love it, love it. You rock. When I opened the package, I was almost more excited than the time I was in the elevator in the Central Bank building with some of the Manu Samoa team, breathing the same air as the dalashious Kahn Fotuali’i. Thank you!
Leila, Washington D.C.
Subject: You’re welcome.
As soon as I saw them, I knew you had to have one. Besides, now you can keep me up to date on all the latest from Samoa.
Simone, Samoa.
Subject: Mission Accepted.
I knew it. You want me to spy on Daniel for you. Make sure the evil Mele doesn’t sink her claws into him. Einjo. Don’t worry I am up to the task. I will stick to Daniel like a sweat stained shirt. I will keep every piece of him safe. For you. And only you. (Of course.)
Leila, Washington D.C.
Subject: Whatever.
Pugi. (Like my fa’afafine slang? I’m learning.) I also know some other bad words but will save them until I see you in a few weeks. But I’m not worried about Daniel. I know who his heart belongs to.
Simone, Samoa.
Subject: Body Guarding Duty.
Who said anything about his heart?! I shall guard his body. Some parts more thoroughly than others. Do you want instant pics of us together? Visual evidence of my bodyguard efficiency?
Leila, Washington D.C.
Subject: Nupi.
There are no other words.
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I had to laugh as I ended my conversation with Simone. There had been no chance to say goodbye to him before I caught my last-minute flight to Los Angeles. Actually, there hadn’t been time to do much of anything before I left. After the nightmare show-down with Nafanua and Sarona, I had taken Daniel back to his house and been given the evils by Salamasina when she saw his injuries. She could barely restrain her rage when I gave her the censored and condensed version of what had happened with Nafanua’s sisterhood. I didn’t tell her about the dolphins. Or about the certainty that Daniel shouldn’t be alive, that something inconceivable had brought him back to that moonlit shore. No, I didn’t want Salamasina to know that her son had literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death that night. She was angry enough as it was. I wasn’t sure who she had been more furious at – the telesa sisterhood who had abducted Daniel and stabbed him. Or at me for getting him marked as a target.
“I warned my son you would only bring him pain and suffering. I knew something like this would happen.”
“I’m sorry Mrs Tahi. I never meant for any of this to happen. I tried to protect him. I love Daniel. I would do anything to keep him safe.”
I could have chopped my arm off in her kitchen and it still wouldn’t have convinced her that I really was sorry for what had happened. She hissed at me, “You are telesa. No man is safe with you.”
