Kidnapping on Kaua'i (featured by Wattpad 2014)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Monday night

"Lani?" Auntie called, sticking her head into my room. "Can you and Pano watch Frank and Fred tonight? Just for a few hours. I have to go out to get some food with my, uh...friend. Franny and Faye are at their Social Skillz for Kidz group. Tutu will be bringing them back later tonight." Auntie gave me an innocent smile. She didn't reference the curls in her hair, the swipe of blue glitter on her eyelids, or the fact she was wearing her favorite turquoise muumuu, which she normally saves for special occasions.

"No problem," I said with such sweetness, I thought for sure she would know I was up to something. She just smiled at me in that out of it way she's been doing lately, though. "How are the girls doing at their group?" I asked. "Are they talking to anyone?"

Auntie sighed. "Only in Naga-Maga. But the counselor who runs the group says to give it time. I'm sure they'll make progress eventually." She hesitated in the door frame, then came into the room and patted me on the top my head before leaving. "Thanks for asking. You're growing into such a lovely young lady."

I looked up at her and decided she was going lōlō, for sure.

I waited until I heard the rumble of her car driving away, then I ran into the living room. "Quick, come with me," I whispered to Pano. In the kitchen, I explained the situation, how the girls are convinced Auntie is dating someone and hiding it from all of us. "Tonight she's going out with someone, for sure," I said.

Pano nodded; he was in.

"Boys, watch yourselves for a while. We've got to go out," I called to Frank and Fred. They didn't look up from their video game. "Don't burn the house down!" I yelled behind me.

After hopping on our bikes, Pano and I raced into town and stopped at the bay. It was a ten plus evening, the perfect night for a date. Lights across the harbor left wavy ribbons of silver and gold on the dark water, and small sailboats rocked gently in their slips, their mooring lines creaking rhythmically. We searched for Auntie's car along the main street, but saw nothing, so we headed toward Princeville. After about a mile, we crossed the Hanalei Bridge. My bike made a thunking sound as I crossed, thunkathunkathunka.

"Maybe Auntie's at one of those fancy hotel restaurants," Pano guessed.

"You think? But who could afford to take her there?"

"I dunno. Maybe she's dating a high roller, like a tourist-type."

We both cracked up, picturing Farmer Auntie with some fancy pants. But, then again, she had been dressing real nice lately.

The dark outline of a sedan parked under the trees on the right side of the road came into view. I pulled on my brakes. "Isn't that Auntie's car?"

Pano skidded to a stop. "Yeah. And the car in front of it looks familiar too."

I squinted at the car. I know I'd seen it before, but I couldn't remember where. Time to investigate.

The cars were parked in front of the old missionary church, a traditional green-shingled church with white trim. It had been built about a hundred and fifty years ago by missionaries from New England, who'd also built and lived in the old mission house behind it.

"Why would Auntie be here?" I asked.

"This is a strange place for a date," Pano said, "but if Auntie's car is here, she's gotta be here too."

We crept forward along a manicured path made of crushed shells, overhung by trees with cascading pink blooms. After passing the church, we came to the expansive lawn of the mission house. It was lush with Bermuda grass and dotted with plumeria trees, whose butter and cream tinged blossoms made the air smell heavenly. The tidy, New England-style house, built of coral limestone, was set back behind the trees. Closer to the house, the path was lined with tiki torches, whose flickering flames lit the way up to the home's long front porch lined with casement windows. Soft strains of slack key guitar music poured out of the screen door and melted into the night air.

"What could she be doing in the mission house at night?" I wondered out loud.

There was no easy answer, so we had to go forward. I felt a little guilty spying on my own aunt, but I was too curious to stop now. The cushiony lawn absorbed the sound of our footsteps as we crept up to the side of the porch and peeked in a window. The home's interior was lit with what looked like a thousand candles. In their mellow glow, I spied a lava rock chimney, polished Ohia-wood floors and furniture made from glossy, reddish-brown Koa wood. A table stood in the middle of the room, set with a lavish dinner and a towering tropical centerpiece. The effect was astonishing, but what was even more astonishing was who Auntie was with at the table.

Pano turned to me, his mouth hanging so far open that his jaw was practically on his chest. I returned his look with one of my own.

"I-is that-is that Principal Aihue?" I whispered.

It obviously was, but the question had to be put out there, etched into the air with words, to make it possible to contemplate.

Auntie was dating Principal Aihue.

My Auntie.

The Principal.

Together.

Ermahgerd!

Shock stapled my feet to the ground and my body felt stiff as a rod. Pano yanked on my arm, pulling me with him into a low crouch below the window sill.

"Wait, maybe it's not what we think," he said. "Maybe they're just discussing something at the school. We should listen. "

I didn't voice my doubts aloud: At night? Over dinner? In a private setting filled with candles and music? I knew Pano needed some last bit of hope to hold onto, one last knot in the rope to cling to, before he was ready to drop off into reality. So, I waited, listening. The music was soft enough that their voices could be heard over it.

"Larry, I can't thank you enough for this beautiful dinner," Auntie said.

First names. Not a good sign.

"Anything for you. How are you enjoying your volunteer work at the school?"

"I love it. Right now I'm tallying up all the donations Sanbello has made to the school. When I'm done, the school committee plus an executive from Sanbello will meet to vote on how the money can best be spent. You know I'm not a fan of that company, but we might as well spend their money on something the children need."

"That sounds like a fun project. How long will it take?"

"We might be able to hold the meeting in a week or two. I'm so glad I volunteered; it's such a great way to get involved with the school."

Pano and I exchanged another look-that was so much bologna you could build a twenty-three layer sandwich with it. Auntie's mantra had always been, if it's school stuff, don't bother me with it.

"The school needs more women like you..." Principal Aihue murmured. Then, there was a pause ten miles long. Even from out here, crouched under the window, breathing as quietly as I could onto my own knees, I knew he was gearing up to say something big.

"...and I need a woman just like you," he finished.

"Oh, Larry," my aunt sighed.

"Rita, ever since the first time I laid eyes on you, I've wanted to be your favorite hello and your hardest goodbye."

There was the sound of the table rattling, chairs sliding, silverware moving. Were they kissing? I risked a looked up. They were. Ermahgerd! Ermahgerd! Ermahgerd!

"Run!" Pano whispered with the urgency of someone who is being shelled by mortar rounds. I felt the same way; I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

We made it back to the bikes, panting hard. Pano looked back at the house. "This is a nightmare," he said.

I agreed-it was. Then it struck me how hard the news would be on the Frightening Four. Was Principal Aihue going to be their new dad?

"Should we tell the Fabulous Four?" Pano asked, like he'd been reading my mind.

"No. Not now, at least. Let's wait for a while." I didn't want to wish for Auntie's new relationship to fail, but, honestly, that would be the best for everyone. "Let's just hope they don't fall in love." As soon as I said it out loud, I realized they already were.

"Love. Yuck." Pano hopped on his bike. "I'm never gonna fall in love."