Simply Sam-Book Two in Montana Moments series.

Chapter 18-Aloha Aku No, Aloha Mai No

She ran till she got to the place her dad died. Something told her sit down and she did. She sat with her head on her knees. Loosing herself in her thoughts. There were a few surfers out there in the water catching waves and laughing. She had never learned to surf. It scared her. She could not bring herself to take the chance. It had taken her father. A man she never got to know but then again it also gave her a dad. One that may have not help make her but one who was there for all the big things in her life. 

Flying to Cali at four or five times a year to stay for a week or two. She could not think of a time that she needed him and he was not there. She vowed to herself that the next time she came back she come to this place and get on a board and paddle out with a wreath of flowers and finally let her father go. Let him be. She prayed that he was there with her and could see who she had become. No she was not a surfer but she got her kicks doing something just as crazy. She is a Marine and is now going to kick ass as a civilian.  As she was getting up to leave a man approached her.

"Wanna try" He said pointing at his surf board

"No thanks. I'm not quite ready. My father died here and I cant just yet" Grant told him.

"I only know of one death here. Thirty years ago. Koa Kai" He told her.

"That would be him." she told him.

"Holy shit, your Samantha. Your eyes. There his. I'm sorry." The man said holding out his hand.

"That's me. How do you know me?" Grant asked him. This was a small island lots of people knew of her father. He was a bit of a local legend. He saved a young girl from drowning once and he was a world ranked surfer.

"My name is Akamu Hani. I was your dads beast friend. I know your Uncle Danny. We play poker every Saturday night. I have not seen you sense your graduation. Are you back for good?" He asked her.

"Naw just here for a few to pack up. I am out of the corp and am making my home is Montana doing security work. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. Its nice to see you again. Can I ask you something" Grant asked the man. She had to know about her dad.

"Anything. I'm guessing you want to know about you dad." he told her sitting down in the sand and patting the spot next to him.

"Yeah. I know what my mom said and what others but I'm in the weird place and I need to hear." She explained.

"Your dad and I grew up together, two doors down from each other. Danny was a few years older and in the young days never paid much attention to the crap we got into. When your dad started surfing, it all changed. Your dad was amazing. He traveled the islands and few other places to surf. He got sponsored. Then he met this woman. Sally. Your mom. He fell in love with her and he knew he had to stop the surfing and grow up. Your mom told him that she was pregnant and he told her just one more competition. She agreed and when she was about seven months along he did it. On his last wave something hit is board and he smashed his head and drowned. I was there. I tried to get to him. By the time Danny found him it was too late. I remember your mom screaming. I wont forget that. She stayed long enough to give birth to you then went back to Cali."

"Wow. I did not know all this. Do you think he suffered?" She asked him hoping for a no.

"I don't think so. The back of his head was smashed on the rocks. I think that killed him. He loved your mom so damn much. He had her name on his chest, yours too. Either way you were going to be Sam. He used to rub your moms belly and talk to you. Tell his Sam all about life. I remember him telling you one day that when you came you were going to be Daughter of the great Koa Kai. I think he knew you were a girl. I swear I hear him sometimes." The man told her looking off into the ocean.

"What was he like?" Grant asked.

"He had your eyes. I bet yours turn gray when your pissed off. His did. When he looked at your mom they were blue. Like the ocean. He smiled a lot and laughed too. He was always trying to make people feel better. He was giving. Often giving his lunch to the kids at school that did not have. Koa was a man. He only did the last competition because it was ten grand. He won that too. Even with out his last ride he did it. Your dad told me one night when we were drinking that his biggest wish for his child was that she was happy. He did not care what they did in life as long as it made them smile. Samantha, he would be proud of you. I know it. He would want you to smile when you think of him. Danny did a great job of raising you. Koa would have wanted it that way. He would have loved to see you smile. I have some pictures of him at my place. If you give me your number I'll get your address and send them too you along with a few things I have of his. I have kept them all these years. Waiting for the right time to pass them on to you. I think now is the right time." He told her holding out his phone. She typed her name in there and her number.

"What was his favorite saying" She asked him.

"Aloha Aku No, Aloha Mai No. Meaning I give my love to you, you give your love to me. He loved everyone. This was something he said before he would let anyone go. He always wanted them to know his feelings. He would be amazed by your ink. He wanted more. I think had he lived longer he would have sleeves like yours. Please keep in touch Samantha Kai. You make him proud. Before you go, I would like to give you this. Your dad had one just like it. We had them made just us two. I want you to have mine. May it always bring you back home my niece." He told her as he took a necklace off and slipped it over her head. He gave her a hug then back to surfing. Waving to her. Grant sat there for a few more minutes never feeling as close to her dad as she did then. Knowing that he loved her. Feeling it in her heart. She closed her eyes and told her dad she loved him and would see him when her time came. Just then there was a gust of wind that blew a small blue flower towards her. She grabbed it and tucked it behind her ear. Her dad. 

Grant turned around and did the five long miles back to her house. Feeling a whole lot lighter in her mind and heart then she did. Eden and Bull were on the couch and she waved to them.