Aloha Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

dinner.
    His mother gave thanks, and then she and Leia bombarded him with questions about the visitors, most of which he was unable to answer.
    “Reverend Russell did say that one of the visitors had orange hair and freckles.” He hoped to prepare Leia so she wouldn’t be too surprised upon seeing the reverend’s guest and blurt out something to hurt her feelings. She’d been raised with people of different nationalities and coloring, so she had no problems with that. But he didn’t think either of them had seen anyone with orange hair.
    He watched the twitching of Leia’s lips as if she wondered how to deal with that. Her little shoulders fell as she exhaled deeply and began to eat. His mother’s eyebrows arched, but she changed the subject.
    “You seem to enjoy teaching at the school.”
    Was that a note of pride in her voice? Had he finally pleased her?
    “Believe me, teaching horses is a lot easier than teaching such energetic children. They are a challenge. But yes,” he said. “I find it fulfilling. I’m glad to be of service to society the same as anyone else.” He sighed. “I know you would like to help, Mother. And you could do it better than I. But I need you here with Leia.”
    Her silence spoke as loud as her words. He, or she, could take Leia along.
    “Daddy, what’s their name?”
    “Who? The children?”
    She held up three fingers. “The one-two-three new ones that’s coming on a ship.”
    “Matilda, I think. And Janie. I don’t recall his saying the name of the other one.”
    “How old are they?”
    “Well, Matilda is Reverend Russell’s sister, so she would likely be about his and your grandmother’s age. Janie. Let’s see.” He looked into his memory. “Reverend Russell said he saw her ten years ago and she was thirteen or fourteen. So, she should be twenty-three or twenty-four. The other one is a companion, so she wouldn’t be a child. But I don’t know if she’s young or old.”
    “This Jane must be single,” his mother said as if she were not thinking of someone for him. But she was always thinking of someone for him. “I mean, coming this far with a companion and not a husband.”
    Mak shrugged. He wouldn’t know. But it’s possible being an orange-haired woman with eyes big as a crocodile’s and a splotched face might be reason enough for still being single at that age. He immediately chided himself for the unkind thought. One couldn’t always help one’s outer appearance any more than they could help what fate dealt them.
    “Daddy, can we meet them at the dock?”
    His grimace made the hope on her face wane.
    It was a great treat of most islanders—going to the dock, greeting newcomers and visitors, seeing how they dressed, what they brought with them, finding out if they were going to stay.
    “These are Reverend Russell’s relatives,” his mother said. “I can’t imagine that we wouldn’t go.” Her eyes questioned, or perhaps challenged, Mak. But she waited for his reply.
    He nodded. “Doesn’t everyone go to the docks when ships come in?”
    Leia squealed and clapped her hands. Ah, he’d made the women in his life happy. . .for the moment. “Can we make leis for them?” She glanced from him to his mother, looking for approval. “They’re coming to help Miss Pansy. And Miss Pansy is my special friend.”
    “That’s a wonderful idea,” he said.
    For the next several days, they took as much interest in those leis as he did his horses. His mother and Leia were making three leis of shells, beads, seeds, and feathers. Greeters would bring fresh flowers to the dock. Those could be added to any kind of lei the moment a ship appeared as a dot on the horizon.
    “You two are doing a fine job,” he said. His mother and daughter looked like he’d given them a piece of heaven when he added, “Reverend Russell said his sister has been a teacher and that her niece has finished college and one or both will probably take over for me in the classroom. Leia,