AllFreeNovel
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“Of course, she divorced him three years later, but that’s beside the point.” Kal winks back at me.
Alana opens her car door, her hair as stiff and curled as it was when she arrived at my hotel—I wonder what kind of product she uses.
“Yes!” she hollers. “Completely beside the point!”
“He’s got a good job,” I say, combing my tangles to the side and feeling the need to defend Kal.
“Yes. So it should be easy to find a wife.” Alana shakes her finger as if I’ve just made a point for her defense—not my intention.
Kal moves his seat forward and holds out a hand, helping me out of the backseat and onto the grassy floor. He smiles down at me, unperturbed by his mother’s rant.
“Tina just wants her kids married and producing grandchildren for her.”
“Tina?” I say, brows knit.
Kal’s fingers slide through mine and warm tingles wash over my skin like hot butter. “Mother in Samoan.”
“That’s right,” Alana says. “Have some babies. Learn what life is all about.” She whips around to face me just before entering the bright green door. “Meg, children do two things. You know this?”
“Um…” I teach kindergarten—I should know this. Why do I feel like I’m being quizzed? Two things? What are the two things? My brain has forgotten everything I ever knew. I have no idea what the two things could be.
“One,” Alana says, apparently not caring that I’ve failed this test—not when she can answer. “They create a kind love you’ve never in your life felt before. Never. No human can understand this kind of love until they have a child. Greatest love. Biggest, truest, most unselfish love there is.”
I nod, that makes sense. I’m not a mother, but I can see that. “And two?” I ask, because now I want to know. Maybe this woman has all the secrets of the universe and she’s about to share them with me.
“They drive their parents crazy.” She shrugs. “Completely mad. Insane! Lolo. You will want to bury yourself alive at times.” She tilts her head to the side. “You don’t—because of the big love.” Her eyes dart to Kal then back to me. “But you want to.”
Kal lifts his brows, his lips in a tight, firm line. He’s heard this before. This is nothing new to him. He’s just trying not to chuckle.
Alana pushes her way into the little house. The space is filled with pictures, flowers, and furniture. It’s a packed house. And it’s lovely. Floral and sweetness engulf me as I walk inside to a small living room. Alana doesn’t stop to show me around though, we just follow her back to the kitchen that’s equally as small as the living room.
“You understand?” Alana says, whipping around to face me before reaching the small round table at the center of her kitchen. “Children…” she waits for me to finish.
“Drive you crazy—lolo. I think I’ve got it.” I swallow.
“But grandchildren.” Her cheeks swell, and lines form around her lips with her peaceful, easy smile. “They are the spice of life. All the love and none of the crazy.” She sighs happily. But only for a second. Ten seconds later, her brows are cinched and she’s frowning again. “And I only have two. Two, Meg. My Malia has given me two beautiful grandchildren, and then she whisked them away to New Jersey. Do you know how often I make it into the States?” She shakes her head. “More than this bump on a log,” she throws a thumb over her shoulder towards Kal, “but not much. My Leilani, bless her heart, has been trying for years for a baby. No luck yet. And Kalani.” She switches her gaze to her son. “Refuses to even marry.”
“It’s true. I am the prodigal son refusing matrimony. Mostly, to make sure my mother has the least amount of grandchildren possible.”
Alana smacks him in the chest, and he doesn’t even flinch. “My sister, Flora, has seventeen grandchildren. Seventeen, Kalani. I’m asking you to give me one.”
“What can I say, woman? You should have had more children.”
I hold a fist to my lips and smother down a laugh.
“I tried!” Alana spouts. “Your makuakane left me before I could!”
Kal’s expression sobers. “I know, Tina. But you’re stuck with me. I’ll never leave you.”
I feel like I’ve been smacked with realization…Is this the real reason Kal never leaves the island?
Alana snatches him by the face and lays a very pink kiss on his cheek, leaving her mark. “I wish you would.” She turns her attention back to me. “Meg Miller, kiss him all you want. He is yours for the taking.”
“Oh, goodness.” I titter out a delirious laugh as heat floods my cheeks.
“I mean it. You have great birthing hips,” she says, setting one hand on each of my hips. “And you are young. How old are you?”
“I’m—I’m twenty-six.”
