“Wow, this stuff is really good.” Allie took another sip, relishing it.
“The best Kona on Hawai’i,” Jesse said.
“Your grandmother’s coffee made this place,” Kai seconded.
Allie felt a shudder of guilt as she glanced around at all the happy patrons in Kai’s shop. They all seemed to like the coffee so much, and she could understand why. It was delicious, like none she’d ever tasted. But she had no intention of growing coffee, at least, not with her share. What would happen to Kai’s shop, to these patrons drinking her coffee, if they sold the land? Developed it for condos?
Not your problem, Allie thought. Your problem is Dallas McCormick and that smug smile he wears on his face.
“You said someone else gave you coffee?” Kai asked. “Where did you get it? Please don’t tell me it was you-know-what down the street. Please don’t!”
“Kai won’t even say their name, it’s that personal,” Jesse said.
“Don’t get me started on why,” he said. “Big corporate lattes! Wouldn’t know good coffee if it bit them in the...”
“Oh, no, don’t worry,” Allie said. “I haven’t been to any competitors. Your aunt gave me coffee grounds, actually.”
Kai immediately relaxed. “You saw Auntie K? She’s always had a soft spot for you. Did she make you a lei?”
“Uh, yes, actually. Gorgeous.” Allie cleared her throat. “I wanted to talk to you about her, actually. Grandma Misu wanted me to talk to her about the estate if I was going to sell, so...”
“She did?”
“Yeah, and I didn’t have much luck. She, uh...she...pretended not to know English.”
Kai and Jesse exchanged a meaningful glance. “That wasn’t very nice. Let me go talk to her,” Kai pronounced, like a big brother ready to go to bat for a little sister.
“No, that’s okay. I mean, I know she probably didn’t want to talk to me about selling Grandma Misu’s land, so I get it. But now she won’t answer the door, and...”
“That’s none of her business whether you sell or not,” Kai muttered. “That’s your choice, not hers. You should be able to sell if that’s what you want to do.”
Jesse didn’t say a word. Allie could tell she didn’t approve of selling, but she was grateful Kai didn’t judge her. “I just feel kind of stupid. I fell for it. I really thought she didn’t know English.”
“Aw, she does that to everyone,” Kai said. “Hell, the postal carrier didn’t know for years, and I don’t think the tax assessor still does.”
They all laughed, and Allie felt an easy kinship between them that she hadn’t felt in...years. She liked Jesse and Kai a lot. They felt like long-lost family.
“Hey, want to come to dinner tomorrow? We could help you talk to Aunt Kaimana. Maybe get this all sorted out.”
“Oh, I don’t want to put you out.”
“You won’t,” Kai assured her. “I’m barbecuing, and we’re having a few friends over anyway, at Aunt Kaimana’s house. One more is no big deal!”
For the first time since Chicago, Allie actually did feel like getting out. She ignored the little voice of warning at the back of her head. She was on a mission: sell the land and get out.
But, what would one little barbecue hurt? Besides, if she could convince Kaimana to sign her paper at the party, all the better.
“Sure,” she said. “I’d love to.”
A FEW PEOPLE turned into more like a hundred. By the looks of Kai’s crowded backyard, he’d invited every local on the island for his little barbecue. Allie stood awkwardly near a banana tree, clutching a frosty mai tai, wondering whether or not she should leave. It had been so long since she’d actually been at a party that wasn’t a bridal shower, she wasn’t sure she remembered how to mingle. Kai was busy manning the grill, and Jesse had her hands full with mixing drinks, and she’d not even seen a trace of Kaimana. She glanced down at her white striped maxi dress and high-heeled wedge sandals and suddenly felt overdressed. Everyone else wore colorful board shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. Allie was the only woman not in an above-the-knee sundress. But she had her reasons. Her legs were bright lobster red after she’d forgotten to apply sunscreen before she’d fallen asleep lying on her stomach on her grandmother’s reclining lawn chair in the backyard.
Her shoulders still radiated heat. They were so burned that even the thought of putting a strap or sleeve on them made her want to cry. The dress was the only sleeveless one she had, so she’d gone with it. Luckily, her front side was only marginally burned. In a day or so, she’d have a new golden tan. But right now, all she felt was agony.
Allie sipped at the sweet drink and glanced around, looking in vain for a familiar face. Just as she was considering knocking back her drink and bolting, she felt something pounce on her skirt. She looked down to see a fluffy brown Labrador puppy with steel-gray eyes.
“Poi! Down, boy, down!” An Asian woman about her age ambled up, deeply tan with her hair up in an elaborate do, a large white flower in her hair. She wore a black tube top and khaki shorts. “I am so sorry,” she said, grabbing the dog by the collar. “He’s not people trained yet.”
“No problem.” Allie grinned and knelt down, scratching the pup behind his ears. The dog reminded her of the lab she’d had growing up. “He’s friendly, aren’t you, Poi?”
“I’m Minnie,” she said. “You must be Allie.”
“How did you...”
“You’re the new girl,” Minnie said and grinned. “I know everybody here but you, so I just figured. Plus, the sunburn gave you away.”
Allie shifted uncomfortably. She realized she was the only one in the yard who didn’t have an all-year tan from years living here. It would take her quite a long time to work up to that, she thought. Her shoulders hadn’t seen sunlight for eight months, and even an hour of sun had burned her to a crisp.
“You need some aloe? I may have some in my car,” Minnie offered.
“I bathed in it before I came here. Don’t worry. I’ve got plenty.” Allie fidgeted. Her right shoulder blade in particular throbbed.
“Mind if I say, your eyebrows are...amazing. Where do you get them done?” Minnie studied Allie’s forehead. Minnie still held the puppy’s collar, trying to keep him from lunging again.
“I did them, actually. I used to do eyebrow sculpting in Chicago.”
“I have to introduce you to Teri, then,” Minnie said. “She owns the best salon in town.” Minnie glanced around and then waved to a platinum blonde in her midforties who was wearing a bright coral-colored blouse and white Bermuda shorts. Minnie waved her over and Teri came, carrying a nearly empty mai tai glass.
“Teri! This is Allie. You know, Alani Osaka—Misu’s granddaughter.”
“Oh, honey! So glad to meet you!” Before Allie knew it, she was enveloped in a big hug.
“Misu was my favorite customer. She always gave the best advice.” It seemed as if Teri didn’t want to let her go. Allie didn’t mind, though. Instead of an awkward outsider, she was starting to feel like a prodigal daughter returned. In Chicago, she’d always lived in big, populous neighborhoods and gone to overcrowded schools, walked busy city streets, where it was easy to blend in. She wasn’t used to being noticed or singled out. Small island life was a different