Page 61 of Keeping Kama

Removing her arm from his waist, Leia found Derek’s hand. “Thanks, Kai,” replied Leia, interlocking her fingers with Derek’s. They moved slowly toward Kai’s van. Kai and Alana’s children ran back and forth due to Derek and Leia’s snail speed.

Teresa pushed Noa along in his wheelchair. “So,” said Teresa. “Leia says you’re staying for Christmas.” Her gaze landed on them holding hands.

Derek’s back stiffened, adding to his already aching body. “I hope you don’t mind me joining everyone for Christmas. Leia told me the entire extended family gets together and one more wouldn’t be any trouble,” said Derek.

“You’re more than welcome to join us for Christmas. The more the merrier,” replied Teresa in a flat voice. “But what happens after Christmas? You’ll go back to Los Angeles, right?”

Leia interrupted Teresa and hissed, “Mom, enough. I’ll discuss this with you later.”

Teresa waved her off and gestured toward Derek. “Derek doesn’t mind talking about this. Do you?” She raised an eyebrow, throwing a pointed glance at Derek.

“Ahh,” stalled Derek.

Derek wanted to lay out his entire plan of staying for more than Christmas. But as he glanced at Leia’s entire family eyeing him suspiciously and waiting for his reply, Derek froze, and his mind went blank. He cowered.

Luckily, Kai announced, “We’re here.” He clicked the unlocked button on his minivan, making the automatic doors roll open. “Climb in, kids. I want you to take the seats in the back, so Leia and Derek don’t have to climb back there with their sore muscles.” Kai winked at them.

Teresa kept walking without stopping. Over her shoulder, Teresa said, “We’ll see you when we see you, Derek.”

Derek didn’t have time to think about Teresa’s obvious disdain toward him.

Kai fiddled with his kids’ seats as Alana walked around to the front seat.

“Bye,” said Leia. “Thank you for coming.”

Teresa drifted further and further away, clearly not listening, or caring. Kai leaned against the side of the van, waiting for his kids to get into their seats.

Kai addressed Derek and said, “I want to give you a tour of Kama Farm and show you the changes we’ve made. So much has improved since you were last here.”

“I’d love to see what you’ve done,” replied Derek.

With the kids settled in the back, Derek climbed into the van after Leia. Kai swung the door closed. Derek wondered how he could win Teresa over. Maybe once Teresa knew he’d put everything on the line for Leia, she wouldn’t be as worried about his intentions. Though every part of Derek ached, he couldn’t help but smile as Kai and Alana’s kids fought in the back seat on the drive, Hawaiian music danced through the van, and Leia reached for his hand across the aisle giving it a squeeze. His muscles were sore, but his heart was full.

Chapter21

The days after the marathon marched toward Christmas way too fast. Leia dreaded Derek returning to Los Angeles. Living in a fantasy world sure was fun. With each passing day, Leia fell harder and harder for Derek, so hard, she spent most nights in bed plotting out how she and Derek could be together. Leia knew she needed to consider moving from Hawaii, surely she could find another teaching job if she relocated. But Leia didn’t know if she could do it, leaving everything behind, her family, culture, home, for the chance to be with Derek. Ahh … what a risk.

Torn in a thousand directions, Leia’s hands shook as she pulled on her red dress. In a little bit, she’d head over her to her parents’ house for the annual Christmas Eve gathering. Leia’s mouth watered as she caught a whiff of the kalua pig roasting deep in the pit behind her parents’ house.

Two days.

Derek left in two days.

And then Leia’s world would shatter.

Again.

With no resolution, Leia left the safety of her apartment walking toward her parents’ house. Her aunt and uncles had come over earlier and helped her and Derek pull out the folding table and chairs from their garage. They set them up on the grassy area in her parents’ front yard. Being outside allowed her entire family to gather, without feeling cramped inside. Luckily, Hawaii’s weather made meeting outdoors possible any time of year.

As she rounded the corner, Leia saw many of her family members out on the lawn, mingling. Kale and Kai carried the pig over to the table. Derek sat at a table next to Teresa and Noa. They were deep in conversation. Slowing her pace, Leia’s stomach twisted on itself. As she approached, Derek shifted in his chair, catching her gaze. Their eyes locked, smoothing out the skittish feeling in her gut. And she knew she was in love, and Derek belonged. There. With her.

Derek stood and strode a few paces to meet Leia. “Leia, Mele Kalikimaka.”

Arriving in front of Derek, Leia smiled and replied, “Mele Kalikimaka.” She reached out, giving Derek’s hand a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here to spend it with me.”

Wrapping an arm around her waist, Derek brought her closer to him. Heat radiated off his skin, and Leia warmed from his touch. “Do you want to come sit by your parents?” asked Derek.

Leia tilted her head close to his and whispered, “Has my mom been behaving?”

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