Page 51 of Hula

The doorbell sounds.

“I’ll get it!”

The outfit was a hit. Dress, shoes, lipstick, and the mascara Ahn pointed out before Alana shot her a look to shut up. Give an inch. Everyone complimented the birthday girl, one way or the other. The boys with their expressions, the girls with actual words. She glowed with the comments. I loved the sweet innocent reaction.

Leilani, Mom, Lani, and I have taken our chaperone positions. Not that we announced it, but it’s exactly what we are here for. I watch from a distance, trying to hide my gaze from Jeremy and Alana. He has a hand around her waist, hers is on his shoulder. They dance a little stiffly, unlikely to break the monotonous pattern that is currently working for them. I can remember myself at fifteen, trying to relax into the arms of Brittney Bailey. Thought I was selling my coolness as much as possible. Did she care that I moved like Frankenstein? Don’t think so. She had her own insecurities.

I’m kind of surprised to see the chosen one is Jeremy. They have been dancing all night. Eating together. Cash hasn’t danced at all. In fact the kid looks a little down, sitting in a slump looking at his phone. Ahn on the other hand is enjoying the hell out of herself dancing with Monica. I am giving up trying to peg these kids. It is anyone’s guess who they will turn out to be, or who will like who. They don’t even know themselves.

But the night’s biggest surprise by far is Henry, the wet suit wonder. He is the best dancer of them all. He has the moves and revels in the music. Fast, slow, doesn’t matter. Every woman and girl here has had their turn with him as partner. There wasn’t any hesitation when he asked Leilani for a spin. Like a junior James Bond. The kid is fearless.

“They are so cute,” Leilani whispers in my ear.

“Which ones?”

Lani and my mother aren’t moving any smoother than they were at Paula’s party. In fact it’s worse. Her leg has been killing her for days. He says something and they join us on the couch.

“Oh. That feels better,” she says, letting out a sigh.

Lani has taken over as Annoyer in Chief and I gladly abdicated.

“I don’t understand you, Nani. Your stubbornness is beginning to aggravate me.”

He looks her straight in the eye. There is no lie in his words. The fact she doesn’t snap back is interesting.

“I know. I am starting to annoy myself.”

“If you know then do something about it before it is too late. If you fall and break your leg, you may not have the option of knee replacement. It will be a different story. Don’t you want to someday walk the beach with me? That’s all I am going to say. Period. No more wasting my breath.”

“You’re right.”

“We are too old to ignore our intellect. Wait. I’m right?”

Leilani and I stay silent on the subject. Holding our breaths, until my mother’s hand goes to his cheek.

“Okay. I will go see about it.”

This pleases him enough to kiss her hand. His face and body relax, and so does hers. How the hell did he get through the wall? What broke it apart? Whatever way it was, works for me. I add my thought before she rebuilds.

“Good, Mom. We’ll call for an appointment on Monday.”

My attention goes to Alana who is heading for the balcony with Jeremy. He closes the slider behind him. A hand touches my arm.

“She’s fine, son.”

It takes everything in me not to get up and stand by the door. Just a silent message so they know not to take it too far. But I don’t.

“Let’s dance,” I say to Leilani.

Don’t think I am fooling anyone, but at least I’ll enjoy myself while spying. We fall into the rhythm of the ballad, as I position myself facing the balcony. They’re just talking. Laughing about something. Leilani turns us around.

“Stop it.”

“What?” I say, holding back a smile of guilt.

“We all deserve a private first kiss. Dad doesn’t factor into the experience.”

“Kiss? Who said anything about kissing?”

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