Page 91 of Lau Ahi
“So, what does she value?”
“The veneer of perfection is all that matters to her.” The car slid to a stop in front of the restaurant and he gave me a comforting squeeze before he spoke.
“Then we’ll give her perfection.”
He kissed the back of my hand before he put his hand on the door and opened it. I watched as he straightened his suit jacket before shutting the door and walked around to open mine.
Hand in hand we walked beneath the awning of the restaurant and through the entrance. The staff led us up a stairway to a private room that had been sectioned off for us to use. I’d made sure that we were the last ones to arrive because I knew my mother would attempt her grand entrance bullshit and I wasn’t in the mood for it today. I felt excited as we neared the door happy that I was going to see my sister for the first time in a few months and ready to lay eyes on my father. We’d been on the phone a lot especially when we had to discuss the contract and what he told me I needed to be included but other than that I’d been increasingly busy and so had he.
Two of my father’s guards opened the door for me and I nodded my appreciation toward them. They’d been a part of his detail for many years and I knew they’d gone through some additional verification to even be near Ori and his grandfather who had also been invited tonight. I knew the two other men near them had to be there for Mr. Nakoa and I smiled at them as well before we entered the room. Ori’s grip didn’t relax as we entered and I wondered what he saw that made him determine he still needed to be my protector.
There was a fireplace on one end and the long dining table was set immaculately. Full arrangements of crystal and formal table settings were interspersed with low pastel florals to ensure that conversation could still be held. My mind raced wondering who had set this up. It was lavish but not in a gauche way. I was impressed by who could convey this type of subtle luxury because they’d done a beautiful job.
Before we walked too deeply inside, Ori stopped me by releasing my hand and running them up the backs of my shoulders. I turned to look at him and our eyes met and held briefly before he ran his hands down the front of my shoulders and dragged the floor-length silk wrap I’d donned for the evening off of them.
I gave him a knowing smile and his only response was a slight tilt of his head and a raising of his brow. He handed my wrap off to the room attendant before unbuttoning his suit jacket and reclaiming my hand.
“She is an absolute vision, Ori.” A man who could only be his grandfather was up and out of his seat at the head of the table walking toward us. Instead of waiting on an invitation, he gave me a warm embrace that I returned despite my shock. He hadn’t been able to attend Xerxes’ wedding needing to handle business dealings in another part of the country.
The familial resemblance was unmistakable. His height alone clued me in to their being related and his build was broad and proud like his grandson’s. His skin was slightly darker than Ori’s, with a deeper reddish undertone that had me glancing at my husband to be curiously.
“You have to ask people if they want hugs, Pappy.”
His grandfather leaned back with a frown as he looked at Ori. I could see where some of his features had come from. He’d confirmed that his grandfather was biracial and that he had both Samoan and Fijian blood. His grandfather’s beard was slightly coarse and thick and he had deep waves in his hair. Ori’s hair always looked like 3B bundles but his grandfather had a body wave pattern but not as silky. They both towered over me but his grandfather was several inches shorter and broader. “Not family. And this is now my granddaughter.”
“When the wedding comes.” It was crazy to be claimed so fully by these two but I guess Ori was right when he said that his family took family seriously.
He grinned down at me like he expected nothing less than for me to be combative. I momentarily resented being so predictable.
“No, now. It was set in stone when the agreement was made. Even if they’re broken, we will remain family.” He was staring me in the eye before kissing both of my cheeks.
“If they’ve gotten on your nerves I promise that I won’t be offended if you leave.” I spoke into the side of his face but could hear Ori chuckling next to me. That had to be the reason he was letting me know subtly that I was going to have his protection and his grandson’s. Someone, probably my mother and brother, had offended him deeply.
“Nonsense.Nakoasstick together despite what seems to have happened of late. Your generation is the one that will heal all the wrongs. I can already tell.” He gave me a squeeze before turning toward the table where my family had been patiently waiting.
Ori squeezed my hand and I was flanked by both Nakoas as we walked toward the table. My sister was grinning her approval, my brother seemed more concerned with his drink, my father was trying to mask the irritation that my mother had obviously caused and she was sitting there looking as though she’d sucked on a lemon.
Business as usual then.
I put a placid smile on my face before addressing the room. “Hello everyone, sorry about the delay—”
“It’s my fault I got caught up in the office. Mr. Avery, a pleasure to see you again,” Ori stepped forward and my father stood from his seat to shake his hand. He was taking control of the situation by putting the blame for our tardiness on him instead of allowing it to be something my mother could hone in on.
My father accepted his hand with a smile I knew was genuine. “Thank you for organizing this dinner—”
“Especially since our daughter didn’t think it was necessary.” My mother threw her first lob and since it was weak I glancedat my father to gauge his reaction. The ticking of his jaw showed that she’d been well into her wine and he was already over her.
So much for keeping her shit together.
“I’m thankful to have a fiancé who could organize something for me because of my busy schedule. That’s what marriage is all about: teamwork. Complimenting one another’s strengths and shoring up the other’s weaknesses. I’m very grateful for Ori.” He squeezed my hand again but this time it felt harder like he was trying to keep his temper in check. It wasn’t going to end well if he were counting on me to keep everything calm.
“It must be despicable to have your father purchase you a husband.”
That would’ve been a good dig if I actually cared about having a husband but it bounced off of me like everything else she said. The air in the room grew more tense but instead of addressing it angrily Ori tugged me to a seat that was close to his grandfather’s.
I noticed he refused to let me sit in the spot that I was sure my family thought I would take. I wasn’t about to be in between my sister and my brother and I was thankful he was so adept at reading the room. My situation in life had changed and although I wasn’t forgetting my family I was thankful that Ori was keeping his word. I didn’t like the setup as it being a family divided so I happily sat between the two mountains.
“Better than baby trapping him the way you did yours.” I glided gracefully into my seat delivering my words with a smile as Ori’s grandfather coughed to hide his laughter.
