Page 44 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

The rest of the people clambered around us, cooing at the baby in Keanu’s arms, or smiling at the way Pohai and Kai dragged me with them.

I had never felt so much… love. So much unity. These people really did care for one another.

And it’s all because of him.

I couldn’t help stealing glances at Keanu. I had seen him at the palace. I had seen him at the ball and in political meetings. But this… this was a whole other side of him, like watching a tide turn.

No wonder they love him. But I understood why he cared so much about his people. They were good people. It was his kuleana, responsibility, and his stewardship to care for him. It was never about him. And now I knew why he wanted to come back from the dead. Not once, but twice.

It’s for them.

“Oli, you’re staring.” Kiki hissed in my ear and I snapped out of my thoughts. The sun was setting, the baskets were all delivered, and Keanu was kissing baby Nalu goodbye.

And I’d been staring at him. Again.

After he returned the baby to Kanoe he looked around. Searched. Our eyes met and he smiled. A real, genuine smile. One that made my knees weak, like we were the only ones standing on the beach.

“He cares for you,” Malakai said, and I realized he’d been standing there and heard what Kiki said.

“He cares for everyone.” I had to dodge their observations. I quickly altered the conversation. “How did he know Kanoe’s name? And all the other widows? He seemed to know all of them.”

“Whenever a soldier falls, Keanu takes it on himself to see and tell the family. He’s there for them.”

Keanu was so good. So kind.

The sun began to set beyond the horizon, and Malakai motioned to the servants to load up. “We’d better get back,” he said, then offered my mother his arm.

Keanu was about to make his way towards me, when a villager stopped him to say goodbye first. He kissed and hugged everyone goodbye, and I couldn’t believe how much I admired him for it.

“He adores you, Oli.”

I turned to my sister. “Shh, that’s enough Kiki.”

“It’s so obvious.” She giggled. “And I think you adore him too.” She grabbed my arm and started walking towards the palace. “Come on,” she said. “You have to admit that Keanu playing with baby Nalu was the most charming thing you could have ever seen.”

I swallowed hard. Should I admit it?

I shook my head and Kiki laughed, nudging me. Perhaps I could bargain my way out of a night marcher’s condemnation, but definitely not out of the feelings growing inside of me.

As we walked back to the palace, I couldn’t help watching everyone.

Peter and Malakai know about the riddle. So who was it? Which of the two? Peter kept glancing back at Keanu. Why was he keeping such a strict eye on him?

Meanwhile, Malakai looked genuine. He looked like he actually cared about my mother, his expression sympathetic, like when he spoke to me. He slowed down to her pace and finally offered to take her and Kiki home in the wagon so mother wouldn’t have to walk.

I said goodbye to my family, and upon entering the palace, my insides tightened. Walking out was Pua, the cruel noble lady.

She curtsied to us before turning to leave.

“Wait,” I said as she hurried into the darkness of the night. Either she didn’t hear me or she ignored me, but she fled down the palace steps. “What is she doing here?” I asked. Keanu gently put his hand on the small of my back and led me in.

“Probably something to do with politics.”

“Like what?” Deep down it gnawed on me that she had been there. She hadn’t liked Keanu, and believed someone else could rule better.

“Tributes, gifts, donations to fund different public programs.”

I frowned, thinking about her black dress. She disappeared into the darkness. Was she up to something? Perhaps, something that had to do with a certain murder?