Page 33 of Yorix

Chapter 18

Lynn

I decided to board Charlie rather than have him make another long trip to yet another strange place so soon. Besides, Chris was bringing their cats, and I wasn’t sure how Charlie would react to suddenly being thrust into a hotel room with them, seeing as we were sharing a room tonightThe ride down was as thrilling as the one we’d taken up, but felt even shorter. Probably because I was so excited, drinking everything in, not wanting to forget a single moment. We broke through the clouds, skimming above the ocean and soon, Honolulu came into view, the ship slowing down to what felt like a normal car speed as it approached the beachside hotel’s parking lot. We settled into an area marked off for small Mylos craft, the engines barely cutting out before the pilot was up, bustling about in the cabin.

We all managed to quickly unbuckle ourselves and stand up to accept our garment bags.

“We used to have to land at the Scholarship Center,” the pilot said conversationally as he handed me mine, containing my dress. My shoes were packed neatly inside my brand new suitcase as Yorix decided we should get matching hardshell luggage.“Then with so many residents and Fleet families returning so frequently, many of the larger businesses started providing dedicated landing sites. We can also now land at the airports, but since we can do so at the Hilton and only have to walk a very short distance to get inside, I didn’t see the point.”

“Good call,” I said in full agreement.

“Aloha!” a woman called out from outside.

She and the two men with her wore colorful local clothing, she in a floral print muumuu and the men in Hawaiian shirts paired with dark blue cargo shorts. All of them wore slide-on sandals and held leis.

“There’s a gentleman here to help you with your luggage,” she informed us as we came down the ramp. Sure enough, there was a hotel employee with a brass luggage cart who took our bags from us, carefully hanging up our wedding attire so the bottoms weren’t crushed between the suitcases. He offered to also take the cat carriers from Chris but he declined.

Once we were sorted, the woman said, “Again, aloha! And welcome to Hawaii! My cousin Kimo told us you were arriving today and we wished to meet you personally and give you a proper island greeting,” as she and her companions placed a colorful lei around each of our necks. “I’m Leilani, and this is my cousin Keanu, and our friend Roberto.”

“Aloha! I’m Lynn and wow, this is so nice! Did you make these yourselves?”

“No, our auntie did. We helped pick the plumeria and ti leaves for these and your crowns for the wedding, though. Kimo said you were going to the Hilton’s luau on Wednesday, but we’d like to invite you to a smaller one for just our ohana on Saturday. Kimo will be there so you’ll have someone you already know - well, other than just us,” she laughed.

“We would be honored to come,” Korah replied. “We have known Kimo many years and consider him part of our ohana.”

“As you are also ours,” Keanu said.

“Kimo is one of the main hula instructors,” Yorix explained to me softly.

“Once one of the Akanas decides you are part of their ohana, that’s it. All of them claim you,” Roberto chuckled as they followed along behind the luggage cart with us. “I have to watch what I do or I end up with one of the aunties or uncles blowing up my phone. But there’s a lot of love behind it, and you get plenty of good things to eat, and any help you need.”

“That’s what family should do for one another,” Yorix replied approvingly, joining in the conversation.

Korah tugged Chris into his side, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.

“Kimo and his wife have been eager to meet you, but wanted to give us this time uninterrupted to bond and for you to settle into life aboard ship,” he told him gently.

“Oh.” My heart panged as I saw Chris's eyes fill with emotion. “That’s so nice. I’ve never had family who did anything like this for me before or thought about what I might need.”

“Well, you do now,” Keanu informed him staunchly.

I nodded firmly. “Found family is still family. You’re not just a regular old bestie, you silly muggins! You’re the brother I never knew I had.”

Chris swallowed, averting his eyes as he tried to get ahold of his feelings once more.

“That’s today? I didn’t realize it was quite so soon,” he gasped, gesturing towards a sign by the front lobby doors, advertising local Friendship Day activities for guests.

“It is,” Korah replied, a dark expression crossing his face and disappearing so fast that if I hadn’t been looking right at him just then, I’d have missed it. I looked at Yorix who now had a firm set to his mouth.

“Spit it out,” Chris said, pulling Korah aside as we entered the lobby, the rest of us following suit.. “I can tell there’s something I should know but you would rather not tell me. Just do it and get it over with. If it’s my Dad and Brenda, I’d rather hear it now so I can set it aside. I’m not letting them ruin this for me any more than they already have by having Jimmy.”

“Humans First is protesting many of the Friendship Day events. Busloads from around the country arrived at Central Park where the flagship picnic is to take place later today. There are also large protests in other major cities, including Cincinnati.”

“My father,” Chris said, sounding resigned.

My heart hurt for him. Couldn’t his asshole family and their friends let him have even one good day?

Korah nodded curtly. “Everything he and Brenda do at the protest is being recorded to be used in court. And if Jimmy is there, we have grounds under the treaty to remove him immediately pending the outcome of a hearing. Indoctrination, cultural alienation of a Mylos young, there’s a list of things that breach the terms of the treaty regarding family, young, and treatment of Mylos and Mylos affiliated persons.”