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“Wow,” Celeste said. “You’re the last person I would ever expect to sell your property there. You always told me it was your last connection to your family. So, are you going to sell?”
“No,” Leilani said. “I’ve told all of them the same thing, but they’re persistent.”
Celeste snorted. “I’d say they’re relentless. I get several calls a day. I block the numbers, but they just use different numbers to call again. Can’t say that they’ve come en masse to my door. That’s kind of creepy.”
“Real creepy,” Leilani agreed.
“Although I have to admit, it would be easier to take the money and run. They’ve made some amazing offers. And selling would mean I could get on with my lifenowinstead of waiting for Lahaina to open up and let us back in to rebuild. Just think, if you sold your place, you’d probably make enough that you wouldn’t have to work another day in your life. You could paint full-time and live anywhere in the world.”
Leilani had thought the same several times, wondering if it was really worth keeping the property. But she couldn’t sell.
“Maui is my home,” Leilani said softly.
Celeste sighed. “Yeah. That’s the rub. It’s in your blood, your heritage. I get that. And that’s why I haven’t sold my place. I love having a store on Front Street. We have the most beautiful view of the ocean and a close community of people I consider family.”
“Wehada close community,” Leilani said. “We’re scattered to the winds now.”
“Do you think they’ll come back?” Celeste asked. “Will we ever get back to normal?”
“I don’t think so,” Leilani said. “Some of us will return to Lahaina, but not all. New people will move in. It will be up to us natives to preserve our culture.”
“You’re right,” Celeste said.
“Celeste,” Leilani finally got to the reason for her call. “Have any of the brokers gotten pushy or heavy-handed in their methods to convince you to sell?”
“How do you mean?” Celeste asked.
“Have they done anything to scare you into moving off Maui? Have they impacted your online business in any way that would make you fail and be forced to sell your place in Lahaina to stay afloat?”
“No,” Celeste said. “Why do you ask? Are they harassing you with more than phone calls and showing up on your doorstep?”
“Maybe.”
“Spill, girl,” Celeste said. “You can’t start a conversation like that and leave me hanging.”
Leilani told her friend about the diesel in the boat tanks, the slashed tires and ended with the boat attack that day.
“Oh my god, Leilani,” Celeste exclaimed. “Nothing like that has happened to me. Are you sure it’s the brokers doing it? I mean, my property is right next to yours. If they’re so rabid to get yours, wouldn’t they want mine, too?”
“That’s just it.” Leilani sighed. “Who else would attack my business?”
“Your competitors? Although why they’d start now is beyond me. Are you the only tour company being targeted?”
“That I know of,” Leilani answered. “But why would they target me now? Why not before the fires?”
“So many people who worked in the service industry have left the island. Are you competing for the people you need to operate the tours?”
“We’re operating on a skeletal staff. I’ve been filling in where I can. But that’s just a handful of people. Why destroy a business for a handful of people?”
“Do you have a crazy ex-boyfriend I don’t know about?” Celeste laughed. “No, it can’t be that. You haven’t been on a date in over a year. Unless you found one recently. Have you?”
Leilani shot a glance toward Angel as he pulled through the gate to the resort. “No. I haven’t.” But she was open to the possibility with the man beside her.
“Then I can’t imagine who would do this to your business. It’s like they’re trying to shut you down.” Celeste paused. “What about the people who don’t want tourism to return to Maui?”
“I’m looking at all possibilities. They came to mind. I just don’t think they would resort to violence to stop tourism from returning to the island. And, again, why just my company?”
“You have me stumped,” Celeste said. “I haven’t experienced what you’re going through. I’m sorry you are. If there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask. Do you need Winston to come stay with you for protection?”
