Okawii

OKAWII

Published By T.K. Byrd at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 T.K. Byrd

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For T, R, and K

Chapter 1

The letter had arrived. Mina was going to find out the truth. For years, David Young had protected his daughter from the facts surrounding her mother’s death.

But what was a husband to do when his wife died under unspeakable circumstances? Daily life had to go on for the sake of the baby. What David did was lock the memory of the event into a vault in the far recesses of his mind and throw the key into the Grand Canyon.

Accessing that memory ever again would cause too much pain.

That’s not your usual driver, 16-year-old Andrew said, adjusting the heavy red brocade curtains to let more of the late afternoon light onto his music stand. Whose car is that?

He looked at Mina Young who was standing across the newly updated rec room with her long boat-rope thick hair and striking dark brown eyes, and tried to push his feelings into the back of his head. She had always been called exotic. The contrast between her dark skin and light hair confused people, who were always asking where she was from. Mina would smile and say, Tucson. She had once told him, It’s none of their beeswax that I’m half Pacific-Islander.

Andrew had known her forever. There were pictures of them together at the playground at 3 years old, at the lake at 5, and ice-skating at 10. In recent years, their friendship had morphed into a deep affection, and then love. Well, at least on his end. Andrew was not sure if she felt the same way about him. He wasn’t sure about much about her these days.

It’s my dad’s new car. Fancy, huh? Mina said, joining him at the window. I wonder why he came. I didn’t even know he knew where I went after school.

Beats me, Andrew whispered, his heart caught in his throat. Her arm was only 3 inches from his. Before he could decide whether or not to make a move, she walked back to her guitar stand.

Andrew Lanza was brown-haired, average looking, with average grades. He didn’t really like team sports; it was hunting and fishing that he was into, or at least that he tried to be into. His dad was a big fisherman and hunter and Andrew had been dragged along on countless expeditions. Once, when he was 11, they went deer hunting on his uncle’s property in Colorado. He stood next to his father, ever-vigilant for the first 4 hours. Simon, his father, who was looking the other way on the stand, didn’t notice him doze off. Then Simon looked over onto his son’s side, only to see a white tail scampering off. He shoved Andrew awake, It was a huge buck—at least a 9 pointer! It was yours for the taking and you missed it. Andrew swallowed and his eyes stung. He resolved to try harder next time, to succeed in pleasing his dad.

It was really music that he was into. As a 9-year-old, he was dragged to a soca concert by his uncle and was mesmerized that such sounds could be produced by human hands. He begged his mother for music classes after that, and she dutifully chauffeured him first to piano lessons, then trumpet, then drums, then saxophone. By the time he was in high school, Andrew had a working knowledge of seven different instruments, and spent his free time experimenting on rare ones (harpsichord, mandala).

Andrew and Mina were typical teenagers. Except that they weren’t. What was unusual about these two friends was the size of their parents’ fortunes. Their dads worked together running Young Bank. He and Mina had gone unnoticed their freshmen year at East Mountain High, but their sophomore year when they passed their driver’s test and showed up in brand-new luxury vehicles, heads turned. Suddenly, the formerly mousey-looking guy and his mixed-race friend were invited to all the parties.

The luxury cars were just their ticket at the door to the in-crowd. Once in, they made the most of it and quickly became two of the most popular kids at school.

A big reason was the band that he and Mina had started. It was her idea, of course, but he was the one who ran with it and found other band mates, wrote songs, and scheduled rehearsals. He grew out his curly brown hair into a soft, frizzy fro in order to better play the part of rockstar. Mina had less of an interest in the band than Andrew and he had a suspicion that this was another bogus way to annoy her dad. Nevertheless, Water Salad quickly took off, winning two garage band competitions in its first year.

Still, Mina had been acting strange in the past few months. Though it was only the end of junior year, to Andrew’s huge surprise, she had quit her club swim team and had firmly decided not to do the school swim team their senior year.

Mina had been serious about swimming since forever. As kids they had spent every summer day in a pool, with Mina remaining in the water diving for pennies and pushing off the wall long after little Andrew got out to sit in his towel with his blue lips shaking. At the public pool the lifeguards had dubbed her the little fish. In high school, she was 3-time state champion in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle, and the first freshman in Arizona history to win both. Division 1 colleges had been scouting her since sophomore year, and this year there had even been whispers of the 2016 Olympics. Then, abruptly after the state championships this year, she announced her decision to quit. Andrew knew it had something to do with her dad.

How are your college plans coming? Are you going to work on early admission applications over the summer? asked Andrew, seeing that band practice was over and eager to share the new developments in his own college plans.

I don’t know, probably not.

Although she was apathetic about almost everything these days, her answer confused Andrew. But you were so set on Ivy League. What happened to biology and then med school? Mina had always known her own mind and usually planned goals years in advance. Before the last couple months, she had consistently told Andrew that she was Ivy League-bound.

Eh, I’m not so into it any more. You?

I decided to try for Dartmouth, you know, my dad went there. I know my grades aren’t stellar, but I’m going to retake the SAT, and with the right recommendation letters and Dad’s legacy standing, the guidance counselor said I might have a chance.

Go for it. She flopped onto the couch. I wish I still had that same drive.

Andrew saw his opportunity and sat down next to her. Then he saw that she was clutching a pillow in front of her and fingering her shell necklace, something she always did when she was nervous. There would be no smooth moves today. He wished he had the courage to ask her how she felt—or even to declare his love for her. Until she had quit swimming a few months ago, things had been progressing nicely between them. They had been spending more and more time alone together apart from the rest of the band and had even held hands a few times, but then she abruptly turned cold.

David Young pulled into the Lanza’s extensive driveway to pick up his daughter. Although he had ridden this way a thousand times, he had never noticed all the fine details because he had always been chauffeured and on business calls the entire way. Rows of bushes appeared to be braided on either side of the driveway, and weeds dared not disturb the alternating patches of red and purple flowers. The most conspicuous detail was the long fountain between the two sides of the driveway, complete with jumping streams of water, set by sensor to follow along next to any car. This impressed David, a rich man himself. New ideas in luxury always caught his eye.

Is that a new statue? he thought to himself, getting out in front of the grand entrance. Looks like an original piece. Apollo with his lyre, maybe?

David paused for a moment, leaning on his pale blue Bentley. Nothing about this visit would be pleasant, except for the drink he was sure to be offered. It was true that Simon was more than just a colleague. He had turned into an old friend over all the years they had worked together and obviously, their children were best friends. David’s relationship with Mina was on the rocks and he wasn’t looking forward to the conversation he had to have with her on the way home. He was a timid man by nature, avoiding conflict and preferring to let things work themselves out rather than face problems head on. This strategy had worked for everything else in his life, except Mina. He took a deep breath and walked to the door.

She had been so difficult around him lately. Mean, even. David knew he hadn’t been the best father, but he had done what he could while bearing the psychological burden of his wife’s death alone. He wanted nothing more than to be a good father to her—to have a good relationship, to share a common hobby, to laugh together while watching a favorite show. His mistake was that he thought this type of relationship would evolve naturally, based solely on the fact that he was her dad, that they shared DNA and a house. David had given Mina everything she could possible want or need, every luxury to go along with every necessity, but he didn’t realize that this type of connection only comes from honesty and communication—the two things he was unable to give her.

Mina had approached him a few times over the years asking about her mom, but David refused any information, saying only that it was an accident. He knew she was curious about her culture on her mom’s side; sometimes he had found Wikipedia pages on the South Pacific left open on her screen. But that was part of the reason he never got over Eva’s death. David had refused all psychological help because he knew too much about her culture and didn’t want to compromise the secrets of Eva’s people.

The butler answered the front door and led him through the two-story foyer and into the elegant sitting room. David winced, glancing up at the exotic animal heads ringing the room. An elephant head, recently acquired, was in the place of honor above the fireplace, with a pair of baby leopards on either side. Strange, small-horned animals were interspersed with large zoo classics: giraffe, hippopotamus, and lion. The fish were in another room altogether.

Simon Lanza walked in confidently. Sit down for a minute.

Thanks. David looked up again. There was no seat in this room where he’d be safe from the glare of the hunted.

So that buyout is set to go through for First Tucson Bank, but you got the memo on that I’m sure.

Simon’s winning smile had no sympathy for that poor bank that had worked so hard for the better part of a year to remain independent, only to have to sell at the last minute due to a minor tax oversight. It was mostly Simon who was responsible for the deal. Simon always had to win, had to be the best. To help the deal go through, Simon had hired some special people to look into the finances and tax history of the small bank. David remembered asking him if it was legal, which, of course, it was, according to Simon.

Simon pushed a button and a housekeeper entered.

Teresa, we’ll have 2 Manhattans, hold the ice in David’s and make mine a double. On second thought, make them both doubles, with no ice. And something to munch on—I didn’t have any lunch today.

His fast talking confirmed his New York City roots. Simon settled in Tucson in his late 20s after getting into some trading trouble at an investment firm. David’s father had given him a second chance at Young Bank, and he had proven himself a valuable and loyal employee. Though he longed to be at the top, his past would not allow it, so he settled for second under David. David knew that it was his own timidity and unwillingness to take charge at kept Simon happy in his position.

A few minutes later Teresa walked back into the room carrying a tray with two crystal glasses perched precariously on top of it. Simon passed a drink to his boss.

When’s your next hunting trip? David knew that Simon had gotten more and more involved with the hunting clubs he was in. He was always jetting off to unusual locations and the animal heads on his wall kept growing in number.

Sometime soon. Simon flashed his charismatic smile again, not wanting to go into any more detail.

Mina sat down in the car wordlessly. Andrew was on her mind. She knew he liked her and she liked him, too, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to date him. He was the nicest person Mina had ever met. He was genuine and polite, and put everyone at ease. Since the band started going well and since he grew his hair out, he became one of the most sought-after guys at school. Girls were always fawning over him, and he treated them all like gold—not actually dating them, of course, but letting them come to band practice and not sending anyone away. Eventually, though, the girls realized he was in love with Mina and drifted away.

So, uh, how’s the band? David asked awkwardly.

Whatever.

Their relationship had always been a little forced. Her dad had relied on a stream of au pairs while working under his father and later, after taking over as head of Young Bank.

Then relations had turned hostile a few months ago, when Mina was