Mano’s gaze fastened on her face, and he gave a tentative smile. As always, she found herself caught by his dark eyes. If eyes really were the windows to the soul, Mano’s soul was full of intensity and passion. His name meant “shark,” and it had never seemed more apt than this minute. He could destroy the even tenor of her life as easily as a great white could thrash a seal.
Annie wet her lips and tried to find something to say that didn’t sound inane. “Mano, what are you doing here?”
“Could I come in a minute?”
She stepped aside silently. Her father had turned his back. He looked out the opposite window toward the Japanese garden her mother had loved so much. A curl of incense drifted around him from the bowl on the table. It was her father’s favorite scent: Joy, a blend of sandalwood and tea leaves that was supposed to evoke memories of happiness, though Annie couldn’t remember a single happy moment since her mother had died. Without her mother’s attention, weeds had choked the path to the koi fish pond in much the same way that the family’s cares had begun to strangle Annie. The bonsai had lost its shape, too, just as her family no longer resembled the perfect unit it had once been.
Mano would find them much changed.
Her father would be no help. Annie turned back to Mano, who hadn’t moved though she’d stepped out of the way. “Come in.”
Mano stepped inside and nodded to her. “Annie. It’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough.” Wilson struggled in her arms, but she held on. She needed him. After a final wiggle, he went still. She stared at Mano. “What do you want?”
Annie had to wonder if his cool self-assurance was just a charade. Her gaze traveled to her father. Though in his midfifties, Edega Tagama’s black hair was still thick and lustrous, but the past months had aged his face. He turned and stared at Mano with an attitude of belligerence. At one time, Mano had been almost part of the family, but he wasn’t welcome here anymore.
Mano glanced at the cane-backed chair under the window. “Okay if I sit down? This may take a little while.”
Her father thrust out his chin. “We have nothing to say to you.”
Trying to hide her limp, Annie went to the loveseat. “I have plenty to say. Sit down.” She tried to adopt a nonchalant attitude by crossing her legs, but her leg trembled and gave away her agitation, so she uncrossed them and steadied her tremors by pressing her heels into the ground. She hoped he didn’t see how much his presence affected her.
Mano’s U.S. Navy uniform fit him superbly. Impeccably pressed and spotless, he was the epitome of a spit-and-polish officer. His white mess jacket over navy pants hid the muscles she knew lurked under the fabric. He was a wrestler. Leilani and Annie used to go to watch his matches on the base with their brother. She averted her eyes. It was best not to think about what used to be. She swallowed and tried to compose herself.
Her father gave a disgusted snort, then moved to the sofa and perched on the edge. “I will hear this if I must. Then you are no longer welcome in my home.”
Mano took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I missed Tomi’s funeral, but I was—” He glanced away as his words died.
“You killed him,” Annie said. Her voice trembled as much as her limbs, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “And by killing him, you killed my mother.”
“I’m sorry about your mother,” Mano said. The muscles in his neck moved as he swallowed. “It seemed so out of character for her—” He stopped at Annie’s glare.
“You will not mention my wife,” Edega burst out.
Mano’s gaze slid back to Annie, and she read the desperation in his face. She took pity on him, though she knew he deserved every bit of her father’s anger. “Why are you here, Mano?” She wanted to get rid of him and talk to her father about Leilani.
He squared his shoulders. “I have your brother’s belongings. I wanted to bring them to you.” He hesitated. “I have something else to talk to you about too. Is Leilani here?”
An ache spread from Annie’s center outward. Leilani was always the one men noticed. Annie had gone on one date in her life, a mercy date for the bash her family threw her when she got her PhD. Leilani had arranged for one of her castoffs to escort her. Mano was one of those now too.
Maybe Mano wanted to try his luck again. The pain that rippled through her at the thought surprised her. “She’s not here,” she said shortly. She thought she saw disappointment on his face. And why not? Leilani was beautiful and vivacious, while Annie was a brown, colorless Eurasian sparrow.
“I really wanted to talk to all of you together.” Mano turned toward the door. “Let me get the stuff from the car.” He went to the door and stepped outside.
As soon as she heard the door slam, Annie sagged against the loveseat. She wouldn’t cry, not until she was safely in her room. Her father would demand to know what she was upset about, and he wouldn’t understand. She didn’t understand herself. The lump that formed in her throat was as acrid as the smoke from Kilauea. Her eyes burned. She didn’t know if she was ready to go through Tomi’s belongings.