Every Christmas Day our parents led us on an excruciating marathon of visits. It didn’t really even matter who we visited. We’d go to old folks homes, homes of old friends, and just about anyone who claimed to be a relative. Now that we were in Utah we had a plethora of aunts and uncles to choose from. For my surprise to work, my family would have to go without me. I had a plan to make that happen.

I came home and hid all my presents in the garage. Joel had gone shopping with my mom and dad. I went out back, knocked once on the clubhouse, then crawled inside. I had caught Grace off guard. She was crying.

“What’s wrong?”

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Nothing.”

I sat down next to her. “It’s got to be something. You can tell me.”

“I’m just emotional. Being pregnant…” She didn’t finish but burst into tears. I put my arms around her.

“What is it?”

She suddenly sobbed out, “I miss my mom.”

I pulled her closer. “I’m sorry.”

“I…I…” She kept sobbing. “…I don’t understand why she chose him over me.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said again. I didn’t understand either. I just let her cry. When she began to settle down a little I said, “Tell me something.”

“What?”

“What was Christmas in Hawaii like?”

She sniffed. “Well, it’s different.”

“In what way.”

“Santa wears a swimsuit.”

“That’s not a pretty image.”

She wiped her eyes. “And he comes on a surfboard. He wears a red Aloha shirt.”

“That’s groovy. What else?”

“Since they don’t have chimneys, he leaves the gifts at the door.”

Now I wiped her cheeks. “You need to teach me how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Hawaiian.”

“Mele Kalikimaka.”

I tried. “Mel…vin Kawa…something.”

“It’s not that hard. Say what I say. Mele.”

“Mele.”

“Ka.”

“Ka.”

“Liki.”

“Liki.”

“Maka.”

“Maka.”

“Now all together. Mele Kalikimaka.”

“Mele…what you said.”

She laughed. I was happy to hear it. “I know what you’re doing,” she said.

“You do?”

“Yes. And it’s working.”

“Good.”

“I love you,” she said.

I kissed her forehead. “I wish I could spend tonight with you.”

“Me too. But I’ll be okay.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Promise me that you’ll only think of good things. I have a big surprise for you tomorrow. So promise.”

“I promise.”

“You’ll be glad.”

Then we kissed until I heard my family return.

CHAPTER Thirty-two

There was once a place in Hawaii where women went
to have babies. There were large stones that served as delivery
tables, and the babies were delivered by the high chieftesses
of Oahu. I would like to have gone there.

GRACE’S DIARY

TUESDAY, DEC. 25