Winning the Lottery - 34. Chapter 34 - New beginnings

Gwyn:

I’d been given photos of three houses and asked to choose which one I’d prefer to live in. It was a daunting choice, but I chose the smaller of the three because it seemed more cozy. It was still very large by my standards, and very posh. The rear yard was enclosed around a kidney shaped pool and the landscaping was lush with palms, hibiscus and bird of paradise. Unfortunately, the current owners were still in residence and the house wouldn’t be available for my occupancy for a month. We decided that it would be best for the children if we started off as we intended to go on with me living independently of the family. That way I wouldn’t be living with them for a month then upsetting the children by ‘leaving.’ A lovely AirBnB was acquired for my first month. Don surprised me by saying that they’d also taken a short-term lease of a car for me while I looked for something that would suit me long term. These people definitely got things done!

Don’s father had lent him his Boeing Business Jet for the trip 8 hour flight to Hawaii so we traveled in ultra luxury. Still, the children, who were used to wide open spaces, became bored and restless. I’d brought along a good supply of games, books and craft supplies, but nothing seemed to hold their attention for long. Finally, a movie seemed to settle them down and all three children, dropped off to sleep. We woke them up about an hour from our destination, fed them a snack, and got them toileted and washed.

All this flying about was old hat to Don and Marco, but for the children and me it was very exciting to think that in a few minutes we’d be landing and a new and interesting place!

Don had the pilot circle the island of Oahu before we landed in Honolulu, and Marco, playing tour guide, pointed out various sights and features. I simply had to express my wonder at all the beauty of the island, and my excitement was communicated to the children who became perhaps a little too worked up. Don and Marco didn’t seem to mind, in fact they encouraged the excitement. Marco, in an aside to me, said, “There’s nothing quite as powerful as a good first impression.” And these kids were more than primed now to like their new home. Me? I was in raptures. I had to pinch myself to make sure this wasn’t all just a wonderful dream!

As I stepped out of the plane I was assaulted by wall of warm, humid air. It was like stepping into a conservatory. And even though we were surrounded by industrial buildings there were tropical plants and palm trees in evidence. I was chauffeured in one vehicle and the family divided into two others. My driver was very friendly and pointed out the sights along the way. After we left the airport we followed a large motorway up into some very rugged but lush mountains, which had been the sight of an ancient battle, then down into the village of Kailua. I was agog at the scenery and the trip took no time at all!

The AirBnB was lovely and beautifully furnished including a gourmet kitchen and one of the ubiquitous outdoor swimming pools. And, there was a beautiful little white Mercedes for transportation. I thought, This is like being on a permanent vacation!

I was to join the family at their new home for dinner after I’d freshened up, rested and settled in. I kicked my shoes off and lay on the bed, but there was no way I could sleep because I was just too excited. I decided to telephone my little brother instead.

Michael, the youngest, and I had always been close. I was seven years older, and I was half mother, half big sister to him. He’d been a restless child, brilliant, but never quite fitting in, never quite settling into anything; I was the only person in the family that he seemed to bond with. It had been difficult for him once I’d left to pursue the nanny’s course. Now the tables were turned. With me being pregnant I needed a shoulder to lean on. He stepped gladly into the role.

It was midnight in Wales but I knew he’d still be awake. He was a gamer and a bit of a night owl.

“Sis!” he exclaimed, “How was your trip? What’s Hawaii like? Do you like it? Are you well?”

My day’s experiences had been so luxurious, novel, exciting, that I hardly knew where to begin.

“Oh, Sis,” he said, after I’d told him some of the highlights, “It truly sounds grand. I’m green with envy.”

Suddenly, hearing his voice, I was hit with a wave of melancholia. There were parts of my old life that I missed, and Michael was on the top of that list. “Oh Michael, I miss you so much! Don and Marco are wonderful, they’ve all but adopted me and the babe, but they’re still my employers. There’s boundaries, if you know what I mean.”

“I know, Sis, I miss you too. Maybe I could get there for a visit some day. That’d be grand, wouldn’t it? You could show me the sights!” Poor guy was at sixes and sevens. He was entering university after just completing his A levels with honors, but he wasn’t keen on the idea of facing three years of uni. Michael reminded me of a hummingbird, always going from flower to flower.

Still, I felt much better for having talked to Michael. No one else had quite the capacity to cheer me up as he did. His comment about visiting me got me thinking....

I managed to make by way to Don and Marco’s house following the car’s GPS all the while terrified of crashing the expensive car and feeling completely disoriented from driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road. Much to my relief, I made it without mishap!

The photos I’d seen of their house didn’t do it justice. It was truly magnificent. Very open and spacious. And there was the famous beach, just out the front, only steps away! The decorator had done a marvelous job of giving it a ‘family’ scale, and already I could see that the children were already settling in comfortably with toys and books scattered here and there. It already looked like they’d been in residence for months rather than just hours.

I was happy for them, truly I was, but my conversation with Michael had left me aching for something familiar. Perhaps my thoughts were clouded with missing Michael, but impulsively I said, “Would it be all right if my brother, Michael, visited me? He’d stay with me, and he wouldn’t be in the way or anything....” And I outlined a plan that was taking shape in my mind.

Don and Marco thought that was a wonderful idea, even offering to send him an airline ticket! “It’ll save you from having to hire one of the Ka’ena or Applebaum cousins as a babysitter once your baby arrives,” added Don.

The next day I toured ‘my’ house with a sense of disbelief. Could all this good fortune really be coming my way? I would be perfect for me and the babe and Michael!

Once again, I telephone Wales and put the proposition to Michael.

“Sis, what a brilliant idea! I’d love to help out! I can delay uni for a term or two. Can I come right away?” He’d have jumped right through the telephone wire if he could.

Talked to Mum and Dad. They seemed...relieved. I wasn’t sure if it was because Michael was going to take care of me, or because I was going to take care of Michael. Maybe both.

Don and Marco:

Home sweet home.

It was a true ‘family’ house—just what they’d hoped for. The rooms were open and airy. The decorating unfussy and comfortable.

After an inspection tour with everyone poking in corners and looking in closets (Don shook his head and asked himself, “Why did I just look in the oven?”) they all went to the beach for a short walk. Rufus had the time of his life chasing shore birds and pissing on every bit of flotsam on the beach. To Marco, a surf break right outside his house was heaven on earth. The children loved the sand but thought Marco was a bit off when he told them they’d soon be swimming in the ocean. Afterwards, back at the house, they all swam in the pool. Angie and Brad, by this time, were good swimmers, and Johnny had no trouble holding his own in the water. After exploring and marking every corner of the yard Rufus laid quietly in the shade but kept a sharp eye on the children.

Gwyn arrived in the late afternoon looking stressed and declaring, “Oh the roads! The traffic!”

Marco said dryly, “Gwen it’s only half a mile, and it’s residential streets. How much traffic could there be?”

“Yes, but what would you say if I crashed that grand Mercedes?”

Don and Marco laughed. Gwyn harrumphed.

They entirely supported Gwyn’s idea of bringing Michael to Hawaii. She was, in some ways, part of the family, so her family—especially a brother for whom she held such affection—became extended family. Their support was rewarded by seeing some of the tension drain from Gwen’s body and worry lines leave face.

What they all needed now was a chance to rest and recover. The family needed just a bit more time to ‘settle’ before school began.

They were just in time to register Angie and Brad in the local private school. The fall term would be starting in just one week. Don and Marco held a tête-à-tête with the school’s principal explaining the children’s history and emphasizing that they would tolerate no teasing or bullying. The principal, of course, defended the school’s anti-bullying policy but promised to be extra vigilant when it came to Angie and Brad. He well knew the danger of getting on the ‘bad side’ of the Deacons!

Cousins Derrick, Gabe and Dane came for the day to view the new house and enjoy some beach (surfing) time bringing with them custom sized surfboards for the children as a ‘welcome to Hawaii’ present. They were all subjected to Gabe’s rant on eco-friendly sunscreen use. Dane was observed rolling his eyes behind Gabe’s back, but Angie and Brad listened attentively. Don stayed behind with Johnny making sandcastles in shade of a little beach tent. The children were given life jackets and soon their trepidation of the ocean vanished under the encouragement of the adults. Marco had Angie and Brad practicing standing and balancing on their boards which was easy thanks to the ‘balancing’ work they’d practiced on teeter-totters at the ranch. Twenty minutes later Angie and Brad rode their first waves and were thrilled—and hooked. Marco was happy and proud, shouting, “Don! Did you see that? Did you see that?”

Johnny said, “Surf! Surf! And became quite annoyed that he couldn’t be out there with his older siblings. Don put him on a small foam boogey board and they played around near the shore. That, luckily, mollified him for the moment.

“He’s keen! He’ll be surfing for real before next year!” enthused Marco.

Later that afternoon they enjoyed a poolside barbecue and shortly after dinner the children all fell asleep watching a movie.

“How’s Gwyn working out?” asked Derrick.

“Fantastic! She’s amazing,” replied Don. Then they told Derrick and Gabe about her brother coming to support her, which everyone thought was a brilliant strategy.

“This idea you had of buying her a house is a good one,” said Derrick. “We’re thinking of doing the same for Robert. You know, he and Keno are getting pretty serious, and it’s time they had a little more privacy. And us too, for that matter.”

“Speaking of Robert,” said Gabe, “Perhaps tomorrow Gwyn could come over and meet him?”

Gwyn:

My combination of psychology and intuition (common sense?) was paying dividends with Angie. Most of her obsessive-compulsive behaviors were gone. She’d ‘revert’ if she was tired or stressed, but generally, her anxiety was manageable. She still, however, insisted that the siblings all sleep in the same room. I suggested that an ‘incentive’ might work. To that end, Angie’s bedroom wasn’t ‘decorated.’ It was painted off white and was furnished with only three, plain single beds.

I began by suggesting that Angie might like to paint or wallpaper her room in her favorite colors. “And get some nice furniture,” I added to sweeten the pot, so to speak.

“I used to have a princess bed,” said Angie wistfully.

“What about Brad, did he have a boy’s bed?” I asked.

“Oh yes! He had a pretend fire truck bed!”

“Well, perhaps it’s time for Brad and Johnny to have their own bedrooms so we can make your bedrooms special for each of you,” I added hopefully.

“Ummm...” said Angie.

“Okay, you and your dads should look on the internet see if you can find a bed you like!”

Besides dealing as best I could with the children I had a million and one administrative chores to do. I was tasked with determining a ‘needs assessment’ for the local community. I was told to refer to the one Don had done years before for Gabe when he wanted to set up a downtown clinic. My goal was to find the genuine unmet community need. It was a lovely job for me because it would involve interviewing local people for background material. I’d get to know them, and they me.

Meanwhile I’d made travel arrangements, and arranged a visa, for an excited Michael. His stay was to be indefinite.

I spent almost one whole day with the security supervisor being briefed on security protocol. I was amazed to learn the sophistication of the house’s security system. Several types of sensors, day and night cameras, drones. The systems were all customized for that particular house and its needs, which was complicated due to its proximity to its neighbors and openness to the beach. Everything was monitored 24/7 from the security offices above the garage. There were threat assessment reports that were reviewed by the security supervisor daily. (I would be informed of any security alerts.) There were kidnap prevention protocols and after-kidnap procedures. Under no circumstances was I to transport the children in my personal car. My head was swimming at the end of the day!

I met with that paragon, Robert, to get a ‘feel’ for the Oahu scene. Driving the Mercedes to Derrick and Gabe’s house nearly gave me a nervous breakdown! It was thrilling, but everything seemed backwards on the ‘wrong’ side of the road. On the smaller streets I had to repeat the litany, “Right is right!” Oh, but what luxury!

But Robert was a wealth of information and was full of nothing but praise and admiration for the Deacon-Nichols and their friends. He gave me contact information for various Island services, and I was able to arrange pediatric and dental appointments for the children and engage cleaning and catering service contracts.

Coordinating the family’s schedule with security was a big part of my job.

I was coordinating the readiness of my own house—luckily undertaken by the decorator.

I spent at least two hours with the children each afternoon. (Sometimes Don and Marco went out, and sometimes they locked themselves in their bedroom.) I’d babysit for longer periods when they needed it. Don and Marco took care of the day-to-day school routine, but I still coordinated schedules, and would do more so once the children began extracurricular activities.

Plus, there were family visits from Don’s parents then Marco’s parents with related schedules and meal planning.

I was busy and fulfilled. Thankfully, Don and Marco, ever considerate, told me to take a few days off after Michael arrived.

At the end of the month, my house was ready and I ‘moved’ in. It came furnished, right down to the pot holders, so all I had to do was bring over my personal possessions. For the first couple of days I wandered aimlessly in what seemed to me a vast cavern. It was far too big for just me, but with Michael and the babe it would feel more to scale.

Michael arrived bursting with exuberance. He’d flown first class thanks to some sort of business deal between the airline and the Dea-Con Corporation. I was surprised how much he had matured in the year since I’d last seen him. He’d filled out some, so was no longer a gangly youth whose arms seemed too long. His face, now more angular, showed maturity. His hair dark brown, curly hair was longish, and his deep brown eyes seemed almost too knowing. His dark whiskers cast a shadow giving his face the look of a Welsh warrior. My little brother had grown into an exceeding handsome young man!

By then I was fairly comfortable with driving, and I’d driven to the airport to meet him. We came ‘home’ via the coast road and Michael was suitably awe struck with the scenery with me pointing out the sights. I’d only been on the Island a month myself, and here I was playing tour guide to a newcomer!

Michael, looking every bit a man, was still endearingly childlike in his enthusiasm and declared the house as “Brilliant!” He immediately proved his mettle by insisting I sit while he made us a ‘nice cup of tea.’ There were a few moments of superficial conversation: “How are things back home?” “Are Don and Marco good to work for? Do you like the children? .... “

Michael then turned very serious—he was at that transition age where he could switch from boy to man in a heartbeat—and said, “Now, Sis, I’m here to help you. Tell me what needs doing. Whatever you need....”

I became emotional and teary as relief flooded over me. Damn hormones! I knew Michael was true to his word; that I could now count on him. A little part of me had worried that perhaps Michael, the boy, would mean extra work. We’d always had a parent-child kind of relationship, and I didn’t know if I had the strength to play that role given everything else that was happening. But as promised, he was here to ‘help’! Finally, after months of ‘being strong’ I had someone, a man, I could lean on! Paradoxically my relief and happiness made me cry even harder. Next thing I knew Michael, hand around my shoulder, guiding me to my bedroom. He laid me on my bed and tucked a quilt around me. “You just rest a bit,” he said. “I’ll check in the kitchen and see what I can scrounge up for tea [meaning dinner], shall I?” I was asleep before he’d even finished the sentence.

The next day, before setting out on our round-the-island sightseeing tour, I took Michael to meet Don, Marco and the children.

Michael blushed and stammered like a primary school boy when he was introduced, and I didn’t think he was impressed for the sole reason that these men were my ultra rich employers. No, there was another reason entirely for his discomposure. Interesting.... And I wasn’t the only one who noticed; I caught Don and Marco exchanging knowing looks.

A somewhat pensive Michael and I were on an around-the-island tour and had just stopped at the Bonzai Pipeline where Marco had insisted we stop for a look. (“It’s like, totally, my home away from home,” he had declared, surfer accent in full sail.)

We watched, fascinated, as the surfers rode their boards. (Did they have no sense of danger; of self preservation?) My phone dinged, interrupting my reverie. It was the oddest text from, of all people, Dusty: Hope you are well. Miss your smiling face. Thinking of a trip to Hawaii. Would that be okay? Love Dusty

I’d been making moon eyes at the man the whole summer, obsessing on the way his chest muscles filled out his plaid shirt, and how his jeans held no secrets when he was sitting astride his horse. The wanker hadn’t so much as spoken a few polite words to me. Now it’s “Love Dusty”?

Ah well, nothing ventured nothing gained. I replied: Would love to see you. Come anytime. The double entendre was intentional. And me with my belly out to here. Ha!

Of course I didn’t think he’d take me up on the offer.

Two hours later I received another text: Have booked a flight to Honolulu. October *** to ***. Hope that works for you. Can you recommend a hotel? XO Dusty

Oh boy! I’d be eight months pregnant, looking like a whale, probably feeling sluggish. However would I ‘entertain’ Dusty? Well, I’d think of something, and there’d be Michael to help me out with hosting, meals, cleaning and sightseeing. I entertained, briefly, the thought of inviting Dusty to stay at my house, but dismissed the idea as just a little too much to take on. It would be too much to ask Don and Marco if he could stay at their house. I was aware of a charming little B & B (it was a little on the expensive side, I hoped Dusty could afford it) in Kailua, not too far from where I lived.

We arrived home tired after several hours of driving and sightseeing. I would have killed for a glass of wine! Michael helped himself to a beer and brought me fruit juice. He then prepared a gourmet chicken salad. (Thankfully, my Michael was a good cook!)

After a fairly silent meal, Michael, who had been unusually subdued after our visit to Don and Marco, finally came out with what was on his mind. “Sis, there’s something I have to tell you....”