Random

Lucinda sighed, watching the figures move across the screen, they were all experts on some topic or another with the Spanish culture. Senora Sonya was giving the class a break on the last day before spring break. In her personal opinion Lucinda thought it would have made more sense to let them work on the essay, she had assigned, that was due as soon as they got back from break in a week and a half.

She jumped when her phone started to vibrate in her pocket. The blackberry's screen illuminated with the name Kailao. After checking that the teacher was involved in something other than watching her students, Lucinda opened the message.

I'm at the cafe, come see me

ur an idiot, u knw im n class

His reply was quick its the last day before spring break

i still can't skip

then ill come to you

ur dumb :P Lucinda shook her head, and put her phone away.

The movie failed to hold her attention, but the footsteps from the hallway quickly captured it. As they rounded the corner so did the tall, dark haired Tongan of her dreams. Her heart quickened with nerves when he didn't stop at the door, or even at her spot in the back of the room. Lucinda watched him continue on to Senora Sonya's desk, where he leaned over to whisper in her ear. After a few minutes of volleying remarks she stood, and looked to the back of the room, "Lucinda, you are dismissed to see Professor Voyer."

"Yes ma'am," Lucinda glared at her boyfriend, as she packed her stuff, and waited at the door for him. They walked out together and continued on to her Psychology professor's room. About halfway there she smacked his chest, without even a glance his way.

"That hurt my feelings, why did you do that?" he asked, taking her hand in his.

"Why did you get me out of class?"

"Because it is the last day before break and I wanted to spend time with you."

"What do you think you'll be doing all of break!?"

"Well, just please come with me," he took the turn that would lead them to the office, not the class room.

"Why are we going to the office?" she asked, watching as his face brightened, with the glow that told of the revealing of a well kept secret.

He stopped in the office, which to her surprise had been cleared of chairs, she saw that the TV was on, and heard the sound of the TVs all around campus coming on. In the TV she saw a reflection of her standing with Kailao. "What is going on?" she asked.

"Will you marry me?" he asked kneeling, and she knew now, the TVs were on to display this to all of her class mates. Her cheeks reddened and her eyes watered.

"Kailao," her voice was soft and airy. "I can't believe this. Why now though?"

"Well, I'm finishing my masters, and you are entering your senior year of your bachelors."

"I haven't met your parents, or you mine."

"So is that a no?"

"It's a conditional yes."

"Thank you," he stood and hugged her.

"Is there a ring involved?"

"Um yes, but I can't get it right now."

"Why?" she eyed him.

"Well, for part of the reason that it is really important that you meet my parents."

"Why do they have my ring?"

"Because its in Tonga," he said sheepishly.

"Okay, I guess we can go to Tonga," she said taxingly, as they walked down the hallway to Professor Voyer's room. She was about to continue her thought, but was overcome by loud whooping and yeaing that was getting louder. They had stopped to listen and figure out what the noise was when the football team, who had practice this bell (where Kailao should be), came around the corner. Source of noise found. They all rushed her, with congratulations and hell yeas. As they swarmed around her they lifted her to their shoulders like the star of the latest game.

"Come on guys, let her down," Professor Voyer walked around the same corner they just had.

"But,"

"Let her down," Lucinda was glad that Voyer had interrupted the player, for she didn't even want to think about what his excuse would have been. Reluctantly they put her back on her feet next to Kailao.

"Go on back to practice, tell Coach I'll be there in just a minute," Kailao, took her hand and they followed Professor Voyer to his room.

"Why did you need to see me Professor?" she asked.

"Because Kailao needed a way to get you out of class and we weren't sure how understanding Senora Sonya would have been."

"Oh, so you were in on it too?"

"And his coach, yep, we have had this planned for a while."

"Wow. I guess I better be getting back to class then," she kissed Kailao's cheek before heading toward the door.

"Do you really want to go back to watching that stupid movie?"

"Not really but she knows that I'm not doing anything now."

"True," he sighed but continued to think.

"Why don't you go watch his practice, I'll tell Senora Sonya that I needed you to observe this practice, right after his engagement and another practice for a lecture I want you to give in class."

"Thank you," Lucinda ran up and hugged him.

"You're welcome. Congrats by the way."

"Thanks," they both said as they walked out to the field.

"Can you stay for next periods practice too?"

"Yea, I have a free bell next period."

"Welcome to the family," Coach Hank draped a chain around her neck. When she followed it she found a brand new whistle. "My new assistant coach."

"I won't be able to be here during most of the practices."

"It's okay, I want you more at the after school practices anyway. Can you do that?"

"Yea, I guess I can also do the second half of practices because I have a free bell this next period," she started to the bleachers.

"What are you doin' girl?"

"I was going to watch."

"No you were going to coach the stretch. That's what I'm going to need you for. If you'll look at your chain you'll also find a key. That is to my office, where you will find plans for days when I'm gone."

"Okay," she agreed nervously. "Would you like me to actually participate in the stretches?"

"Only if you want to," he went to the other end of the field and began setting up a practice run or something.

"Okay everyone this is going to known as your block. I want you and nice neat lines with four step spacing," she measured it out and put a few people in their place as examples. "Every time we do stretches this is where you will be," Lucinda noticed some of them rubbing sore muscles after the stretch, she could tell they hadn't been stretched that good in a while.

"Good job," Hank came over and gave her a not so gentle pat on the back.



Chapter 2



Lucinda stood in the middle of her dorm, looking from her closet to her dresser to the bags that sat on her bed. They were leaving after breakfast tomorrow morning for the 3 hour drive to her house. After spending a few days there they would leave for Tonga, where they would spend a majority of their vacation. “What do you pack for Tonga?”

“Since your visiting my parents you will need to wear skirts.”

“I don’t own that many. Only 2 and I don’t think your parents will approve,” Lucinda held up her short jean skirts.

“But I always will,” Kailao came over and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m trying to be serious. What do you want me to pack?”

“Do you have any dresses?”

“Only my sundress and the black one.”

“Pack those and then we will go shopping one day before we leave for Tonga.”

“I don’t have the money,” she said, packing her dresses.

Kailao gave her a sly smile saying, “Don’t worry about it; I’ll take care of it.”

“Okay,” she shrugged her shoulders and continued to pack.

“What are you doing?’ she asked when he grabbed some of her bags and headed toward the door.

“I’m putting them in the car.”

“Well if you’ll wait just a moment I’ll have this one packed and be done. Then we can take them all out at the same time.”

◊~~◊!

“I need to talk to you,” Kailao turned to face Lucinda, who was driving. They were about a third of the way to her parent’s house.

“This isn’t just random or anything,” she had been enjoying the silence.

“It’s something I really should have told you a while ago,” he began, taking one hand off the steering wheel and into both of his.

“A while ago when?”

“When we first started dating or even before.”

“So at least 3 years ago.”

“Uh yea, I just, it’s one of those things.”

“One of what things?” she asked angrily.

“One of those things that surrounds you with people who don’t really like you, and I didn’t want my girlfriend to be one of those people.”

“Well I’ve been here for 3 years, by your side.”

“And that’s why I’m telling you, especially because we are conditionally engaged,” she felt his soft lips press against her knuckles.

“And what is this piece of information about you?”

“I’m not just a 26 year old from Tonga. My father isn’t a farmer.”

“Then what is your father?”

“My father is King Malohi Papahi.”

“So then is your mother Queen Avanga? This all then makes you Crowned Prince Kailao.”

“What?”

“I already knew.”

“Since when?”

“About a year and a half ago.”

“How did you find out?”

“I ended up doing a project, in Spanish, about the culture of one of those closest to us. For my project I used you and Tonga. Part of my project was the government, and I found the King and Queen. I immediately recognized your last name and figured that it couldn’t be a coincidence. “

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t want you to be mad at me. Looking back I realized I should have told you.”

“Well if you knew I was hiding something from you why didn’t you either confront me about it or just break it off between us?” Kailao asked, shocked.

“Well for one I understood why you wouldn’t tell anyone something like that, and most importantly because I loved you.”

“If you love me so much why didn’t you just say yes, instead of giving me a conditional yes yesterday?”

“Because I was going to wait for you to tell me about your parents and plus I want you to meet my parents before we get too far into any one commitment. You have a right to know what you are signing up for,” she pulled her other hand away and placed it back on the steering wheel because the rain had found them.

Kailao was silent for a minute, and the only sound was the constant rhythm of the rain on the roof, a rhythm she was sure she could hear their hearts echoing. “Any other girl would have just said yes and then brought the subject up, but you, you’re different. You waited for when I was ready to tell you. Why?”

“Won’t you ever get tired of hearing it? I love you, which is why I do what I do.”

“I don’t thing I’ve ever heard anything sweeter.”

“Oh, save the gooey stuff for when you meet my mom and step-dad, they will want to hear that.”

“Why?”

“So that they know that I found a man who really just likes me, and nothing else.”

“Okay then. So if your parents aren’t together when are we going to see your father?”

“Well we will probably go see his side of the family tomorrow. I had my mom get everyone from her side of the family at the house today and she is also organizing my dad’s side of the family.”

“Why is she doing it?”

“Because they would ask too many questions if I told them, my mom just respects my need for silence.”

“That’s sweet,” he patted her knee.





Chapter 3



Lucinda sighed; they were sitting in the car in her mother’s driveway. “You know she is going to expect to see a ring.”

“It’s a good thing I have one,” she watched as he took the silver chain off from around his neck, and slipped off the most beautiful ring that she had ever seen. He generally tried to hide it under his shirt, but one night she found it, and he told her the story.

His maternal grandfather had almost been disowned. He had found, and fallen in love with an orphaned peasant girl. When he tried to extend some kindness, his father threatened to disown him, the only thing that had stopped him was the ring and baby bump he had seen when he met the girl. He had lashed out, punishing his son. Months later a girl was born, a girl that went on to become queen. The ring that Kailao wore around his neck was his grandmother’s. It was her only possession to give away, everything else belonged to the family, and she said with her dying breath that the only person she would give it to was her grandson.

The ring was a silver band with only a small teardrop diamond. “Oh honey, I couldn’t.”

Instead of replying with words Kailao took her hand and slid the ring on her finger, “It was meant for you sweetheart.”

“Kailao, I can’t. What if I lose it or something?” she was crying softly.

“Just wear it,” he got out of the car.

“Just leave the bags; we will get them later tonight.”

“Alright,” he came around and took her hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

“What’s wrong honey?” Lucinda’s mom, Yara, asked when she came out the front door and saw her daughter crying.

“Nothing mom,” she smiled. “He just said something sweet.”

“Who is he?”

“I’ll just tell everyone when we get inside.”

“Very well,” Yara walked into the arms of her husband, Haden.

“Hi everyone,” she waved awkwardly as she entered her childhood home. As everyone went back to talking quietly amongst themselves Lucinda walked around, visiting everyone and introducing them to Kailao.



◊~~◊!



“Good afternoon father,” Lucinda sighed, watching as her father got out of his chair. Unsurprisingly he had a gun at his side.

“Who is this?” he asked, not even addressing Kailao.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered back to her fiancée before facing her father. “This is Kailao.”

“What in the hell kind of name is that?”

“A Tongan name.”

“Oh nice, you brought in an African.”

“Um, dad, Tonga is an island nation in the South Pacific, not Africa.”

“Well why and the hell is he here?”

“Um, in America or here?”

“Both!” her father Easton was getting tired of his daughter’s smartass retorts, when really she was just trying to figure out what he wanted.

“Well he is in America to go to college, and he is here to meet you guys.”

“Why does he need to meet us?”

Lucinda pushed Kailao back and took a step back towards the door. “Because he is my fiancée.”

“Your what?!?!?!?!?!?!”

“Father, take your hand away from the gun,” Lucinda pushed Kailao back into the hallway that led out.

“Oh honey, this is great,” her grandma came up and hugged her. Lucinda’s grandpa was just sitting there.

“Dad, if you don’t give me the gun, or put it in another room, I will leave. This is my life; I can make my own decisions.”

“But he is,” Lucinda interrupted her father.

“The only guy that makes me happy. I told you I was dating.”

“But I figured that you would at least date an American boy.”

“Father, can’t you just accept the fact that he is who I’m happy with?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Well you are going to have to decide, because I am marrying him, whether you are there to walk me down the isle or not.”

“Fine,” he took the gun holster off of his belt and put it in gun cabinet in his parent’s room.

Lucinda grabbed Kailao’s hand and pulled him farther into the house. Together they sat on the largest leather couch in the living room. Her father and grandmother sat on the loveseat and her grandfather sat in his chair.



Chapter 4



“So what do you want to do today?” Lucinda asked, lying next to Kailao, her body blocking him from the cold air of her fan.

“Well we might want to get dressed before we do anything?”

She smiled, “Do you want your boxers back so soon?” she teased. When they weren’t in their separate dorms, which wasn’t often, they both slept in a pair of his boxers; she just added a sports bra.

“No, but if we are going to do something we need to get dressed.”

“Well yea, I was asking what you wanted to do on our last full day at my mom’s.”

“Well we do need to go shopping, remember. We could do that.”

“Okay,” she laid there, waiting for him to get up, because her side of the bed led her out the window.

“Are we getting up?” he asked.

“Yea, I’m just waiting for you,” she sat up, placing her teddy bear in her lap.

“Do you always sleep with that thing??”

“The body pillow and the bear,” she confirmed.

“I hope I’m added to that list,” he got out of the bed, tripping over her trashcan. Lucinda rolled over, peering over the edge of the bed, where her boyfriend was in an awkward lump on her floor.

“Are you okay sweetheart?”

“Yea,” he got up. “Are we getting showers?”

“I am,” she grabbed her clothes out of her bag and headed to the bathroom.



Chapter 5

“Can we at least have a conversation?” Kailao asked, looking over at Lucinda who was curled up in her seat with a book.

“Of course we can sweetheart.”

“Well could you please put the book down?”

“I’m listening,” she turned the page, and he watched her eyes move across the page, following the words with more devotion than they gave to him, or so he thought.

“Honey, please, if we are going to talk I’d like to be the object of your attention.”

“I’m always thinking about you,” she turned the page again.

“Dammit Lucinda I’m trying to help you. I don’t want you going into a different type of world blind but if you don’t want to listen then I’ll gladly let you!”

Lucinda slammed the book down, ‘accidentally’ missing her lap and hitting his arm, “What in the hell is so damned important I can’t even finish my fucking chapter?”

“’Miss could you please keep your voice down?” the flight attendant whispered, motioning to the young children who were sitting next to their rich parents.

“I’m sorry,” she said loud enough so that the shocked parents could hear her. “Now what is so important?” she turned to Kailao.

“I was going to fill you in on some of the traditions that you will be faced with when you meet my parents but you don’t seem interested. What book could be that good anyway?”

“This book,” she held it up so that he could read the cover. “And I was just trying to finish the chapter instead of leaving off in the middle of an idea.”

“Fine,” he looked past her, out the window.

Lucinda opened the book back up and read the 3 pages that finished the chapter. “There I’m finished. Would you like to talk now?”

“Well I’m kind of in the middle of a song,” he motioned to his headphones.

“Well then go ahead and finish your song,” she folded the corner of her page and put it back into her bag. Lucinda unfolded from the pretzel position she had been in, folding up the armrest between her and Kailao. The seat next to him was empty so she folded up the armrest up too. She snuggled closer to him and draped her legs across his lap.

“Wow, I’m glad I’m so important,” he patted her legs, but just the same wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up to his lap.

“I couldn’t live without you,” she whispered. “No why don’t you tell me those traditions,” her head rested on his shoulder.

“You two should be ashamed of yourselves,” the flight attendant spoke to them. “There are children just across the isle. And what if the Prince boarded? Such immoral behavior!”

“Trust me, the prince knows exactly what’s going on and he doesn’t mind a bit!” Lucinda was trying so hard not to laugh. Kailao began to chuckle uncontrollably.

“You think this a joke young man?” the flight attendant was baffled.

“Not at all,” he smothered his laughter in the material of Lucinda’s shirt.

“Young lady, I suggest you remove yourself from this man’s lap.”

“The Prince would be hard-pressed to agree with you, he likes me just where I am.”

“You are nothing better than a whore,” the flight attendant began to walk away.

“I don’t believe I dismissed you from my presence.”

“Young man, you have no more right to speak to me in that manner than does my son.”

“I believe I have all the right,” Kailao stood up. “Especially to a native Tongan.”

“I….I…I...m…m s…ssorry sir,” the flight attendant kneeled to the ground, bending at the waist, her forehead touching the floor in front of Kailao.

When they had gotten up that morning and he had put on his Class A uniform. That was how the flight attendant had recognized him. By sitting down he dismissed her.

“Was that really necessary?” Lucinda asked as he pulled her back into his lap.

“I’m tired of people treating you like that.”

“I can take care of myself, its fine. Why don’t you just tell me those traditions?”

“Alright,” he reached down and pulled something out of his bag. He held it out for Lucinda to take. When she did she found herself holding a full face golden mask.

“What is this,” she held it up to her face. She didn’t put it on, just examined how it would be to look through it.

The flight attendant walked by and Kailao saw her do a double take. He didn’t expect what came next though. “Princess!” she bowed immediately. Kailao quietly dismissed her.

“What was that?” she shakily put the mask in her lap.

“That was the result of the most important tradition. The one you will hate the most.”

“Okay, so what is this tradition?”

“This tradition goes back for no one knows how long. When the prince came of age, fifteen, a party was held at the palace for all of the nobles. After the party all of the daughters of the nobles, ages 10 through 18 would stay at the palace. The prince would spend time with them and after a month another party would be held. This time all of the girls who stayed would be wearing masks. All silver half masks, except this one gold mask,” Kailao took the mask into his own hands. “Yes, this is the original mask. But anyway, at some point during the party all of the girls would remove their masks, revealing who the prince chose as his fiancée.”

“So I have just a few questions. Question one and two: Did you have a party and how did you get out of it. Question three: do I have to wear the mask.”

“Yes I had a party,” he kissed her forehead. “I got out of it by announcing that I was going to college, in America.” Kailao turned Lucinda to straddle him, he momentarily let go of her and felt her grip with her upper thighs. With his hands free he used one hand to smooth her hair away from her face and used the other to put the mask on. “I’m sorry but I have to ask you to wear the mask, just until my parents decide to release it to the public.”

“Alright,” Lucinda stood and went to the bathroom so that she could look at her reflection. When she made it back to her seat she was yawning.

“Honey, why don’t you sleep,” Kailao pulled a blanket out of his bag. “I’ll wake you up so that you have time to change.”

“That sounds good,” she stretched out as much as she could on the two seats. Kailao had moved to the isle seat. She used his leg as a pillow and clung to his hand after he put the blanket over her.



Chapter 6



Lucinda lay in bed, reflecting on her first hours in Tonga. She had been wearing the mask, and because of that the people would do anything for her. It was uncomfortable to sleep in, but she didn’t know if she had too. Interrupting her own thoughts she texted Kailao to ask.

She sighed when he texted back. With the mask still on, she changed and laid down. Sleep came quickly though, due to the exhaustion of the day. Kailao had waken her up ten minutes before they landed and she had spent half of that time trying to determine between the multiple dresses she had packed into her carry on. She had come out just as the seatbelt light dinged overhead, and the plane made a smooth landing. Lucinda was still shell-shocked from the cameras and reporters that greeted them as they had gotten off of the plane. So many people had tried to approach her because they recognized the mask that she couldn’t even distinguish Kailao’s face through the mess. He had been flawless in fending off the mass, and it made her appreciate him even more.

After exiting the airport they soon made it to the palace. There commenced a very awkward, for Lucinda at least, introduction. Aside from saying that it was nice to meet her, the only other things said was a single comment each. The King had told Lucinda that she was very pretty and the queen said that she was a darling girl in a marvelous dress.

After introducing his parents Kailao gave her a tour of the palace. When they reached her room she found that all of her luggage had been brought in and unpacked. “Wow, now I have nothing to do.”

“Sure you do,” he pulled out her laptop. “You can write your essay for Senora Sonya. I plan on doing my homework.”

“What homework do you have?”

“Analyzing the engineering of the Titanic.”

“Didn’t you do that during your bachelors?”

“We simply analyzed it. Now it’s a project. We have to analyze it, write an essay on our analysis, improve it, and write an essay on our improvements.”

“I could never do marine engineering,” Lucinda shook her head.

“Well what is your homework?”

“For Spanish I just have to write an essay about the masculine and feminine origin of words. For psych, I have to write two essays. Both on some theory or such from Sigmund Freud. We chose which, so I’m doing mine on the Oedipal complex and dream analysis.”

“Wow, that’s not that much.”

“Not really, and we still have three days here.”

“Well today the nobles will start arriving, so all the dukes and such. Tonight we have dinner with my parents, tomorrow you’ll spend the day with my mother, and on Friday we will have a little dinner party.”

“So will I get the mask off on Friday?”

“On Saturday. We will probably hold the press conference right before we take off.”

“At least I don’t have to wear it at school.”

“Yea,” Kailao nuzzled into her neck.

With a last check of her phone and a last yawn Lucinda curled up and fell asleep. Her homework was completed, and she had no more real commitments for the rest of her spring break.

“No, no, no!” Lucinda began to fight in her sleep. “No!” she jerked awake. The nightmare replayed once more time in her conscious mind before she felt the hand that was stretched across her face. She wrenched up and across the bed. “Who are you?” she asked grabbing the closest thing and threw it at the figure next to her bed.

“I’m sorry,” the figure dropped to the floor, and in the dark it looked like he bowed at her. “I’m sorry my blessings are not good enough, I will try better.”

Kailao came running in; he had heard the vase that Lucinda threw break on the floor. “What is going on?” he rushed to her side, pulling her into his laps.

“Get away from me you freak!” she screamed pulling away; she didn’t know that Kailao had come in.

“Sweetheart, it’s me, Kailao,” he pushed her hair away from her face and kissed the mask as if he was kissing her forehead, as his parents rushed in turning the light on.

“What is going on?” the Queen asked.

“This creep,” Lucinda pointed at the guy who was kneeling in her bedroom. “Was touching me and muttering something.”

“This creep is a very high ranking duke.”

“That still doesn’t give him any right to be in my room.”

“Kailao, I can’t believe you didn’t tell her.”

“What didn’t he tell me?”

“That this is one of those traditions,” Kailao interrupted. “The Dukes will come in and spread a hand over your face, covering very important spiritual parts of your body, and bless you, as my fiancée.”

“Oh, it would have been nice if you told me before I broke an expensive vase, insulted a duke, and woke your parents.” Lucinda got up and kneeled next to the duke. “Please stand. I’m sure your blessings were beyond expectations, and I am grateful for them. Please forgive me for anything I have previously said on this night.”

The duke stood and Lucinda stood with him. “Thank you Princess.”

“Good night,” Lucinda looked at everyone. “If you could please at least allow me to get to sleep before you continue anything.”

“Very well,” Kailao kissed her again and whispered a conversation with his father as they walked out the door.

◊~~◊!

“Good morning,” Lucinda bowed her head as she walked into the Queen’s study.

“Good morning dear,” the Queen turned away from the book she had been reading. “Have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“No thank you,” she sat next to the Queen.

“Dear, I think we need to talk.”

“What would you like to talk about?”

“About the obvious. Darling, you realize that neither his father nor I are happy with Kailao for trying to bring a commoner and an American at that, into the royal family.”

“Trying? Does that mean that you do not accept me? I understand completely if it is so, but I would at least like you to tell me. I’m not as fragile as I seem.”

“Oh honey, you are not fragile at all, if you have kept my son in line for the past three years,” Avanga laughed.

“Well thank you,” Lucinda smiled. “But that still does not answer my question, nor is it relevant to our conversation.”

“You are a very straight forward girl. I like that. And yes, you will be accepted into this family. My son loves you, and that is the most important thing to me. But what I want to talk about is the fact that the public might not be so accepting. You need to be prepared to face some ridicule and maybe harshness.”

“I will do what I must to be with Kai.”

“That is good. Now that I know you are committed,” the Queen stood up and took Lucinda’s hand. “I believe it is time that you pick out your rings.”

“My rings?” Lucinda stood in disbelief. Was she going to get to pick from the royal jewels?

“Well of course. Every princess must have an engagement ring and a wedding band. Plus I’ll let you pick out Kailoao’s.”

“Well thank you, but I need to return this to him first,” Lucinda displayed the ring on her finger.

She was about to turn away but Avanga pulled her hand closer, examining the ring. “My idiot son gave you, an American girl of little significance, such a ring.”

“I very well know the story behind this ring Avanga. I know how important it is to you and your son, but since it is his it is his choice whether to give it to me or not. Anyway, this ring was only until you let me pick out another one.”

“I was actually hoping that you would continue to wear it,” Kailao had come in after hearing the commotion. The King was right behind him.

“Kailao I thought you had more sense then that!” his mother went over and gripped him by the upper arms.

“Honey,” King Malohi was leaning against the door frame. “If our son wants to give away his dead grandmother’s most prized possession that she entrusted to only him let him.”

“But Malohi, we can’t let this happen.”

“Of course we can, it is his to do with as he wishes.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Lucinda walked over to Kailao and took the chain off of his neck. “I really couldn’t wear the ring Kai. I only wore it because you wanted me to. No, listen to me. I know you want me to wear it, but it is too special to you, I couldn’t take it from you,” she slipped the ring back on the chain and put the chain back around his neck.

“You wouldn’t be taking it from me.”

“Honey, please, just let me pick our rings out from the collection that is here.”

“But they don’t mean anything to us.”

“Do we really need rings to tell us how much we love each other?”

“No,” Kailao began but was interrupted.

“Then it’s settled,” Lucinda leaned up and kissed him.

“Very well,” he looked over her shoulder to his mother. “I’ll see you at dinner,” he addressed them both.

“Thank you for talking some sense into my son,” Avanga led her down to the level below her study. “I’m so sorry I overreacted about my mother’s ring.”

“It’s fine, I completely understand.”

“It’s about time someone around here did. Watch your step,” the Queen turned and held out her hand to help Lucinda through the tight space that followed a steep step. “I might have been my husband’s choice but it was still an arranged marriage.

“Thank you, but you guy’s seem so happy together.”

“We are happy; we have come to respect each other.”

“That’s great,” she was going to continue to but was in awe of the room that lay in front of her. Jewels were displayed in all different manners. “It’s beautiful!”

“Yes, feel free to look around and try on anything you like.”

Lucinda looked around, the dim light was reflecting, through the room, off of the gold. “Do you have any silver jewelry?”

“Yes,” Avanga took Lucinda’s hand and led her through a door to another room, which was filled with silver jewelry.

Lucinda lay in bed, wishing for some alone time but was denied such a pleasure as the nobles took turns coming in and blessing her.



Chapter 7

Lucinda woke up to the alarm clock on her bedside table going off, but she hadn’t set it. Next to the alarm clock was a post-it note with Kailao’s blockish script. ‘Breakfast is at 7, can’t wait to see you in that lavender dress of yours’. When she read the time she jerked her head to look at the clock, and groaned. Kailao always woke her up late; a half hour was not long enough to get ready.

With a shake of her head and a sigh she grabbed one of the many robes that was in her closet and walked into the adjoining bathroom. Without waiting for the water to get hot she took a quick semi-warm shower. She quickly did her make up and hair, not having to worry about what dress she was going to wear, since her fiancée picked one out for her.

It didn’t take long for her to slip the dress on and to slip on a simple pair of black strappy heels. With a check of the clock and no time left she went to take off for the dining room but ran into Kailao outside of her door. “You look very pretty,” he kissed her cheek.

“Thanks, we’re going to be late for breakfast,”