"Dear Sara, dear Steve. Zoe and I would have liked to have found a happier occasion to get to know this wonderful island, your new home, Sara. Unfortunately, it didn't work out last year. During your first visit in Jersey, after moving to Hawaii, we could see how happiness shone from every pore. Even now I can see how much support you have here, with your husband and your ohana, as they call it here. The greatest support, however, cannot undo the loss you have suffered. And no one can take the fight for you, Sara, which you have to fight again now. But be sure, we are here for you. "
Liam folded his note, came up to them and hugged them both.
If his sharp ears did not deceive him, there was a disdainful snort from the other side of the aisle. He suppressed a growl. Grace got up behind him and walked forward. They exchanged smiles. Sara grabbed his hand, he squeezed it lightly.
"Uncle Steve, Sara, your family, your ohana asked me to speak here for them. They are all here today to stand by you, to be with you. Even when you had only just found out that there would be three of you soon, it was impossible to overlook how happy you were. It wasn't easy for Sara, but still the happy anticipation was huge, for the first baby of Super-SEAL-Dad." Soft laughter sounded out in the nave when she mentioned the nickname Danny had given him." The events of the past few weeks have been terrible. First the hurricane, your house, then ... I was one of the few, besides his parents, allowed to hold this cute little boy in their arms. It's terrible that he couldn't stay. Life is terribly unfair at times, and it's hard to stick with the phrase that everything has a purpose at some point, especially when you have to give something so wonderful for it.
But with all the sadness that you feel and that we share with you, we are also happy and grateful that Sara is here and that she continues to fight. We're all always there for you." Grace paused at the photo for a moment, then walked over to them and they hugged too.
"Thank you, monkey," Sara said softly and lovingly. It was the first time he'd heard her call Grace that, and he heard the emotion in her voice too. This time he saved himself the question, he helped her up and she took his arm to take the steps to the microphone with him. They had agreed that Sara would speak for both of them, but he stayed with her, just a step behind her, one hand on her back so that she could stand free but he could hold her if her legs should fail.
"Thank you, Grace, thank you, Liam, for your kind words. Steve and I want to thank you all for being here with us today. Also, I haven't had a chance to say thank you for all of you helping me to be here at all. Mahalo, "she said, then after a moment she continued. "Since I've lived on this wonderful island, I have tried to learn not only about it's customs, but also it's language. One of the first words I heard was 'keiki' which means child. Dear keiki, you didn't make it easy for us to choose a name for you, because until the moment you were born you were extremely clever in avoiding showing us that you were a boy. No matter how you suspected it, we should have listened to you that it was going to be a 'little brother'." Steve watched his foster son nod with a smile, then Sara continued. "But when we did, it was very easy. Patrick John Gerald, after your two grandfathers and your uncle who are not here with us today. Or somehow they are. They will protect you in the place where you are now.
We would have loved to keep you, but it shouldn't be. But we are grateful for the eight months that you have accompanied us on our way and the three days in which we were allowed to hold you in our arms." Liam swallowed and hugged Zoe. Then Steve noticed movement at the entrance and saw Kawika and two other Kapu stop behind the back row. "Now we're handing you over to other hands. Thank you for being with us." Sara felt for his hand and quickly he took her arm. When they got back to their seats, the pastor said a few more words and a final blessing.
When Sara asked him to fetch the urn, Steve was irritated for a moment, but then he did what she asked. She took the arms of Danny and Liam, then they walked down the aisle together until they reached Kawika. The two greeted each other with a hug. "Kawika, I would like to ask you to take care of our son until tomorrow. There are people on the island whom I don't trust and I want to know that he is safe."
Kawika looked at her searchingly, then nodded. "I'll take care of him like he's my own." Steve handed him the urn.
"And I would like to ask you to bring some of your men with you tomorrow as well. Even if it's just to reassure me and I am overreacting."
"If you trust your gut, sister, I will too. We will be there to protect ours."
"Thanks."
They followed the Kapu outside, where the three men got into a jeep and drove away. After them, their friends from the church came and they thanked the Navy visitors who had come. Steve noticed that Kamekona, Nahele, Adam, Chin and Kono formed kind of a wall to prevent the cursing Mrs. Anderson from getting through to Sara. "Let's go, okay?"
His wife looked at him and then around. She nodded. Liam left the place at Sara's side. "I'm following, Danny gave me the address. I have to get something from the hotel. Zoe goes with Danny."
"Okay, see you soon."

On the way to Danny, Steve turned spontaneously off the highway into the driveway to their house. "What are you doing?" Asked Doris from the back seat. Sara next to him was lost in herself, she didn't even notice where she was.
"Mom, can you take a quick lap?" This time she followed his request without discussion and got out. He slid over to Sara and took her in his arms. "We'll get it all sorted out. You held up great."
"You have wonderful friends."
"We have wonderful friends. And she can bark what she wants, against Kamekona there is no way to fight. Take a look outside, our house has an intact roof again." She turned her head and only now seemed to realize where she was. "Nice. What do the men say, when can we go home?"
"Eight to ten days. In any case, not much longer. Shall we go to see Danny now? "
"Yes, please."