Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.
Family Life, Chapter 18
May 2022
It was another day in paradise. The sunrise that Saturday morning was spectacular and the backyards of the Williams and McGarrett families were a hive of activity. Twin tents, tables, and chairs had been delivered and set up. A huge pig was buried and roasting. Tiki lamps dotted the yards, and the catering company was setting up serving tables near Steve and Danny's house. Musicians were tuning up near Mom and Dad's house. Guests were due to arrive shortly.
Steve had his arm around Danny; they were watching the activity from the balcony outside their bedroom. The boys and Grace were almost ready to go down with them.
"Well Danny, how does everything look?"
"It's perfect."
"How is your knee feel?"
"The muscles ache a little from all the activity but my knee is fine. I wish that I had the surgery before now."
"Danny, I think that we tend to do things in their own time. It was the right time to do it now. It was the right time so Mom and Dad were ready to seriously consider the move. But I have to admit it's been a hell of a year."
That was certainly an understatement. The McGarrett-Williams family started the year on a cruise ship sailing to the next port in Scotland. When Danny woke up that morning, he knew that he needed to do something about his knee. He was tired of limping around trying to keep up with his husband and their sons. He was tired of the pain and the haze that accompanied the pain pills.
Surgery in February had been very successful; the recovery was grueling. It wasn't all bad. Mom and Dad stayed to help out and then stunned everyone with their decision to stay on the island and move in next door. Grace also surprised them with a visit and an announcement that she would be working for Finn in the summer before attending college at the local university in the fall.
Time seemed to accelerate since then. Danny had three weeks of home therapy and another twelve visits at a physical therapy center. Some of the days Danny thought that he would never be free of the pain. His hips ached by the middle of the afternoon from sitting so long. It wasn't until he started going out for therapy that he noticed a big improvement. Yes, they beat him up pretty badly but the massage at the end of the session was almost worth it.
Fortunately, Danny was in good condition before surgery; it aided his recovery considerably. By the end of physical therapy, Danny was back at work. He was allowed in the field mostly only at crime scenes when it was likely that there was no immediate physical danger. Danny was scheduled to be on unrestricted duty effective June 1st.
Mom and Dad's purchase of the house moved at a record pace. Two weeks after their initial inspection, the Williams closed on the house. The work crew started immediately. Bathrooms and the kitchen were gutted and updated with new cabinets and fixtures. Most of the walls were painted and flooring replaced. There was a beautiful deck off the second floor that also served as a roof for the lanai. Dad was the proud owner of a beautiful new grill, and there were several pieces of patio furniture scattered on the deck and the lanai.
Mom and Dad moved in about a month ago. Once Danny was mobile again, Mom joined Dad back in New Jersey. It took two weeks of solid work to go through the house and discard the items that wouldn't be making the trip to Hawaii. Some items were thrown away. Other items were given to the girls or Salvation Army. Although Finn was paying for the move, Mom didn't want to bring her tired old furniture to their soon-to-be refurbished home. It just didn't fit in with the environment they wanted to create.
So Ed and Clara moved in stages. When the kitchen was finished, Clara unpacked her kitchen items and put them away in the new cabinets. It took three days, and Clara was exhausted at the end of each afternoon as she walked next door for the evening. Everyone offered to help but she wanted to be able to decide where everything went without someone waiting on her. Then the new furniture was delivered, and finally the rest of their belongings were moved out of storage.
There was a blip on their radar late in March when Catherine's trial came up. Steve was dreading the trial mostly because he didn't want the boys to be impacted by any publicity. Even though the Navy was conducting the case, there would still be talk. It was a big relief when Catherine abruptly accepted a deal from the prosecuting attorney two days into the trial.
They were good days too. Danny was able to get around well enough to fix supper, usually with Dad's help. The boys played catch or kicked a soccer ball around. Everyone sat down together to enjoy supper and good conversation.
Dad felt like he had dropped a dozen years (and almost that many pounds) with the move. He was outdoors as much as possible, and work had never been more enjoyable. Cliff and his crew were a joy to work with, and his relationship with Cliff had thrived. They enjoyed fishing together and even talked Danny into joining them one morning while Steve was at work and the boys were at school. Danny brought in the biggest fish and was relieved when there was no hijacking.
Mom was helping Danny coach the boys' baseball team. She still had a good arm and was a deadly batter. She always brought cookies or brownies to go with the after-practice snack. And she always had an encouraging word for the boys. Clara had an infinite well of love for those around her and she was thriving in her new environment.
Paula and Jackie were still resentful over the whole turn of events. Like so many other sons and daughters, they took their parents for granted. They showed up for holiday meals and were quick to call for favors but they gave little in return. They weren't bad people; they were just benignly neglectful of those who loved them.
Because Steve and Danny had given up so much for too many years before they started their life together, they never took love for granted. They lived each day for the gift it is. They loved each other and they loved their sons and daughter. They loved the circle of ohana comprised of a wonderful combination of friends and other family. It included the original 5-0 team and all the additions and their families. It included Stan and Rachel and their boys. It included the unique Kamekona and various others they encountered at work, Charlie Fong, Max Bergman, and Duke Lukela to name a few. Cliff joined the group when his former fiancée, Jesse's aunt, made a failed attempt to snatch him away from Steve and Danny. There were also people Steve and later Danny knew from the Navy. Joe White was another uncle to the boys, and Wade Gutches was a regular since his retirement.
Besides the interior work, there were changes to the yard too. As promised, some of the greenery was thinned out so that it was easy to move between the yards although some privacy was maintained. Mom cleared out some old flower beds and planted a colorful mix of flowering bushes and tropical plants. She was so pleased that she lost the five pounds she had put on during the winter. Although she still loved cooking her wonderful pasta dishes, evening meals were frequently grilled. Mom was often so engaged with hearing about the boys' day at school or 5-0's latest case that found that she was eating less and enjoying it more.
Grace interrupted Steve's and Danny's woolgathering. "Danno, Dad, we're ready to go." They turned around and were once again struck by Grace's poise and beauty. She was wearing a Hawaiian-printed sundress and sandals. It was the family dress code for the day. The boys' and men's shirts had a similar print; they also wore khaki shorts and slippers.
They descended the stairs as the first wave of guests arrived. There was a sign on the porch directing the guests to go around to the backyard. Danny laughed as he saw his parents walk out into the yard.
"We're all wearing the same shirts? How did you talk Dad into that? And Mom's dress matches Grace's dress."
It was Dad's turn to laugh. "I didn't know that we matched until you walked out. I think Mom and Grace went shopping together."
Mom looked indignant. "Hey, it's been a long time since I felt this young. Grace didn't object when I tried on the same dress, a different size of course. She said that it had been so long since she lived near her grandparents, and she wasn't afraid to let anyone know how much she loves us."
Soon the yards were full of ohana. Some brought housewarming gifts for Ed and Clara. Kamekona brought shrimp as usual. Some of the more energetic guests started a volleyball game down by the beach. The net had been erected straddling both properties.
Danny saw Mom and Rachel having a private conversation off to the side and thought about intervening. He was aware that his mother was struggling with some residual feelings about the ugliness after his divorce and the ensuing custody battles. Just as he decided to join the pair, he saw Mom giving Rachel a hug. She was smiling even as a few tears tracked down her cheeks. Danny saw Rachel wipe away tears too as she walked back to rejoin the party.
Mom looked lost in thought as Danny approached her. "Is everything okay here?"
Mom blinked at him and smiled. "Yes dear, everything is okay. It's more than okay. I've been praying for some time for the grace to let go of the past. It wasn't such a big deal when I only saw Rachel once or twice a year. But I know that we'll see her regularly now and I was tired of that spasm I always got in my stomach when I saw her. Apparently, Rachel was having the same problem. She came over to ask for my forgiveness and my friendship. I know that was not easy for her."
"Mom, you know how it was when I first moved here. Rachel is not the same person. I'm not the same person either. I loved her once but probably not as much as I needed to. She was hurt, and I was hurt too. We don't hurt anymore."
"I know that. I don't want to carry that baggage around with me anymore either. I think that tonight I was finally able to see her for the person she is today. She is the mother of my beautiful granddaughter. She also the mother of those two wonderful boys and she's been a good friend to you and Steve. She treats Jack and Jesse so well. I want to be someone she can call 'friend'. That's the way it will be from now on."
Danny hugged his mother and then walked her back to the party. The pig was ready and everyone was gathered around as the chef uncovered the feast. The aroma of roast pig permeated the area. Soon everyone was filling their plate and finding a seat. The lamps were lit and the band started playing.
When the plates were cleared and dessert was served, the bandleader called for everyone's attention. Some coconut bras and grass skirts were brought out and there was a call for volunteers. One of the singers had changed into the traditional garb and demonstrated a hula dance. It was so elegant as she explained what each motion signified.
Then she led a group of girls and women into the same dance. Needless to say, it wasn't elegant at all. It was difficult to say who was laughing more, the dancers or the audience. Then the men were invited for a dance. Dad was the first man up. Danny was so happy to have his parents there and to have his surgery behind him that he joined his Dad. Jack and Jesse tended to be wherever the Poppa was so they joined the pair. Cliff had decided not to take life too seriously since his move so he also joined the group. By the end of the dance, there were almost a dozen men and boys in the group.
Steve taped the whole performance. Danny suspected that it would soon go on the internet but Steve only wanted to keep it as a remembrance of a truly great party. Because there were so many guests with children, the party broke up around ten. The caterers packed up their gear; the rest of the party equipment would be packed up in the morning by the party planner.
The boys needed a quick shower before going to bed. They were too tired for a story and were asleep before Steve and Danny made it to their room. Steve and Danny were tired as well but they were too buzzed to go to bed yet. Instead they had a steamy session of shower sex and a soak in their big tub. Steve was so happy to have Danny healthy again.
Grace was back in town although she had her own apartment now. She shared it with a friend and was due to start work on Monday. Mom and Dad were settled in their new home which had been duly warmed by their family and friends.
Life is like the tide. The good times come in but you have to expect that there will be some bad times too. You have to stay together and support each other. And never forget to treat those closest to you with love. With love, anything is possible.
This is the conclusion of the story but not the end of Steve, Danny, Jack, and Jesse. I have family coming in a few days to celebrate my granddaughter's graduation. Then we have our own trip to New England to celebrate my nephew's ordination. It will be a few weeks before I will have any time to write so I wanted to end this story now. Stay tuned for the next story and thanks go to all of you who have been so encouraging.