Just a short one guys, next chapter may be a time jump.
The next month passed quickly. It was spring break, and Chin had taken Kono to the beach for the day. She had been punished for the past two weeks by her mother, after her behaviour at school continued to get worse, extending into her home life, so Chin had to do a lot of persuading to be allowed to take her out. The two sat quietly on the beach. Kono sat staring at the sea, not playing with her bucket and spade at all, unusual for the young girl who normally insisted on throwing as much sand as possible over Chin.
"Hey kid, what up?" Chin asked nudging her gently
Kono briefly glanced at her cousin before looking away, digging her toes into the sand. Chin pulled his baby cousin into his lap forcing her to look at him.
"Kono I can tell something's bothering you, please talk to me cuz?" Chin asked, concern growing
Kono sighed before leaning into her cousin. "I made everyone really mad, and mommy left me in my room at bedtime without giving me a kiss" Kono said sadly, a few tears falling down her innocent face.
Chin brushed her tears away gently. "Hey little one. Your mom didn't want to make you sad, but you've not been very good lately, and mommy has some grown up problems." Chin tried to explain briefly. "Your mom loves you, but you won't tell her what going on in the clever little head of yours. Instead you do bad things don't you?"
"Yeah" Kono whispered
"Do you think you could tell me why you've been bad?" Chin asked in an attempt to get Kono to open up
Kono looked up at Chin with her doe eyes. "Mommy and Daddy have been angry, and I got sad, and Tommy at school kept being mean to me and said I didn't have a mommy or daddy coz your mommy getted me from school." Kono said quietly. "He pushed me and tooked my toys and he drawed on my picture"
"Oh sweetie" Chin said sadly, shocked at how affected Kono was. He glanced behind them at the shave ice stand. "Hey surfer girl, how does some shave ice sound?" He asked
Kono grinned up at her cousin as he took her to get her favourite flavoured ice treat.
Kalakaua house.
Chin and Kono returned home later that afternoon, Kono covered in purple juices from her shaved ice. Leia smiled at her daughter, swooping her up in her arms. Chin had called when Kono was busy playing, to let Leia know what Kono had said. Leia knew her daughter was not one to misbehave without real cause. She had cut back her hours to leave more time for her and Kono, deciding it would be easier to cut back on luxuries if it meant more time with her little girl.
"Look at you baby, you're a sticky mess!" Leia laughed, while tickling Kono under the Chin.
"Chin broughted me TWO shave ice mommy!" Kono exclaimed, quickly covering her mouth as she realised her cousin had told her not to tell her mom about the second ice treat.
"Did he now?" Leia said, staring at her nephew.
"She's persuasive." Chin said quietly. "I'll best go, I'll see you soon"
Later that evening
Kale returned home at twelve that night. Leia was sitting on the couch waiting to confront her husband. After hearing what Kono told Chin, Leia new she had to leave Kale and move on with her life.
"We need to talk" Leia said bluntly.
"About?" he said gruffly
"Us Kale, this, whatever this relationship is or was!" Leia cried
"Don't do something you'll regret Leia"
"I'm going to talk and you're going to listen. You are an abusive, selfish man, who has no respect for his family. You're a risk to yourself, me and your four year old daughter. I have been stupid to think you would change or that this was a faze. I suffer everyday as a result of you, scared that one day you will hurt Kono. I want you to go upstairs and pack your bags. You can kiss Kono on your way out then I want you to leave. I will be filling for divorce Kale. If you can sort yourself out, I'll consider letting you see Kono in the future, but for now you need to go."
Kale stared at Leia , moving closer to her face, slapping both his hands round her face and holding her face in his palms. Kale squeezed his hands, bruising her face. He stepped away and left, leaving his things behind. Leia fell to her knees, crying uncontrollably, unable to compose herself. After half an hour of uncontrollable sobbing, Leia composed herself enough to head upstairs. She looked at her bedroom door. The room where she had not slept for months, not wanting to face the memories of how abusive Kale could be. Leia continued walking down the lading, peering into her daughter's room. She was sound asleep, grasping her blue blanket covered in surfboards in her hand. Leia smiled and walked over to the bed, lifting the covers and sliding in next to her baby, pulling her close and stroking her hair. Leia smiled with relief as she fell into a peaceful sleep for the first time in months.