Penniless Souls

Chapter 2

Chapter 2Lani whispered into her cell phone when her mother walked into the room to pull shades, turn off lights and most importantly to kiss Lani's cheek.

“Go to bed Honey,” she said, leaving the room.

“I've got to go,” Lani said to her friend before clicking the phone off and throwing it on the couch. “Wait mom, come back.”

Penny popped her head back into the family room. She glanced around, into the dark shadows to find her daughter's face. When she hit the overhead light switch, Lani turned toward the wall. Her shoulders were shaking, and she was crying.

“Lani dear,” she took a step closer and moved toward the fireplace. Two large chairs flanked a giant couch below the painting of Pele. Lani sat in one of them. “What's going on Princess?”

“I don't know mom,” she sobbed. Huge tears rolled down her cheeks and Penny noticed her eyes were completely red. It looked as if she had spent hours crying.

“What happened?”

“I don't know. One minute I'm the prettiest, sweetest girl in the world and the next–my best friend is pregnant–from him.

What did I do wrong?”

Did her daughter just say someone the same age, is pregnant? Penny recalled some of her own dramatic memories and sat down on the couch, so she could be near her daughter. Watching her little girl suffer broke her heart, and she worried she might say the wrong thing. “Oh Lani, you didn't do anything wrong. Men can be fickle.”

Giant sobs spewed forth after the word 'fickle' and she looked up at her mother. “It's more than that mom. Tim said he wanted to get…married after I finished college. We had made some basic plans. He was going to ask dad about it at…at…Christmas.”

Married? At her age, Penny shuddered and felt like genuflecting or praying immediately. The Lord sure works in mysterious ways, she thought, with a thankful, overjoyed heart. “Oh honey, I'm so sorry.” Penny reached out to caress Lani's arm. “Now, now, please don't let anyone do this to you. Tim isn't worth all this pain. He's just a guy. You'll find a better guy.” Someday in the future, like the distant, far off future.

“Mom? Didn't you hear me? I love Tim and we were going to get married.”

Though this information came as a huge surprise, Penny tried remaining calm. For one thing, she was tired, and it was late. “I understand. Love is hard to explain. There are many different types of love and your old mom knows a little bit about this subject.”

Tears dripped from Lani's eyes. You and dad have the perfect marriage and I want someone like him. He's so dependable. Mom, you really lucked out.”

“Yes, that's true, but it wasn't always like that. I had to go through a lot of soul-searching to make sure I was doing the right thing,” she smiled. She continued to caress her daughter's arm, hoping the repetitive motion might calm both their fears.

“What do you mean by different types of love?” Lani asked with a gentle sniffle.

“Well for one thing, I know you love chocolate ice cream.”

Lani smiled and reached over to embrace her mother. “I love you mom.”

“I know,” Penny whispered into her daughter's chestnut-hair. “The love of your family is different than the love of a man. When the right one comes along you'll know it. Maybe not right away, but if you're patient, the answer will be right here in your heart.” When she said the word 'heart', she moved a hand to her chest for emphasis.

“Really? I thought Tim was special. He said he loved me.”

“You're a big girl now Lani, I don't have to tell you this, but sometimes people say words without backing up what they mean. In other words, they say things but don't understand how important the words are to the person listening. The words are hollow like an old log eaten by wild termites. People can say anything they want to say, but actions speak louder than words.”

Lani smiled again and as she processed this information, her face took on a look of comprehension. She sat up, arranging stray hairs, pushing a few strands behind her left ear. “You mean actions like the time when dad went all the way to Hawaii to find you, when you were lost?”

“Well, that certainly put tons of positive points in his favor,” Penny said with a small laugh. “Come here, let me hug you.”

“Yeah, thank God he did that.”

Penny squeezed her daughter, thinking about the strange turn of events leading up to Lani being born in Hawaii. “Now, let's see–how about you spend some time at Aunt Bess'? She has an amazing guest room.”

“What? Why?” Lani stretched out the word 'why' and her face looked horrified as she pulled her arms away from her mother. She stood up and went to the window. “I thought you're on my side.”

“I am.”

“Doesn't sound like it.”

“Please dear, think of it this way. You'll get your mind off Tim, while your father and I go celebrate our anniversary in Vegas.”

Lani's red-rimmed eyes looked sad again. “You're leaving me with Aunt Bess during Christmas break?”

“Yes, but we'll be back Christmas day.” Penny stood up and turned out the lights. “Now put on your jammies and go to bed. I'll bring back an extra-large tee-shirt as a souvenir, for you to sleep in.”

Lani hugged her mother. “Okay, but I'm not thrilled about this.”

“Trust me; it could have been much worse.”

“How?”

“That stupid Tim could have gotten you pregnant, instead of Emily.”