Free Lana by R.K. Lilley

in an angry little voice.  
      She had studied me with a little smile.   She was a diabolical woman, so even that smile had been a little scary to a ten-year old.   “I’ll tell you what.   I don’t have any grandkids, because of my worthless children.”   She had paused there to send Akira a long, malevolent glare.   He’d smirked, unaffected.   “But you are a lovely child.   I’ve never seen a little girl more beautiful than you.   Your purple eyes make me think you might have magic, which is very good.   And you’re smart.   And you’re a stubborn little thing.   And I like your backbone.   And I think you’re just ornery enough to be a Kalua.   So, you may have the distinct honor of calling me Tutu.   It means grandma.”  
      I’d looked at Akira, wanting him to approve.   He’d smiled warmly at me, and I was ecstatic.   I knew it was the biggest accomplishment of my young life, being the first to call her Tutu.  
      “So you’re family now.   Perhaps Akira will be less worthless and stupid when you’re finally a grown-up.”   I looked at Akira as she spoke.  
      His nose had just wrinkled at her, his only answer.   The look said ‘Not happening’.  
      Tutu had continued, thankfully ignoring the look.   “And since you’re family now, and therefore a local, I will approve of the marriage.”  
      I had been on cloud nine for ages after being added to my favorite family.   Akira and Mari had turned it into a bit of a joke, and took to calling her Tutu, as well.   They said that since she wanted grandkids so badly, that everyone should just call her Tutu, since neither of them planned to ever get married.   Soon, all of the locals took up the habit of calling her Tutu, and she had taken to the title as though that was what she had wanted all along.

CHAPTER NINE

    Tutu brought me back to the present by leaning forward to press her nose and forehead against mine.   It was an affectionate gesture, one you would give a granddaughter.   I smiled at her fondly as she pulled back to study me.   “You know, I’m old and stubborn, and I decided a long time ago that I’m too old to have to change my mind about anything.   I get to be set in my ways now.   It’s the law.   But I have decided to change my mind about one thing.   I wasn’t wrong about it.   I’ve just changed my mind.   Your haole dad is not the problem with Maui.”  
      I raised my brows at her, wondering where this was going.   I had always suspected that she was secretly grateful to my dad for being a mentor to Akira, but she would never admit it.   Or so I had thought.  
      “He isn’t the problem, because he had you.   And if you have Akira’s babies, lots of them preferably, then they will inherit back some of our land for us.   So you see, your dad is only some of the problem with Maui.”  
      I smiled at her weakly, uncomfortable talking with her about anything to do with Akira, now that I was grown.   It was obvious that my promise to marry him would not be kept, at this point.  
      She just patted me on the shoulder and stood.   “I just needed to get that off my chest.   I might die tomorrow, so you should listen to me.   I might haunt you forever if you don’t.”
      That one made me laugh, my discomfort passing.   I had heard that famous Tutu quote many a time.   It was one of my favorites.   Even as a child, when the thought of being haunted had been kind of scary, I had still felt a little comforted by the notion of Tutu staying near me forever.
      Akira was grimacing as he re-joined me.   He studied me.   “Tutu was giving me the most evil cackle when she sent me back in.   You okay?   What crazy thing did she say to you?”  
      I just shook my head, smiling.   “Just some Tutu wisdom.   She’s in rare form today.   She even threw her, ‘I might die tomorrow, I’ll haunt you forever,’ line at me.   Cantankerous as ever.”  
      That