Planting Pearls by Virginia King

Author:Virginia King
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal women’s fiction mystery series, Intelligent quirky mystery with magic twist, Finding her true self own way strength center, Thinking girls chick lit woman’s crazy journey, Metaphysical mystery mystical clues haunted house, Divorced woman on the run books psychic sleuth, Modern folklore psychic detective mysteries
Publisher: Virginia King
Published: 2021-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

On Wednesday morning, before we go to meet Travis from Shoreline Constructions, Derek has arranged for us to call in on Momi. Now that we know the bare bones of the Rosemary Davis tragedy, Derek suspects she’ll be more useful than Travis. He thinks her intuition will point us in the right direction.

After my first meeting with Momi, I’m surprised not to feel tense about another visit. My initiation into the local culture must be working, in spite of the sad tale we’ve uncovered at the Coopers’ house.

“I wish we still had that bottle,” Derek says. “She’s good with objects. What a trouble it’s been for everyone – when we had it and couldn’t get the picture out, and now that we’ve no longer got it.”

He’s brought the broken Shoreline Constructions sign instead.

On the way, he stops at a flower stall to pick up a small garland of leaves and flowers for Momi’s wrist.

“It’s a kupe’e,” he tells me. “A hula decoration. Momi used to dance hula and she’ll be able to look at it on her wrist. If it’s around her neck or in her hair she can only see it in the mirror.”

It reminds me how thoughtful Derek is, how lucky I am to find a friend like him.

The setup at the nursing home is a rerun of last time and Momi is waiting for us in the same reception room. She’s also wearing the same serene smile.

When she sees me, she says my name. “Sel-kie.”

I sit down beside her. “Aloha again, Momi. Thank you for remembering my name.”

Derek allows us to smile at each other for a while before he slips the lei onto her wrist.

“Kupe’e.” She moves her hand in an expressive way to admire it.

Then Derek shows her the Shoreline sign. “Today we brought this sign for you to look at, Momi.”

She reaches for it and gives it her full attention, moving her fingers over it almost as if it’s braille. At last she smiles at Derek. “Momi kupe’e.”

“Yes, the kupe’e is for you, Momi. It’s yours to keep.”

Sensing his disappointment that she’s repeating herself, I get an idea. I pull out my phone and show her the photo of Rosemary’s drawing.

Momi’s face lights up. “Rabbit.”

Another coincidence? I keep the chill from my voice. “I wondered if it was a rabbit. What’s this rabbit’s name?”

When Derek translates my question, she closes her fingers into fists and knocks them together several times. “Ili ili.”

“Is that a hula movement, Momi?” Derek asks. “I don’t know what it means, Selkie. You need to ask Wanda.”

In a text message to my flatmate, I do my best to spell ili ili, along with a description of Momi’s action.

After the ritual with the drinks from the trolley, it’s time to leave.

When we reach the door accompanied by an attendant, Momi points her adorned wrist towards us and waves. “Momi kupe’e.”

Back at the car I say, “She liked your gift, DD.”

“Yes, but it distracted her from reading the sign. Showing her the drawing was inspired.

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