Finding Talei
After breakfast, Trace went ashore on his own. Adam preferred to stay aboard.
Trace thought it was a primitive way to locate Talei, but he had no other option. He visited every door, business, or resident on the main street along the shoreline of Pago Pago. He asked if anyone knew of a woman named, Talei, who would be in her late forties. Some seemed suspicious, others, genuinely helpful, and others apathetic.
Near noon, he walked through the front door of a large building. From the rear of the building came the sounds of humming electric motors and small gas motors. They were accompanied by scattered loud voices, men and women. There were also the clangs and clanks of metal against metal. It appeared to be some sort of factory.
He approached the desk of a young female receptionist. “Excuse me, but I’m looking for a woman named Talei. She’s in her late forties. I’m the son of an old friend of hers.”
The woman said nothing. She appeared frightened.
“I hope I didn’t say something that scared you,” Trace said.
She stood and pointed toward the door. “Leave immediately, or I will call the police.”
Trace stood motionless for a moment. He tried to read what he had said that had disturbed her. “My name is Trace Troy. My father is Adam. Telei was a friend. They haven’t seen each other in almost thirty years.”
She picked up the phone.
Trace held his palms out. “I’m going. I’m going. I’m sorry that I upset you.”
He slowly backed away and out the door. She set the phone down.
Trace thought as he walked away, ‘I sure stirred up a hornet's nest in there. It means I’m on the right track or there are other Taleis around.’
He continued to canvass the residences and businesses.
A car approached. He turned to make sure he was far enough from the road. The glint of the sun on the windshield prevented him from seeing the driver. The car slightly swerved to create more room between Trace and the car. Trace walked on. He saw what he believed was the car that swerved, approaching from the opposite direction. The car was a tan Mercedes-Benz. The woman appeared native, and well-arranged hair. The car slowed. Trace pretended to ignore it. It passed, and Trace turned his head enough to see it in his peripheral vision. The car pulled into a driveway and backed out. The car drove past Trace and pulled to the side of the road, and stopped. Trace approached the car and heard the window motor retract the window.
Trace bent down. “Is your name Talei?”
She reached for the gear shift.
“My name is Trace Troy,” he said, “Adam Troy is my father.”
She released her grip from the gear shift and stared ahead. Her lips slowly parted slightly. She breathed deep.
“I’m sorry,” Trace said. “I never saw you. I’ll just go on.”
She turned quickly to face Trace. “Is Adam okay?”
“Yes,” Trace said. “He’s in Pago Pago.”
“Where?” Talei asked.
“On the Tiki,” Trace said. “It’s called The Tramp Islander now.”
“Why is he here?” Talei asked.
“That’s a long story,” Trace said. “He has no idea I’m looking for you. In fact, he refuses to come ashore.”
“Can we go somewhere for coffee?” Talei said.
“Sure,” Trace said.
“Get in,” Talei said. “There’s a place just ahead.”
Trace climbed into the passenger seat. He offered his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
Talei smiled and softly placed her hand in Trace’s hand. “The same here.”
They drove a short distance without a word. She turned into a paved parking lot with a building that had several businesses. They walked in and sat at a table next to the window.
They ordered coffee.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Trace said, “but I’ve had nothing since breakfast and I’d like to order something for lunch.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Talei said. She said to the waitress. “I’ll have my usual salad.”
“Do you have hamburgers?” Trace said.
“The best,” the waitress smiled.
“Fries also,” Trace said.
The waitress left.
“You must be a regular,” Trace said.
“It belongs to my sister,” Talei said.
“The receptionists at the business I stopped at, did she call you?” Trace asked.
“No one called me,” Talei said. “Our meeting was completely by accident.”
“I’ve been stopping at every business and home and asking for a woman named Talei,” Trace said. “I had the feeling some knew you, but didn’t say anything.”
“I’ve been away from a phone all morning,” Talei said. “My answering machine is probably full.”
“You drive a Mercedes, new,” Trace said, “you must do pretty good for yourself.”
“The business you stopped at belongs to my family,” Talei said. “My father started it and left it to me.”
“The place stinks,” Trace said. “No offense.”
“We process fish,” Talee said. “That’s the way it’s supposed to smell.”
“Well, Dad and I are ranchers,” Trace said. “And some folks think manure stinks. Dad says, That’s what money smells like.”
“How is Texas?” Talei asked.
“Hot, dusty, and home,” Trace said.
“I’ve only seen pictures,” Talei said. “Exactly how it appears in photographs.”
The waiters brought two coffees.
“So why are you looking for me?” Talei said.
“I never heard about you until last night,” Trace said. “Maybe I haven’t had time to think things through. You were pregnant with Dad’s child. I think he would really like to know how you are.”
“Then why doesn’t he try to see me himself?” Talei said.
“If married, he said he’d be concerned about the effect on your marriage,” Trace said.
“Then why did you sail to Pago Pago?” Talei said.
“It wasn’t Dad’s choice or mine,” Trace said. “It’s by mistake. Like I said, I knew nothing about you until last night. We’ve known about coming to Pago Pago for only a week.”
“Why didn’t Adam try to prevent the trip?” Talei said suspiciously.
“Someone else planned on stopping at Pago Pago,” Trace said. “
Talei crossed her arms and turned her head.
Trace sipped his coffee and stood. He reached into his pocket and tossed money on the table. “It’s nice meeting you.”
“Wait,” Talei said, unfolding her arms and rising in her chair. “Please, sit.”
Trace paused and looked out the window. He pressed his lips and sat.
“I’m sorry,” Talei said. Her face tightened as if holding back her tears and emotions. “How is Adam?”
“Dad is fine,” Trace said. “In fact, he’s incredible. Except for Mom’s death, he’s had a good life. The only thing he complains about is beef prices, but he never worries about them. He’s exactly what I want to be. He’s probably the same man he was when you first met.”
“I often wandered about him,” Talei said, “Maybe every day, especially lately. And he’s here! I’m glad to hear he is well. And I’m sorry for being so rude to you. I must have made a terrible impression on you.”
“No, no,” Trace said, “If anybody should apologize, it should be me. I come into this thing like a bull in a china shop. I mean, come on.” He looked at the watch on his wrist. “We met fifteen minutes ago and dumped a load of garbage in your lap.”
“It’s not garbage,” Talei said. “It’s a surprise,” she smiled, “but not garbage. Your father was my first love. He was kind, caring, understanding, handsome, witty, and a lot of other things. As you know, we lost a child. We weren’t married. We were going to get married. The more we found out about each other, we realized I could not exist in any place but here. And the more I got to know Adam, he would always have his ranch in his heart. He could not take me from the islands, and I could not take him from what made him who he was,” she smiled and continued, “a cowboy.”
The waitress brought the meals. And they began eating.
“This is actually a very good hamburger,” Trace said.
“American beef,” Talei said. “Maybe from the Troy ranch.”
“So you are doing well?” Trace said.”
“I am,” Talei said.
“How is the ranch?” Talei asked.
“It’s doing well,” Trace said. “I think Dad has nearly doubled the size.”
“He talked about the ranch like it was the center of the universe,” Talei said.
“I find myself doing the same,” Trace said.
They engaged in more small talk.
“So what do we do from here?” Talei said.
“This was a bad idea,” Trace said. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I met you. You are a very nice person. I like you, but I had no idea of what to do other than find you and tell you Adam Troy is on a boat and refuses to leave it for fear he might upset the life of a woman he loved.”
“You mentioned he raised you on his own,” Talei said. “Never remarried after your mother’s death?”
“No,” Trace said. “He dated a couple of women. None lasted more than a few weeks. I always thought he couldn’t bring himself to love again. Actually, he told me that not so long ago.”
“This has been a bold move on your part,” Talei said. “What do you think is the worst thing that can happen?”
“You are old friends,” Trace said. “Dad has come here and seen many old friends. You are the closest. The worst thing that could happen—the worst thing that could happen is that you two never see each other again.”
Talei smiled. She slid her hand across the table and placed it in Trace’s. “Looking at you and how much you look like Adam takes me back a few years. I want to see him. I want to hear his voice and see his smile. Let’s go.”
“Now?” Trace said.
“Of course,” Talei said. “I want to see him more than you could imagine.”
“And he wants to see you more than what either of us can imagine.”
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