Chapter 1

1

As I balanced precariously on a stepladder in the Ohia Maui Post Office, sunset approached. Warm December air wafted in through an open window, carrying the scent of plumeria from the tree beside the General Store, along with a faint whiff of the nearby ocean. That sea breeze provided welcome relief for my exertions as I stretched to hang yet another ornament on the oversized fake tree occupying one corner of the room.

“Careful up there, Kat,” Pua Chang called. “I’d hate to have to fill out an incident report so close to Christmas and the holidays.”

I shot her a look; today Pua was pretty in pink, wearing a hot fuchsia dress adorned with a lei made of little gold bells. “Your concern is touching. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the mountain of paperwork you’d have to do.”

“You got that right,” Pua said. “You’re already six-foot-one. A stepladder seems like scary overkill.”

“And I don’t know how you put this tree up at all before I moved here, you being the size of an elf on the shelf.”

Pua was five-foot-nothing or less. After a bumpy start, we were friends as well as coworkers, but our height was only one of our differences. Pua was a fashionista; my idea of dressing up was a pair of clean jeans. Pua liked order and precision; I liked a little chaos with my coffee. “You must have needed an actual ladder to get to the top of this silly tree. Why don’t we have a smaller one?”

“Your postmaster predecessor bought it. I was hoping the thing would be ‘lost’ again this year.” Pua rolled her eyes. “I stashed it way in the back of that storage closet on purpose.”

“This is my fault then. I missed it last year when we were decorating. I can’t believe this is my second Christmas in Ohia already.”

“And now we’re here to help out,”, my hot pilot boyfriend Keone said as he lugged in a box of decorations from an SUV pulled up in front. “Right, Mom?”

“Bringing the authentic Hawaiian look for contrast with all that traditional stuff.” Ilima Kaihale, Keone’s mother, followed her son inside, her arms laden with freshly cut, long green ti leaves. “I’ll set up over by the counter to make some decorative ti leaf rope.”

“Oh, that is going to be great, Aunty,” I said. “And Keone, what have you got in the box?”

“Something special. Come see.” Keone was still wearing his white polyester pilot uniform trimmed in gold braid and naughty fantasies. I admired his resplendence in my favorite outfit as I carefully made my way down from the stepladder and approached.

“So nice of you two to come help us with the decorating,” I said.

“And wait ‘til you see this.” Keone opened the box and then straightened up, holding a sprig of something green in his hand. He lifted it high. “Check out this exotic Mainland plant.”

I stepped forward, my eyes on the sprig—and one of his muscled arms encircled me. He pulled me in for a kiss—which went on for a bit.

It was a testament to how far we’d come from my former touchphobia that I not only tolerated his surprise embrace but enjoyed it. There was a time such a move would have endangered both his noggin and the family jewels.

“You brought mistletoe, I gather,” I said a bit breathlessly when I came up for air.

Mr. K’s eyes twinkled. I always thought that was a cliche, but dang if it didn’t describe their expression perfectly. “Merely looking out for the well-being of my best postal detective.”

“Your only postal detective. And don’t you forget it.” Keone and I ran a little side hustle called K use that coconut wireless gossip network of yours for good and make some flyers and such too. Music and rune reading from the Pahinuis, of course. Elle and I are handling the donations, food, and entertainment. Ilima, if you could donate one of your beautiful quilts for the auction, that would be wonderful.”

Ilima nodded, her large brown eyes shining. “Luckily, I’ve been working on a design that represents our community. It’s colorful, diverse designs stitched together to create a new pattern. It’s almost ready.”

“Perfect,” Aunt Fae beamed. Then she turned to me. “And Kat, I have a special job for you.”

“Why do I feel like I’m about to be volunteered for something I’m going to regret?” I asked.

Aunt Fae’s grin was impish. “Because you know me so well. I need you to be our emcee and auctioneer.”

I blinked. “I’m sorry, what? I can’t do that patter thing auctioneers do!”

“You’ll be fine,” she assured me. “You’ve got a quick wit and a good heart. That’s all you need.”

“That and the ability to speak coherently in front of a crowd,” I muttered.

Keone nudged me. “Hey, you solved a murder mystery—several in fact. How hard can auctioneering be in comparison?”

I gave him a look. “Remind me to make you eat those words when I accidentally sell Aunty Ilima’s quilt for a dollar.”

Ilima chuckled. “Kat, I have faith in you. And if all else fails, just imagine everyone in their underwear.”

“Because picturing your son in his underwear while I’m speaking to a crowd definitely won’t make me more tongue-tied,” I said.

Everyone laughed. I slurped my eggnog to hide a blush as Keone gave me a kiss on the cheek.

Aunt Fae clapped her hands, mercifully changing the subject. “Alright, everyone. The auction’s on Christmas Eve. We’ve got a lot to do, but I know we can pull it together. Sometimes spur-of-the-moment events are the best ones.”

I rolled my eyes and drained the last of my eggnog. So much for relaxing this holiday season! The next day was going to be full, even though it was Saturday and the post office was closed. I began tidying up; Tiki didn’t help, chasing a colorful ball. “We should get on home then, people. Lots to do tomorrow,” I said. “Postmaster’s orders.”

Just then, Tiki wove between my legs, tripping me as she pounced on the ball. I stumbled but Keone caught my arm. “You got this,” he said. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I managed. “Besides wondering what Aunt Fae’s gotten me into this time.”

“Whatever it is,” he said, “we’ll deal with it together.” He grinned. “And look. Tiki got you maneuvered under the mistletoe. One more kiss for the road.”

I didn’t mind if I did.

As I watched Mr. K walk away to help his mother gather her things, I enjoyed the view with a smile. Whatever challenges this holiday had in store, with Mr. K at my side it was bound to be fun. “We’ve come a long way, baby,” I whispered.

The post office glowed with warmth and light, the scent of fresh ti leaf mingled with sweet island air, and I was surrounded by people who had become my ‘ ohana. I was one lucky lady, and I knew it.

But . . . I’d learned the hard way that just when I was getting happy was often when the other shoe dropped. What disaster would hit Ohia this time?

Tiki rubbed against my legs as if sensing my change in mood, and Aunt Fae tweaked my nose. “You’re a million miles away, Kat. Let’s go home.”

I thrust my misgivings away and reached for the light switch. I left the lighted Christmas tree on, glowing and huge in the corner.