The Greatest Love

Reid couldn't believe how it had changed. There were tall buildings and four-lane paved streets everywhere. Of course, his first stop was the apartment building where Leilani lived. They weren't even there anymore. Office buildings now stood on the site. The place that was still there was the New Hope church so Reid took his mother there for Sunday services. He couldn't help but notice the man leading his congregation in prayer had a pronounced limp and wondered if he was in the war. At the end, Mary wanted to tell the minister how much she enjoyed his sermon. It gave Reid an excuse to ask if he knew Leilani or her family.

"I remember you. You were the young man who kissed her in front of the church as the bombs started to fall. She begged you to come inside but you said you had to get to your ship."

"You're the preacher?" Reid couldn't believe it was the same guy who was so understanding that day and guided Leilani inside. "I heard you joined up right after the attack."

"Yeah, that's where I got this," he said, slapping at his bum leg. "Omaha Beach on the "D-day."

"I'm sorry," said Reid.

"My son won the medal of honor," his mother volunteered.

"That doesn't surprise me," commented the man of God.

Enough of the small talk, "Does Leilani still live here? I went over to her old apartment but the building isn't even there anymore."

"No, everything changed after the war. It's getting so expensive to live here anymore, I'm thinking about moving, myself. Leilani's dad got sick and with everything so costly they had to move to the mainland. Mr. Conti had a brother somewhere in the states."

"Conti? Was that her last name?"

"Yeah, her father was from the states, but her mother was full-blooded Hawaiian."

"So, you don't have any idea where they moved, what state, anything?"

"No, I'm sorry. I wish I could help. You know Leilani cried for weeks after that day. Love like that only comes around once in a person's life. I hope you find her, son."

*****

He tried! Over the next few years, his mother watched with sorrow as one lead after another turned out to be a dead end. Eventually, he pretty much gave up. Despite his mother pushing him, he just wasn't interested in trying to find another woman to love. He had resolved himself to the idea of being a confirmed bachelor for the rest of his life.

Early in 1961, Reid received an official looking letter from the Navy. He stood there just looking at the envelope. "I'm too old for the draft," he jokingly told his mother.

"Well, open it and find out what it's about," she replied.

It was an invitation to the twenty-year memorial service at Pearl Harbor. At first, he said he wasn't going, but Mary said she'd love another trip to Hawaii. He finally made up his mind to go and arranged for the vacation time.

They were treated like royalty when they arrived. Reid learned that he, along with the other three medal of honor winners from that infamous day in history, would be acknowledged during the ceremony.

Mary stood in an area that was reserved for family members and thought her heart would burst with pride as they announced the name of her son and told a shortened version of his heroism on that tragic day.

As the narrator moved to the next honoree, Mary was joined by a middle-aged woman. She had long silky black hair and eyes as dark as midnight. She had a thirty-five-millimeter camera hanging around her neck and seemed to know how to use it.

She caught Mary's attention when she spoke. "Excuse me, ma'am, I couldn't help but notice how you were beaming when they were talking about Reid Prescott. Are you a relative?"

Mary took one look at the woman and knew instantly. "Leilani," she said in a whisper.

The camerawoman was shocked. "How did you know my name?"

"I... I can't believe it. I had a feeling, I just knew you'd be here. I'm his mother and I've been waiting to meet you for twenty years."

Leilani had assumed Reid was married and probably had forgotten all about by that time. Mary's words were like a blessing from heaven. The two women talked during a good portion of the ceremony, but Leilani had to take more pictures. She found Mary again as the festivities were coming to an end. She had her back to Reid as he unknowingly approached the two women.

"Mom," he yelled still from several feet away, "are you okay? I know it's been a long ceremony."

"I'm fine, son. I found someone I want you to meet."

Leilani turned around, "Hi, Reid."

He could feel his legs getting rubbery. He caught his breath as his heart started to pound like a kettle drum. "My God, is... is it really you?"

She handed her camera to Mary and rushed into his arms, smothering each other with kisses. The whole crowd around them cheered to see two people so much in love.

It was the start of a long and happy life together. Leilani was working on the East Coast as a press photographer. She had been married, but her husband, like Carol, was caught cheating. She also had a teenage daughter who was in her sophomore year of high school. It took several months of weekend visits, letters, and long-distance phone calls, but Reid and Leilani were finally married in June of 1962.

Leilani's daughter sat in the first row with her arm around her new grandmother and watched with excitement as her mother and step-father exchanged vows with a love that twenty years of separation couldn't destroy.

The end.