Chapter 2: A strange story
David re-married a gorgeous blonde. They made plans for a family of their own. He was forty-one. She was twenty-four. It's great to be rich. His lawyer called one day. "David, do you know a woman names Noelani Autin?" At first he could not recall. He was silent. "Are you there?"
"Yes, why?"
"You have been served with a paternity suit." His heart skipped a beat. Noelani... Oh, no. Now he remembered. He had been dreading this for almost a year. He told his attorney all about that Friday night in Tahiti. "She entrapped you, David. It happens all the time. We should fight it." David was the kind of person who always wanted to take responsibility. A mistake was a mistake. He worked hard with his children to emphasize the importance of integrity. They strategized and made plans to bring on an expert in international law and a top family attorney at the firm. He went home to tell Sue, his new wife, what had transpired. She was understanding. He was relieved.
His lawyers contacted Noelani's counsel. They agreed on a paternity test. David and his attorneys made the eight hour trip, Sue accompanied them. They got to the hotel in Papeete. The lawyers met and agreed on a time and place for the test. It would be administered by David's expert the next morning. Swabs and blood were taken from David and the infant, and both were sent to a lab in San Francisco by special courier. David, Sue, and David's senior counsel remained, and David was given permission to meet the little girl for the first time.
The three Americans arrived at a small house in a middle-class neighborhood. The baby was sleeping. David had not seen Noelani since that one Friday night, nine months ago. He was angry because he would have wanted to know she was pregnant. He was embarrassed, for his new wife was there. But he was also tickled, for he loved babies. Noelani's mother was there, a very dignified woman, probably in her forties as well. David said he wanted to hold and burp the baby. Noelani agreed warmly.
The next part of the story is weird.
Noelani's mother was crying from the moment the Americans arrived. Noelani had an expression of dread and fear but also some satisfaction. David could sense all this. "Why the sadness? We will work something out."
Noelani spoke. She belonged to an old clan of Tahitians, with old traditions. At first, David was intrigued but that turned to rage. This is not the environment for my daughter, David thought. David's blood began to boil. His lawyer was ready to pounce. He hadn't been so angry in his whole life. He looked to his attorney, "Let's get them out on the G5 tonight," commanded David.
The next part of the story includes secretly bundling up the baby, grabbing a small bag for Noelani and her mother and making their way to the airport. David's pilot had to sign for the manifest. He knew he could lose his license. David promised to compensate him in any way. "I must get out now." While in the air, David's attorneys made a total of twenty one phone calls, including one to the White House. David was not a big donor to either party but both Democrats and Republicans courted him heavily. Buttons were pushed, rules shattered and, in the end, David agreed to provide Noelani, her mother and the baby with financial support for eighteen years. David's attorney took careful notes on how to make this legal for the women.
The two Polynesian women and the baby moved into an apartment on Wilshire Boulevard. Noelani's mother had a difficult time adjusting but Noelani found work as a translator for an international bank with a branch in Los Angeles. Noelani married a business associate of David's. They had a son. They got divorced. Noelani re-married a wonderful young man named Carlos who wanted a career in Los Angeles politics but needed help. Financial help. David and his friends provided that help. Eventually, David and Sue bought the corner house next door to his thirteen thousand square foot mansion and linked the two houses. Noelani, Carlos and her son moved in.
Noelani named their daughter Iliki, which means cardamom on Swahili. David never understood why. No matter. He paid Noelani $10,000 per month for 18 years. At seven percent growth per year that would have turned into just over four million dollars. Mark, her new husband, was a successful commercial real estate agent who did a lot of work for David and the Reit that David started and led. Noelani got their Westwood home and a lot of money when they split. It did not matter, for David continued to pay all of Iliki's expenses and the $10K per month made her a wealthy woman.
Iliki got a trust at 18, just like David's four other children and the customary Volvo S90 when she turned 16. All of the kids got the same safe car which they could upgrade when they turned 18. Iliki crashed her S90 because she was texting and driving. Luckily no one was hurt. She had to accept a Honda Accord, still a safe car, when she could regain her license after a year of suspension by the DMV. Iliki was a good student at the private girl's school David paid for, but not good enough to get into UCLA or USC (where she wanted to go). She was on a club swim team and a club water polo team, where she excelled due to her long arms and strong legs.