Page 5 of Shark Cove

Malia started. “What?” She glanced at her mother. “You knew her back then?” Malia’d never met anyone who’d known her as a baby.

“Lei and I were crazy college girls back then.” Harry smiled, but Malia read worry around her eyes and in the lines bracketing her mouth.“We met in Mexico when I adopted you.”

“You were such a sweet baby,” Lei said. “I totally understand why Harry had to keep you for her own.”

Malia and Harry snorted in unison. “Not sweet anymore,” they said, in perfect sync.

Lei laughed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were related.”

“We absolutely are related.” Harry slid an arm around Malia, pulling her close, and kissed her forehead.

Malia’s heart swelled with love, but she scowled for form’s sake. “Quit it, Mom.”

A clatter of footsteps came from the stairs—Kylie must have heard their voices. “And right on cue, Lei, this is my other daughter, Kylie.”

“Hello.” Kylie put her dimples on display. “I’m not adopted, though. Mom’s my real mom.”Why did she have to brag like that?Malia’s smile died. “You knew Malia when she was a baby?” Kylie asked.

“You heard right. Your mom and I met in Mexico when she adopted Malia. Great to meet you, too, Kylie.” Lei’s phone beeped, and she glanced at it. “Oh, shoot, I can’t stay after all. I’ve got to go pick my son up from soccer practice; his ride fell through. He’s a few years younger than you, Kylie, and plays for the Haiku Chargers.”

“I’m not into sports,” Kylie said in her sassy way. Malia wanted to slap her.

Harry drew Kylie in for a kiss, anyway. “And that’s an eleven-year-old for you. Sure you can’t stay for dinner, Lei?”

“I thought I could, but parenthood calls.” Lei gave Harry a direct look. “Be sure to tell your girls what I told you at the station. It’s important.”

“I will,” Harry said. “I’ll walk you out.”

Mom followed Lei to the front door. Malia heard their murmuring voices on the front porch as she turned back to the stove to drain the pot of broccoli.

A moment later, Harry returned.

“Can I talk to you a minute, alone? It’s important,” Malia was dying to tell her mother about Camille’s disappearance.

“Oh, honey. Can’t I eat first? This looks so good.” Harry pulled Malia into her arms, rested her cheek on Malia’s head. “What would I do without you?”

Malia shut her eyes for a second, feeling her mom’s strong arms around her, the tiredness in her lanky body. She savored being needed, belonging. Only Harry really made her feel that way.And Camille.

“Group hug!” Kylie yelled, clearly feeling jealous. She body-slammed the two of them, embracing from the outside.

Laughing, Harry pulled them both into her arms for a big squeeze. “Okay, let’s eat. Thanks for making dinner, Malia.”

They sat. Malia dished up the food, noticing dark circles under Harry’s eyes. Harry was still a good-looking woman, and she had a way that put people at ease and made her well-liked on the job. Still, their father’s desertion had left scars that weren’t healing quickly. Her mother was smoking again; Malia could tell by the tiny tremble in her hands and the way her mouth pinched when she chewed, as if longing for the shape of a cigarette.

“Now can I talk to you?” Malia asked when they were mostly done.

Kylie looked up. “So, talk.”

“Not in front of you,” Malia snapped.

Kylie looked at Harry. “Mom! Malia’s being mean.”

“Only because you make me have to boss you around by not doing what you know perfectly well you need to do.”

“Girls, please.” Harry set down her fork. “Are you going to make me handcuff you again?” She’d handcuffed the two to each other for an entire day to curb their bickering—and it had worked for a while.

Malia looked down at the remains of her meal. “I wanted to talk to you alone because it’s none of Kylie’s business, but I guess it doesn’t matter if she knows.” Malia took a fortifying sip of water. “I called Camille this evening and her mom says she’s missing. She was super freaked-out and thought Camille was with me. Said she packed a bag and left a note, and if she wasn’t with me, she must have run away.”

“Hmm. That doesn’t sound like Camille.” Harry finished her meal. “That was delicious. Tomorrow night, Kylie, you get to fix dinner since you ate popcorn on my bed and gave Malia a hard time.”

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