Page 81 of Big Island Sunrise
Rory was happy to pose and grin for one picture after another, twirling in her white cotton dress and smiling wide, showing off all of the baby teeth that she had yet to lose.
They snapped pictures of her with her aunties, with Lani, with her cousins. Even Kai, who generally refused to stand still long enough for a photo and usually scowled when asked to do so, put an arm around Rory’s shoulders and gave them a rare gap-toothed grin.
Everyone else arrived shortly thereafter. The little girls from next door came and so did all of the families that were part of ‘Olena’s homeschool co-op.
When Tenn walked in behind Olivia, Lani retreated into the kitchen to rotate a series of frozen pizzas through the oven.
He stood just beyond the kitchen window talking to Mano and Kekoa. He wore a dark green Hawaiian shirt, and his black hair was pulled back. He was so handsome that it hurt to look at him.
So, she told herself harshly,don’t look.
As she ferried the pizzas out of the house, she was hyper aware of Tenn standing at the edge of things, but she didn’t so much as glance his way. She didn’t have any energy or attention to spare. Not today.
“Where’s the cake?” a small boy demanded when the pizza was gone.
“I don’t have a cake,” Rory told him, grinning.
“No cake?!” His mouth dropped open, horrified.
“Nope!” She exchanged a secret smile with her mama. “I didn’t want one.”
“But it’s a birthday party.” The poor kid looked devastated, close to tears.
“Me and my mama made a special dessert,” she said, taking pity on him. She looked at Lani. “Ready, Mama? Can we have dessert now?”
“Of course, baby. Two minutes.” She went inside and pulled their tray of homemade pudding cups out of the fridge. Each one got its own candle, at Rory’s request. She lit them, creating a spiral of flame around the tray.
As she carried them out, ‘Olena led everyone in a Hawaiian version of the Happy Birthday song.
Hau’oli la hanau ia ‘oe,
Hau’oli la hanau ia ‘oe,
Hau’oli la hanau ia Rory,
Hau’oli la hanau ia ‘oe!
She blew out every candle, enough for a college student, and everyone clapped and cheered. Then she revealed their grand desert: Cups of Mud. They had made chocolate pudding from scratch, added gummy worms, and topped them off with crumbled brownies. It was a hit.
In some kind of birthday princess miracle, Rory ate two cups without staining her white dress or smushing a single flower.
“It’s a perfect birthday,” Mahina said quietly, putting an arm around Lani’s shoulders. “Congratulations, mama.”
Lani leaned into her aunt, so full of grief and gratitude that it seemed her chest might burst. She missed her parents terribly, so much that she had stubbornly refused to think of them all day. Ever since she had moved home, really. It was a black hole of grief that she steered away from again and again, terrified that it would suck her in if she veered too close.
But even with no grandparents, her baby was surrounded by so much love.
Rory was the center of attention at a long table lined with happy, chatteringkeiki. Mahina doted on her just as she did her own grandbabies – maybe even more, making up for lost time. Emma and ‘Olena had gone out of their way to make this day special. All of these families had shown up for the newest little member of their co-op.
It was a beautiful life, and she felt grateful down to her bones.
After dessert came the unwrapping of presents. Rory grew rich in crayons and coloring books and board games. ‘Olena’s family gave her a microscope, and Olivia gave her a huge marble run set.
Both were forgotten when Rory unwrapped a shiny new garden spade. She held it high and shouted, “A shovel!”
Kekoa looked at Lani. “Who gave her the shovel?”
She looked at Emma, who winced and laughed at the same time.
