Page 28 of Big Island Sunrise
9
Lani
The rain was spitting that morning, little needles blowing sideways, and Rory refused to get out of the car. She huddled under a beach towel and shivered dramatically.
“I can’t go. It’s too cold.”
“Aurora King, you were born in Alaska. This drizzle is notcold.”
“It’s freezing.” Rory chattered her teeth together, and Lani laughed.
“That’s pretty good.”
“We can’t swim in the rain.”
“You don’t have to. It’ll be sunny in a couple of hours. You can swim then.”
“I want to go home.”
“Not an option.” She scooped her up and out of the car.
“It’s like you’re torturing me!” Rory went limp, letting her head loll back. The misting rain landed on her pale cheeks and dark hair, a thousand miniscule droplets.
“We should get you into a theater troupe.”
She perked up. “What’s that?”
“Plays.”
“Playing?”
“Acting. Pretending. Like in movies.”
“I like movies!”
“I know.” Lani set her down at the edge of the parking lot and adjusted the beach bag she had slung over one shoulder.
“Lani!” Emma rolled down the driver-side window of her car as she pulled up. “Hi! ‘Olena said you would be here. Where does her group meet up?”
“On the grass usually, but they’re over there today.” She pointed to a blue structure just past the parking lot, four columns and a roof. “See the picnic tables?”
“Great, thanks. I’ll just park up here.”
“Look,” she told Rory. “Auntie ‘Olena is setting up out of the rain. Run and catch up with your cousins.”
Rory ran off towards the big girls, and Lani walked over to Emma. She gave her a hug when she got out of the car.
“How’s it going?”
“I spent most of my morning trying to coax a goat back through a gate. Would not follow me. Would not budge when I pulled on her collar. Finally the two little girls next door did it for me. They called to her and she went right in.”
“Thank God for neighbors.”
“We’ve got good ones.”
“So I told my auntie that we’ll be staying with you a while. I can be ready tomorrow, if you don’t mind picking me up.”
“Yeah, tomorrow’s fine.”
