Page 14 of Big Island Neighbors
“That’s okay,” he said. “You just need to turn the screen on in the same room. At the park, even. The same way you would have when your family called you in Alaska. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, not for her.”
“What ifIdon’t want to talk to him?”
“You could have someone else handle the calls. Emma, or ‘Olena? I’m sure they’d be happy to help.”
“Maybe.”
“Just a sec.” He ducked into the men’s room and came back a moment later with a handful of toilet paper. She took it and blew her nose. “Better?”
She laughed weakly. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re not a mess.” He put a knuckle under her chin and pressed gently upwards until she met his eyes. “You’re a wonderful mother. You’re home safe, with friends and family. You’ll get through this.”
“What if I don’t?” Fresh tears spilled over as she asked, “What if I don’t get full custody?”
“You will.” He put his arms around her again and she nestled into him, refusing to overanalyze how good that felt, how natural it was to seek comfort in his arms.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder why he would choose to get into this mess. Surely there were dozens of childless, baggage-free women lining up for the chance to go out with Tennyson Nakamura. Why her? Why now?
“Your timing is terrible,” she muttered into the fabric of his t-shirt.
Laughter rumbled through his chest. “Is it?”
She sniffed and looked up at him.
“If we had gotten together when I first fell for you, there would be no Rory. No Olivia. As rocky as that all was, I can’t imagine my life without her.”
Lani nodded. The thought of life without Rory opened up a black hole in her chest that didn’t bear looking at.
“But what about later?” she asked. “I’m going to be stuck in this for months. Just a lot of tears and drama and… mess.”
“And I get to be here to help you through it.”
Just like that, she was crying again. He rested one hand lightly on the back of her head; the other rubbed small circles on her back.
“It’s an honor to get to be here for you,” he said once her sobs had subsided. “Don’t you get that?”
She pulled back and shook her head.
Tenn brushed a tear from her cheek. “Then I’ll just keep reminding you until you do.”
5
Tara
Despite the disappearance of her husband, Tara’s day-to-day life hadn’t changed much.
She still went through the same list of tasks each day, still cooked and cleaned and helped her kids with their homeschool projects… and honestly, she enjoyed having her bed to herself every night.
Her only real worry was their rapidly dwindling bank account.
She still hadn’t figured out how to deal with her financial worries. Any job that took her away from home was out. And even with all of the remote jobs available, there simply weren’t enough hours in the day for her to work a nine to five.
So where did that leave her?
She was shoveling rabbit droppings, collecting fertilizer for the garden, when Mitch called. She pulled off one of her gloves and answered.
“Hello?”
