Page 2 of Big Island Neighbors
She walked along the fenceline until she saw Piper scattering grain for the chickens. Lani hadn’t been able to tell the twins apart until Piper hacked her orange hair into a pixie cut, but it was easy now; Paige still had long hair that she usually wore in a braid.
“Hey Piper,” she called out, “is your mom around?”
“I’m here.” Tara walked into view carrying two stainless steel milking buckets, which she handed off to her daughter. “Get these into the fridge, would you?”
“How’s it?” Lani asked as her neighbor walked up to the fence.
“Just another day in paradise.” Tara’s voice was subdued, and her eyes were tired.
“We’re headed to Hikuwai today. Emma thinks Kai will have more fun if you and your kids come too. Can you take half a day off?”
The light came back into Tara’s eyes - not all at once, but slowly, like dawn breaking over the ocean.
“You know what? That’s exactly what we need today. Can you give me another hour or so to finish my morning chores?”
“Easy. Rory and Kai aren’t even up yet.”
“Want me to drive? We can all fit in my van, and parking over there can be tricky.”
“Sounds good.”
Emma was plating breakfast when Lani walked back inside.
“Tara’s in,” she said in passing. “She’ll drive. In an hour or so.”
“Great.”
“I’m going to go wake Rory up. Want me to wake Kai?”
“No, let him sleep. If he’s not up in half an hour, I’ll go get him.”
Lani climbed the two flights of narrow stairs that led to her bedroom, the only one on the third floor. Rory was already stirring, caught somewhere between sleep and waking.
“Good morning.” Lani put an arm around her daughter and kissed her cheek.
“Mama,” she murmured sleepily.
“We’re going on an adventure today.”
Her deep brown eyes opened all the way. “An adventure?”
“We’re going exploring. And swimming.”
Rory popped right up. She could go from zero to full energy in moments, just like a puppy.
“Let’s go!”
“Breakfast first.”
“Okay!” She shot towards the door, and Lani followed close behind.
“Go slow on the stairs.”
“Okaaay.” Her five year old dragged the word out in a tone of pre-teen annoyance, and she bit back a laugh.
Two hours had passed by the time everyone was fed and on the road. It was a noisy trip, with Rory belting songs from Moana and Kai talking at the twins about Minecraft. Lani was relieved when they finally parked and she could climb out into the relative quiet of the morning.
The trailhead to Hikuwai was at the edge of a quiet neighborhood that sat just above Hilo. A nondescript path cut through the brush and up the hillside.
