Page 50 of Big Island Horizons
“Are you sure? If you’re not up for it today, feel free to drop Rory and run. I’ll give you the all clear when they’re gone.”
“I would love to meet your parents.” Loving relatives were the least of her worries. And having other people present gave her an excuse to avoid telling him about her real worries just a little while longer.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” She gave him a playful shove. “Open the door already.”
His parents were sitting around the coffee table on the living room floor, stringing beads with the two little girls. When Lani walked in, they both got to their feet.
She recognized them from around town; anyone who had lived in Pualena for decades she recognized on sight. But she looked at them in a new way now, seeing Tenn’s cheekbones on his father’s face and his jawline on his mother’s.
The everyday miracle of family resemblances always invoked a feeling of awe for Lani. A familiar ache grew in her chest as she thought of her own parents.
As she greeted them, she realized that she didn’t know their names.
“Ken Nakamura,” his dad said helpfully, extending his hand. “It’s good to finally meet you.”
“And I’m Sonya,” said his mother. With dark blonde hair and wide blue eyes, she looked just like Olivia. Or, rather, Olivia looked just like her grandmother.
“It’s good to meet you too.”
“Tennyson,” Sonya said to her son, “why don’t you make us some tea?”
Apprehension flickered across his face as he looked between Lani and his parents, but after a moment he said, “Sure.”
“Come sit with me,” Sonya said to Lani. “I want to hear everything about you.”
“Ojiisan,” said Olivia to her grandfather, “would you tie this for me, please?”
Ken sat on a floor cushion next to Olivia while Lani and Sonya sat on the couch.
“You left Hawai’i after high school, is that right?” Sonya asked.
“After college. I went to the University of Hilo.”
“Really? You know I teach there.”
“Yes.”
“What did you study?”
“Art.”
“And did you become an artist?”
The question caught her off guard, and she didn’t reply right away. Still serenely stringing beads alongside the girls, Ken looked up and caught his wife’s eye. Lani thought that she saw a mild warning in his expression.
“She made those new menus for the cafe.”
“That’s right,” Sonya exclaimed, “the sharks and flowers. They’re very good. I suppose there are million different things that you can do with graphic design these days, aren’t there? What have you been working on lately?”
“I made some coloring books.” Lani smiled awkwardly, wondering why the simple questions were making her squirm. Maybe it was just the blazing intensity of Sonya’s attention. “And I’ve stumbled into murals lately. I did one for the community center and a few different businesses have asked me if I can paint things for them.”
“Yes, the new mural at New Horizons! It’s lovely.” Sonya put her hands together, still looking intently at Lani. “What made you choose Hilo for college?”
“I wanted to stay close to family.”
“And what changed after college?”
