Page 12 of Big Island Weddings
But what about what was best for her daughter?
5
‘Olena
The morning was cool, but blue skies promised a hot day.
‘Olena was outside working, trying to get her weeding done while there was still shade, when her dad’s truck pulled up out front. She brushed the dirt off of her hands and stood to greet her parents as they walked up the front path.
“Those hibiscus are looking good,” Mahina said.
“No flowers yet,” ‘Olena said as she hugged her.
“No, but they look healthy. They’re growing fast.” Her face lit up as the front door creaked open. “Like these girls!”
“Tutu!” Kiki threw her arms around her grandmother and buried her face in Mahina’s soft belly.
“Who’s this little opihi?” she teased.
“It’s me, Tutu!”
“I hardly recognized you. You’re so grown up!”
‘Olena laughed and shook her head. Anybody would think that they hadn’t seen each other for months, the way they carriedon. In reality, she and the girls rarely went a day without seeing her parents, even now that they had moved into their own little house.
Luana ran past them and crashed into Mano, nearly knocking him down with the enthusiasm of her hug. The familiar sound of his laughter wrapped around them like a warm blanket.
“Careful,” ‘Olena cautioned, but her dad scoffed.
“I’m not so old she has to worry about knocking me over.”
“Maybe not, but what if she made you drop the malasadas?”
“You brought donuts?” Kiki shrieked.
“Not dough nuts,” he enunciated, feigning horror. “Malasadas!”
“Malasadas are just island kine donuts,” Luana said, and her grandfather laughed. “But did you bring some?”
“It’s Sunday! Didn’t your tutu promise you malasadas on Sunday?”
“We forgot!” Kiki clapped her hands together joyfully. “That made it a surprise!”
Mano climbed the steps and set the box down on the table by the door. “What kine you like?”
“Is there chocolate?”
He winked at her and pulled out one of the pillowy pastries. Kiki took a huge bite, and chocolate custard exploded all over her face. ‘Olena just laughed, grateful that they’d opened the box out on the lanai.
“Lulu?” He put his arm around Luana. “You want one malasada?”
“Did you get the guava kine?”
“Did I get the guava,” he scoffed, plucking another one from the box and handing it to her.
“Mahalo!” she said as she snatched it out of his hands. Kiki tried to say the same, but her mouth was full of fried dough and chocolate custard.
‘Olena was glad that they would be off with their grandparents for the duration of the sugar rush. It had been a long week, and she was tired. Mahina noticed her fatigue, and as soon as the girls finished their malasadas, she herded them towards the truck.
