Page 41 of Big Island Weddings
“I’m sorry. Schoolyard dynamics can be so difficult. Cassie would have had a terrible time of it, I think, if she had to go to public school alone.”
He nodded slowly, looking glum. “I might have to fly over myself to have a conversation with her teacher. And the other parents, if they’re willing.”
“That sounds like a good idea. I’m sure Daisy would love to see you.”
“I miss her like crazy. I wish I could be there for her at the end of the day. We talk on the phone, but it’s not the same.”
She could only nod. More than once, she had wondered what was keeping him on the Big Island when his daughter lived on Oahu. She had nearly asked a time or two, but the question carried too much judgment and implied disapproval.
Still… if her ex had moved off island with her babies, nothing could have stopped her from following them. But maybe mothers were different that way.
She tried to put it out of her mind. The fullness of their lives would reveal themselves in time without interrogation, and she didn’t want to spoil a rare night out.
Three of the small plates were centered on local ahi; one was sashimi served with chile pepper water, another was the chef’sflash-seared take on poke, and the third was pan-fried ahi belly. The flavor profile of each was unique, and every one of them melted in her mouth.
The fresh tuna dishes were followed by a phenomenal Caesar salad and pesto tortellini.
“I’m not going to have any room left for the main dishes!” she said as she paused for a sip of wine.
“You’ll change your mind when you taste their mushroom risotto,” he told her.
Nell leaned back in her chair and looked around, admiring the general ambiance. She so rarely drank that just half a glass of wine had left her feeling lightheaded and giddy.
Hugh’s phone buzzed, and a line appeared between his eyebrows when he checked the screen.
“I’m so sorry,” he murmured to Nell. “It might be an emergency.”
She nodded for him to go ahead.
“Hello?” He put the phone up to his ear and kept his voice low. As he listened to the person on the other end, the worry lines on his forehead carved themselves deeper. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
He put his phone away and looked at Nell with a mixture of disappointment and resignation.
“It’s my mother,” he explained. “She’s unwell.”
“Here’s your risotto.” The server chose that moment to approach, cheerfully oblivious. “And your catch of the day.”
“We’ll need these to go,” Nell told him.
“If you want to stay and finish your dinner,” Hugh began, “I can come back and pick you up, or call you an Uber.”
“I don’t want to stay without you.” She looked back at their server and confirmed, “To go. Please.”
“And the check,” Hugh added.
They were out the door a few minutes later, leaving the wine bottle nearly full on the table and carrying warm boxes of food in their hands.
“They have amazing desserts too,” he said with strained levity. “We’ll have to go back.”
“Sure. I’d love to go there again.”
He paused by his car and raked a hand through his dark hair. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t have time to take you all the way back to Pualena. I could order you a ride if you want to wait here in the tea shop, or… you could come with me?”
“Let’s go.” She was in the passenger seat with the door closed before he had time to rethink his offer. Whatever was happening with his mother, she wanted to be there to support him.
Going slow was wise in theory, but casual dating was the last thing that Nell truly wanted.
She wantedthis. Doing life together. Confronting hard times together.
