Page 5 of Big Island Weddings
“That’s why we’re here,” Luana said.
“Come to put in a few hours at the family business, huh?”
“We’ll pick all morning,” she said earnestly.
“And Mama packed a picnic!” Kiki added.
Nate’s grin broadened as he looked at ‘Olena. He crossed the space between them in two long steps and leaned forward to kiss her between their two daughters, who shrieked in protest and laughed and wiggled their way out of his arms and down to theground. Arms free, he wrapped them around ‘Olena’s waist and pulled her closer.
For a long moment, everything disappeared. The rising sun went dark and the girls’ giggles faded to background noise as he held her close.
Then he released her, grinning triumphantly as the world came rushing back in. His eyes held hers for a long moment before he looked off to the right with a slight frown.
“Who’s this?”
‘Olena turned to see Tara’s white van pull up behind hers. As soon as it was parked, the twins spilled out and ran through the orchard. Their red hair shone in the morning sunlight, Piper’s sticking out from her head like living flames and Paige’s streaming out behind her in waves. Tara trailed behind them, walking with her teenage son.
“I called in reinforcements,” she told him.
“One of your co-op parents?” he asked.
“Tara runs a meal delivery service,” ‘Olena said to Nate. “I promised her a great price on lychee if she picked it herself.”
“Sounds good to me.”
‘Olena made introductions as more familiar trucks pulled up.
“You really did call in reinforcements,” he said.
“Armed with pruning shears,” ‘Olena told him, seeing the silver glint of the shears in her mother’s hand.
Mahina always had a pair of clippers in her car on the off chance she saw some variety of hibiscus or other tropical plant that she hadn’t collected yet. She would snip off a twig, tuck it into her garden, and have a blooming bush in no time.
“Mano has a job today,” she told them in passing, “but he and Kekoa are coming at lunchtime.”
“Thank you,” Nate said belatedly. For once, he seemed at a loss for words. Gratitude and overwhelm battled with the usualgood humor on his broad face. Mahina just nodded, already making quick work of the nearest tree.
Lani and Emma walked up the hill. Their kids had already disappeared into the orchard.
“You all came to pick lychee?” Nate asked.
“Put us to work,” Emma said cheerfully.
They spread out through the orchard, snipping fat clusters of fruit from the branches of the trees. Luana was a real help, as were the teenagers. The younger kids ate more than they picked, but that was to be expected. ‘Olena was happy just to have them there, chattering up in the trees like overgrown monkeys.
She took a break to watch them, finally cracking open some lychee herself. The red shells gave way easily, revealing the lush perfume and dripping juice of the white fruit inside. She ate a whole bunch of them, savoring the floral taste. It was like white pineapple and rose water.
Her favorite fruit.
She knew that was why Nate had chosen this orchard in particular, the abundance of lychee just across the highway from Pualena. They had already been divorced for five years when he bought the place.
Despite ‘Olena giving him the cold shoulder all that time, he had never given up. He had worked and saved and pursued the goal of bringing his family back together… and here they all were, working towards a common goal and feasting on lychee in the Hawaiian sunshine.
The sun was at its peak when Mano and Kekoa arrived with lunch, and ‘Olena went back to the van for the food that she had packed. Her dad and brother had brought their artery-clogging staples of spammutsubis, mac salad, andmanapua. Those decadent foods were balanced out by other contributions, like fresh salad andpoke. All together, they had a feast.
They spread out and ate in the shade of the orchard, leaning against the trees.
After a minute, Juniper jumped up with a shout. She swatted at the back of her neck where little fire ants had crawled into her shirt.
