Page 43 of Big Island Weddings
“I grew up in Kainaliu,” Nell explained.
“Ohh, you’re a Kona girl. You just transferred to Pualena High School?”
“Yeah, I just moved to Pualena not too long ago.”
“She’s friends with ‘Olena and Nathan,” Hugh volunteered. All through the garden, he was two steps behind them.
“Well that explains it. Didn’t take you long to snap up the most handsome guy in school, did it? You’ve got good taste, I’ll give you that much.”
Eventually, they settled her in the main room in front of an easel and said goodbye.
“Hey, Hugh,” Donna said in a stage whisper, pointing at Nell, “I like her.”
He laughed and bent down to kiss her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. Me too.”
“You kids have fun. No later than midnight, you hear?”
“Okay, Mom.” He took Nell’s hand and headed for the front door.
“Will she be worried when we’re not back by midnight?” Nell asked once they were out of earshot.
“She’ll have forgotten the visit five minutes from now,” he replied.
Outside, he collapsed onto a bench and put his head in his hands.
“I’m sorry. I just need a couple minutes, and then I’ll drive you home.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Nell sat beside him and rubbed a hand up and down his back. She looked up at the moon, which was nearly full. A low smattering of clouds shone silver beneath the stars.
“That hasn’t happened in a while,” he said eventually.
“She’s the reason you haven’t moved to Oahu,” Nell guessed.
“I’ve thought about going. But I’m all my mom has. And if I moved, the custody arrangement would change. I’d have Daisy half of each week, but I’d lose half of her vacation time. I’d rather spend all summer with her than fight traffic getting her to school every day. And I fly over as many weekends as her mom will let her spend with me. I just… as much as I’d like to, I can’t be in two places at once.”
He straightened and looked up at the moon. “There are times that no one can calm my mom down but me. Sometimes she recognizes me, but usually she thinks I’m my dad. Or her brother. But one way or another, seeing me always seems to ground her. She always settles. So far, at least. I hate the thought of her having an episode like that when I’m off island. It happened once when I was visiting Daisy, and they had to sedate her.”
“I’m sorry, Hugh,” Nell said softly.
He shook his head quickly and scrubbed a hand over his face. “No, I’m sorry. That was bad timing. I can drive you home now, if you’d like.”
“I’m in no hurry.” She leaned into him and looked up at the night sky.
He put an arm around her, and she leaned against him.
They sat like that for a long time, looking up at the moon.
16
Lani
Pots covered the stovetop, and a fog bank of steam drifted across the room as Emma lifted their lids. The kitchen warmed with the smells of herbs and spices.
“Cup of tea?” Emma offered.
“Please.”
“What sounds good? There’s hibiscus orange spice, mamaki citrus, blue vanilla, purple dream, lemongrass with mint…”
