Page 33 of Big Island Summer
If she had set out to date on purpose – and she couldn’t imagine doing anything of the sort – she would have waited for months and months before introducing anyone new to her babies. But Hugh was a friend of a friend, her attorney before he was anything else, and he had met her kids long before they had gone on their first date. Now, he fit right in.
What would they do if he left?
Nell would be tempted to follow him if he asked. She would move in with him in a second if there were no kids in the picture. But she had finally found some stability for her babies. They had support in Pualena. She couldn’t uproot them, not now.
She pushed the thought away and picked a container up off of the floor, popping the lid off to fill it with carrots.
“Nell,” Hugh said in a stage whisper. “Look at this!”
She looked across the room and saw Everett standing unassisted, a proud grin on his face.
“He’s so good at standing,” Cassie cooed. “Aren’t you, Evvie?”
“He’s been cruising along the couch this week,” Nell said.
“He’s ready to walk,” Hugh told her.
“No way! He’s barely nine months old.”
“Look at him, though.”
“Cassie didn’t walk until she was one.”
“Come here, Everett,” he encouraged, crouching in front of him. “You can do it, little man.”
Nell stared, astonished, as Everett took a wobbling step forward. He took three more – quick, tiny, unsteady steps – and then Hugh caught him when he toppled forward.
“He did it!” Cassie shrieked. “He walked!”
Hugh stood with Everett in his arms and grinned at Nell, who was still staring in astonishment.
“Mama and baby are on the move,” he said.
“Me too!” Cassie said. “I’m on the mood too!”
Nell had to smile at how loud her once-wilting wallflower had gotten. When they lived with the kids’ dad, Cassie had always been painfully shy and quiet. Now that they were in safe spaces, around people they could trust, the full force of her personality was starting to shine through.
Nell’s phone chimed with a text from Emma:Sure, send her over.
“Cassie, Auntie Emma says you can stay here with her.”
“What?” she cried. “Why?”
“You just said you wanted to stay home.”
“You’re just gonna leave me here?”
Nell sighed and went back to packing snacks.
“I want to come too!” Cassie whined.
“Then go get dressed!”
“Fine!” she ran into the bedroom and slammed the door.
“Sorry.” Nell met Hugh’s eyes across the room. He looked so beautiful standing there holding her son that it made her heart hurt. “We’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
“I’m in no rush.” He smiled at her and then looked down at Everett, who cackled and arched his back, throwing his weight backwards – a new death-defying stunt that he used when he wanted to get down. Hugh caught him in both arms and set him down next to a pile of foam blocks.
