Page 34 of Big Island Summer
Not even thinking, just caught in his gravitational pull, Nell crossed the room and put her arms around Hugh’s waist. Hewas nearly a foot taller than she was, and her head rested on his chest.
Hugh put one arm around her and stroked her hair with his other hand, over the crown of her head and down her back.
Without warning, Nell began to cry.
All of her fear came rushing to the surface at once, a pressing dread that she was going to lose something extraordinary just a moment after she’d found it.
She tried to marshall her emotions and control her breath, but she couldn’t. The more that she worked to control it, the more the sobs seem to build. After a moment, she gave up and gave in, burying her face in the hollow of Hugh’s shoulder as silent sobs wracked her body.
For a while, he didn’t say anything at all. He just held her close.
When the storm had calmed, he spoke softly into her ear: “What’s wrong?”
Nell stepped backwards and wiped her face with the sleeve of her shirt. “Nothing.”
Hugh just waited, dark eyes intent.
“It’s stupid,” she said, still balking.
“I’m sure it’s not.”
She inhaled deeply and then let the confession out in a rush of breath.
“I love you, and I’m terrified that you’re going to leave.”
He leaned in, took her face in both hands, and kissed her soundly.
“I love you too. And I’m not going anywhere.”
“Not even Honolulu?”
A pained look came into his eyes. He felt torn; she could see that.
“I don’t want to be what’s keeping you from your daughter.”
“It’s more complicated than that, and you know it. My business is here, and my mother–”
“I know. I know you had a whole life here already, and your mother’s not well.”
“That’s an understatement,” he muttered.
“But I can also see the look on your face every time Daisy calls. Not being there with her is tearing you up inside.”
“It would be easier if she were happy over there… but she’s really struggling.”
“I know.”
“I don’twantto move there. That school is crushing her, and living in a little apartment in the city is no kind of life. I just want to bring her here, where she can be out in the sunshine all day like Cassie and the rest of the playschool kids.”
“Is there any chance of that happening?”
He hung his head. “Her mother would have to agree.”
“Which isn’t likely.”
“It’s darn near impossible.”
“And in the meantime…”
