Page 39 of Big Island Summer
“That’s what Toni said ages ago, and now look.” His voice broke. “I lost her.”
“She hasn’t gone anywhere. Not really. She’s still with family. But she might actually bolt if you keep pushing. She’ll be eighteen in a minute.”
“That’s why I want her living with me and Teddy! Her childhood is almost over, and I’m missing it.”
“Her childhood is done, Ethan.”
Pain flashed through his eyes.
“I’m sorry, but it is.”
His expression shifted from grief to anger. “Which is it, Emmaline? Is she a child or an adult? You can’t have it both ways. She can’t switch every time it suits her!”
“But sheisboth. That’s the age.”
“I hate this age.” Ethan put the discarded chair back on its feet and sat down. “I miss my kid.”
“I know.”
“What’s so wrong about wanting my own daughter to live with me?”
“She might be a minor for a few more months, but she’s not a little girl anymore. Trying to bully her into anything isn’t going to end well. You need to start thinking about the relationship you want to nurture with your adult daughter instead of trying to turn her back into your little girl.”
“She’ll always be my little girl.”
“I know.” Emma smirked. “And you’ll always be Mom’s baby boy. But how does it feel when she treats you like one?”
“Ugh.” He wrinkled his nose. “Point taken.”
“Just give it some time, Ethan.”
“Okay. I’ll try.”
“She’s going to be okay.”
He looked towards the orchard, fear surfacing as his frustration faded.
“I hope to God you’re right.”
12
Lani
“Who wants more pancakes?” Tenn asked.
A chorus ofme’s went up from all four of the little girls at their kitchen table.
“See, this is why I waited to ask until I had a stack of eight. Am I a genius, or am I a genius?”
“These are the best pancakes I ever had!” Kiki shouted. “Right, Lulu?”
Luana just nodded. She had already stuffed a huge bite into her mouth.
“I mean, it’s kind of his job,” Olivia said, calmly cutting her own pancakes with a butterknife.
“Can I have more mango syrup, Uncle?” Kiki asked.
“Sure thing.” Tenn leaned across the table and poured her more of their homemade syrup.
