Page 51 of Big Island Summer
“Mommy!”
“We missed you so much!”
“I missed you too,” she said, wrapping her arms around them both.
Lani gave them a minute, half listening to the girls’ chatter and questions as she stretched her shoulders out and meandered through ‘Olena’s yard. The hibiscus cuttings that her cousin had taken from Mahina’s garden and planted here in her front yard were growing fast, bushing out and even putting out a few flowers.
Lani made a mental note to clip a few twigs from her aunt’s garden to plant at Tenn’s place – at home. She was still used to thinking of it ashishouse, even though he had made ittheirsin every way that he could, including legally. It was moments like that when she realized that her mind was still working to catch up with her heart.
What an eventful year they’d had.
“There are my girls!” Nate’s voice boomed through the yard.
“Daddy!”
“A week was too long!”
Lani smiled when she looked up at the lanai and saw the girls hanging from Nate’s arms like monkeys.
“What did you get us?”
“Oh, you think I got you something?”
“Yes!” Kiki shouted.
“You promised!” added Luana.
“Come inside and see.”
“Yay!” The girls ran inside, leaving ‘Olena laughing on the lanai. She looked happier – and more relaxed – than Lani could ever remember seeing her before.
“Thank you for keeping them so long.”
“It was fun. And your parents had them a lot too.” A year ago, the girls would have gone with their grandparents the wholetime. Ever since Mano’s heart attack, though, ‘Olena was wary of putting too much stress on either of her parents.
“Where’s Rory?”
“She’s with Lorenzo today.”
“How’s that going?” ‘Olena held up a hand and said, “You know what? Hold that thought. Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”
“Sure. Thank you.”
“I’ll be right back.”
While ‘Olena was inside, Lani walked up the wooden steps and settled into a comfortable chair on the lanai. She took deep breaths of the warm summer air, relishing the mild humidity and the slight salt tang that floated on the ocean breeze.
There was no place like home.
“Okay.” ‘Olena came back out, handed Lani a hot mug of coffee, and closed the front door behind her. “Nate brought a silly number of gifts back for the girls, so we have a minute.”
Lani took a sip of coffee as ‘Olena settled down next to her. It was black, but the first sip of filled her mouth with bursts of sugar and spice.
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
“Nate’s a coffee guy now.”
“Wasn’t he always?”
