Page 31 of Big Island Sunset
While Tenn finished making their dinner, they took the construction-paper dolphin they had made the day before and affixed it to a long, sturdy strip of watercolor paper. Then they used a split pin to attach the paper strip to the poster, leaving it free to spin. Standing behind the poster board, Olivia made the dolphin jump into sight and vanish again.
“Perfect!” Lani said.
“Thank you!” Olivia threw her arms around Lani’s waist. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome!” Lani returned the hug, rubbing Olivia’s back. After a minute she said, “Let’s clean up so we have room to eat.”
“Dinner’s just about ready,” Tenn added.
“We can’t eat without Rory!” Olivia protested. “Why isn’t she home yet?”
Lani glanced at the clock above the door. “She’ll be home any minute. Come on, I’ll help you move the poster board. Would you set the table?”
“Aye aye, matey!” Olivia scrambled to oblige.
Lani just smiled and shook her head. The Pualena Playschool kids had gone full pirate lately. It was cute at first, but it was starting to drive ‘Olena up a wall.
Tenn moved past with a huge platter of sushi and set it down in the middle of the table.
“Wow, what a feast!” Lani said.
“I may have gone a bit overboard,” he said with a wry grin. “I made a bunch of the veggie and spam rolls that the kids love. If there are leftovers, they can take them for lunch tomorrow. I’ll just whip up the lilikoi limeade and we’re good to go.”
She moved closer and put her arms around him. “Thank you for taking such good care of us.”
“It’s an honor and a pleasure,” he said, kissing her.
“Rory’s home!” Olivia shouted, running for the front door.
Tenn smiled at Lani and gave her one more kiss before reluctantly letting her go.
“Rory!” Olivia shouted from the doorway. “Come see my dolphin! It jumps!”
“Hi Mom!” Rory shouted in passing, following Olivia into the living room.
Lorenzo continued up the walkway and handed off Rory’s backpack.
“Good day?” Lani asked.
“A very good day,” he said, but his smile was sad. “She pet the animals at the zoo.”
“Yeah, she loves the petting zoo.”
“I have bought my return ticket,” he said gravely. “I leave at three months… legally, I cannot stay longer than this.”
“She’ll be sad to see you go,” Lani said.
Lorenzo nodded. He started to say something else, but Rory ran up and grabbed his hand.
“Wait, Babbo! Don’t go! You have to come see my painting!”
He looked questioningly at Lani, who stepped back and gestured for him to come inside.
“Of course,” she said. “Come on in.”
“Mama bought me a real canvas, Babbo! Look!” She pulled him through to the living room, and he gave her his full attention as she launched into a story about the underwater city she had painted. It looked more like an abstract piece than anything, but in Rory’s mind, each of those mermaid-blobs and coral-colored buildings had a story.
Lani went into the kitchen, where Tenn was pouring bright orange lilikoi limeade into four tall glasses.
