Page 55 of Big Island Sunset
That made Olivia smile.
“There’s one more.” Lani reached into the box and pulled out the last photo. “I thought that we could put one up on the wall and the other one in your room.”
“I want this one out here,” she said decisively, holding the photo from her fifth birthday party. Her mom looked worse for wear in that one, prematurely aged by her addictions, but in that moment she still looked thrilled to be there with her daughter. “Next to the picture of Rory and her babbo.”
“Good plan,” Lani agreed. “Would you help me decide where all of them should go?”
Olivia bounced up on her knees. “Sure!”
“Let’s start with the big one.” Lani picked up their family photo and held it up to the wall. “Is this a good spot?”
Olivia looked on with a critical eye, putting her hand to her chin in thought.
“No?”
“A little to the left,” she said. “A little more… a little more… there!”
“Okay!” Grab that pencil from the table and help me make some little marks so I know where to put the nail.
They had a good time hanging all of the photos together, a shining constellation of their extended family. By the time Tenn brought Rory home from school, all of the pictures were in place.
“Wow!” Rory shouted when she saw it. She scrambled up onto the couch to get a better look. “I see Auntie ‘Olena and Lulu and Kiki and Emma and Kai and who’s that lady?”
“That’s my mom,” Olivia said proudly.
“Cool! And there’s your grandma and your grandpa andmygrandma and my grandpa and mybabbo?! What?! This is so cool!”
“I helped Mom hang them up!”
“What?” Rory turned and glared at Lani, hands on her hips. “Why didn’t I help?”
“We wanted to surprise you,” Lani said.
Rory looked at her for another moment with narrowed eyes, then turned back to the photos.
“What do you think?” Lani asked as Tenn came up beside her.
“I think that it’s perfect.” He put an arm around her waist and kissed her temple. “And so are you.”
15
Tara
“Hurry up, Mom!” Piper sprinted up a steep section of the trail, leaving Tara huffing and puffing behind her.
“For someone who’s on her feet all day every day,” Cody said lightly as he walked past her, making quick work of the trail with his long legs, “you’re sure out of shape!”
“Rude!” Tara said to his back as he disappeared up the trail.
“I like your shape,” Liam said in her ear.
Tara laughed. “He’s right, though. I’m so busy, I don’t have time for exercise. My arms and hands are decently strong, but I never get any cardio in.”
“I have a solution to that.”
“I know, I know.”
“Whatever obstacles are in your way, I could help.”
