Page 57 of Big Island Sunset
“Let’s go!”
They climbed around to the top of the waterfall. It was the smallest of the seven, but still a good twelve feet or so above the surface of the water.
“I haven’t done this in a while,” Tara said, peering over the edge. It looked higher from the top than it did from a distance.
“Want to hold my hand?” Piper asked.
She grinned and held out her hand. “Sure.”
Piper took it, her water-cool skin a stark contrast to Tara’s, still overheated from the hike.
“One,” Piper said.
“Two,” Tara murmured, stepping up to the edge.
“Three!” They leaped off together, screaming through a moment of freefall before the river rose up to swallow them. The cold water was a shock, and Tara lost Piper’s hand as they both swam towards the surface. By the time they burst back up into the sunny day, gasping for air, Tara was already used to the cold water.
“Again!” Piper said. “Let’s go again!”
Tara laughed and swam for shore.
All six of them spent the next hour climbing the rocks, jumping from the cliff, and swimming in the clear river water. Eventually, they gathered up their stuff and hiked a short distance to the next waterfall, where they took in the view and settled down to eat their lunch.
The kids sat down by the river, cooling their feet in the water and chattering happily while they ate. Liam and Tara sat a bit higher, soaking in the warmth of the rocks like a pair of lizards while the sun baked their clothes dry.
“Life could be like this every day,” Liam said as Tara unpacked their food.
“Waterfalls every day?” She shot him a teasing grin. “Who would look after the livestock?”
“All six of us together every day,” he said quietly.
That made her pause. She looked down at the kids, who were laughing and shining with happiness. Cody looked more like himself, younger and more carefree than he had been in weeks. For the space of an afternoon, he had shed his worries.
Was it just the waterfalls? Or was there something about Liam being there that allowed Cody to be the kid again? He had taken on so much responsibility when his dad left, and she knew that he worried — about their finances, about his mom and his sisters, about all of it.
No wonder he felt old enough to support Juniper and their baby. He had been doing so much to support the family he already had.
But he shouldn’t have to. Tara didn’t want him to carry that emotional burden, feeling like he had to support two families at seventeen. That was far too much for someone his age to carry, even someone as extraordinary as Cody.
“I know it’s a big change,” Liam said softly, “but Maddie and Cody are only home with us for a little bit longer. I’d like to spend that time together, all six of us. If we can.”
“Okay,” she said, turning to look at him.
“Really?” His eyes were as blue and deep as the pools beneath the waterfalls, and they were filled with a frightened sort of hope.
“Really. Let’s do it. Whatever hurdles there are… we’ll figure them out. Together.”
He leaned forward and kissed her full on the mouth.
“Ewww!” Piper shouted — but she sounded delighted.
“Dad, gross!” Maddie said.
Paige just giggled. Cody was quiet, sitting with his back to them.
Tara’s cheeks burned as she turned her attention back to their picnic lunch.
“Tara?” Liam said her name quietly.
