Page 24 of Big Island Moonlight
“Right.” He glanced at the jello and then peered at Lani. “Do you have to go?”
Her eyebrows rose. “The kids are there already. ‘Olena’s bringing them from soccer.”
“So can you stay a while?”
“I don’t know… ‘Olena must be exhausted already. With that belly, and the day she’s had…”
“Of course. You’re right.”
She ran a hand up his arm. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course.” Tenn smiled, but it was lacking its usual warmth. He looked tired. “I miss you, is all.”
“I miss you too,” she said immediately.
She hadn’t, not actively. Life had been too busy lately to even notice how little time they’d had together, just the two of them. But she meant what she said. She missed him even in that moment, standing inches apart in the doorway. And she felt guilty for letting herself get so caught up in the whirlwind of daily life that she hadn’t made time for him.
“Go,” he said, even as a gentle hand on her waist begged her to stay. “The girls won’t be hungry after all the potluck treats, but you and I can have a nice dinner after they go to bed.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Lani kissed him again, taking her time, and then she was out the door. She climbed into the battered old truck that had once belonged to her uncle and drove the short distance to the community center.
“Lani, hi!” Nell greeted her when she approached the central pavilion. “‘Olena went home for a rest, but your girls are here. Hers too.”
“Thanks.” Lani set the jello down on the crowded table, suddenly wishing that she had stayed home with Tenn after all.
They were constantly juggling a thousand things, and the number of commitments had crept up so slowly that she hadn’t been aware of the point at which it all became too much… but it seemed that they’d passed it months ago. They hardly got time alone together anymore, aside from the hours that they were asleep or half-awake on the couch after a long day.
Kai and his friend Prince sprinted past, playground bound, and she turned to wave at Emma.
“Hey you,” she greeted Lani in passing as she went to add a large bowl to the overburdened picnic table.
“Emma!” Nell exclaimed. “Hi!”
“Nell!” Emma opened her arms for a hug. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks!”
“Sorry,” Nell said, her pale cheeks turning pink. “We’re practically living with Hugh these days. Daisy’s here full time now, and Cassie really loves–”
“I wasn’t berating you,” Emma said, wrapping her arms around the smaller woman. “I just meant that it’s good to see you.”
“Right. It’s good to see you too.”
They found a shady spot on the grass where they could watch the kids play while they caught up, and the stress that Lani had been carrying began to drain away.
Yes, life had been a bit chaotic lately. But only because her days were so full of a million beautiful things: children and friendships and an adoring husband. She needed to get better at managing their busy schedule, but she was grateful for all of it.
Adoration shone in Nell’s eyes as she watched Hugh, who was following one-year-old Everett around the playground in order to give his mother the chance to sit and rest a while. Lani was so glad that her friend, whose story was very similar to her own (and all too common) had found a man who treated her with the love and respect that she deserved.
Now if only Emma would let love in, she thought, giving her cousin a long look.
“What?” Emma demanded, narrowing her eyes playfully at Lani.
“I was just thinking about you and Keith,” she answered honestly.
Emma’s face turned bright pink, and Lani gasped.
“Something happened!” Nell leaned forward and put her hand on Emma’s knee. “What?”
“Nothing,” Emma said, still blushing. “He just… asked me out to dinner.”
