Page 45 of Big Island Moonlight
“We named him Edward, after my father,” Nate said as he pulled out a chair for ‘Olena.
“His middle name is Mano,” ‘Olena added.
“Both of his grandfathers.” He rubbed her shoulders as she sat down and tasted a spoonful of soup.
“Edward Mano,” Lani murmured, rocking the baby from side to side. “I am so happy to meet you.”
“Can I hold him?” Rory whined, pulling at Lani’s shirt.
“Not today, sweetheart.” She sat down at the kitchen table so that Rory could see her little cousin’s face.
“But why not?”
“Not today. You’ll have lots of chances when he’s a bit bigger, I promise.”
“But he’salreadybig,” she said, and Nate laughed.
“Our little linebacker,” he rumbled.
“Absolutely not,” ‘Olena said. “No football.”
“Our farmer, then.”
“Much better.”
“Where’s Lulu and Kiki?” Rory asked.
“They’re at Auntie Mahina’s house.”
“Oh.” She stuck her hands into the pockets of her shorts and sighed theatrically. “Can we go now?”
Lani’s lips quirked in amusement. “In a few minutes.”
Rory sighed and wandered off to play with her cousins’ toys.
They chatted until ‘Olena was done eating, and then Lani relinquished the baby and left her cousins in peace.
“Tell Tenn I said thanks for the food,” Nate said as he walked them out.
“Will do.”
“We’ve been missing you guys. It’s been too long.”
“It has. As soon as ‘Olena’s up for it, let’s do a beach day. We’ll handle the food. You guys just show up.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He clapped her on the back, patted Rory’s head, and went back to the house.
“That was boring,” Rory griped as they walked towards the truck.
“You wanted to see the baby, you saw the baby.”
“Babies are boring.”
“Do you want to get some shave ice before we head home?”
“Yes!” Rory leapt through the air and ran towards Haumona, which was just down the road.
They ate their shave ice in the sunshine, enjoying the one-on-one time. Rory chattered, Lani laughed, and her heart felt light.It was so rare lately that they got that time, just the two of them together.
