Page 67 of Big Island Sunset
She scowled up at Kai, warning him with her expression not to throw another rotten piece of fruit. He stuck his tongue out her and climbed higher up in the tree.
“Sorry,” she sighed as they continued on through the orchard. “He’s… not usually like this.”
Keith nodded solemnly. Neither one of them acknowledged the elephant in the orchard: Kai had never seen his mother spending time with a man who wasn’t part of their family, and he wasn’t taking it well. She would have to sit down with him after Keith left and talk things through.
Not yet, though.
First, they had a tree to plant.
20
Lani
Lani’s family was the first to arrive at New Horizons that morning, not including ‘Olena and her girls. Even Nell wasn’t there yet.
Tenn gave each of them a kiss goodbye and then went down the street to his cafe. He was covering for one of his servers that day. He usually ended up covering for his employees multiple days each week, taking orders and flipping burgers. He said that he did it to keep costs down, and there was some truth to that, but Lani knew that he liked being there in the thick of it, being a part of the service work and food prep instead of limiting his work to invoices and payroll.
“We’ve been seeing a lot of you lately,” ‘Olena said when Lani walked over. She was prepping the morning science experiment while her girls colored at another table. Rory and Olivia ran over to join them.
“I’ve been trying harder with Olivia,” Lani said quietly. She glanced over her shoulder at the girls, who were too far away to hear. Turning back to her cousin, she continued, “She’s so quiet that it’s hard to tell, but I think she took the changes to her family life harder than we realized at first. She’s been so sweet about sharing her dad with Rory, but I think that she’s felt… displaced. Like what little I have to offer her doesn’t make up for not having her dad’s full attention anymore.”
Other people might have tried to soothe her concerns with platitudes like ‘You’re a great mom’ or ‘I’m sure that’s not true,’ but ‘Olena just listened thoughtfully. Lani looked up at the manta ray she’d painted on the ceiling, trying to put her feelings into words.
On the other side of the room, the four little girls chattered happily over their coloring books.
“I was so caught up in my own stuff that I didn’t help her through the transition as well as I might have otherwise, and she’s so quiet that I didn’t realize she was struggling. Tenn is so warm and sweet with Rory, but there’s always been sort of a distance between Livie and me. Maybe because she’s older? Or maybe because she’s just reserved, and so am I? I don’t know. I’m not sure how to bridge that gap, but I figure more time together is key. We’ve been doing more family game nights instead of just leaving the girls to play on their own. And I’m showing up for her wherever I can.”
“That sounds like the right approach.”
“Rory’s so uncomplicated,” Lani said as she helped ‘Olena set out two rows of plastic bowls. “I mean, she might have big reactions, but she doesn’t hold onto stuff. Two new dads in one year, and she took it all in stride. Olivia’s the opposite. She seems to take things calmly, but there’s a lot going on under the surface. I worry about her.”
“Spoken like a true mother,” ‘Olena teased gently.
Lani grinned, though worry for her stepdaughter still gnawed at her. “I guess.”
“She’ll be fine, Leilani. You’re doing everything right. Just give it time.”
“Yeah. I hope so.”
‘Olena turned towards the kids and called, “Playground time!”
There was a rapid shuffling of papers and clinking of colored pencils into tin cans as the girls hurried to put their things away. ‘Olena had trained them well. Her playschool kids were like a well-organized regiment, and without any harshness required to get them there.
Maybe if Lani hung around New Horizons more, she would pick up some of ‘Olena’s parenting skills by osmosis. She and Rory had always gotten along just fine, but with just one more kid in the mix, Lani felt outmatched.
The morning sun dazzled her eyes when they stepped outside. The girls raced across the grass to the empty playground. Lani and ‘Olena trailed them at a leisurely pace, soaking up the sun and breathing in the fresh morning air.
“This is my favorite time of day,” ‘Olena said.
“It’s gorgeous,” Lani agreed, looking up at the fresh blue sky.
“Mom! Look at this!” Olivia hung upside down from the monkey bars, her golden braid pointing down to the soft playground flooring.
“Wow!” Lani shouted back. “Look at you!”
Olivia beamed at her and hung there for another moment before reaching up and righting herself.
“She’s doing just fine,” ‘Olena said. “You worry too much.”
