9. Lani
Lani
It was an overcast day with low-lying clouds that obscured the sun and confounded Lani’s sense of time. She was so immersed in her work that she completely forgot to pick the girls up from soccer.
Her alarm – foolishly timed for the minute she should head out the door – found her curled up on the couch in her pajamas, working to get the curve of an Iwi’s beak just right. Unwilling to rush out the door when she was in her groove, she texted her cousin.
Hey, would you mind picking my girls up along with yours? I lost track of time.
No problem, ‘ōlena answered.
You’re a lifesaver. Meet you at the park?
Her cousin gave her a thumbs up, and Lani finished what she’d been working on.
Eventually she set her tablet aside, threw on some outside clothes, and grabbed the jello that she and the girls had made from scratch.
It was bright blue – Juniper’s butterfly pea tea – studded with orange lilikoi stars that Rory and Olivia had made with little cookie cutters, and they were very proud of it.
Tenn came in just as she was headed out the door.
“Hey!” she greeted him with a quick kiss. “Where have you been?”
“Kaleo’s kid got sent home from school, so I had to cover in the kitchen. Where are you going?”
“The potluck is today.”
“Right.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I forgot. I was supposed to make something.”
“It’s okay. The girls and I made something.” She gestured to the covered tray that she’d set on the table by the door.
“Right.” He glanced at the jello and then peered at Lani. “Do you have to go?”
Her eyebrows rose. “The kids are there already. ‘ōlena’s bringing them from soccer.”
“So can you stay a while?”
“I don’t know… ‘ōlena 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. “‘ōlena 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.”
“Like a date?” Lani demanded, and Nell squealed.
Emma laughed and shushed them, putting both hands over her cheeks.
“What’s going on over here?” Hugh grinned at them, strolling over with Everett balanced on one arm.
“Nothing,” Emma said quickly.
He just laughed, and then he offered a hand to Nell. “Can I steal you away for a minute?”
She took his hand, the look in her eyes saying that he could steal her away forever.
He led her into the middle of the gathering, and a hush fell over the crowd as their daughters ran to join them. Hugh set Everett down on the grass, and Cassie took his hand to keep him from running off.
Both of the girls were wearing haku leis, a circle of white flowers on each head. ‘ōlena appeared from the crowd to hand Hugh a box; he lifted out a beautiful lei and put it over Nell’s head. The snowy flowers glowed against her deep red hair and green dress.
A local mom named Alohi – who was also a professional photographer – pulled out her camera and started to snap away.
Hugh dropped to one knee, and Nell put both hands over her mouth, overcome with emotion.
“I know it hasn’t been long.” His voice was low, speaking only to her in spite of the crowd that had gathered around them. Anxiety tinged the adoration on his face as he looked up at her.
He reached into his pocket and offered up a ring.
“I thought about hanging onto this for a few more months, until we reached the one-year mark. That seemed like a more sensible time to propose.”
His smile quirked as he gazed up at her. She stared back at him, her amber eyes wide. Just to one side, Cassie slipped her hand into Daisy’s. Even Everett was still, watching them. The photographer circled them gleefully, clicking away.
“The thing is,” Hugh continued, “I don’t need a few more months to know that I don’t want to live a single day of my life without you. I want us – the five of us – to be a real family. What do you say?”
“Yes!” Her answer was out so fast that it overlapped with the last word of his question, and Hugh laughed in relief.
He slipped the ring onto her finger, stood, and pulled her into his arms. A moment later, the children rushed forward.
Hugh laughed again as he crouched down and lifted a daughter in each arm, bringing them up with him as he stood.
Nell scooped up Everett, and Alohi snapped more photos as the crowd moved in to offer their congratulations.
Suddenly, Lani missed her husband terribly.
She stayed long enough to give Nell a kiss on the cheek and a few heartfelt words. Then she gathered up her girls and went home to Tenn.