She most likely was, since it was impossible not to love her bubbly personality and fierce loyalty.
Ever the mediator, Mom intervened before our argument could escalate.
“I love all my children equally.Even if some of them don’t ever come to visit.”
Making sure Addy and Elana were still good, I said, “The girls love it here, so I’m thinking we’ll be frequent visitors from now on.”
Tears sprang to Mom’s eyes.“I never thought I’d get to meet any of the girls you date.Your work was always the most important thing in your life.And now, look at you.”
I set down my plate and Caliope took Mom’s before she collapsed into my arms.I patted her back, knowing she’d calm down in a minute.“This doesn’t make me think that you’re happy about my relationship status.”
She shook her head, her voice muffled in my shirt.“I’m so happy.And I didn’t even have to wait for more grandchildren.”
Mom stopped sniffling and lifted her head, then released her grip on me.“Make sure to come over tomorrow.I promised Addy and Elana that I’d take them out on the boat.”
Picking my plate back up, I nodded.“I will.Promise.”
When I made it to Mae, she was in between two of my uncles.
“Kai.Noa.I hope you’re not scaring my girlfriend away.”
They both laughed good-naturedly.I hadn’t been joking.
Noticing there was no free chair available, I set my plate down in front of Mae, who seemed to have stopped eating, even though her plate was still half full.“You done already,ipo?”
She patted her flat stomach.“I can’t eat anything else, no matter how amazing it tastes.”
I squeezed in next to her and Noa’s chair and lifted her up.She squeaked, putting her arms around my neck automatically.“What are you doing?”
“Finding a seat.”
I sat down in her chair, placing her on my lap.Grabbing her fork and knife, I cut off a piece of chicken.She leaned forward to stand up, but I put an arm around her middle, holding her to me.“Where are you going?”
“Getting up so you can eat.”
Tightening my hold, I took a bite of my chicken.“I can eat fine like this.”
And I didn’t want her anywhere else but where she currently was.
My uncles shot me knowing smirks, then continued on with a story I must have interrupted.
“But he insisted on walking up the trail, even though we’d told him it would take eight hours,” Noa said.
I knew where this story was going.And since it would make me look like the idiot I’d been at eighteen, I didn’t particularly want my uncles to keep talking.“How’s the charter business going?”
Noa waved me off.“Good, good.Now where was I?Right.So he sets off with only a bottle of water in the middle of summer.”
At least Mae didn’t try and get up again.Their big mouths had one good result.
Ignoring them since I had no desire to revisit my adolescent self, I ate my food and the rest of Mae’s, holding her on my lap.
When the tale of my foolish actions had finally concluded—with me being rescued via helicopter—I kissed her bare shoulder.Summer was without doubt my favorite season.“Do you want another glass of wine?Or dessert?”
She shook her head.“I’m good, but I should check on Addy and Elana.”
“I’ll come with you.”
The girls were back on the beach, and I called out to them.“Addy, Elana, can you come up here, please?”
