“Of course they would. They’ll give you a good deal, too.”
“Are you sure? ‘Ohana units are for family.”
“Youarefamily,” Dawn said firmly.
Laurie chewed her lip and looked off into middle distance, considering.
She would be walking distance from home and from town – an important factor, since she didn’t have a car and it might take ages to find something reliable in her price range. And she would feel safer there than anywhere else; Uncle Mano reminded her so much of her dad.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to rent from them; it was more that she was afraid of getting her hopes up only to be disappointed. Renting to her was one thing, but renting the place out for a price that she could afford felt like too much to hope for.
“I’ll text Mahina,” Dawn said. “We’ll go see it.”
“Okay,” Laurie agreed.
She decided to let herself hope.
It was good practice for the future.
6
Anne
When the last guests finally filed out, Anne breathed a sigh of relief.
Pete and Mia were playing outside, and Claire was lounging on the lanai with a library book. There were piles and piles of dishes to get through, but at least the house was quiet.
Anne hummed an old song as she cleared the massive, solid table that her dad had made for the family when she was just a kid. Living in her childhood home, cleaning the rooms he’d built, eating at the table that he had made… it all helped her to feel connected to him even after he was gone.
“Hey Annie!” Oakley strode through the front door, and she looked up in surprise.
“Hi!” She glanced at the kitchen clock as she set a stack of dishes in the sink. “You’re early.”
“A bit.” Her sister was practically vibrating with energy. “You almost ready?”
Anne bit her lip. “Not really.”
“Oh.” Oakley deflated as she took in the pots and pans that were piled along the kitchen counter.
“Breakfast ran longer than usual, and they all checked out at the very last minute. I still need to clean two bedrooms and one bathroom before more guests check in this afternoon.”
“Right.”
“If you want to take the kids to the beach, I’ll meet you there as soon as I’m done.”
“Nah.” Oakley unbuttoned her white linen shirt, revealing the expensive athletic clothes that she always wore. “I’ll give you a hand.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“The girls brought carrot greens for Mrs. Kim’s rabbits, so they’re already across the street. We’re in no rush. I came to hang out withyou.”
Thanks, Anne signed. “I wash, you dry?”
“Deal.” Oakley shrugged off her long-sleeve shirt and joined her in the kitchen.
Looking at her sister’s lean arms and unlined face, Anne’s nose scrunched up in an involuntary expression of dismay.
“Now what?” Oakley demanded.
