“What should we do today?”
Mia stepped back and asked,Can I help in the garden too?
“I don’t see why not. Should we eat some breakfast first?”
“Can I have waffles?”
“Auntie Annie set the bar high, huh? Let me see what I can do…”
Anne had loaded her up on groceries on move-in day, so her little kitchen was already well stocked. She pulled out the mini waffle maker and whipped up some batter. When the waffles were golden brown, she topped them with local honey and bananas from the garden.
Mia helped her and Mahina in the garden for a while – but then all four of Mahina’s grandkids arrived, and suddenly Mia was up a tree again.
Laurie smiled as she watched her daughter climb, free as a wild monkey. She felt grateful that even when Mia wasn’t living on the same property as her cousins, she was still surrounded by local ‘cousins’. The village aspect of Pualena was something that Laurie had missed fiercely once she became a mother.
We need to walk to the store,she told Mia after lunch.
Walk?Mia signed with exaggerated dread.Too far!
Laurie laughed. “It’s not that far.”
“Can’t I stay here with Auntie Mahina? I want to play with my friends.”
She hesitated.
Please? Please please please please?
“Okay, okay, I’ll ask her.”
After she had washed the dishes, Laurie walked up to the main house. Mahina sat on the back porch with Uncle Mano and two of their grown children.
“Aloha, Laurie!” ‘Olena said. “Long time no see!”
“Aloha,” Laurie said diffidently, looking up at them.
Kekoa grinned at her, but she kept her eyes on Mahina.
It felt intrusive, interrupting their conversation to ask a favor – especially on her first day. But Mahina had called her family, and Laurie wanted to believe her. She wanted to feel comfortable taking up space in the world again.
“Everything okay with your new place?” Mahina asked.
“Yes, all good,” Laurie said quickly. “I just need to run an errand, and Mia’s wondering if she can stay here with the other kids.”
Mahina frowned, and Laurie’s stomach twisted. Had she overstepped?
“You’re walking to town?” Mahina asked.
“Yes.”
“In this heat?”
Laurie’s anxiety eased up, and she smiled. “I don’t mind the heat.”
“Kekoa can drive you.”
“No,” she protested. “It’s fine, really.”
“It’s no trouble,” Mahina insisted. Her son was already on his feet.
