“Auntie Mahina says that you’re in the middle of a divorce,” Lani said eventually.
Laurie blinked in surprise. She nodded.
“If Kekoa doesn’t want to tell you how much he’s spent, it’s because he doesn’t want you to have to carry the weight of owing him something.”
“Auntie Mahina won’t put a price on the rent, either,” Laurie admitted. “I don’t know how much to give her.”
“How much can you afford to give her?”
Laurie looked around at the empty bookshelves. “I’ll be lucky if I can even fill the shop without running out of savings. And that’s without paying rent.”
“So don’t pay rent,” Lani said.
“That doesn’t feel right.”
“If can, can,” Lani said with a smile. “If no can, no can.”
“But Icould. If it weren’t for all this… insanity. It feels wrong to take advantage.”
“You’re accepting help from people whowantto help you. That’s not the same as taking advantage of somebody.
“When I moved home to Pualena a couple years ago, I had nothing. And I mean nothing. I was just grateful that we made it out alive.” Lani put a hand on her belly and looked out the window. A gold band glinted on her ring finger, and Laurie marveled at that evidence of trusting in love even after her near escape.
“I don’t know what I would have done without my family,” Lani continued. “Auntie Mahina put us up for a while – my daughter and me – even though she had two kids and three grandkids living there at the time, and they really didn’t have room for us. ‘Olena looked after my daughter, and Kekoa gave me a job at the shave ice place. After that, my cousin Emma gave me a place to live while I got back on my feet.”
“But that’s your family. Like, your actual blood family, right?”
Lani gave her another odd look. “Emma’s not blood; she was married to my cousin. But she’s family to me. She always will be.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve all this,” Laurie said quietly, looking around.
“We all deserve community.” Lani perked up, dropping her serious expression in favor of something lighter. “And I, for one, am very excited to have a bookshop in town.”
“You can have all the books you like. No charge.”
“If you keep telling people that, how are you supposed to make a profit?”
“Tourists.”
Lani laughed. Then a thoughtful look came over her face. “Would you ever carry coloring books?”
“Sure, why not?”
She brightened. “I make coloring books!”
“Awesome!”
“I’ll bring some by next time.”
“I can stock them right up here by the counter, in front of your art.”
“See? This shop will be good for everybody.” Lani glanced at her watch. “Okay, I’ve got to clean up or I’ll be late picking up my kids.”
“Can I give you a hand?”
“Sure.”
Just after Lani left, Annie Oakley showed up bearing boxes of books.
