Chris probably wouldn’t come down every single weekend anyway, she told herself. He hated the drive. She had specifically requested that they each pick Mia up – meaning he would drive down to Pualena on Friday afternoons, and Laurie would drive up to Hawi on Sundays.
She had also specified that plans be solidified every week by the end of the day on Wednesday. Either Chris would pick Mia up from her program at New Horizons Community center that Friday, or Laurie would.
Laurie had spent countless Sundays out on the front steps, waiting for her mother to show up for their weekly visitation. She wouldn’t put her daughter through the same.
And if he did decide that Mia was worth his time, well… their daughter deserved to have two parents who showed up forher. Laurie would gladly sacrifice that time if it meant a better childhood for her little girl. That was all she really wanted.
They signed the papers, and that was that.
Laurie was officially divorced.
She didn’t feel the elation of freedom that she had imagined might come when this mess was over. She didn’t even feel relieved.
Instead, she felt a quiet grief for her daughter.
This broken family wasn’t what she had wanted for Mia. But it was the best that she could do. All she wanted now was to get home to her.
Dawn had loaned Laurie her car for the day, and she drove straight home to Pualena. She got back in time to pick Mia up from the community center. Sitting in the parking lot, she texted Anne to say that she had pick-up covered.
Soon, all of the kids spilled out onto the playground.
Laurie sat in the car for a moment, watching Mia run hand in hand with her cousin. All of Mahina’s grandkids were there too, and before long the kids were all linked in one undulating line; they were playing their favorite variation of tag.
Laurie felt a sudden rush of gratitude. Mia had a village. Whatever upheavals her daughter had experienced that summer, they were balanced out by the beautiful community that they had in Pualena.
Even if Chris picked her up every Friday for a weekend of cartoons and junk food, this would be the bulk of Mia’s childhood. This right here. Running free with her friends across the green grass, with one of Pualena’s omnipresent rainbows arcing over their heads.
Her daughter’s childhood would be full of quality time with her mother, plenty of play with her peers, quiet afternoons at the bookshop, and dinners with their whole extended family.
Laurie held that vision tight. She would pull it out and dust it off whenever she was missing Mia on the weekend… or whenever she began to feel like she was falling short as a mother.
She stepped out of the car, and Mia raced to greet her.
Can my friends come over?she asked quickly.
Laurie grinned.Hello to you too.
Please? Can they come play?
Which friends?Laurie asked.
Mia fingerspelled the names of ‘Olena’s two daughters:L-U-L-U and K-I-K-I.
That’s fine with me, if their mom says yes.
She said yes!Mia signed enthusiastically.She’s taking their baby brother home for a nap, but they can come with us to their grandma’s house.
OK, Laurie signed, and Mia ran off to tell her friends.
Laurie double-checked with ‘Olena. Then, after Pete caught up with what was happening, she texted Anne to tell her that she would be borrowing him as well. After that, she drove the whole lot of them down to the Madeira place and set them loose in the orchard.
Before long, Mahina’s grandson joined the pack. ‘Iolani was between ‘Olena’s girls in age. For some reason, he wasn’t a part of the co-op; he went to the local elementary school. But nearly every afternoon, he could be found on his grandparents’ land, running around with his cousins.
A sense of peace settled over Laurie as she walked up the path to her little cedar house. She had a home of her own. A sanctuary for just her and Mia, with no angry man they had to tiptoe around. She had plenty to be thankful for.
Kekoa waved at her as he walked out of the big house.
You found a car!he signed.
