“At least,” Noah chimed in.
Kekoa grinned. “You can be my little sister if it’s that important to you.”
“It is,” she said with a toss of her hair.
“Cousin wasn’t good enough?” Noah asked.
“Around here, everyone’s a cousin.”
“True.”
“I demand sibling status.”
“Granted.”
She put her fingertips together, supervillain style. “Excellent.”
“Who’s the extra one for?” Noah asked, gesturing to the latte still sitting on the counter.
“That one’s for Laurie.”
“Of course. I should have known.”
“I’ll take that.” Kekoa snatched it up and was out the door in a flash.
“I suppose that’s the last I’ll see of him today,” Noah muttered.
“He’ll be back,” Oakley said. “Laurie won’t let him hang around the stacks forever.”
“She might,” Akemi said. “She’s awful sweet on him lately.”
They were still sipping their lattes when Lorenzo appeared at the front door.
“My baby!” Akemi exclaimed. She put her drink down and held her hands out to Kaleo. The ability to put in long days was a blessing, but saying goodbye to him each morning still felt like leaving one of her legs behind. She would be glad when the playroom was finished and he could come to work with her every day.
“In a construction zone,” Oakley added in a flat voice. “Yay.”
Akemi squeezed Kaleo and looked up at Lorenzo. “What are you doing here so early?”
He opened his mouth to speak, then glanced over at Oakley and Noah. Oakley busied herself at the espresso machine, and Noah stepped outside.
“I have to go,” Lorenzo said quietly. Akemi’s stomach sank.
“Go where?”
“Back to Italy.”
Akemi’s mouth opened and closed a few times without sound. She was acutely aware of Oakley standing a few feet behind her.
She walked out the front door, out into the sunshine, with Lorenzo following just behind.
“Amore,” he began, and she shot him a warning look.
If it hadn’t been for Kaleo in her arms and her family so close by, she might have shouted. Instead, she turned away and bit her tongue.
Lorenzo stood at her shoulder and spoke very quietly.
“My father is in the hospital.”
