“And your family knows that you’re here for good?”
“Yes. My mother is not happy about it, but she understands. They all understand that I need to be where my children are. They would think less of me, I believe, if I stayed.”
“Your dad too?”
Lorenzo grinned abashedly. “Miobabbohas been telling me to leave for some time.”
“Enzo!” She pushed his chest, but his arms stayed firm around her waist.
“He is proud. I thought that he needed me, but wouldn’t say it.”
She elbowed him gently in the ribs. “You’re proud too.”
“Maybe,” he said thoughtfully. “I thought that I was doing my duty as a son. But they are not alone. They have my sister, and her husband, and many others in their community too.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Akemi said, and he kissed her again.
“I can only stay ninety days at a time in Hawaii, so I have told them I will visit once a season, even if I stay only a few days.”
“And we’ll still visit too, so they can have time with Kaleo. Long visits. I promise.”
“I may need to work still, during the busiest times. But most of the year, I can run my business remotely. Or rather, mostly my employees can run it for me.”
Akemi nodded and leaned into him, resting in his arms.
“I am excited to see your café, now it is finished.”
“You’re here to stay?” she asked, needing to hear it one more time.
“Sì amore mio.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m here to stay.”
24
Oakley
The café was quiet with Akemi and Kaleo gone.
There was an auntie out in the back garden with a book and a glass of ice tea. One young dad came in after naptime, shared a bowl of soup with his son, and then chilled with him in the playroom.
Other than that, crickets.
Oakley liked the quiet of the midday lull.
She loved having her daughters there with her, making them healthy lunches and hot chocolate while they did their schoolwork. And they loved it too – playing with the babies who came in, chatting with customers.
Keiki Café was everything that she had hoped it would be.
Her days had a much easier flow and rhythm now than they’d ever had before. Their schedule was mellower than it had been in Waimea, and more enriching than the isolation of the dingy kitchen at their rental in Pualena.
She’d finally found a healthy balance.
“I’m done!” Hayden put her pencil down with a woodenclackand pushed her math workbook across the table.
“Already?” Oakley asked.
“I’m done too.” Harper held up her workbook, which was full of doodles in addition to her answers. “I was just waiting for Hayden.”
“Let me see.” Oakley walked over to review the pages they had done. “This looks good,” she said after a moment. “Good work, girls.”
