“Ready?” she asked.
“Count down from three.”
“Three… two…”
“One!” Harper shouted as they jumped.
She stayed out with the kids for a long time, but Anne never joined her. When she looked back, she saw that her sister had been waylaid by Noah. They stood in the shade, apart from the others, talking and laughing.
A sudden spike of jealousy twisted in her chest.
Oakley put a hand over her heart, surprised at herself. She loved Anne and Noah both. She was happy that they had found each other again.
Maybe she had just hoped that on this one family day, she would have her sister to herself. But that was a silly thing to expect. Kimo had always drawn a crowd, and Noah was family; he had loved their dad as much as any of them.
She stayed out a while longer, playing with the kids until hunger drove Hayden and Harper back to shore. Kekoa had fired up the barbeque, and there were enticing smells wafting out across the lawn. Oakley swam back, scrubbed the salt water from her skin, and pulled her dress back on over her bathing suit.
“I brought Kimo’s favorite,” Mano announced, pulling something from a cooler.
He held up a big bag of ‘opihi, the Hawaiian limpet. They were a delicacy that locals risked life and limb to pry from the rocks at low tide.
“Where did you find them?” Akemi exclaimed.
“Bought them from a cousin, what do you think? I’m too old to be scrambling around the rocks anymore.”
“Not old,” ‘Olena said. “Wise.”
“Both.”
Akemi’s grin was bright. “Remember when that rogue wavecame and nearly sent us all into the rocks?”
“Itdidsend us into the rocks,” Anne exclaimed. “Oakley and I ended up clinging to the cliffs!”
Akemi threw her head back and laughed. “I forgot that part.”
“That’s because Dad grabbed you just in time.”
“Perks of being the littlest.”
Once the kids had their food, Oakley made herself a plate and sat in the shade with Anne and Akemi. Halia was deep in conversation with Mahina and Dawn. Little Kaleo was asleep in his grandmother’s arms. Laurie stood off to the side with Kekoa, and Oakley blinked in surprise when he put a hand on her waist.
“Is that a thing?” she asked, turning to her sisters.
“If it is,” Anne said with a grin, “it’s about time.”
“Good for her!” Akemi said. “He’s gorgeous.”
“Well, look at Laurie. She could be a supermodel.”
“Isn’t she older than him?” Oakley asked without thinking.
“So?” Akemi challenged. “I’m older than Lorenzo.”
“And how’s that going?” she shot back. Akemi looked away.
“Oakley,” Anne’s voice carried a warning.
“Sorry,” she muttered. She glanced back at Laurie and Kekoa. “We all grew up together. He’s basically our cousin.”
