“It was way past his nap time.”
He nodded and looked around. The party was winding down. Rory had already left for her second birthday party of the day – but not before extracting a promise from her babbo that he would take her to the petting zoo the next day.
“Do you want to take a walk?” Akemi asked.
Lorenzo looked questioningly at their son. He was still such a baby, but so heavy now – especially when he was sound asleep.
“I’ll put him in his stroller. He sleeps well there. Usually he’llsleep longer on a walk than he will if I try to put him down on the bed.”
“Okay, yes. I would like that.”
Akemi carefully transferred Kaleo to his stroller, and they set off down the street at an easy pace. Lorenzo chatted to her about the business he had built.
“I want to get to the point that I can run it remotely,” he said. “I will still be responsible for the website, the bookkeeping, all of that – but my employees will run all my tours without me. This trip will be a trial run.”
“I like the sound of that,” Akemi said.
He smiled at her, and her stomach did a little flip.
How strange, she thought, to have a crush on her son’s father.
How embarrassing.
How wonderful.
They walked all the way to town, and she stopped in front of the house that sat empty next to Laurie’s bookshop. Lorenzo tilted his head to one side, watching her with curiosity.
“You like this place?” he asked.
“I do.”
“Are you wanting to move out of your mother’s house?”
“No. I like being able to come and go. I don’t want to rent a place of my own.”
“Then what?”
“I’m opening a coffee shop,” she blurted, turning to face him.
He blinked in surprise. “You are starting your own business?”
“I haven’t told anyone yet. Well, Laurie. Kind of. But I haven’t talked to her about it since I went to see Auntie Kua.”
“Who is that?”
“She’s the one who owns this building.”
“I see.”
“She likes the idea.” Akemi launched into telling him about her business plan, a café designed especially for parents of young children. She was so excited that her words tumbled over each other.
Lorenzo listened patiently, giving her his full attention.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“It’s a wonderful idea. But…” His eyes were sad.
“What?”
