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“You are,” the older daughter agreed.
“Where on earth did you find it?” Olina asked.
Leilani pressed a finger to her lips. “It’s a secret.” She leaned close to Palili. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.” When she straightened, she held out a hand to the little girl. “Feeling better?”
Palili nodded, taking Leilani’s hand.
Leilani squeezed her fingers. “Sometimes, you have to wake all the way to chase away the bad dreams. I know. I have nightmares, too.”
Palili’s eyes widened. “You do?”
“I do,” Leilani said.
“So do I,” Angel admitted.
“What do you do to make them go away?” Palili directed her question toward Angel.
“I turn on a light and sit up. I feel better as soon as I’m awake. Sometimes, I know it’s a nightmare, even as it’s happening. I make myself wake up to chase it away.”
“I know it’s a nightmare,” Palili said, “but it feels so real. Like it’s happening all over again.”
“Next time, try to wake yourself up,” Leilani said.
Angel nodded. “Sit up in bed. Turn on the light.”
“That’s right.” Leilani nodded toward the other two children. “You’ll see your sister and brother and know it was just a bad dream.”
Palili yawned and lay back against the pillow. “I’ll try.” She looked up at Angel. “I like you, Mr. Angelo. Are you going to marry Lani?”
“Palili.” Her mother shook her head. “They just met today.”
Palili shrugged. “Lani’s wearing a white dress. Mr. Angelo is wearing a suit. They look like they’re going to get married.” She yawned. “Could you wait until morning? I’m tired.”
Lani laughed and bent to hug the little girl. “I’ll wait. Get some sleep, baby. You’re safe.”
Palili closed her eyes. “You’re right, Lani. He makes me feel safe, too.”
The older sister stared up at Angel. “He makes me feel safe, too. You should keep him.”
Lani reached out and brushed the hair off the older daughter’s forehead. “Go to sleep, Mamo,” she said. “Know that I love you.”
Leilani stood for a few moments longer, staring down at the girls. When they both settled into the deep breathing of sleep, Leilani crossed to the other bed where the little boy slept soundly and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
The three adults backed out of the room. Olina pulled the door halfway closed and walked with Leilani and Angel to the door of the suite. “Thanks,” she said. “You always make her feel better. I’m sorry we interrupted your date.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Leilani touched the woman’s arm. “I hate that she’s still having nightmares.”
“Me, too,” Olina said. “It takes time to recover.”
“In so many ways.” Leilani hugged the woman. “Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
Olina closed the door, leaving Leilani and Angel to walk back to Leilani’s door.
“Thank you for everything. You really do make a girl feel safe. No matter how young or old.” She leaned up on her toes and brushed her lips across his.
Before he could deepen the kiss, she turned away, flashed her key card over the door lock and disappeared into her suite, closing the door between them.
Damn, he’d missed his second chance at a real kiss.
