“A blessing, yeah.” They sat in the quiet. “You know life doesn’t stop moving forward,” Nori added. “Time for you, too. Mariko would want you to.”

Nori watched him in thought. She’d known him for thirty-five years and still couldn’t judge what he was thinking. With Samuel and her boys, everything was always out in the open in every movement they made.

“I don’t know how,” he finally said.

“You do,” Nori said, and smiled. “Talking to Daniel and being here, back down in Hilo, you’ve already taken the first steps.”

They sat in silence again. Daylight began to seep in. Nori pushed her chair back and stood to check on the sweetbread. “Just about ready,” she said, pulling the two loaves out. “What you planning to do next?” she asked.

“Tell him the rest of the story. Part of the reason I came down, yeah,” Koji said. “The other part to hold your hand during the flow.” She heard the smile in his voice as he lifted the cup to his lips and drank the rest of his coffee.

“Like I need you to hold my hand,” she countered.

They both laughed, only to pause when they heard creaks and footsteps coming from the apartment above.

Samuel was up early, and the day was about to begin.

34. Naupaka

34

Naupaka

By the time Maile and Daniel arrived at Mama Natua’s house, the rain had stopped. Maile stepped out of Uncle Samuel’s truck into the sticky, warm air that smelled of the sharp, wet earth. Mama’s house looked nothing like she remembered. It was smaller, more disheveled, though she hardly paid much attention back then. She came by with Daniel once or twice to pick up Auntie Mariko years ago when they were still in high school. At the time, she knew and admired the Hilo Aunties, while Mama already seemed old.

“Ready?” Daniel asked.

Maile watched him approach and nodded.

Daniel had asked if she would stay with Mama for a short time this morning while he took Auntie Leia to the hospital to sign some papers. Auntie Nori and Auntie Noelani were both working, and Mama would most likely be dozing in her chair after breakfast, he’d said. Ever since their afternoon on the Scenic Express, they were slowly getting reacquainted, finding hints of their old selves again along with all the changes. What Maile hadn’t expected was that she wasn’t the only one returning to Hilo with scrapes and scars from their time away. She knew it was wrong, but it somehow made her feel better to know she wasn’t alone.