“I hope so. Well, I need to run. I hope you have a good day.”

He nodded and held up a hand. His farewell. Or dismissal.

Quinn trekked back up the path, feeling lighter.

When she returned to the cottage, Maggie was on the porch, her arms wrapped around her knees while she perched in the chair. An unusual scowl covered her face, furrowed eyebrows and all.

“I’m glad you finally came back. We need a blowtorch,” she said. “Or a gallon of gas and a match. Hell, bring me a stick of dynamite. The cottage has to go.”

“What’s going on?” Quinn asked.

“There’s a damn centipede in the shower, and we need to burn this sucker down.”

Quinn laughed as she went inside to take care of the centipede, explaining to Maggie, who followed her like a scared child, that Hawaii is in the tropics, and the tropics have scary bugs sometimes.

That didn’t relieve Maggie, and as soon as Quinn hurried into the outfit she’d chosen, applied her makeup, and fixed her hair, Maggie nearly dragged her out to the car, saying they’d leave early and take the scenic route. Quinn didn’t tell her there was only one route to Napili, but luckily all routes were scenic in Maui.

“I should’ve gone in and talked to Maria,” Quinn said as they backed out of the driveway. Not checking in made her feel like a horrible person. She’d told Maggie about talking with Maria’s father, that he said Pali hadn’t come home. “And I’m sure Alani is beside herself. She adores her big brother.”

“I told you, he’s probably sprawled out at some girl’s house. At his age, it’s a miracle he’s not sneaking off all the time. He’s a teenage boy. He cares only about football and girls.”

“And surfing,” Quinn added. She hoped that Maggie was right. Pali wasn’t the typical teen. Yes, he had an attitude, but he usually wouldn’t do anything to disrespect or disappoint his grandfather.

“Not your circus,” Maggie said.

“Not my monkeys,” Quinn finished, smiling at their old game.

But in a way, they were her monkeys. She hoped Pali made it back without any scars. He might despise her for taking their home, but she secretly had a soft spot for him. Despite his seemingly endless supply of angry hormones, he was good to his mom and respectful to his grandfather, and just a few days ago, Alani had told her that Pali had taken her out on the water for some surfing lessons. What teenage boy did that for his little sister?