To be fair, Quinn’s heart wasn’t feeling overflowing in the least. As a matter of fact, it was jumping around like a frog in a fire, every fiber in her being anticipating the upcoming difficult conversation.

“Please, sit down. Would you like some breakfast?” Maria asked, pulling a chair out and beckoning for Quinn to take it. She gestured to a plate on the table that held mango and what could have been papaya, though Quinn wasn’t sure.

“No, thank you. Just coffee would be good.”

The bagel she’d had seemed like ages ago, but Quinn wasn’t there for pleasantries. She also didn’t want to have their talk with a child, and now the grandfather, there. But if she was patient, maybe she could get Maria off to herself once she’d finished cooking.

Maria quickly poured her a cup of coffee and brought it over along with a jar of sugar and a tiny pitcher of cream.

“Kona coffee, of course,” she said, setting it all down before returning to the stove.

Quinn gratefully took the mug, doctored it, and took a sip. She nearly closed her eyes in ecstasy as she let her taste buds do a happy dance. Why was Hawaiian coffee so amazing?

While Maria cooked, Quinn watched Alani with her grandfather.

He was helping her with some sort of multiple-choice quiz. She read the questions aloud. He didn’t give her any answers, choosing instead to gently guide her to find the solution herself. She talked herself through it while he barely glanced at the paper, instead using his calm presence to encourage her along.

“Did you swim today?” Alani looked up, addressing the question to Quinn.

Quinn could kiss her for breaking the awkward silence.

“No, but I did go to the beach. It was lovely. Do you like to swim?”

Alani nodded. “Pali’s going to teach me how to surf.”

The grandfather let out a small chuckle. “I think you’ll probably conquer the board yourself before he gets a chance to be your instructor. He’s too wrapped up in football right now.”

“And girls,” Alani said, grinning at her grandfather, which made him laugh again.

“No, Alani, he also doesn’t have time for girls,” Maria said.

Alani looked at Quinn and gave an emphatic nod coupled with raising her eyebrows. She obviously knew something her mother didn’t, and Quinn smiled back at her, feeling her heartstrings pull at her soft innocence. Maybe somewhere deep down she understood that her father was gone, and her world was not as it should be, but her sunny outlook was still there, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Maria pulled some plates from a cupboard, filled them, and delivered them to the girl and her grandfather. She went back and returned with three glasses and a pitcher of juice, setting them down.