Page 75 of Shark Cove

Kylie rolled her eyes, and Malia squeezed Blake’s hand. “Watch out, or you’re going to give my dad a big head.”

Blake flushed. “Just trying to be respectful, sir.”

Dad slung an arm around his shoulders. “And I appreciate that. We have to stick together around these ladies; they’ve got us outnumbered.”

They trooped up to the wide veranda where Lei was waiting to greet them. The birthday girl, adorable in a tiara and puffy princess dress, sat on her hip.

“Happy Birthday, Rosie!” Kylie handed Rosie a wrapped package.

“Mahalo!” Lei exclaimed. The little girl wiggled to be put down, then plopped onto her bottom to tear into the package immediately. Lei clapped a hand to her forehead. “This kid has the self-control of a gnat.”

“Thank you!” Rosie squealed with delight at the reveal of a new Barbie; Kylie grinned. “I used to love those when I was her age.”

“She has a huge collection,” Lei said. “Never too many Barbies!”

Malia handed her wrapped gift to Lei. “This one is a little more sophisticated.” She’d bought Rosie a music box to put jewelry in when she got older.

“I’ll take it to the present pile. Come on in, everyone. It’s past time you met the rest of my‘ohana.” Lei addressed that comment to Harry, who slid her arm through Peter’s as she followed Lei into the noisy, crowded house.

Butterflies of happiness fluttered in Malia’s stomach as she joined the party, Blake’s hand warm at her back.

Mom and Dad were making a go of it again, and now they were part of a real community of friends on Maui. She finally had a place to belong.