Page 34 of The Seashell of ’Ohana

My eyes fluttered open, and I gasped as if having been underwater. I kicked the blanket off me and sprawled on top of the covers, sweltering. Sweat beaded my forehead and chest. I swiped a hand across my face, then fanned my PJ top.

How long had I been asleep? What time was it?

I grabbed my cell. Any minute now, Kate would walk in the door with Tyler. I groaned and closed my eyes to welcome sleep once more, still feeling like I had been hit by a bus.

The door creaked and footsteps padded on the wooden floor. Whispering voices filtered through the ajar bedroom door.

“Mom. Are you asleep?” Tyler’s voice was so low it was hardly audible.

“Ty. You can come in, but don’t come too close.” I pushed on the mattress to support my weight and sat up. I smiled weakly. “How was school?”

Tyler stood on the threshold. “Good. I have lots of homework. Are you sick like the last time?”

Years ago, I’d caught the flu and had been knocked out for a week. Kate had taken over mom duties, driving Tyler to school and taking care of me. Bless her heart for being the best sister. It seemed I’d inherited the weaker immune system.

“You don’t have to worry. I just need a good sleep and I’ll be good as new. What’s your Auntie Kate doing? She picked you up, right?”

Kate would be marching through the door any minute to reprimand me for overworking. She was probably in the kitchen, but no sound came from any part of the house.

Tyler shifted on his feet. “Auntie Kate couldn’t make it. She said something about interviews, and she’ll explain later.”

“Then who picked you up?” I scrubbed my face and yawned. Lee? Lee’s driver? One of Tyler’s friends?

A tall figure slid behind my son, shoving his hands inside the front pockets of his jeans. His smile was reserved, but bright enough to warm the room … and me.

“Hello, Abby,” Ian said with that cool, soothing voice that made me jolt.

My name came off a bit fun and flirty, like his grin. At least that was how I’d heard it.

“Ian?” He hadn’t even crossed my mind.

“Kate called me. Lee was in a meeting. She couldn’t get a hold of him, and I was free.”

I pulled up the blanket to my chest. I wasn’t wearing anything revealing, but him seeing me in my bedroom seemed intimate in a way I wasn’t prepared for. And in my sick state, I wondered what I looked like. Crappy, I’d bet, with red-rimmed eyes and—oh God, my hair. It must be all over the place from tossing and turning.

“I appreciate your help. You probably have to go.”

As the words spewed out of my mouth, the realization sank in—the house. I had been so busy the past week that I had neglected cleaning, even shoved the dirty dishes aside to wash later. I had never been so disorganized and messy. Even sick, I would typically still clean.

Ian rubbed Tyler’s shoulders. “Actually, I stopped by Mama’s Kitchen to pick up dinner and homemade chicken soup for you. I hope you don’t mind that I invited myself for dinner, but I didn’t know how sick you were.”

So thoughtful of him. His presence somehow made me less tired and maybe even less sick. I twisted the top button on my lavender pajama top, ensuring it was in place before pushing up to sit higher in the bed.

“That’s so sweet of you. Please stay for dinner, but I’m afraid I’m not going to be good company. And you’ll have to excuse my messy home. I’ve been so busy at the gallery, I hardly had time for anything else.”

He pressed his lips into a frown. “It’s understandable. We all push to the breaking point. Anyway, if you need anything, let me know. While you rest up, I’ll help Ty with his homework. Sound good, Ty?”

Tyler, who’d been patiently waiting, glancing back and forth between Ian and me, said, “You told me you were good in math, in the car. I need help, please.”

“Yes, sir.” He saluted Tyler. “And you, my queen.” He turned to me. “You stay in bed and rest. And Master Ty, you come with me.”

Tyler and I laughed.

Ian left my door ajar, and I could hear soft murmurs. Sometimes Tyler laughed, the sound like lovely music. As I wondered what they were talking about, I drifted in and out of sleep and finally into a deep slumber.

When I awoke, I felt much better. I put on a white robe and walked out. The moon had replaced the sun, and stars dotted the night sky. Lights were turned on in the kitchen and the family room.

I stepped carefully down the hall, quiet as a mouse so I wouldn’t disturb them. To be honest, I wanted to see what they were doing.