Page 7 of The Seashell of ’Ohana

“Cheese,” everyone said with an exaggerated voice.

I snapped the photo and sent it. Tyler and Bridget went back to eating their desserts and playing their game.

Lee drank his tea and placed it on the coffee table with a light thunk. “Abby, are you free next Saturday? I would like to invite you and Tyler to have dinner at my place. I’m going to barbecue, and the kids can swim in the pool.”

Tyler looked up from the tablet. “I want to go.” He shrugged sheepishly when I furrowed my brow at him. “I mean, can we please go? It’ll be fun.” He flashed all his teeth in an exaggerated smile, trying to convince me.

I had turned down Lee’s past two dinner invitations, but not because I didn’t want to spend time with them. It always felt like pity—like they were asking me so I wouldn’t be alone. But I couldn’t keep doing it.

“Sure, Ty and I will be there. Thank you for the invite.”

Lee gave a curt nod and grinned. “Also, I hope you don’t mind that I asked Ian to join us.”

My polite smile faltered. This felt like a set-up. And why did my heart beat faster at the thought of seeing Ian again? Blimey.

Chapter Three — Four Years

I stood on the threshold of my son’s bedroom. “Ty, you ready?”

On the left wall stretched the mural I had painted for him as a birthday request—the night sky with stars on the ceiling and a rocket ship blasting off. Opposite the mural, I had painted bold, bright letters over the dresser that glowed in the dark: I love you across the galaxies and beyond. That had become our motto to each other. A reminder that even though I was his only parent, I loved him enough for two people.

Tyler shut the closet door and smiled at me. He tucked the hem of his brown and white checkered T-shirt inside his beige shorts. He looked at the long mirror attached to his closet door and patted his sleeked-back hair.

“Now I’m ready.” He grabbed the present I had wrapped last night for Jace.

We walked out to the garage together, hopped in the minivan, and drove off. Jace’s parents would supervise Tyler, but this was the first time parents had not been invited to attend. The thought left me so anxious that my chest hurt.

My son was my life. I had to learn to let go. I had to give him space so he could learn to be independent. And I wanted to, but it was a struggle, every day, not to hold him too close.

We pulled up to the house, and my discomfort doubled. Where we lived in a cozy one-story home, Jace’s neighborhood had spacious lots and three-story mansions. Manicured front lawns displayed lush green grass and exotic flowers, and even the palm trees looked trimmed and perfect.

I parked on the curb. “Okay, Ty, I’ll come pick you up at five. Call me if you want to come home earlier.”

“I don’t have a phone. How do I call you?” Tyler crossed his arms and hiked an eyebrow.

I dropped my hands from the wheel and pushed the button to unlock the door. “Nice try. You’re not getting one until you’re at least in junior high. You can ask Jace’s mom to call me. Do you want me to walk you, or do you want to go in by yourself?”

Tyler pushed the door open and hopped out with the birthday gift in hand. “I can go myself.”

“I love you across the galaxies and beyond,” I said, and blew him a kiss. A year ago, I would have gotten out of the car to kiss him, but he wouldn’t let me anymore.

“I love you across the galaxies and beyond,” he mumbled.

He didn’t sound like he meant it, but I took the win and let it go. Soon, maybe even this year, he might not say it back. While he ran across the cobblestone walkway to the grand double front doors, I lowered the passenger side window to see him more clearly.

When the door opened, a mop of auburn peeked out, then Jessica Conner walked out toward her car and waved at me. She must have dropped off Jarrad. I’d first met Jessica and her son at Tyler’s preschool. Jarrad had been in Tyler’s class last year, but not this year.

Jessica had been all over Lee a few years ago, vying for his attention, but she’d stopped when Lee and Kate got together. She had gotten a divorce right around that time and had seemed intent on getting her paws on rich, eligible bachelors.

I raised a hand to Jessica as I watched Tyler go inside the house, then I drove to the local beach. I should be working, but today was the fourth anniversary of Steve’s passing. There was no way I could concentrate.

The soft wind tousled my hair back away from my face as I stepped out of the car. The sun bathing my skin warmed me to the bone. I tucked my small purse under the seat and shoved my keys in the back pocket of my jean shorts.

I slipped off my sandals and let them dangle from my hand. My toes dug into the soft white sand with every step I took toward the ocean. Mist brushed my face as the sea breeze enveloped me, and I licked the hint of salt off my lips.

Families lounged under colorful sun umbrellas while others swam or surfed in the water. Children and parents built sandcastles together. Laughter and chatting rang in the air.

“Look, Mommy, I found it,” a boy about four years old said. He held up a small white seashell, water lapping over his feet.