Page 25 of Maliea's Hero

“Abby.” Maliea smiled. “She sounds amazing.”

‘She is.” Reid’s glance went to the rearview mirror. “Smart and so curious. Like Nani.”

“You must miss her,” Maliea whispered.

He gave a brief nod, his jaw tightening.

“Does it bother you to be around other children?” she asked. “Is being around Nani reminding you too much of what you’re missing?”

“My feelings are not important,” he said. “What matters is that I’m here to protect you and Nani. That’s all you need to worry about.”

His words effectively shut her down.

Maliea didn’t ask any more questions or make any comments until they arrived at the University of Hawaii, where her father and husband had worked up to the day they’d died.

She quietly directed him to the building they needed to enter.

He cast a glance in her direction, wondering what was going through her mind as he pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine. “Are you going to be okay?”

Her gaze fixed on the building. Her face was set in strained lines, and her lips pressed together as if to keep them from trembling.

If Reid wasn’t mistaken, her eyes were glassy as if holding back unshed tears.

“Is this the first time you’ve been back here since...?” he asked.

She gave him a brief nod, squared her shoulders and said, “Let’s get this over with.” Maliea turned away and pushed open her door.

Reid hurried out of the vehicle and around to the passenger side, where Maliea was opening the door for Nani.

Nani bounced out of the back seat, seemingly unaware of the effect the visit was having on her mother. She slipped her hand into Maliea’s and held out her other hand for Reid.

Girding his loins, he took the proffered hand and walked on the other side of Nani toward the building, his gaze sweeping the area, searching for any hint of danger.

Young people, carrying satchels filled with books or sporting backpacks slung over one shoulder, hurried along the sidewalks or across the green lawns to different buildings in a hurry to get from one class to the next. Though busy, nothing indicated any threat to Maliea or her daughter. Still, Reid wouldn’t let down his guard. Since the previous attacks had occurred at night, he doubted whoever was targeting them would make another attempt during daylight hours. And this wasn’t Afghanistan or another third-world country where enemy operatives could be around every corner. Hawaii was supposedly civilized.

All the more reason to be on alert at all times.

Reid’s grip tightened gently on Nani’s hand, and his gaze swept over Maliea as they approached the building. He’d protect them at all costs, including his own life.

Maliea drew in a deep breath and told herself not to cry. The last thing she wanted to do was upset Nani. Her daughter might only be three, but she was old beyond her years and sensitive to others around her, especially her mother.

Reid released his hold on Nani’s hand, pushed open the door and stood back as she and Nani entered.

Maliea led the way down the hallway to the staircase leading up to the offices where her father and Taylor had worked.

She headed for her father’s office to check in with Andrea Peterson, her friend and the History Department’s secretary.

Andrea stood and threw open her arms as soon as Maliea and Nani stepped through the door. “There’s my Nani-Nani-Boo-Boo,” she cried and engulfed Nani in a bear hug, lifting the child off the ground. “I’m so happy to see my little sugar britches.” She gave Nani a loud, smacking kiss.

Nani hugged the woman around the neck and smiled. “Granny Annie, what do you have for me in your magic drawer?”

Andrea set Nani on her feet and waved her hand toward her desk. “I don’t know. It’s magic. You’ll have to see for yourself.”

Nani squealed with delight and yanked open the drawer. While Nani dug into the crayons and coloring books, Andrea met Maliea’s gaze, her eyes welling. Wordlessly, she opened her arms.

Maliea fell into her motherly embrace, fighting the tears. A few leaked out, but she quickly brushed them away. With Andrea holding her like this, memories flowed through of the last time she’d held her in her arms when her mother had died.

“I’m so sorry,” Andrea whispered.