23. Emma

23

Emma

W hen Lani’s name popped up on Emma’s phone, she answered the call with a question.

“Do you know my least favorite thing about living in Hawai‘i?”

“The roosters crowing at four in the morning?” Lani guessed.

“Nope.”

“The coqui frogs?”

“No. I kind of love them. Is that weird?”

“Nah, I love those little buggas too.”

“I think I’d have a hard time sleeping without them at this point. It’s like white noise.”

“So? What’s your biggest problem with life in paradise?”

“It is impossible to keep the house clean. Between the mold and the gecko poop and the roaches, I’m about losing my mind. Is it just me?”

Lani laughed. “Why you think we always eating outside?”

“Whatever, island girl. Your kitchen is always immaculate.”

“I clean when I’m stressed, and Tenn is used to restaurant kitchens.”

“Tell me your secrets.”

“We clean. Everything. Constantly.”

“That’s a lame secret.”

Lani laughed again.

“There was a hen in my kitchen this morning, Leilani. A chicken. On my counter.”

She was in full-on hysterics at that point.

“Kai keeps leaving the kitchen door open. My life is a disaster.”

“It’s a beautiful mess, is what it is.”

“Yeah, that about describes it. Why’d you call, anyway?”

“To see if you’re home.”

“I am home and, to the best of my knowledge, my kitchen is currently free of fecal matter.”

“Very impressive. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Sweet! What’s the occasion? You miss me?”

“You know what? I do. I miss your face. Also, I have three pints of ice cream. I thought we could each grab a spoon and eat them on the lanai.”

“Is this celebratory ice cream?” Emma asked uncertainly. “Or are we eating our emotions?”

“I’m celebrating my favorite brand being seventy percent off.”

“Excellent. I’ll get the gate.”

Emma set her phone down and walked out front just as Cody and Jun pulled up in his little old Honda. She smiled and waved, then averted her eyes when the teens leaned in for a passionate kiss goodbye.

Her mind spun with a sluggish sort of confusion as she opened the gate.

Had anyone given her niece The Talk? Jun’s home life had been a disaster for years, with her mom in and out of rehab. Was Emma supposed to be taking responsibility for that? She had no idea… but she made a mental note to confab with her brother, and maybe with Tara too.

Emma had only been a parent for seven years. She wasn’t ready for all of this teenage stuff. It had been in the back of her mind since she saw Jun and Cody walking hand in hand on the beach, but with all of the chaos surrounding Laurel’s death and Ethan’s move, she hadn’t thought about it in a while.

She still wasn’t sure that it was her place, and the kids were both so smart and responsible that it was probably unnecessary… but still, she had a nagging feeling that she should say something .

Maybe tomorrow , she thought as Juniper gave her the side eye.

“You weren’t, like, waiting for me, were you?” she asked as she walked through the open gate.

“I was waiting for Lani, actually.” Emma waved when Lani appeared down the road in her rusty old truck. “She’s bringing ice cream. If you’re nice, we might even share.”

Jun’s tone went from snarky to sunny in an instant. “I’m always nice.”

“I’m gonna let that slide.”

“Love you, Auntie Em,” she sang out over her shoulder as she ran up to the house. “I’ll be down in a sec. Don’t eat all the ice cream!”

Emma closed the gate behind Lani and went to meet her in the kitchen.

“Any kids around?” Lani asked as she pulled three pints out of a paper bag.

“Kai’s next door, and Nell’s gone today.”

“Good, more for us.”

“Juniper’s going to lay claim to that pint of double chocolate, though.”

“That’s fine. That girl deserves some ice cream. Is she around?”

“She’ll be down in a few. Sounds like she’s taking a shower.”

“I’ll toss it in the freezer, then. They’re half melted already.”

“What else have you got?”

“The ube haupia is mine, which leaves you with the lilikoi.”

“That’s my favorite.”

“I know.”

“ You’re my favorite.”

“I got you, boo.”

“You’re in a good mood today.” Emma grabbed two spoons, and they carried their pints out onto the lanai. The afternoon sunshine caressed her skin like warm water, and she sighed happily as she sat down.

“Life is good,” Lani said. “I’m madly in love with my husband, our daughters are thriving, and my mother-in-law has decided that she doesn’t hate my guts.”

“That’s a delightful turn of events.”

“I hate that it took Livie breaking her arm for Sonya to lighten up, but… I’ll take it, I guess.”

“I still don’t get that.”

“Livie could have died.” Lani’s voice was contemplative as she carved out a scoop of pale purple ice cream. “I think it frightened her so badly that it served as some kind of reset.”

“Or she realized that if she doesn’t hate herself for Olivia landing in the hospital on her watch, she’s not allowed to hate you for Tenn getting shot when you weren’t even there.”

“Something like that,” Lani agreed.

They were quiet for a moment, savoring their ice cream. Bright, tart passion fruit burst across Emma’s tongue with each bite. The orchard shone green and red and yellow in the afternoon sunlight, and she felt a moment of perfect happiness.

“Thanks for coming by. I’ve missed you.”

“Ditto.” Lani nudged her arm in a friendly way. “Life gets busy, but I’d like to see more of you.”

“I’m right here.”

“We should do something all together before summer ends. A camping trip, maybe?”

“I’d love that.”

“We haven’t been to the beach since Olivia broke her arm. It feels mean, swimming when she can’t. But we can’t stay inside all summer.”

“How’s she doing?”

“She’s good. I covered her whole cast with dolphins and rainbows, so she’s super into it. Says she never wants to let them cut it off.”

“That’s cute.” Emma ate another bite of ice cream. “Is Rory with her babbo today?”

“No. She’s actually with Sonya.”

“No way.”

“Way. She finally decided to include Rory in her invites. So today both girls are at her house for pedicures and a movie marathon.”

“Amazing.”

“Rory was over the moon. Not that she cares about Sonya so much, but she wants to go everywhere Olivia goes.”

“Typical little sister.”

“Yeah.” Lani smiled. “I never thought that she would be a sister, much less a little sister. But she loves it.”

“Hey Auntie!” Juniper greeted Lani as she came out into the sunshine. Her hair dripped down her back onto a clean t-shirt. “Thanks for the ice cream.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“I can repay you in gossip, if you’d like.” She grinned mischievously as she pried the lid off of her pint of double chocolate.

“Spill the tea.”

“Tea is my specialty.”

“Stop stalling.”

Juniper put a huge bite of ice cream into her mouth and widened her eyes theatrically. A moment later, she winced.

“Brain freeze!”

“Serves you right,” Lani cackled.

“Gossip’s a bad habit anyway,” Emma said.

“Spoilsport.”

“You’re a bad influence,” she teased.

“Oh, whatever. The coconut wireless runs these islands. It’s a part of our culture.”

“You’re gonna want to hear this one,” Jun said. “It’s about my dad.”

Emma’s laughter cut off like a faucet. “What about him?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to gossip.” Jun batted her eyes and ate another bite of ice cream.

“You’ve gotten bratty since your mom died,” Lani said.

“Leilani!” Emma gasped.

Juniper cackled. “You did not just say that!”

“I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em.”

“You’re extra weird today.”

“I’m high on life, little lady! Now give us the gossip.”

“My dad’s in looove,” she said, dragging out the word in a two-note singsong.

“Seriously?” Lani sobered and glanced at Emma.

“What are you talking about, Jun?”

Juniper shrugged, deliberately nonchalant. “He fell for his landlady.”

“Ethan and Fern ?”

“Yep.”

“The yoga teacher?” Lani asked.

“Yep.”

“That tracks.”

“What?” Emma looked at her in surprise. “Why?”

“Em, she’s gorgeous . She looks like a fashion model and moves like a dancer. We should have seen this coming.”

“Well, yeah, but…”

“But what?”

“It’s just so soon.”

“Everyone grieves in their own way, and in their own time. And honestly? Some men just don’t know how to be alone. They jump straight from one woman to the next. No offence, Jun.”

Juniper just shrugged. “No worries. That about sums it up.”

Emma shook her head, still processing. “He’s never been with anyone but Laurel.”

“So he has some catching up to do,” Lani teased.

“Don’t tell him I told you,” Jun fretted. A half-second later, her eyes narrowed and she shrugged. “Or do. Whatever. I don’t care.”

“You are moody today,” Lani said.

“I’m seventeen and my mom is dead. I’m allowed.”

“I’ll let that slide for today. Just don’t milk it too long, or ‘allowed’ turns into ‘entitled’.”

Juniper stuck her tongue out at her but followed it up with a genuine smile.

“How are you feeling about all that?” Emma asked.

“About my dad and the yoga teacher?”

“Yeah.”

She shrugged. “Whatever makes him happy, I guess.”

“Very mature,” Lani said.

“Very demure,” Juniper murmured. “Very mindful.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” Jun said with a laugh.

“It’s an internet thing,” Emma explained, and Lani rolled her eyes.

“Fern’s cool. I liked her before my dad moved in there, so it would be stupid to turn around and hate her now.” She ate another bite of the double chocolate. “I didn’t exactly take it well, to be honest. I definitely didn’t expect him to start dating right away… but it’s not like he did it on purpose. You never know when you’re going to meet somebody.”

“Like you and the boy next door?” Lani teased.

Juniper’s face turned red, and she focused on digging a hunk of chocolate out of her ice cream.

“Look at her blush!”

“Oh, leave her be,” Emma said, even though some childish corner of her heart wanted to tease Juniper about her boyfriend the same way that her niece had teased her about their permaculture instructor, Keith.

Jun and Cody, sitting in a tree…

On the other side of the house, Dio barked and the chain on the gate rattled.

“Someone’s here.” Juniper jumped up and walked around the corner.

“Look at her run,” Lani scoffed. “She gets so shy every time I ask her about Cody.”

“Have you talked about it with her?” Emma asked in surprise.

“Yeah, a few times.” Lani’s grin was diabolical. “She can’t run or hide when we’re in the little shave ice shack.”

“Both my sisters are on the mainland, and I’m still not the fun aunt.”

“Ice cream aside, I don’t know how fun I am. Poor thing turned sunburn red when I talked to her about using protection.”

“Did you really?”

“Of course. Didn’t you?”

“I hadn’t worked up the courage. Do you think that… are they…?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. But teens are teens, even the smart ones.” She reached her spoon into Emma’s pint and stole a scoop of lilikoi.

“I’m horrible at this,” Emma said.

“You’re really not. She’s a good kid.”

“No thanks to me. I feel like… wallpaper.”

Lani snorted. “Pretty sure all teenagers make their parents feel like that.”

“So we’ve got that to look forward to.”

“Not me. My girls are going to be different.”

“Ah. So you’re choosing denial.”

“Absolutely.”

“Auntie Em!” Juniper’s voice rounded the corner a second before she did, racing over the lawn on an old mountain bike. “Lani! Look at this!”

“Wow!” Lani stood and went to the railing of the lanai. “Sweet ride!”

“Now I won’t have to walk to work anymore!”

“I haven’t seen you do a whole lot of walking. I have seen you doing a whole lot of smooching the neighbor kid in that old car of his.”

Juniper’s cheeks went red again. “ Shhh! ”

“Where’d you get the bike?” Emma asked.

“My dad gave it to me!”

“Hi Em.” Ethan rounded the corner and walked up the steps to the lanai. “I wanted to make it easier for her to get over to my place when she feels like it. We got her an appointment for a learner’s permit too, but in the meantime…”

“I love it! Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, Junebug.”

“Hi, Ethan.” Emma hugged her brother. “Where’s Teddy?”

“I left him with Fern. I drove all the way up to Waimea to get that bike. Just stopped in here on my way back. I thought I might have to fix it up first, but it doesn’t need it. I don’t think the guy ever even rode it. It’s good as new.”

“Did you get her a helmet?”

“Yes, mother .” Ethan rolled his eyes. “And she promised to wear it.”

Emma crossed her arms and looked up at him. “So, when are you bringing Fern over for dinner?”

His eyes widened and he looked down at Juniper. “You told her!”

“Sorry!” she sang out, utterly unrepentant.

“Liar.” His eyes sparkled as he looked as his daughter, and there was a genuine smile on his face.

Juniper grinned and rode away.

“I’ll go put these in the freezer.” Lani said, picking up the half-finished pints of ice cream.

“So.” Emma looked up at her brother. “You and Fern.”

“It’s new,” Ethan grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

“I meant it – you should bring her over for dinner.”

“Weren’t we supposed to be getting out of the house? Making new memories?”

“We could meet up for a beach day or something.”

“I’m not ready to subject her to the inquisition just yet.”

“It’s just me! I’m not going to grill her.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about.”

She watched Jun race through the orchard on her new mountain bike.

“Yeah, okay, fair enough. She is a bit… up and down lately.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“Well… when you’re ready, I’d like to get to know her better.”

He smiled bashfully and looked away. “So would I.”

“You really like her,” Emma said, surprised.

“I really do.”

“I’m happy for you.”

He looked down at her, his expression uncertain. “Are you?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I thought you might be more… judgey.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“What you said the other day…”

“What?”

“Basically that Adam’s death was harder on you than Laurel’s was on me.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have–”

“Just a minute. Let me say what I’m trying to. I was pissed, but you weren’t exactly wrong. I mean, I was gutted.” His voice trembled. “I loved my wife.”

“I know you did,” she said quietly.

“But you weren’t wrong. Adam was, well, he was basically perfect. And Laurel… I’d been grieving her for years. Losing her a little bit at a time. Even before she overdosed, she was struggling. We were struggling. I tried to convince myself that things could be good again, tried to convince her… but the woman I fell in love with, she disappeared years ago.”

Emma put a hand on his arm. “I know.”

“I never would have gone looking for somebody so soon. I never would have gone out and started dating the minute I moved here. But Fern just… she caught me by surprise. She’s incredible, Em.”

She hugged him tight, then let him go.

“I’m happy for you, Ethan. Really.”

“I’ve never met anyone like her.”

“Have you told her that?”

Twin lines of concern appeared between his eyebrows. “Not in those words.”

Emma smiled up at him. “Maybe you should.”