Page 5 of Big Island Neighbors
“Maybe.” Tara pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs. “The thing is, I don’t know how to do this alone.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
Tara met her eyes. “I don’t know how I’m going to make ends meet without his salary. Animal feed alone is hundreds of dollars every month, and then the kids’ lessons and the electric bill and everything else…” Her voice sped as she listed all of the things that weighed on her, and Lani put a hand on her shoulder.
“You’ll figure it out,” she said again.
“He’ll pay child support, won’t he?” asked Emma.
“I guess so. Eventually. But he’s doing the opposite right now - still using the debit card on our joint account. I don’t know when he’ll find another job, and our savings won’t last long.” She closed her eyes and took a long, shuddering breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload on you. It’s such a beautiful day.”
“It’s okay.” Emma patted her back.
“We just paid off our mortgage last year. So at least there’s that. I’m so lucky that I don’t have to worry about paying rent or finding a place to live.”
“See?” Lani said. “You’ve got this.”
Tara nodded, but her voice was thick when she said, “I’ve got this.”
“You’ve had, what? Twenty hours to process this? Less?”
She nodded again.
“Yeah. No wonder you’re spinning. It’ll all be okay. You’ll see.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to tell the kids.”
“That’s a rough one,” Lani acknowledged. “But they’re great kids, and they obviously adore you. They’ll be okay.”
Tara sniffed. “Thank you.”
“And if you need anything,” Emma added, “we’re right next door.”
She took their hands and squeezed. “I appreciate that.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Lani asked.
“You’re already doing it.” Tara smiled, stood, and started off after the kids. “Come on. Let’s go chase some waterfalls.”
2
Tara
At this point in her life, farm chores were a form of meditation.
Tara moved easily from one task to another. She wasn’t on autopilot, exactly. It was just that after all these years with her animals, she had her daily chores down to a smooth rhythm.
It occupied her mind just enough that outside worries rarely crept in. That left her free to enjoy the little things, like the golden light of dawn and affectionate nuzzles from her milk cow.
Tara ran her hand over her warm flank, leaning into the steady weight of her. It was a chilly morning - for Hawai’i, at least - and the little dairy cow sheltered her from the breeze that blew in off of the ocean.
The growing calf eyed Tara warily for a minute before wedging herself in between them, competing for the affection of both. Tara laughed and stepped away, securing the lid of her milk bucket to carry it inside.
She double checked the cows’ water tank on her way out of the back pasture where she kept the cows and the sheep. The mother cow alone went through an astonishing forty gallons of water per day.
Thank goodness that it rained well over one hundred inches a year in Pualena.
They had pipes and hoses running everywhere, to and from the catchment tanks that were replenished nearly every night by the rains.
