Page 55 of Big Island Neighbors
Finally Paige cried herself out and sat hiccupping, red-eyed and forlorn.
“Come on.” Tara stood and collected their bowls.
“Where are we going?” Piper’s tone was sullen.
“I need a few things from the grocery store.”
“Can I get one of those ginger drinks?”
“Sure.” She set the stacked bowls on the counter. “Thanks, Lani.”
“Thank you!” she called back. She was towards the back of the little building, boiling berries for syrup.
Tara turned and waved her girls forward.
Paige rose from the table in slow motion and shuffled along behind her while Piper ran ahead and waited impatiently at the corner.
Tara wished that she could conjure up some string of magic words that would make them smile again. But all she could do was keep living her life - shopping and cooking, keeping the animals alive, taking the girls to their riding lessons, helping them with their projects.
Eventually they would adjust to their new normal.
They both took her hand to cross the street, something that they hadn’t done in a long time, and kept holding her hands until they walked into the store.
“What do we need?” Piper asked.
“We’re low on salt. And flour for Grandma’s chicken pot pie.”
“I’ll get the salt!” She ran to the bulk bins.
“Paige?” Tara said. “Do you want to measure out a pound of flour?”
“Sure,” she said dully.
Tara took a breath and looked around, wondering what might lift her spirits. By the time they reached the register, they had collected four fancy drinks, five bars of chocolate, six stickers, and a bag of candied ginger.
The total for their small bag of groceries was absurd, but Tara felt nothing but gratitude.
She had found a way forward. The bills were paid, she had money set aside for feed, and she could even afford the occasional bag full of treats for her daughters.
She was really doing this. And she was doing it well.
“Look!” Piper said as soon as they were outside. “It’s Cody!”
He was standing down the street by the minivan, looking down at his phone.
“Cody!” Paige shouted, both hands to her mouth. He straightened up and waved.
The girls sprinted down the sidewalk, barely pausing to look before they ran across the street. Tara jogged to catch up, holding her overloaded paper grocery bag with both hands.
“So?” Paige demanded. “Did you pass?”
“I’m a licensed driver,” Cody said proudly.
“That’s wonderful!” Tara put the bag inside of the car and then pulled him into a hug. Paige and Piper joined in, surrounding him.
“All right, all right,” he laughed, and they let him loose.
“I’m proud of you,” Tara said. “Do you want some shave ice to celebrate?”
