Page 84 of Big Island Neighbors
‘Olena reached out and squeezed her arm. “I’m so glad that you’re home.”
“Me too.” She sat up straighter. “Want to see my new house?”
“You’re done fixing up theohana?”
“I don’t know aboutdone, but it’s livable now. Moving in feels like a good way to celebrate. I think I’ll sleep there tonight… if I can get the mattress down from the third floor. I haven’t found a new one yet.”
“We can handle that.”
“Yeah?”
“For sure.”
“Okay.” Lani stood up, feeling more steady and sure than she could ever remember feeling before. “Let’s do it.”
26
Tara
Tara slotted the last containers of‘uluau gratin into place and shut the cooler.
“Okay, now try not to tip them,” Tara fretted. “The mousse isn’t completely solid.”
That was herpièce de résistancethis week, a chocolate mousse made with local cacao, island honey, cream from her cow, and duck eggs. It had taken a huge amount of self control not to eat the entire batch herself.
“I’ll be careful,” Cody said.
“You have all of the addresses?”
“I have the whole delivery route mapped out, Mom. I’ve got this.”
“Okay.” She stood and turned towards her son. He had been taller than her for years, but looking up at him still gave her a strange sense of vertigo. “I am so proud of you.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m proud of you too.” He hefted a cooler and carried it out to the van.
She picked up another and followed him. When he slotted his into the van and turned to see her standing behind him, he shook his head.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I just want to help.”
“This is my job. You go do farm stuff.”
She bit back a smile and refrained from a mock salute. It was an adjustment, her son driving and taking on so much responsibility, but she didn’t want to belittle everything that he was doing for them.
Sometimes she worried that he was taking on too much, but then she had to remind herself that he was nearly grown. Plenty old enough to hold down a part time job. She was lucky that the job was with her fledgling business.
“Remember that Maria has another box of‘ulufor us,” she said. “Liam has beef shank, and Ikaika–”
“I know, Mom. It’s all in my delivery notes.”
“Okay.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. After a moment’s hesitation, he hugged her back. “Thank you.”
“All in a day’s work, ma’am.” He stepped back and tipped an imaginary hat.
“Come on,” she laughed. “Two more coolers and then I’ll help you with the gate.”
When Cody was gone, she went inside to check on the girls. They had finished their morning chores and settled into their homeschool projects for the day. At the moment, Paige was sketching native Hawaiian birds and Piper was readingJulie of the Wolves.
