Page 18 of Big Island Neighbors
“Green plantain,” Tara confirmed, “green onions, moringa, turmeric, ginger. We’ll have you back to full strength in no time.”
“Thank you so much.”
“My mom took care of me when Cody was born, and my sister came to stay with us when I had the twins. I don’t know how I would have gotten through otherwise.” She rolled up her sleeves to tackle the dishes stacked in the sink.
“No, please, I can do those.”
“You just sit there and finish that stew,” Tara said. “I’ve got my own stressors this week, and it always helps to do something with my hands. We’ll get the kitchen sorted, and maybe then you can close your eyes for a few minutes before the cycle starts again.”
“You’re a lifesaver.”
“Just a neighbor.”
“This stew is killer. What kind of meat is this?”
“Goat. He was one of mine.”
“Wow, I usually hate goat. But this is delicious. You should have a food truck or something.”
Tara paused for a beat before reaching for the next dirty bowl.
Maybe.
Not a food truck. Nothing that required that level of investment. But something along those lines. Feeding people out of her own backyard… it was what she loved to do.
But could she make it profitable?
Enough to support her family?
It seemed like she would have to.
6
Emma
Emma was awake instantly, heart pounding.
There was another shout from Kai’s room, and she jumped out of bed.
When she turned on the light, he flinched and shouted. He was still mostly asleep, eyes scrunched shut.
“Come back!”
“Wake up, Kai.” She sat down on the edge of his bed and gently shook his shoulder. “It’s just a dream.”
“Dad!” He sat up with a shout and looked around frantically. When he saw Emma and realized where he was, he fell into her and started to cry. “He wouldn’t even look at me. He just kept walking away.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she kept her voice steady. “It was just a dream.”
“I miss him,” Kai choked out. Whatever he said next was lost in full-body sobs.
“I miss him too.”
She sat there for a long time, holding her son in her arms and rocking him back and forth until he was all cried out. Finally he sat up and blew his nose on yesterday’s t-shirt.
“Is it morning yet?”
Emma sniffed back her tears and ran the sleeve of her shirt over her cheeks. The sky outside was just starting to lighten, and the low rainclouds were a dark purple.
