Page 17 of Big Island Weddings
“This bowl here is for the soup kitchen, and I have some actual soup too, in a fridge in the garage.”
Emma looked at the stacks of reusable containers waiting to be filled with ‘ulu salad for deliveries the next day. “Do you want a hand with that?”
“I wouldlovea hand.” Tara’s shoulders slumped with exhaustion and gratitude.
Emma washed her hands and grabbed a serving spoon. “You’ve been working crazy hours ever since starting this business.”
Tara’s smile was thin. “Price of owning a small business. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful. I’m so thankful that things are going this well. But I can hardly keep up.”
“Time to hire some help.” Emma started scooping the ‘ulu salad into containers, and her stomach rumbled at the inviting smell of breadfruit and sweet onions.
“I’m not quite there yet.” She sighed as she started slicing vegetables for the next dish on the docket. “I’m making enough to pay the bills, but hiring someone would eat most of that up. Cody’s been a huge help, but I try not to lean on him too much. He already does all of the deliveries, and now he’s got that summer job selling lychee.”
“An industrious seventeen year old.”
“Very. I worry sometimes that he forgets to enjoy himself. He was always a serious kid, but ever since his dad left… I worry he’s taken on too much responsibility. And I let him.”
“He’ll be all grown up soon.”
“Don’t say that!”
Emma laughed. “He will, and it’s good that he’s such a responsible go-getter. He’ll have a much easier transition to adulthood than most kids.”
“Here’s hoping,” she murmured. “He starts college in the fall, you know.”
“At seventeen?”
Tara nodded. “He’ll still be living here at home, but he’ll be taking classes in Hilo.”
“That’s amazing!”
Tara just nodded, her expression caught somewhere between pride and anxiety. It was a complicated thing, watching your first child and only son get ready to leave the nest. Emma could hardly wrap her head around the thought of Kai being that age, taller than her and ready to launch himself out into the world.
Her phone buzzed, and she paused her packing to check the screen. It lit up with a picture of Teddy with a huge smile that showed off his new teeth. She grinned and turned the phone towards Tara.
“Aw, look at that face! Your nephew?”
“Yep. Juniper’s baby brother.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Really good.” Emma registered the surprise in her own voice as she pocketed her phone and got back to work. “Moving here was a tough transition, but she’s adjusted beautifully. That kid is resilient.”
“Do you think she would be up for some part-time work? I know that she’s working that lychee job too, but…”
“And hatching plans for her own market stand besides. She needs money for that, and she’s determined to make it herself. I think she’d be game.”
“I can only afford minimum wage, which isn’t enough for most people – but considering there’s no commute and she doesn’t have any rent to pay…”
“What else are teenagers for? Couldn’t hurt to ask.”
“Even one or two days a week would make a huge difference.”
“If it’s too much for her, you can always lean on me until lychee season is over. It doesn’t last long, if I recall correctly.”
“Not long at all. But no, I couldn’t impose on you like that.”
“It’s not an imposition! You saved my butt when I moved here. Even before we got here, you were taking care of the goats and chickens and all.”
