Page 54 of Big Island Weddings
“Come paint with me!” Cassie took Rory’s hand and pulled her over to the first table.
“Mama?” she looked over her shoulder at Lani. “Can I?”
“Of course, baby. Have fun.”
Olivia raced by and joined her friends at the table. Lani smiled as she watched the three girls standing shoulder to shoulder, crowding together to pour and mix paint.
“Divide and conquer?” Tenn asked, coming up beside her. “I can shop for the reception while you get groceries.”
“No.” She reached for his hand and threaded her fingers through his. “We have time. Let’s stick together.”
He pulled her hand up for a kiss. “Sounds good to me.”
‘Olena’s wedding day was rushing towards them at breakneck speed, and Tenn had offered to handle the catering. He had already started stocking up on what they needed, storing things in the back of the walk-in fridge at the cafe, but the shopping wasn’t done yet.
“So, what do we need?”
“The main dishes are covered. Now we’re basically just looking for whatever deals we can score for appetizers and a fruit platter.”
“Do we really need fruit when the groom owns a lychee orchard?”
“Lychee will be the star, for sure. But let’s find a few other fruits to balance it out.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Mango, if we can find any. Melons, maybe? I just want to add some color.”
“Edible flowers?”
“That could be fun.”
“Juniper could give us some ideas.” She spotted Emma’s niece through the crowd. “Let’s ask her.”
“You ask.” He squeezed her hand and released it. “I see mangos. I’m going to buy them before they’re gone. Or better yet, see if he’ll deliver a box in a couple days.”
“Okay.” She moved off, then paused to admire Juniper’s new stand. There was no brand name, justFresh Lilikoi Limeade and Herbal Teaspainted in huge letters across a piece of plywood she’d found. The kids had helped her paint a colorful background, and she had followed it up with bold letters in a steady hand.
Clear containers running the length of two folding tables held a rainbow of drinks: red hibiscus, golden mamaki, orange lilikoi limeade, bright blue butterfly pea, and a royal purple tea. She was also selling labeled bags of various tea blends.
The seventeen year old had purchased everything herself with the money she’d earned picking lychee for Nathan and selling it on the side of the road. She worked other odd jobs too, including covering the occasional shift for Lani at Haumona Shave Ice. That one, at least, she was able to walk to. And working next door with Tara or babysitting for Emma and Nell was a meters-long commute.
The farm work and this new stand required more ingenuity. Stymied in her attempts to obtain a driver’s license – she hadn’t been able to meet the residency requirements with her legal guardians back in California – she had roped the neighbor kid into both her work in the orchard and the market stand she’d started. Cody looked as happy as Lani had ever seen him, even though he seemed to be just hanging in the background while Juniper chatted with customers and handed over cups of iced tea.
When the crowd in front of the tea tables cleared, Lani jogged over.
“This looks great!” she said as she walked up to the table.
“Auntie Lani!” Juniper greeted her. “Hi!”
“I’d take one of each if I could carry it. But since I’ve tried all of your tea blends already, I’ll have to go with the lilikoi limeade.”
“You’ve got it! Do you want to use one of the reusable cups? It’s fifty cents less.”
“Sure! I love that.”
Juniper filled a sturdy plastic cup with the icy drink and handed it over. Behind her, Cody was washing cups in a two-tub system and setting them aside to dry.
“It looks like you’ve sold a lot already,” Lani said as she paid.
