Page 34 of Big Island Weddings
“It’s almost four o’clock.”
“What happens at four?”
“I really, really wanted to go to this yoga class. It’s here in Pualena. I was going to walk, but now I won’t make it in time.”
“I can drive you.”
“Oh, would you?” Juniper put her hands together in front of her chest like she was praying. Then a gleam came into her eyes, and her grin stretched wider. “You should stay and take the class with me!”
“A yoga class?” She ran a hand through her tangled hair. “It’s been forever.”
“You should come! Nell will watch Kai, won’t you Nell?”
“Of course I will.”
Emma looked at her, feeling guilty again. “You don’t have to.”
“It’s no trouble. He’s so sweet with Cassie and Everett.”
It was true. Her wild child who couldn’t sit still and got into daily arguments with his friends was angelic when it came to kids smaller than he was. She looked back at Juniper, who was still employing prayer hands and puppy-dog eyes.
“Please, Auntie Em?”
Emma sighed and looked down at her clothes. She was wearing an old shirt of Adam’s and a pair of pajama pants. “I’ll have to change.”
“You have time if we’re driving. Go on!”
She laughed and held up her hands in defeat. “Okay, okay.”
A few minutes later, her hair was up in a bun and she was clad in an old pair of yoga pants and a fitted tank top.
Juniper had changed into a pair of loose pants that tied at the ankles and one of those tiny tops that every girl her age seemed to be wearing these days. Her wavy brown hair, which she had cropped short a year or so ago, was just long enough that she could tuck all of it into a little ponytail.
She was so beautiful that it made Emma’s heart ache; she loved her niece every bit as much as she loved her own son. And shelikedher a whole lot more most of the time… not that she’d say as much out loud.
The past couple of weeks had been rough.
“I think we need another day in Waipi‘o,” she muttered, running a hand over her eyes.
“What did you say?” Juniper asked.
“Nothing. Just thinking out loud.”
“You need yoga. Let’s go!”
She laughed. “Okay, okay, let’s go.”
They said goodbye to Kai, who was up a tree with the cat, and drove the few miles to this yoga class that Juniper had heard about. It was tucked into a residential neighborhood, but from the number of cars parked out front, Emma figured they had the right spot.
They got out of the car and rounded the corner to see a dozen yogis rolling out their mats on a huge covered patio. A roof sheltered them from sun and rain, but the space was open to the sea air on three sides. It faced the ocean, though albizia trees in an unoccupied lot across the street blocked the view.
“New faces!” A willowy figure danced through the crowd and came to stand in front of them with her arms open in welcome. “Are you here for class?”
“Yep!” Juniper said.
“We don’t have yoga mats,” Emma told her.
“That’s fine! I have some you can borrow. Props and pillows too, if that’s your thing. Come on through, I’ll show you where everything is.”
