Page 10 of Big Island Summer
“She’s more grown up than most of the adults I’ve met.”
“I know she’s brilliant, Toni, but she’s still a kid.”
“Yeah.” Toni sighed. “I know. I wish I could be there. I’m working on finding someone to cover the markets for me so that I can come out for a visit. Summer is just–”
“I know. I get it.” Emma knelt down and started on another section of the floor. It felt good to pour her energy into something that yielded visible results, even if Kai and Dio would just muddy the floors up as soon as they dried.
“He’s a good kid?” Toni asked.
“The best. You’d love him.”
“At least she’s got good taste. I’ve just been feeling anxious about that today, about them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m just worried about him taking advantage while she’s vulnerable, you know?”
“He’s not like that.”
“He’s a teenage boy.”
“He’s a good kid, Toni. He’s responsible. Basically the man of the house since his father ran out on them. He does all of the deliveries for his mom’s business on top of his classes, and now he’s working with Jun and ferrying her all around. Seems like all the kid does is work. But he’s easygoing, super kind to all the younger kids.
“Honestly,” she continued, “I hope that theyaretogether. It would be good for her to have someone to lean on, someone who can hold her together while she falls apart. Like you and Liz and Ethan did for me.”
“She has you, doesn’t she?”
“I’m here for her. Unconditionally. But she doesn’t confide in me. It’s not the same.”
“You didn’t confide in us before Adam died. Not really. It was just the two of you. The dynamic duo. Always.”
“And I met him when I was even younger than Jun. Young love can be the real deal, Toni. It happens.”
“Have you been telling her that?”
“No, we haven’t talked about it. But she knows my story.”
“And she knows her mother’s story,” Toni muttered. “Laurel was her age exactly when she got knocked up, and look how that turned out.”
“It gave us Jun,” Emma protested softly.
Toni was quiet for a moment. “You’re right. God, Em, I’m sorry. I haven’t slept in like three days. I didn’t mean to call and rag on you.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not. I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you.”
Toni let out a breath of relief. “Thanks.”
“You should rest.”
“Yeah. Yeah, okay. I’ll try. But my phone’s on. I’m here if you need me. Either of you.”
“I know. Thank you.”
It was another hour before Juniper came home, bright and sparkling as the kitchen that Emma had just scrubbed within an inch of its life.
