Page 13 of Big Island Summer
She felt a sudden certainty that Jun would be okay.
Healing from this wouldn’t be easy, or pretty, or quick. But it could be done.
And Emma would hold her together, however long it took.
5
Nell
Nell’s stomach churned as she pushed her new stroller up the street to A Place of Refuge. The familiar wall of greenery that shielded the property from the street sent a wave of anxiety through her body. Apparently it did the same to her daughter, because Cassie started to drag her feet and pull at Nell’s hand.
“Why are we here?” she whined.
“For our art class, remember?”
“We’re doing thathere?”
“Yep.” Nell let Cassie’s hand fall and kept walking, confident that her five year old would stay close. There were no cars coming up the long road that stretched nearly a mile from one main street to the other.
“But we don’t live here anymore!” Cassie scrambled to catch up and grabbed the hem of her shirt.
“That’s true. Lots of other kids still do, though.”
“I don’t even like those kids.”
“You haven’t even met half of them. You could make some new friends.”
“Maybe.” Cassie sighed. “I like playschool better.”
“Me too, I love playschool. But we’re taking a break, remember?”
“Why do we have to take a break?”
“All schools take breaks sometimes.”
“But why?”
“Auntie ‘Olena needs rest.”
“But why?”
Nell took a deep breath and let the question go unanswered. She punched in the gate code that Halia had provided – it had changed several times over since Nell’s short stay at the women’s center – and pushed her oversized stroller through.
“Close the gate behind us, would you?”
“Why?” Cassie demanded.
Nell just sighed and gave her a look.
“Because the little kids might run out in the street?” she guessed.
Nell nodded and then listened for a click as Cassie closed the tall, sturdy gate.
Everett had started to fuss as soon as the stroller stopped moving, and Cassie ran over to hand him a teether that hung from a ribbon.
“He wants to get out, Mom.”
“Let’s just walk the rest of the way to the picnic table. Do you want to push the stroller?”
