Page 66 of Big Island Summer
She stood and strode towards the chickens who were already tiptoeing towards the opening, their beady eyes fixed on her tomatoes.
“Nope! Absolutely not!” She shooed them away. “Out!”
She pocketed the seed packets and used her handy garden shears to harvest an overgrown eggplant. Exiting the garden and closing the gate behind her, she tossed it into the yard for the chickens.
“Have at it.”
“Hey Mom!” Kai ran past with Dio loping by his side. “Uncle Ethan’s here!”
“Thanks,” she called after him. He waved at her and disappeared into the orchard.
She found her brother in the driveway, walking down from the top after closing the gate.
“Hi, Ethan.” She gave him a hug, then peered into the truck and saw an empty car seat. “Where’s Teddy?”
“Fern’s got him.”
She blinked at him in surprise. “Oh…kay?”
“I’m just on my way back from the hardware store. Is Jun around?”
“No, she’s not here.”
“Where is she?”
“I’m not sure.”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you’re not sure?”
Emma shrugged. “I mean she isn’t around.”
“What the hell, Em? I thought you were keeping track of her?”
“I don’t track her comings and goings.”
“You’re supposed to be looking out for her!”
“I gave her a place to stay. I never said I would keep tabs on her.”
“She could be anywhere!”
“What are you freaking out about? She has three jobs. She spends most of her time working. And when she’s not working, she’s usually home. Or next door, playing with Tara’s little girls. She’s a good kid.”
“Exactly!”
“What?”
“She’s akid! You should know where she is.”
“Just call her if you’re worried.”
“Yeah, like she ever answers.”
She usually did, in Emma’s experience, but this didn’t feel like the right time to bring that up.
“How am I supposed to keep her safe if I don’t even know where she is?” he demanded.
“It’s not likeyou’ve been keeping tabs on her.”
