Page 79 of Big Island Summer
“Yeah, that about describes it. Why’d you call, anyway?”
“To see if you’re home.”
“I am home and, to the best of my knowledge, my kitchen is currently free of fecal matter.”
“Very impressive. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Sweet! What’s the occasion? You miss me?”
“You know what? I do. I miss your face. Also, I have three pints of ice cream. I thought we could each grab a spoon and eat them on the lanai.”
“Is this celebratory ice cream?” Emma asked uncertainly. “Or are we eating our emotions?”
“I’m celebrating my favorite brand being seventy percent off.”
“Excellent. I’ll get the gate.”
Emma set her phone down and walked out front just as Cody and Jun pulled up in his little old Honda. She smiled and waved, then averted her eyes when the teens leaned in for a passionate kiss goodbye.
Her mind spun with a sluggish sort of confusion as she opened the gate.
Had anyone given her niece The Talk? Jun’s home life had been a disaster for years, with her mom in and out of rehab. WasEmmasupposed to be taking responsibility for that? She had no idea… but she made a mental note to confab with her brother, and maybe with Tara too.
Emma had only been a parent for seven years. She wasn’t ready for all of this teenage stuff. It had been in the back of her mind since she saw Jun and Cody walking hand in hand on the beach, but with all of the chaos surrounding Laurel’s death and Ethan’s move, she hadn’t thought about it in a while.
She still wasn’t sure that it was her place, and the kids were both so smart and responsible that it was probably unnecessary… but still, she had a nagging feeling that she should saysomething.
Maybe tomorrow, she thought as Juniper gave her the side eye.
“You weren’t, like, waiting for me, were you?” she asked as she walked through the open gate.
“I was waiting for Lani, actually.” Emma waved when Lani appeared down the road in her rusty old truck. “She’s bringing ice cream. If you’re nice, we might even share.”
Jun’s tone went from snarky to sunny in an instant. “I’m always nice.”
“I’m gonna let that slide.”
“Love you, Auntie Em,” she sang out over her shoulder as she ran up to the house. “I’ll be down in a sec. Don’t eat all the ice cream!”
Emma closed the gate behind Lani and went to meet her in the kitchen.
“Any kids around?” Lani asked as she pulled three pints out of a paper bag.
“Kai’s next door, and Nell’s gone today.”
“Good, more for us.”
“Juniper’s going to lay claim to that pint of double chocolate, though.”
“That’s fine. That girl deserves some ice cream. Is she around?”
“She’ll be down in a few. Sounds like she’s taking a shower.”
“I’ll toss it in the freezer, then. They’re half melted already.”
“What else have you got?”
“The ube haupia is mine, which leaves you with the lilikoi.”
