Page 44 of Big Island Sunset
“This nausea suggests some sort of deficiency, and missing meals will only make that worse. We need to build you up!”
Juniper looked between them with a tired, tolerant smile. “Thank you.”
Toni sat down and reached for her hand. “We’re here for you, kid.”
A shadow passed across Juniper’s face. “Did you tell my dad you were coming?”
“I sent him a heads up hello text when I landed…” Toni trailed off, peering at Jun. “Why? Are you guys okay? You said–”
“We’re okay,” Juniper said, waving a hand in front of her face like she was swatting away a fly. “We’re just… not great.”
“I’m not sure what that means.”
“Me neither.” Juniper slumped forward and put her head down on the table.
Toni looked at Emma and raised her eyebrows.
Emma just shrugged. She hadn’t been present for the conversation between Ethan and Jun when he came back that same day to talk things over, but he hadn’t stayed very long.
They had seen him a couple of times since then – he’d invited them over for lasagna and then come by a couple of days later to fix a loose board on the porch steps – but things between him and Jun seemed strained. As far as she could tell, father and daughter were both tiptoeing around each other, afraid to set the other one off.
Just then, Ethan’s truck rumbled up in front of the gate.
“Speak of the devil,” Toni murmured, leaning back to peer through the front windows.
“What?” Jun asked, sitting up.
“Your dad’s here.”
“Yaaay.” Juniper dragged the sound out like a funeral dirge.
Emma stood and walked outside to greet her twin.
“Hey Em.” He offered her a tired smile as he walked towards the house. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.” She sat down on the porch steps. “You?”
“I’m okay,” Ethan echoed. He paused in front of her, hands in his pockets. “Is Toni here yet?”
“Yeah, she just got here.”
“Did you know she was coming?”
“I did not.”
He just shook his head. The door opened behind her, and Ethan’s face brightened.
“Hi Dad,” Juniper said.
“Hey Junebug! How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” She sat down next to Emma.
Ethan looked past them, and his expression went flat. “Antonia.”
Toni barked out an exasperated laugh. “Nice to see you too.”
He looked away. But when she walked down from the porch a moment later and offered him a hug, he reluctantly put his arms around her. Their big sister was about a foot shorter than he was; the top of her head didn’t even brush his chin.
