Page 45 of Big Island Sunset
“It’s good to see you,” he said gruffly.
“Where’s the little guy?” she asked, stepping back.
“Home. Fern’s watching him.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting her,” Toni said with genuine warmth.
He just nodded and turned his attention to Juniper. “I’d like to talk to you for a minute.”
“I’m just gonna… go take a look at the orchard,” Toni said, moving away. “I haven’t seen this place in years.”
“Em?” he said. “Would you give us a minute?”
She started to stand, but Juniper’s hand shot out and grabbed hers.
“What, Dad?”
He sighed and looked at the ground, hands still stuffed in the pockets of his shorts.
Juniper softened her tone, though her grip on Emma’s hand was painful. “What is it?”
“I have a suggestion, and I don’t want you to fly off the handle. I want you to just… keep an open mind.”
Jun went perfectly still, her body as stiff as a statue.
“I spoke with a local adoption agency,” Ethan said, his voice soft. He pulled a brochure out of his back pocket and held it out, but Jun made no move to take it.
“Ethan,” Emma started, but he silenced her with a look.
“These days, lots of families do open adoptions. That means that you could still be a part of the baby’s life, still see them as much as you’d like, but you would be free to live your own life.”
The bone’s of Emma’s fingers creaked in Jun’s grip.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” he pleaded.
“Ethan, this isn’t what she wants.”
“Stay out of this, Em.”
“Don’t talk to her like that!” Juniper shouted, her frozen state shattering. “She’s the one who’s been here for me! Her! Not you!”
Ethan looked devastated. “I just want what’s best for you.”
“You don’t even care what I want!”
“You don’tknowwhat you want.”
“How can you say that?” she demanded.
“You have no idea how hard it is to be a parent.”
“I ruined your life, is that it?”
“No! Stop twisting my words.”
“You wish you’d just given me away?”
He closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath. Then he held out the brochure again. “It’s the best of both worlds, Jun. If you would justtalkto them–”
