Page 58 of Big Island Sunset
“Yeah?” She looked up at him again.
“I love you.” He said the words solemnly, and her heart did a little somersault.
He communicated his love so clearly every day; it startled her to realize that he almost never said those three words… not since that first declaration when he put it all on the line, standing there with two hands braced on her front gate.
She was ashamed to realize that she had never said it back. The chaos of her life had overwhelmed her, and Liam had patiently supported her through all of it, without ever asking her for anything except for more time together.
She leaned forward and kissed him again, ignoring the ruckus and teasing from their kids down below.
“I love you too.”
16
Emma
By the second hour at the farmer’s market, Juniper’s energy started to flag. Her motions got slower, and her smile looked strained.
“You sit down,” Toni told her, pointing to the folding chair at the back of the stand. “We’ll man the ship.”
Juniper sank into the seat without protest, which was probably the greatest indicator of just how tired she was.
“Sorry,” she said with a weak smile. “I’m tired all the time.”
“I know the feeling,” Emma said. “I used up all of my sick days in my first trimester with Kai.”
“Puking or sleeping?”
“Both. Pick a tea and I’ll pour you a cup.”
“I’m not thirsty.”
“You need to stay hydrated.”
“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “How about the lemon balm lemonade?”
“Coming right up.” Emma poured a glass of lemonade from one of Juniper’s huge glass dispensers. Next to her, Toni was talking story with one of Jun’s regulars.
“Thank you,” Jun said as Emma handed her the cup.
“You’re welcome.” Emma sat down on a shady patch of grass beside her.
They were at the prettiest farmers market on the island, the Hamakua market way up the coast from Hilo. It was a smallish market, just a circle of tents on a wide green field overlooking the distant ocean. Towards the other end of the field, a live band played country music.
It was Emma’s favorite market, pleasantly busy without being overcrowded, but she rarely made the drive — it took over an hour to get there. Kai was with Nell for the day, freeing Emma up to spend some time with Jun and Toni.
“Auntie Em, you don’t have to sit on the ground.” Juniper stood up. “Take the chair.”
“I’m happy on the lawn. Anyway, I’ll get up and help Toni in a minute. You take it.”
Stubbornly, Juniper sat next to her on the grass.
“Where’s Cody today?” Emma asked, careful to keep her tone pleasant. She liked the boy next door well enough, and she didn’t hold the families’ current predicament against him, but Juniper was extra sensitive these days and very protective of her… friend? Boyfriend? Emma wasn’t willing to start a fight or provoke a crying fit by asking her niece about labels.
“He went to pick lychee at first light,” Juniper said. “From there he’s going to muck out Liam’s stables, and then he has meal deliveries for his mom.”
“On a Sunday?”
“Yeah. They have so many customers now that they had to add another delivery day.”
