Page 59 of Big Island Sunset
“He’s a hard worker.”
Juniper nodded, looking morose. She set her chin on her knees and stared out across the green hills at the distant blue Pacific.
“Have you heard from your dad?” Emma asked softly.
“Nope.” Jun spit the word out without shifting her gaze.
Emma sighed.
Ethan hadn’t picked up her calls or responded to any of her texts. She thought about just driving to his house — he lived so close by — but she wasn’t looking for a fight. Better to wait until he had cooled down instead of trying to force a conversation.
She had learned that the hard way over the years. They had been on the outs before, from petty childhood squabbles to more worrisome rifts surrounding Laurel’s relapses and subsequent reintegrations into family life.
Emma had withdrawn from him — from them — after Kai was born, as if Laurel were somebody she needed to protect him from. Maybe that was a valid concern and maybe it wasn’t, but she felt guilty about that now, because it also meant that she hadn’t been there for Juniper through the hardest years of her life.
She was doing her best to make up for that now, but Juniper still didn’t fully trust her — not with her worries, and not with her heart — and Emma knew that was a direct consequence of her not being there for her niece through her formative years.
“These folks have worked up quite a thirst,” Toni said breathlessly, pausing to wipe the sweat from her forehead with a bandana.
“Want me to tag you out?” Emma offered.
“No, that’s alright. I’m in my element.”
“Not much of a vacation, is it?” said Jun.
“I don’t mind. It’s time with two of my favorite people in a beautiful place. That’s what I came for, not to sleep the dayaway under an umbrella.” She turned away as another group approached their tent in search of a cold drink.
Emma turned back to Jun. “How about I go buy us some lunch?”
Jun just gave her a look.
“I know, you’re not hungry. But we’ve got to keep you fed, whether you feel like eating or not. So, what sounds edible?”
“The rotisserie chickens are okay.”
“Coming right up.” Emma rose to her feet and walked out into the blazing sunshine, heading straight for the chicken stand.
A familiar face pulled her up short.
“Keith!” She was surprised by her own smile – by how much seeing him lifted her spirits.
His eyes lit up, but then they took on a wary look. “Emma, hi.” He sounded pleased to see her in spite of himself, like she was an indulgence he couldn’t quite quit.
“How are you?”
“I’m well.” He looked at her for a moment, and his eyes softened. “You never called.”
“Oh!” With a sudden shock, she remembered the last time she had run into him. She had promised to call – and then with all the worrying over Jun, she had completely forgotten. “You’re right.”
Keith’s smile turned sad. “That’s alright. If you don’t—“
“I did mean to call,” she said. “Life’s just been so chaotic, I haven’t been able to get away. I’m only here today because I’m helping my niece run her stand. She’s — well, she hasn’t been feeling well, and worrying over her has taken up my every spare thought. I can hardly keep the grass from taking over the garden, never mind anything else.” She realized that she was rambling and petered out, looking at him apologetically.
“Do you need a hand?” he asked.
“What?”
“If you ever need help with your land…”
