Page 37 of Big Island Moonlight
“Kids these days,” Lani quipped. “No work ethic.”
“Mom, can I have a sandwich?”
“Not right now, Kai. Lunch will be ready soon. You can eat with everyone else.”
“But I’m hungrynow!”
“Then you can go forage.”
“Aw man!” Kai scuffed his bare foot across the tile floor. Despite Emma’s best efforts, it was dusted with dog hair and bits of grass – a true farmhouse.
“What’s forage?” Rory chirped.
“It’s looking for food outside,” Kai grumbled.
“There’s lots of food outside!” she said brightly. “There’s bananas and carrots and fennel and—”
“Okay, okay! Come on. We can climb the rambutan tree.”
“I love rambutan!”
Emma chuckled as they ran out the door. She hefted the glass container full of lemonade off of the counter, and Lani whistled.
“Girl, look at those muscles!”
“Farm chores have done me good,” Emma said, a bit breathless as she carried the lemonade out the door and down the steps. Her blue dress swished around her knees as she walked.
“No kidding. And it’s nice to see you wearing some real clothes.”
“As opposed to running around nude like I usually do?”
“As opposed to Adam’s ratty old t-shirts. Is that a new dress?”
“I’ve had it for years.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“It’s been hanging in my closet since I got here.”
“You’re lucky it didn’t grow mold.”
“There’s a reason our closets have no doors.” Emma set the lemonade down on one of the tables they’d set up in the shade of the orchard. “Man, that’s heavy. I don’t know if Jun and Cody are typical of their generation, but they certainly give me hope.”
“Yeah, nothing says hope for the future like a teenage pregnancy.”
Emma gave her a playful shove. “You’re just a bucket of laughs today.”
Lani grinned, unrepentant, and they headed back towards the kitchen.
“Wherearethe lovebirds, anyway?”
“I’m not sure. I asked Cody to get her off the property while we set up. I think he took her down to the cliffs for a picnic.”
“That’s nice.”
“He’s a nice boy.”
Lani paused and looked at her. “Do you think they’ll make it?”
