Page 42 of Big Island Moonlight
They were quiet for a moment, and Emma went to check on the stock.
“A baby,” Tara marveled. “I can’t believe I’m about to meet my first grandchild.”
“Life likes to throw curveballs.”
“It certainly does. Is the broth ready?”
“Yeah. I’ll fill a thermos.”
“I’ll take it out to her, if that’s okay?”
“Of course.”
Tara carried the broth out into the orchard. Emma stood watching from the kitchen sink, finishing up the last of the dishes. She could just see the young couple through the trees as Tara approached, and a deep peace settled into her soul when she saw Jun smile.
Everything was going to be alright.
14
Juniper
It was a rare clear night in Pualena, and the world outside was bright. A coqui-frog chorus sang ceaselessly as Juniper tossed and turned – no small thing, given how much effort it took just to turn over anymore.
She had fallen asleep before sunset, exhausted, but now at midnight she was wide awake. Her baby was even more active, turning and kicking restlessly in her belly. Finally, she gave up on sleep and walked outside.
The garden glowed nearly day-bright in the light of the full moon.
Juniper walked through the orchard, mesmerized by the movement of shadow and light beneath the trees. She paused when she reached the duck pond, a bright pool of moonlight at the back of the property. The frogs there were so loud that they drowned out every other sound. She could see the trees movingin the ocean breeze, but she couldn’t hear the susurrus of their leaves over theCO-QUI! CO-QUI!of the tiny, invasive frogs.
Continuing her walk, she was surprised to see huge white flowers floating up ahead. As she got closer, she realized that she was looking at a dragonfruit plant. The flowers only bloomed at night, and she had never seen them open before. They were luminous in the moonlight.
“You’re out of season, I think,” she murmured, stepping closer. None of the other dragonfruit plants had flowers on them. That was more of a summer thing, if she remembered right. One side of her mouth quirked up in a wry smile. “But then, who am I to talk about blooming early?”
Jun went into the house for a small paintbrush and then walked back out to the dragonfruit plant. She wasn’t sure what the variety was or if it was self-fertile or not, and she had only read about hand pollinating, but she saw no reason why she shouldn’t give it a try. Carefully, she collected pollen with the brush and deposited it into the large stigma of each flower.
A smooth motion caught her attention, and she looked up to watch a barn owl float past on silent wings. She was huge, maybe four feet from wingtip to wingtip, and her round white face glowed in the moonlight.
Juniper’s heart lifted, and a deep peace settled into her chest.
The world was so tranquil and beautiful that night that all of her fears seemed distant and silly. She watched the owl until she glided out of sight, and then she returned her attention to the dragonfruit flowers.
Jun’s stomach hurt when she crouched down to reach the last, lowest flower. She sat down on the dew-damp grass to catch her breath.
“You must be as cramped as my lungs,” she told the baby, putting one hand over her distended belly. “Won’t it be nice to come out and stretch?”
Another contraction seized her belly, and realization dawned.
“I didn’t mean right this minute!” she gasped.
The pain subsided, and Juniper struggled to her feet, using a low branch to pull herself up. She walked back through the orchard, moving slowly and pausing every few minutes as another contraction took hold. The last one that caught her at the edge of the orchard was powerful, and she clung to a tree limb to stay on her feet.
She stood there panting after the contraction had subsided, looking uncertainly between the ‘ohana cottage and the main house. Was it too early to wake Emma? Labor could last a day or more. She probably shouldn’t–
At the first twinge of the next contraction, a panicked shout escaped her.
“Auntie Em!”
“Jun?” Emma’s voice floated down from her bedroom window a moment later.
