“I don’t drink brandy.”
“Well, there you go, then.It’s the single life for you.”
Chapter 14
Onthewaybackfrom the beach the next morning, it was Rellina wearing sneakers ten sizes too big who made Libby stop and stare.The little girl was shuffling like a skier across the road.
“Nice shoes,” Libby called out to her.
“They’re not mine,” the little girl said.“They’re your husband’s.”
“He’s not… Oh, whatever.”So Libbyhadseen those sneakers before.“Do you know where he is?”
“At the Cabins.”
That must be the Atiu Cabins.Very nice accommodation, Cranky.Much better than the budget hostels she stayed in.
Her gaze dipped to Rellina’s feet.“And you’re wearing his shoes because…?”
“They’re very soft inside.”
“They’re also very big, don’t you think?”Libby rummaged in her bag.“How about I trade you the shoes for these cookies?”
The little girl’s eyes lit up.“Thank you.”She kicked off the shoes, took the cookies, and ran back home barefoot.
Libby picked up Cranky’s sneakers.How would she get these back to him?
She should take them to the Cabins.
Though all she really wanted to do was throw them at his head.
BackatManuiatlunchtime, hurling shoes at Daniel Jones was still on Libby’s mind as she picked at the leftover stir fry he’d cooked last night.
“I think we cut our losses and just drop his shoes off at the Cabins,” she said.“We could leave a note inside.What do you think, honey?”
Karim was sitting on her lap eating chunks of mango, his new favorite food.She brushed hair out of his eyes as he squashed another piece into his mouth.Pulpy mango flesh escaped through his fingers.“I guess I’d better wait a few more years before I ask your advice.”
A waft of loneliness caught her off guard.When she’d bought their trip out to this island, she’d only had her and Karim in mind, as she always did.So why this feeling of abandonment now?She’d felt it all day yesterday too, as she’d roamed the island by herself, with only her two-year-old son for company.She’d tried to cheer herself up by keeping busy.It had felt good putting on makeup again and interviewing a few of the locals, but then, of course, Cranky had walked by.
This loneliness was all his fault.He’d accused her of worming herself into his life these past few days, but wasn’t that what he’d done to her too?He’d given her a taste of companionship that she hadn’t realized she’d been craving.And now, it unnerved her that she…she missed him.The gentleman version.Not the angry jerk from last night.
“Mamma, look.”Karim pressed his sticky hands onto the table, making prints.
More mess.Excellent.“That’s awesome, honey.How about we clean your little paws now?”She reached for the washcloth she always had at the ready during mealtimes and wiped his hands…and then his face and legs, too.“We’d better get more mango today, kiddo.In fact, let’s head down to the store now and see what else we can find.”
And with a bit of luck, Karim would fall asleep in the stroller on the way back, and she’d have time to finish herParent and Childarticle while he napped.
She cleared away their lunch things and got Karim ready to go out again.When they passed the next house along, Libby eyed the windows and the empty seats outside.Cranky had stayed there last night?He must have.How else would Rellina have gotten his sneakers?
And now he was at the Cabins.She’d seen them on the map.Knew that they were only a short walk from here.She’d pass by on the way back from the store and give Cranky back his sneakers.
But he’d hissed at her to stay away.The look in his eyes then hadn’t been too different from that politician who’d spat at her all those years ago.
She swallowed back the regret.
But she was Karim’s mom now, and her baby loved her.She was a good person.
And Daniel Jones had no right to make her feel like she wasn’t, especially when he didn’t even hang around to hear her explanation.
