She swiveled her hips in a terrible approximation of the hula. Keoki did a step-slide to Jean’s side, dipping one shoulder and then raising it again in time with his chin thrusts. He beckoned for Libby to join them.
She shook her head, gripping her stomach instead.
“Keoki will feed us when we get there,” Jean promised. “Right, K?”
“I could throw together a smoked marlin Caesar. Made a bigbatch of croutons with leftover baguette. And the fish is from my cousin Jimmy. So ono.”
“I’m not hungry anymore,” Libby lied. “I feel too sick.”
“You’ll get over it when you see the house. Did I mention the hot tub? This is going to be the best week of our lives.”
Libby had her doubts. In fact, her doubts had doubts of their own, tucked away like baggies of worry inside a doubt drug mule—who had just been pulled aside by airport security.
Keoki pulled her into a one-armed hug. “Cheer up, Li’l Bit.” It was a funny nickname for a six-foot tall woman. Or at least it used to be, until it got twisted into that other name.Lillibet.“You know what you need?”
“Don’t,” she warned, but he was already hoisting Libby off the floor, squeezing her like a chew toy he wanted to hear squeak. Her teeth rattled as he set her down.
“Feel better?” he asked. “Or do you need me to sing?”
“No!”
Keoki actually had a nice voice, but it was hard to notice when healwayssang the kind of song you least wanted to hear. Pure Top 40 earworms that would get stuck in your head for the rest of day, with a side of Disney ballads. The mainland kids in college all expected him to show up to parties with his ukulele and strum something mellow and beachy, only to get hit with the acoustic version of “My Humps.”
“I was trying to shake out the bad feelings.”
“You almost shook out my breakfast.”
“Ginger tea. That’s what I make for Cici. Did I tell you I felt the baby? Little KeCi kicks up a storm if Mama eats something sour.”
“Nothing but black coffee and regret kicking around in this one.” Jean thumped Libby’s midsection like Libby was a vending machine that wasn’t giving up her Oreos.
“Don’t forget the rice crackers,” Keoki said. “She’s more snacks than blood.”
Jean held up a finger as inspiration struck. “You should think of this as a mini-retreat. Our own little spa vacation, complete with healthy meals.”
“I feel so relaxed already.” Libby added two thumbs way up in case the sarcasm wasn’t coming through.
“Come on, Libs. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Examples flooded Libby’s memory of other “foolproof” plans Jean had presented with equal certainty.They won’t even check the guest list. I’m sure those are complimentary. Why would there be a gate if they didn’t want people to use it?“Do you really want me to answer that?”
“No,” Keoki and Jean said in unison, pushing her out the door.
Chapter 4
lovelillibetWhen we travel, so much of our focus is on moving our bodies through space that it’s easy to forget we are also expanding our hearts and minds. Our interior journey can be as profound as the outer one if we are willing to let go of our expectations and plunge into each new experience with the innocence of a child. Drink in the difference. Let it fill you up.
The farther you go, the closer you are to finding yourself.
Love, Lillibet
Image: A hand reaches to the sky, creating the illusion of grasping the nose of the passenger plane flying high above.
#flymetothemoon #changeofscenery #firstclassperks #newisnow
A highway was a highway, in Jefferson’s experience. Asphalt, concrete, and cars set the scene, whether you were in Wyoming or West Virginia. That wasn’t the case here. The signs were the same Astroturf-emerald but the place names were so long and full of vowels you needed a deep breath before diving in.
As their route led them farther from the airport, more details crept into the frame. Trees that looked like something from Dr. Seuss. Mountains that were too close and the wrong color, an electric-green instead of the rocky gray and brown of the Tetons. The vertical ridges were rounded and undulating, with peaks that disappeared into a blanket of low-hanging clouds.
