“Yes. He did. Football.” Too bad it wasn’t track and field, so he could run up and javelin Libby right now.
“But he’s reinvented himself.” Jefferson didn’t phrase it as a question. Did he know something? Or suspect?
Libby gave a nervous laugh. “I wouldn’t saythat,exactly. I mean, it’s not like heinventedanything. Per se.”
“Being a chef,” Jefferson clarified. “It’s a departure from football.”
“Ah. Yes. That much is true.” She couldn’t seem to stop nodding. “Oh, look! Here comes Hildy.” Libby pointed like a sailor spotting dry land. Then she got a better look at the younger woman’s face. “Is everything okay?”
“In a word, no.”
“What is it?” Jefferson asked, and in spite of the dread pinching her stomach, Libby paused to appreciate his gruff concern. It sounded like he was ready to do battle with whatever Hildy was facing. Blizzards, bears, poor cell reception—you name it, he was the man for the job.
Hildy blew out a frustrated breath. “We’re hosed. Well, mostly me. But also the rest of you.” She scrunched her loose curls into a bun, holding it with one hand. “It’s my uncle.”
“Aye,” Jean agreed. “We got that much.”
“He’s squelching my independence. Again. How far do I have to go to get some breathing room?”
It was impossible for Libby to tell whether this was a legitimate complaint or more along the lines of,He canceled one of my seventeen credit cards!
“So annoying,” Hildy muttered, letting her hair fly free. “I suppose we better go back. Before he gets into trouble.”
“You’re leaving?” Libby and Jean asked, almost in unison.
“I’m not leaving.” Hildy clutched her heart. “Iwas here first. If anyone should leave, it’s Uncle Richard.”
“Here as inhere?” Libby checked the shave ice line, not spotting anyone who looked like the head of a media dynasty. Surely there would be suspenders.
“He’s at your house.” All the bubbliness had fled Hildy’s voice. “That’s where he was calling from.”
“My house? Here? On this island?” As opposed to her many other homes.
Hildy grimaced an apology. “Surprise.”
Chapter 14
lovelillibetDo you ever think about how our bodies are like the husk of a coconut or the ti leaves surrounding the succulent center of a laulau? When I make my deconstructed laulaus, I try to use unexpected fillings like caramelized pork belly and sweet potato. It reminds me of the fun of meeting new people, peeling back their layers to find the truly tender bits within. But to do that, we have to be willing to serve our own hearts on a platter.
Love, Lillibet
Image: A green banana leaf with charred edges unfolds to reveal succulent bits of pink pork and orange sweet potato, next to a perfect mound of rice.
#parfaitfordays #wecontainmultitudes #flavoryourjourney #seasoningsoflife
“Hey,” Hildy said, as they pulled into the driveway, next to an unfamiliar car Jefferson presumed was her uncle’s rental. “What about the goats?”
Lillibet’s shoulders hitched upward. “Ginger and Poki?”
“Aye,” the housekeeper said, with a grimness that made Jefferson wonder if she had something against them. “Those be their names.”
“Does the groomer do boarding, too?” Hildy had unfastened her seat belt but made no move to exit the car.
“’Tis true.” Mrs. OMG nodded vigorously. “They keep themlonger for the extra treatments. They’ll be puttin’ bonny ribbons on their wee horns and painting their sweet baby devil hooves.”
“She’s kidding,” Lillibet said. “The real reason is that… our goats have social anxiety. Sometimes meeting new people can give them—a rash.”
“Oh.” Hildy sighed. “Too bad. I could use some emotional support right now.”
