“How about this?” Kekoa interjected. “We fix the place up for free. No rent at the start, but we put in a new window, take out all those broken mirrors, fix the ceiling – anything that needs doing.”
“I’m listening.”
“After that, you give her a grace period to get up and running. Then, instead of rent, you get a percentage of the profits.”
Laurie stared at him. That was a lot to ask.
“You drive a hard bargain,” Kua said – but she was smiling.
Kekoa grinned. “Like you said, auntie. It’s not doing anybody any good right now.”
She narrowed her eyes and looked from him to Laurie. “Whose idea is this, anyway?”
Laurie cleared her throat and spoke up. “His idea. My dream.”
“Well then.” She popped another piece of ginger in her mouth. “You make a good team.”
“What do you think?” Kekoa pressed.
Kua waved him away and turned her full attention to Laurie.
“Laurie Kalama,” she said, serious now. She held out one knobbled, arthritic hand. “I’ve known you since you were this tall. I know you, and I know your family.” She glanced at Kekoa. “Both of your families.”
Laurie swallowed and nodded.
“Do you really think you can do this?”
“I’d like to try. Do you… do you think there’s enough of a market for it?”
“Wecanread, you know,” Kekoa interjected. Kua waved him away again.
“Ten percent of your sales.”
“Done,” Laurie agreed immediately.
Kua nodded slowly. Then she said, “Let me use your bookshop as my own personal library, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Deal.”
She looked back at Kekoa. “Go ahead and fix the place up, and then we’ll all of us draw up a contract. Now get off my lawn. It’s feeding time for the ducks.”
Laurie walked back across the muddy yard, feeling like she was floating through a fever dream. Her whole body buzzed with equal parts euphoria and fear.
It felt like God had reached down and handed her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But was she worthy of it? Could she really make this happen?
Kekoa strode ahead and opened the passenger-side door for her.
“Well?” he asked. “What do you think?”
Her jaw worked up and down, but her voice wouldn’t work.
Kekoa cocked his head to one side. “Are you okay?”
“You really want to do all that?” She peered at him, assessing. “Fix the place up like that?”
“Shoots! It’d be a fun project.”
“Seriously?”
