“I have some savings.”
“But don’t you need those for… everything else?”
“You think I can’t do it.”
“I never said that!”
“No, you never outright say it. You just doubt me and shoot me down.”
“I’m not shooting you down, Laurie! I’m asking if you need help.”
Laurie pulled her head back in surprise and stared, her mouth hanging open as she processed Oakley’s words. Every time her older sister asked questions that seemed designed to deflate her… was she just trying to figure out how to help?
Anne disentangled herself from the hammock and joined them on the sand.
“Did you already lease the space?” she asked.
Laurie nodded. “I partnered with the woman who owns it. She’s going to take a share of the profits in lieu of rent.”
“Wow, that’s amazing!”
Oakley smiled and shook her head. “Only in Pualena.”
“What’s the plan? Will it be used books, or…?”
“A little bit of everything, I think. Used books, local authors, Hawaiian history…”
“Laurie, that’s so exciting!”
“I’ll keep working online,” she said, glancing at Oakley. “Multiple income streams and all that.”
Smart, she signed.
“When I think of the childhood that I want for Mia,” Laurie said, “I know exactly what it looks like. Quiet mornings in the garden, afternoons together in the bookshop, beach days with family…”
“What’s wrong?” Oakley asked when she trailed off.
“Chris filed for full custody.”
“Typical,” Oakley scoffed. “He doesn’t actually want to be a full-time parent. He just wants to force you to move back.”
“Probably. But what will the judge say? That’s her home, her school…”
“Not anymore.”
“How long before your court date?” Anne asked.
“We have the preliminary hearing soon, but nothing much happens then. We’ll do court-appointed mediation, and if we can’t come to an agreement, we’ll go back in front of a judge in a few months.”
“Have you registered her as a homeschooler?” asked Oakley.
“Not yet. Auntie Mahina’s daughter runs a co-op. She’s going to try that. Pete too, right?” she asked, looking at Anne.
“Yeah, he said he’ll give it a try.”
“Oh.” Oakley looked deflated for a moment, and she looked over at her daughters. Then she perked up again. “Good. Choose a curriculum, get her in some local groups – anything that you can do to show that she’s settled here, that she’s thriving.”
Laurie cringed at the performative dishonesty of it all, but she nodded. Oakley was right. She should get a jump on the things that she was going to do anyway.
