“Then don’t say it to me.”
OK,he agreed.
“And stop trying to charm me with ASL,” she ordered – but her smile was creeping back, and she couldn’t make herself sound serious.
“I really do like it. ‘Iolani’s been getting into it too.”
“I won’t tell you not to learn sign language–”
“Good,” he teased, “because I don’t give up that easy.”
“–but don’t flirt with me,” she continued, serious again. “You’re a good friend, Kekoa, and we’re already business partners. But that’s it. That’s all I’m available for.”
“I hear you,” he said, and signed,I understand.
“Friends?” she asked, showing him the sign.
He set his coffee aside to copy her.Friend. OK.
Good. She picked her sandwich up and ate mechanically. She wasn’t hungry, but she had at least relaxed enough to be able to get the food down.
She felt safe with him, she realized with sudden gratitude. She was glad that he had accepted the boundary. Probably he wasn’t even flirting to begin with – growing up together, they were basically cousins – but it was good to keep things clear.
They were friends.
And friends – real community – was something that she needed very much.
18
Anne
One weekday afternoon, a sweet couple checked in and immediately left to see the volcano. The next morning at breakfast, the young woman had a huge rock on her hand that hadn’t been there the day before.
Claire sat across from them, picking at her food. She brightened when she saw the ring.
“Did you get engaged?” she asked excitedly.
“We did!” The girl’s grin was huge. “It was so romantic! And so dark that I couldn’t even see the ring until we got back to the car, but look! Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It’s so pretty! I’ve never seen a purple engagement ring before!”
“Amethyst is my birth stone.”
“It’s also the six-year stone,” her fiance added, “and that’s how long we’ve been together.”
“That’s lovely,” Anne said as she set two plates of ‘ulu waffles down in front of them.
Zoe rolled her eyes. She stood behind the guests, mashing avocados at the kitchen counter.
“Could we actually get these to go?” the young man asked, glancing at the kitchen clock. “I’d like to get to the beach before it gets too hot.”
“Sure, I can pack these up for you.” She took the plates back and threw together a quick picnic breakfast. “Enjoy the day!”
“Thank you!” they chorused on their way out the door.
“Gross,” Zoe muttered under her breath.
Anne didnotrespond with, ‘What’s your problem?’ – but apparently her face gave her away, because Zoe sneered at her and rolled her eyes again.
