This conversation wasn’t new. About once a month, Kekoa came across a used car that met his exacting standards. And just as often, Laurie replied that she didn’t need one.
She had managed to replenish her savings somewhat, but she needed that for her frequent restocks at the bookshop. Whatever was leftover, she wanted to save for emergencies.
Laurie was lucky to have family and community to lean on if she was ever truly in need of help – and Kekoa’s mother certainly wouldn’t kick her out if she couldn’t pay rent for a while – but it didn’t sit well with her to rely on charity.
She wanted to stand on her own two feet.
The thought of having to ask her family for money made herfeel vaguely ill. Just accepting help from her community to get the shop started had been difficult for her, but she’d felt able to accept because having a book shop in Pualena would benefit the whole community.
It had succeeded beautifully, and now Auntie Kua got her cut of the profits every month, as promised. Kekoa got free books as a sort of long payment plan for all of the work that he had put in. He wouldn’t take money, but he was willing to let her give his son as many books as he could read.
Apparently ‘Io hadn’t been much of a reader until the bookshop opened, and Laurie took pride in her part of that transition – though really, all credit was due to ‘Io himself, and to Mia for getting him hooked on books that made him want to keep reading.
You keep saying no no no, Kekoa signed, looking exasperated.
Laurie smiled and rolled her eyes.You keep finding cars.
“This is a good one,” he said aloud.
“I’m sure it is.”
You need a car, he signed emphatically.
I like my bike,she replied with playful movements.
“Sooner or later, you’re going to get tired of Pualena.”
“I will not.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t already. You’ve barely left town since you moved here a year ago. Don’t you ever want to get out and explore?”
“That’s what books are for.”
“Laurie, you need a car. What if there’s an emergency?”
“That’s what sisters are for,” she quipped – but even as she said it, the joke made her feel uncomfortable.
The truth was, she didn’t like relying on her sisters for rides. She didn’t like asking anyone for anything, really, and it madeher a bit queasy to have to go begging from one sister to another when she needed to pick Mia up from a weekend in Hawi.
Dawn had thrown herself into her social life and charity work with renewed vigor, and so she needed her car more often than not. Oakley was so busy that it was difficult to coordinate with her, even when she happened to be up near Hawi anyway. Anne and Halia always did their best to help, but that only made Laurie feel all the more guilty when she asked her sisters to rearrange their busy schedules on short notice.
Kekoa seemed to notice her discomfiture.
“It’s time to stretch your wings a bit,” he urged.
“Fine,” she said shortly. “I’ll look at it.”
A triumphant smile overtook his face, revealing his strong white teeth. They made a startling contrast to his dark brown skin, and Laurie’s eyes were fixed on the strong lines of his face. It was hard to look away from him sometimes.
Friday?he asked, eyebrows up.
Sure, she replied.Friday.
“It’s a date,” he said with a grin.
3
Oakley
