Zoe had been an active helper at Paradise Books from the beginning. She was responsible for their well-curated homestead section, including a number of books by local authors who had devoted their lives to cultivating tropical fruit.
With the prices on imported food being so ridiculously high, it was a section that required replenishing frequently. Laurie was happy to play a small part in the shift towards more island-grown food.
“Would you do some inventory while you’re here?” she asked. “See what I need to order for your farm and garden section?”
Zoe nodded. “Can do. Where are you off to?”
I’m going to look at a car, she signed, feeling shy.
“Good! It’s about time you had a set of wheels!”
“It shouldn’t take too long.”
“Don’t rush back. I’ve got no other work today.”
“Okay. Thank you,” she said again.
“Go on, get out of here!”
Laurie went outside to find Kekoa already waiting for her. He sat in the driver’s seat of his truck, windows down, and greeted her with a broad grin.
“Ready to get your wings?” he asked.
“I thought we were looking at wheels.”
“Close enough.” He reached across and opened her door. “Let’s go!”
They drove up the highway and then onto Orchidland.
The anxiety that Laurie had been carrying all day began to ebb away. Weekends without Mia were always difficult, and she hated dropping her at the community center on Friday mornings knowing that she wouldn’t see her again until Sunday afternoon. But her heart lifted as they drove.
She gazed out at the clear blue skies and dense vegetation, flowers blazing orange against the green. Pualena was a beautiful place, and she was grateful to live there again – grateful to be able to give her daughter a childhood rooted in such a beautiful place, surrounded by family and community.
Mia was safe and happy, and she would be back soon. Her dad only drove down to get her once or twice a month, which was less than their custody agreement allowed. Laurie tried to use those weekends to reset and get stuff done so that she could be fully present with her daughter when she got her back.
Kekoa turned onto a bumpy dirt road. Even in his big pickup truck, Laurie was bouncing all around inside of the cab. It made her wonder about what condition a car that drove these roads every day had to be in.
“You said you checked the car out already?” she asked.
Kekoa nodded. He turned his face towards her so that she could read his lips more easily. “Belongs to a cousin of mine. The engine’s in good shape.”
“Seems like these roads would rattle a car apart,” she said as they went over another series of bumps.
He pulled up a dirt driveway and parked before turning to her with a reply.
“If anything falls off, just call me and I’ll put you back together again.” He gave her one of those smiles that scattered all words from her head. “Come on, see what you think.”
The car was a compact SUV, perfect for carting kids around town and navigating the sometimes treacherous roads of the Big Island. There was no smell inside, no black mold or clinging reek of cigarettes. The paint color was a subtle, metallic sage green.
She loved it.
Kaleo stood chatting with his cousin while she examined the car. She caught his eye and signed,Should I get it?
“Ready for a test drive?” he asked, striding over.
She bit her lip nervously.
You have to drive it before you buy it,he told her.
