Page 38 of Sharkbait
“You’ve concluded that, huh?” I place my phone on its stand and try to keep my face serious. Not easy when this kid is constantly so damn cute. “What made it bonkers?”
“Well, for one thing, there was way more singing last year in kindergarten. And fingerpainting too! We didn’t sing or fingerpaint once today! But we did walk on the beach, which was cool. And not all the kids are the same as last year. Also, now we have desks instead of floor cushions, and pencils instead of crayons, and double recess instead of a rest hour, and Chromebooks instead of whiteboards and—”
“Alright, baby.” Eva comes into view with a laugh and ruffles Iris’s hair. “Take a breath, girlfriend. Let me talk to Daddy for a minute, okay?”
“Mom, I need my snack A-sap! I’m ravenous.”
“Your gummies and granola bar are waiting for you on the kitchen table.”
“Yes!” Iris does a fist pump in the air and runs off-camera.
Stomping six-year-old footsteps fade into the distance.
Eva’s face fills the screen. “Sup, Jay Bear?”
“Not too much, Evie B. Slow night tonight. But that’s just how I like it when my girls call. That way I can focus on you. Tell me everything. It went well? Kills me to miss the first day of school.”
She tilts her head to the side and gives me a look. “It’s not even four o’clock here. We called you on our walk there this morning and now again the minute we walked in the door. You basically only missed the actual hours she was in school. Same as me.”
“I know. Thank you. I’m not criticizing, I’m just…This is hard.” I sigh. “Really fucking hard.”
That’s the understatement of the century.
But I’m trying not to make her feel guilty.
“Have I thanked you enough for making this work for us?” she asks.
“You thank me plenty. But hey, you know how I feel. What’s best for my ladies is what’s best for me. And it’s only four more months of this, right?”
“Four more months,” she repeats.
Up until about nine months ago, Eva and I had been happily co-parenting here in Philly while I got my bar business up and running. We traveled as often as we could and got back to Hilo once a month to visit with her family. Iris was going to this cool nature school nearby that Wally recommended, and all was well.
Or so I thought.
I didn’t realize how homesick Eva had been for Hawaii. For years. She has a big family, and they’re native to the island. I’ve missed it too, but I have no family left there, so it’s a different kind of missing for me. After a handful of discussions, we realizedputting down permanent roots on the Big Island would be the best thing for our little modern family, especially Iris. As an only child who missed out on quality parenting, it’s a top priority for me that my own kid is surrounded by all the love she can get. That means letting her grow up with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins close by, and ensuring that she has a happy, contented mom. So my girls moved home, and I’m tying up loose ends here so the bars can operate without me when I join them.
“How’re things going with Ron?” I ask.
Her smile beams as bright as I’ve ever seen it. “Things are great. I think I’m…” She hesitates. “I love him, Jay. I really love him.”
“That‘s—Wow.” It blows my mind when I consider all we‘ve been through these past seven years. Our path may not have been the ‘norm’ or ‘traditional’ in any sense, but it brought us Iris—the absolute best part of both of our lives—so even if I could go back, I wouldn’t change a damn thing. “I’m happy for you. Truly.”
“Thank you.”
The bell jingles, signaling that another customer is coming in.
“Callie in the hayouse!” Mabel shouts toward the door.
Calliope curtseys, tears off her raincoat, and plops herself down on a barstool with a flourish.
I give her a silent wave.
Eva notices the commotion and says, “I’ll let you go, Jay Bear.”
“I’m not rushing you.”
“I know, but you have work to do.”
