The Ohana Cottage

15

MIA

I start my day by filling my mug all the way to the top with coffee, right on the brink of overflowing. I’m going to need all of the caffeine I can get. After the amazing day yesterday with John and Hazel, I found it difficult to fall asleep. I couldn’t stop my mind from racing, thinking about John and his struggles, and then to Julie and the challenges she must face being a single mom. I thought about Hazel, and wondered if she missed her dad at all, or if she had ever met him.

I have a tendency to be overly empathetic with the people I love, worrying and feeling the emotions right along with them. A side effect of being an emotional person, I suppose.

Eventually, I was able to quiet my thoughts and drift asleep, but I think I’m going to need caffeine reinforcements today. I make a plan to head to Julie’s after I get back from my run. I pull a loose tank top over my sports bra and running shorts, and lace-up my running shoes.

When I step onto the sand, I decide to skip the run and just walk. I don’t have the energy for a run today. I take a couple deep breaths to fill my lungs and exhale the air out as I leisurely make my way down the beach. After a few minutes, I feel a little bit more of a pep in my step. It feels good to move my body, and it’s almost as if the sun is recharging my soul.

The beach isn’t as busy this time of the day, and I only see a few people scattered on the sand. As I walk, I soak in the view—the stunning blue ocean jutting up to the cream-colored sand, the tall trees and greenery serving as the perfect accents for the landscape. There’s a hint of light pink smeared across the sky, leftover from what must have been a killer sunrise.

I try and keep my mind clear as I walk, acknowledging any thoughts that I have, but then letting them go and bringing my mind back to a clear state. I learned this at a meditation retreat Paige and I went to a few years ago—I find it very helpful with stress management.

Eventually I turn around, heading back towards the cottage. After a quick shower, I grab my laptop and head to town. When I arrive at the coffee shop, I’m greeted with a smile from Julie, who looks significantly less stressed than yesterday.

“Hey!” she shoots me a grateful look. “Thanks again for yesterday. You’re a lifesaver, Mia, seriously. What can I get you? Your usual? It’s on the house.”

“Oh, of course! It was my pleasure. Honestly, anytime!” I set my laptop bag on an empty table and have a seat. As I answer a few work emails, Julie walks over to deliver my drink.

“Here ya go.” She smiles at me, setting the drink on the table. Then she grabs a water for herself and takes a seat next to me. “There’s kind of a lull right now, mind if I sit for a minute? I’m exhausted.”

“Of course!” I move my laptop over a few inches. “How’s your sister doing?”

“She’s doing all right. Her cast goes on today, I’ll be taking her to the doctor over my lunch break. She’s in a bit of pain, but overall doing well.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Is Hazel at school?”

“Yup,” she sighs as guilt washes over her face. “I love her to death, and I hate saying this out loud, but I kind of look forward to the days she’s at school—it’s so much easier to manage the coffee shop and get things done when she’s taken care of somewhere else, you know?”

“I get it. It must be so challenging being a single mom, and doing everything on your own.” I give her a sympathetic smile.

She nods in agreement. “You know, when her dad first left, I was so angry that it gave me fuel. I felt invincible, like I could handle anything without him. I was determined to prove that I didn’t need him. But raising a child is nothing like what I expected. I’m just thankful I’ve had my family here to pitch in. And she’s a great kid, which helps.”

“When did her dad leave? Do you mind me asking?”

“Not at all. I met Hazel’s dad, Mark, shortly after he moved here. He had come here on vacation and then decided to stay here full time and make a go at a food truck business.” She sips her water and raises her eyebrows. “That’s usually how it goes with tourists. They always come for the dream, wanting to live the vacation life all the time until reality smacks them in the face, and they realize that just because you live in paradise, that doesn’t mean life’s hardships just pass you by. A chilled margarita on the beach is amazing, but it’s not enough to lessen the sting when life throws you a curveball—an unplanned pregnancy, in our case. He split as soon as I told him I was pregnant, haven’t heard from him since.”

“Oh wow. That must have been so hard. If it means anything, I think you’ve built a pretty great life for the two of you. She’s an amazing little girl, you’ve raised her well. And you’re running your own business—that’s incredible, Julie!”

She smiles at me, taking a deep breath. “Thanks, Mia. I didn’t mean to fish for praise. I’m doing alright, it’s just nice to take a break every once in a while.” She winks at me and puts her hand on my shoulder as she stands. “Let me know when you need a refill, okay?”

I smile and nod as I turn my attention back to work.

* * *

I’ve been working at Julie’s for several hours when my phone buzzes with a text.

Paige: Call me when you get a chance to chat today!

I smile at my phone, and start packing up my things. Now seems like a good time to end the work day.

“Bye, Julie! Tell Hazel I say hi when you see her!” I call to Julie, who’s in the middle of making what looks like a Frappuccino.

“Bye, Mia!” She waves me off with a grin.

Stepping outside, I’m hit with a wave of heat that washes over me, and I feel it all the way down to my toes. I slide my sunglasses on and pull my phone out to call Paige while I walk.

“Heyy, girlfriend!” she chirps in my ear.

“Hi, Paige! How are you?”

“I’m alright, you?”

“I’m great!”

“You want to hear about my disaster of a date last night?”

“Please.”

“Okay, you know how Spencer’s always trying to set me up with one of his high school friends? Well, I got sick of him hassling me, so I broke down and agreed to one date.”

Walking up to a cute little tiki hut that overlooks the beach, I quietly order a lemonade. Then I walk onto the sand to sit on one of their chairs, all the while listening to Paige.

“So he set me up with his friend, Rob. Mia, I kid you not—it was the absolute worst date I have ever been on.”

“Oh no! Why?”

“Let’s just say he was more interested in his phone than he was in me. I met him at the restaurant, where he barely looked up long enough to even acknowledge me. He was too focused on his fantasy football stats to put in any effort. He asked me maybe one or two questions about myself throughout the entire meal, and when he did talk, he would just ramble on about his glory days playing football in high school. I had a longer conversation with our waiter.”

“Ugh, that sucks. I’m sorry!”

“I didn’t even stay to offer to pay for the bill. I had enough. I left before he was finished scarfing down his burger. What a waste of time. I swear, if I hear one more word from Spencer about setting me up, I’m gonna lose it. But on the plus side, the waiter was gorgeous and friendly, so the night wasn’t a complete loss.”

I snort. “Way to look on the bright side!”

“How are things going there?”

“Things are good! I watched Hazel yesterday for Julie, and then John and I went for a bike ride around the island.”

“That sounds dreamy!”

“It really was.”

“I know I say this every day, but I’m so jealous of you being there—I wish I could come back!”

I chuckle. “I know, I wish you could come back too! Too bad you can’t teach from anywhere!”

“No kidding! Listen, I gotta run, I have some papers to grade before I head home. Call me tomorrow?”

“Sounds good, Bye Paige!”

I hang up and slide the phone into my bag. I sip the last few drops of my lemonade while gazing out at the ocean. Even though I came here under weird circumstances with Sean, I’m feeling extremely grateful for the time I have here, and I’m determined to make the most of it.