Someone Else’s Life(14)

“Is your mom Taiwanese too?” Serena put her elbows on the counter and leaned her chin into her hands.

“No. She’s half-Chinese and half-Hawaiian.” Annie gave a laugh. “It’s been interesting growing up with all the different traditions.”

“I bet it was fun. I’m just boring old English, and I think some Irish, as far as I know.” Serena gazed at her. “Being Taiwanese is different from Chinese, right?”

Annie looked at Serena in surprise. “Yes. But most people don’t realize that. Like, my Taiwanese family are really pro-Taiwan. There’s a lot of political stuff I try not to get involved with, but basically, there’s the pan-Green camp, who want Taiwan to be an independent country, and the pan-Blue camp, who think Taiwan should reunify with China. And my dad is always saying how Taiwanese products are much better than Chinese.”

“Didn’t that cause tension with your mom?”

“No.” Annie shook her head. “My mom was born and raised in Oahu. She met my dad when they were in college in New York, and after they got married, they moved to Taiwan for a few years, where Jeannie and I were born. Sam was born in New York when we moved back to the States.”

“Wow.” Serena’s eyes were wide. “You’ve lived such an interesting life.”

Annie shrugged. “I guess.” She’d never thought of it that way before.

“Hey, did you guys go to the Chinese New Year celebration at Kukui Grove in Lihue?” Serena’s eyes lit up. “I was there. I loved the drumming and the lion dance.”

“Yes. Finn and Cam loved it too.” Annie’s mouth curved. “Although my dad grumbled that it’s not just ‘Chinese New Year.’ He thinks it should be referred to as ‘Lunar New Year.’”

Annie stopped, suddenly remembering that she’d lost her expensive pair of sunglasses that day. She’d been sure she’d put them in the outside pocket of her purse when they went into the shopping center for the celebration, but when they got home, the glasses weren’t there. She’d searched her car, and nothing. She’d always been so careful with them. Had she dropped them, or had someone taken them right out of her purse? Why was she always losing things?

“What? What’s the matter?” Serena looked at her in concern.

“Nothing.” Annie waved off the question. “Just remembering that I lost my favorite pair of sunglasses that day.”

“Oh.” Serena trained her eyes on Annie, a sympathetic look on her face.

“Never mind.” Annie shook her head, mourning the loss of her sunglasses again.

Serena looked at her for another moment, then spoke. “It must be so nice to have your sister close again.”

“It is and it isn’t.” Annie’s mouth twitched. “Sam’s really blunt, and we clash sometimes. We get on each other’s nerves a lot. Jeannie has also been the one to balance us, and without her here . . .” She shrugged.

“When I was growing up, I would have given anything to have a sister or brother to fight with.” Serena pressed her lips together.

“I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.” Annie lifted her shoulders. “Sam can be such a pain in my butt sometimes.”

But then again, Sam had done many kind things for Annie too. Like being willing to take Finn whenever Annie needed time to herself. Sam was also the one who had suggested to Annie that she volunteer at the Kauai Humane Society.

They’d been sprawled on their stomachs on the private dock that only the residents on their dead-end street could use. It had been a warm afternoon only a couple of weeks after Annie and her family had arrived in Kauai, and Annie was trying to relax, to enjoy the sunshine and the pi?a coladas that Sam had whipped up for them.

Sam had turned to Annie with her eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you do something for the community instead of moping around?”

Annie let out an unladylike snort. “What, you mean like, volunteer at a shelter?”

Sam nodded. “Yes. The Kauai Humane Society is always looking for volunteers. And you love dogs.”

Annie was about to protest, but then she stopped. She did love dogs. And these days, she preferred the company of animals to people. They didn’t ask any questions or want to know how she felt all the time.

“You know what? I think I might do that.” She was surprised when the words popped out of her mouth.

“Great. It’ll be good for you.” Sam reached out and bopped Annie on the head. “You’re an emotional wreck, your son is afraid of you, and your husband looks miserable half the time. Life’s too short. You need to get your head out of your ass.”

“Why is she a pain?” Serena’s question had Annie focusing on her again.

“Because she thinks I’ve got my head stuck up my ass and that I should let the past go and enjoy being in Kauai. She thinks Brody’s going to leave me if I don’t try to make things better.” Annie clapped a hand over her mouth. Had she really just said that to someone she’d just met? And she couldn’t even blame the wine. She hadn’t even had half a glass yet.

“What?” Serena sat back on her stool, her mouth open. “No way. You and your husband look so solid.”

“Yeah, well, like I said before, things have been a bit rough lately.” Annie fell silent, not wanting to talk about everything that had happened.