Someone Else’s Life(21)

“I eat everything. I love food.” Serena’s face lit up when she said that.

“Me too. Another way we’re so alike.” This storm and Serena’s broken-down car were turning out to be good things. Who knew they would have so much in common? “Anyways, lu rou fan is usually finely chopped pork belly that’s slow-cooked in an aromatic soy sauce with five spices. But my dad doesn’t chop up the pork belly. He leaves it whole, which has a whole other name, I think kang rou fan, or something like that. But we just call it lu rou fan. He spoons the pork belly over hot rice with the sauce. He adds hard-boiled eggs in the sauce too, along with sliced carrots. So it’s like a stew, but the sauce is amazing.”

“That sounds great.” Serena smacked her lips. “I love trying new foods.”

“I was going to make a Taiwanese cucumber salad to go with it. My dad grows Japanese cucumbers in his garden.” Annie’s mouth watered, just thinking of what they were going to eat.

“You’re making me hungry.” Serena groaned, holding her stomach. “My mouth is watering.”

Annie looked at her. They really were in tune with each other, having the same thoughts at the same time. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

“We can read each other’s minds.” Serena grinned. “What’s in the cucumber salad?”

“Just rice wine vinegar, a little sesame oil, garlic, and a bit of sugar.” Annie stood. “I miss the vegetable garden I had back home, but I’m glad my dad has one here. I didn’t know what I was doing when I decided to try to plant a garden, but I managed to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, kale, zucchinis, and a whole bunch of herbs. It was great to just go out there and pick something for dinner.”

“I have a black thumb.” Serena wiggled them. “I can’t keep anything alive.”

“I thought I did too, until we moved to the lake house. We also had a flower garden in the front that the previous owner had planted.” Annie walked into the kitchen. “I’m going to make the cucumber salad now, so it can marinate for a bit.”

“Do you need help?” Serena asked.

“No, you just relax on the couch with your wine. Put a movie on if you want. There’s not much to do.” Annie opened the refrigerator.

“I feel bad just sitting on my butt.” Serena came toward Annie. “Let me help.”

“Okay.”

They exchanged another warm look, and then Annie began to gather the cucumbers her father had brought over that morning. She pulled out a cutting board and a knife, humming under her breath. She was so glad Serena had knocked on her door. Having her here was better than drinking alone in the storm. The howling wind and loud raindrops had become background noise, more like a soothing soundtrack than anything threatening, as they were warm and dry inside the Ohana.

“You want to peel the cucumbers?” She handed Serena the peeler.

“Sure. Leaving a bit of peel on okay with you?” Serena picked up the first cucumber.

Annie nodded and they got to work. They were in sync as they prepared the salad together, never bumping into each other in the tiny kitchen the way Annie and Brody did. They chatted as they worked, about the different beaches in Kauai, and which ones were their favorites. Annie loved Poipu Beach because of the kiddie area for Finn, and Serena said she liked Hanalei Bay because it made her feel like she was on a deserted island, far from civilization and all the worries in the world.

“What kind of worries?” Annie asked, as she mixed together the marinade. She leaned in and inhaled, loving the umami smells that bombarded her nose.

“Everything,” Serena said, cutting the cucumbers into thick chunks and then smashing them a bit so they’d absorb the marinade better, just like Annie showed her. “Work, money, friends, what I’m doing with my life, if I’m going to be single forever. Just to name a few.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“Life is hard.” Annie nodded to acknowledge Serena’s feelings. “Do you want more wine now or wait for dinner?” She held up the bottle. Neither had finished their first glass yet, but Annie was in a celebratory mood. When was the last time she’d felt so comfortable around someone, when she wasn’t on edge and feeling bad about herself? It was nice, nice to feel like the old Annie, entertaining a friend for the night.

Serena dumped the cucumbers she’d sliced into the pineapple-shaped bowl that Annie had pulled out and held out her wineglass for Annie to top off.

Annie filled her own, and then they clinked glasses. “Cheers,” she said. “To new friendships and to living on Kauai.”

Serena’s eyes twinkled at her over the top of her glass.

While Annie rinsed the rice for the lu rou fan in cold water, Serena sat back down at the breakfast bar with her wine. “Are you looking for a house? Or just going to stay here?” she asked.

Annie threw an amused look over her shoulder. “We’re definitely not staying here. It’s too small for the three of us. We’ve been looking at houses.” She fell silent, because really, Brody had been looking at houses while, until recently, Annie had been dragging her feet. She didn’t know why. Maybe because she missed the lake house and wasn’t ready to find a new house. Or maybe she was just being difficult.

“See anything you like?” Serena asked.