She looked down at Mama now and wished the same for her, realizing how age hadn’t taken away her beauty, only changed it to something deeper; weathered and blessed by the wind and rain.

According to Daniel, Mama’s vital signs appeared stable but he was worried about all the underlying conditions that could be the causes. He wanted to take her immediately to Hilo Hospital, but Leia had firmly refused. She would do what she knew Mama wanted.

“When Mama wakes up, I want her to know she’s home, yeah.”

* * *

Three days later, Mama still hadn’t awakened. Nori was dizzy from the lack of sleep. She closed her eyes each night, serenaded by Samuel’s intermittent snores, only to be up again before dawn, working in the sweet warmth of her kitchen. Business had slowed since the bombing, the market quieter. The lava flow hadn’t stopped or been diverted. It continued to surge toward Hilo with no remorse. Many of the locals had left Hilo, while others began to pack with conviction. Nori couldn’t begin to think of either. She carried a tray of sushi and another of red bean mochi to put into the display case before she started the coffee, only to glance at the clock to see that it was almost six and Jelly still hadn’t arrived.

For the past twenty-five years, her cousin opened the market every morning, arriving at a quarter till to turn on the lights, set up the cash register, and make sure there was enough ice in the icebox for the fresh catch the boys returned with. Before the lava began to flow, the market remained busy from early morning until midafternoon. Nori waited now as a pale light slowly filled the market, bringing everything into focus, everything except for Jelly.

Outside, Nori heard voices. A handful of dockworkers stood in front, waiting for the market to open. She felt a quiet anxiousness creep up inside of her and stepped back, waiting in the shadows a few minutes longer. Nori knew it was silly, but they had a long-held tradition of Jelly opening and she closing the market every day. She wasn’t about to break it this morning.

The voices outside picked up again, Jelly’s rising above them. “Wait one more minute, yeah, just let me get settled, eh.”

Nori sighed, her body relaxing. The screen door whined open, followed by the click of the front door unlocking before Jelly quickly stepped in and closed the door behind her.

“I was just about to send Samuel to check on you,” Nori said, her voice light and steady. She walked toward the front window, reached up, and turned the sign to OPEN.

“Just in time, yeah,” Jelly said, catching her breath.

“I was beginning to worry.” Nori said. “Thought you might have left without telling us.”