The Green Room by Deborah Turrell Atkinson Page A

you up to?”
    â€œThis is my friend Storm. Sunny around?”
    Jenna rolled her eyes at Storm. “She’ll be back bumbye . It’s getting dark out.” Charlie sat open-mouthed, like a baby bird, and Jenna shoveled another spoonful into the chasm. “She’s been habut ever since Nahoa broke their date. Can’t hardly talk to her.”
    â€œHe’s not back yet?”
    Jenna shook her head. Charlie shook his, too—with his mouth open. The front door banged.
    â€œMaybe that’s Sunny.” Storm thought she heard a note of relief in Ben’s voice.
    She followed Ben toward the front of the house. It was nearly dark outside, but no one had turned on lights in the living room, and they could see a tall silhouette against the waning daylight that filtered through the screen. The figure leaned over and turned on a table lamp, then flung her wet blonde hair over one shoulder.
    â€œSunny?” Ben said.
    Sunny’s face lit up momentarily, then went blank. “Ben.”
    â€œThis is Nahoa’s cousin. Storm’s—”
    â€œHi,” Sunny said dully. “Are you first cousins?” She seemed to ask the question out of social convention, not interest.
    Sunny looked familiar to Storm, but she couldn’t place her. “Second. His mother was married to my mother’s cousin.”
    Sunny gave her a second, harder look and shivered, then proceeded to wrap a beach towel tightly around her waist and do as deft a deck change as Storm had ever seen. Her bikini bottoms dropped to the floor, and in a swift move, she slid board shorts up legs that looked like they were half Storm’s height. After that, she removed the towel and wrapped it around her broad shoulders.
    It was when the light caught the myriad of earrings in her left ear that Storm remembered where she’d seen Sunny before. She was the woman at the surf contest who’d defended Goober’s grumpy nature.
    â€œI talked to you at last weekend’s meet. My friends and I were there to watch Ben, Nahoa, and Goober surf.”
    â€œOh,” Sunny said. She whirled to peer through the screen door at the sound of a car passing.
    â€œDid you see that package Nahoa got last Saturday?”
    â€œUgly thing, with shark’s teeth?”
    â€œYes, do you know what happened to it?”
    â€œNo, but it pissed him off.” Sunny gave up on the sound of the car and walked into the living room, where she dropped into a chair. She waved a hand in the direction of the sofa. “He called a couple people about it.”
    Ben hovered, standing, but Storm sat on the edge of the couch. “Do you know who?”
    â€œNo, but what’s your interest in him?” Her voice was low, almost resigned, but she emphasized the “your” a tiny bit.
    â€œI grew up with him. He’s family, plus his mom and mine were friends.”
    Sunny sat unmoving, watching Storm as if evaluating her, while her eyes glistened in the lamplight.
    â€œI haven’t seen her for years,” Storm said, “but she lost her husband when Nahoa was very young. I’m worried that the shark tooth thing was a threat.”
    Sunny’s chin came up. “I’m worried, too, but I don’t run his life. If a guy wants to move on, good riddance.”
    Sunny had apparently heard the rumors about other women. Storm felt sorry for her. She’d experienced cheating boyfriends, too. “Will you tell me if you see him? And that package, if you find it, would you let me know?”
    Sonny looked at Storm out of the corner of her eye. Yes, her eyes were definitely wet. “Sorry, I need some time alone.” She got up and walked out of the room, but turned to look over her shoulder. “I’ll let you know, okay?”
    Storm and Ben let themselves out the front door. Ben hadn’t looked either woman in the eye for the last several minutes. Typical guy, Storm figured, paralyzed by a