In Another Life

22 - "Try new things and work them out"

22 - "Try new things and work them out"

A pretty curvy girl stood waiting for them as they exited the building, waving vigorously at Ava when she spotted her. She looked to be around seventeen, her thick black hair falling in inky waves to her back, her ebony eyes bright and welcoming. Ava felt a reciprocating smile break across her face. The girl's excitement was infectious.

"Sandra, hi!"

Sandra came running forward, making to grab her bags but Adam smiled and shook his head, taking Ava's bag from her hand so she could greet the girl properly.

Ava found herself pulled into her second crushing hug of the day but she didn't mind a bit, seeing as she was known as the hugger amongst her friends.

"Ava! It's so great to see you. I'm so excited, you don't even know. I could barely sleep last night."

Sandra was what was known as a Superfan. She'd followed Ava's journey from the very beginning and would always leave sweet comments, suggestions, and encouragement. When Ava had asked her subscribers for places to visit, she'd received a million suggestions but Ava had been immediately caught by the beautiful pictures Sandra had sent.

"Well, we were just as excited. These are my good friends, Nina and Adam. Guys, this is Sandra whom I think I can also introduce as a friend, yeah?"

Sandra grinned and nodded vigorously. "Are you ready? Māmā and Tutu are eager to meet you. They are all pau with dinner so we should hurry."

Nina turned to her and mouthed 'pau' with a questioning look.

They followed Sandra to the car and Adam leaned over to whisper. "I think it means 'all done'."

"How do you know that?" Nina asked skeptically.

Adam grinned and waved his phone at her. "Google, Nina. An amazing invention."

They piled into the old Land Rover, Adam and Sandra refusing help with the bags before Sandra jumped into the front, looking disappointed when Nina joined her in the front. Lucky for Ava, Sandra didn't notice the cheeky grin that Nina threw at her when she was forced to sit with Adam in the back. Not that forced would be the right word. How mature of Nina though. Ha.

Adam grinned at her when she settled in and Sandra started the 4x4, causing the vehicle to rumble.

The ride was relatively slow for the hurry Sandra said they were in and they stopped multiple times to let others pass or to greet people on the road. Sandra seemed to know everyone and made sure to introduce them to these people too. By the time they reached their destination, Ava felt like she had met half the island.

It might have been frustrating but Ava was expecting it as she'd tried to do as much research on the island and its culture as possible and she'd forewarned the others as well. It also made for great content and with Sandra's permission, she managed to get some good videos; some residents had even consented to being on camera.

Their welcome into the Kalili household was both boisterous and warm. Sandra's Tutu, who insisted that they call her that too, dropped leis around their necks and ushered them in with such love that Ava felt tears spring to her eyes. Part of that may have been her hormones and exhaustion.

Sandra's mother wrapped them in deliciously warm hugs, smelling for all the world like the most amazing spices and a hint of jasmine that Ava could only identify because the garden was filled with those flowers and the scent had been so beautifully intense that Sandra had felt a need to explain.

They were ushered into the dining room which doubled as the living room and made to take a seat as they were bombarded with questions.

Ava offered her services in the kitchen but Sandra and her mother both looked so scandalised that they'd make a guest work that Nina had pulled her down and told her that this was not the Espín household and she was allowed to relax.