Page 45 of Love Hollow at Last
“We’ve lined their coffers every other year before this.They may as well do something for us.A wreath, really.It’s the least they could do.If you’d like, I can make the call.Hanson’s on State Street.You’re not related, are you?”
Aya had often gotten that question growing up but never in the process of begging for flowers.
“I think we share a great-grandfather or something,” she said.“My aunt Jessie would know.I’m not big on genealogy.”
Mrs.Irving peered at her.“Pity.Well, I’ll tell them it’s for their cousin.That ought to shame them into giving us something.”
“Mrs.Irving, please.I don’t think the museum is really in the position to be asking for favors.”
“Nonsense,” said the tall, willowy woman, leaning so she could read Aya’s computer screen.Aya snapped it shut.
“If that’s all,” she said, but of course it wasn’t.
“The festival,” said Mrs.Irving sharply.“Rumors are flying.I would have talked to Noah Kato myself, of course, only he wasn’t home when I went in yesterday.And his parents weren’t giving away his whereabouts, which is not like them.”
Aya tried not to smile.At least she was in on one conspiracy.
“Probably back in California, going out with more of those actress-model types,” Mrs.Irving said primly.“It’s very disappointing.I know his parents worried for him!His mother practically raised him on feminist theory, yet there he was, in the tabloids every other week with another lady.Doing nothing but making those albums, and what did he do with the rest of his time, I would like to know.”
Aya made an effort to appear cheerful.“I guess he was busy.”
Mrs.Irving was certainly the type of woman who would make albums in her spare hours while holding down at least one and half difficult, meaningful jobs, and she sniffed.“Well, he certainly seemed too busy to visit.And with all his sister went through.It’s a disgrace.”
Aya blinked.She thought that she remembered Twyla starting to say something about Nami then changing the subject after a look from their mother.They were not allowed to gossip.It was a household rule, the like of which she never seemed to encounter in anyone else’s house.They could share others’ good news, but that was it.
Mrs.Irving was not at all bothered by Aya’s lack of response.“I found his office.Girl named Grace, more efficient than I would have expected.She was vague about details, though.I presented her with a list of our demands.”
“Mrs.Irving,” Aya finally managed, “I’m not sure we’re in a position to be making demands.The festival is bringing in ten thousand people.We only have three hundred.”
“Yes,” said Mrs.Irving.“And what is their festival all about?They don’t even have a proper theme.”
“Okay,” said Aya.“Tell me what you would like the festival to do.”
Mrs.Irving reached into her handbag and brought out a list that was several pages long, much more detailed and unreasonable than any of Aya’s requests.
“No music at all on the second day, at least not until after eight in the evening?Donations of all unsold food at the end of each day, plus complimentary T-shirts for everyone?There’s no way they’ll agree to this.”
“Well,” said Mrs.Irving, “between you, me, and the fence post, they do seem rather strapped for funds.But with ten thousand attendees, that will be their own fault.I would have managed things much better.”
It was an incredibly arrogant statement, but it was also probably true.
“I need to run home for a bit,” said Aya.It was clearly going to be the only way to get Mrs.Irving to leave.“But I’ll give these to Noah Kato myself.”
“Is he back in town?”she asked.
Aya flinched.“I’m not sure.But I can get in touch with him if needed.”
Mrs.Irving harrumphed as they walked out together.“Technology,” she said.“You young people.You may never learn that the most effective way to do business is face-to-face.”
Mrs.Irving,thought Aya,if nothing else, I’ve certainly learned that from you.
40
Noah
He approached Aya’s house with a heart full of confidence.Perhaps he didn’t deserve it, but he had never before felt so sure about her affection.After all, people who didn’t like you didn’t show the level of passion she had.Heck, there had been women who were genuinely interested in him over the years, but because he never let things progress too far, they had never been allowed to prove it.
Noah had truly thought he knew everything there was to know.After all, even if he didn’t have direct experience, he wasn’t an obedient-enough Catholic to stop himself from thinking about it.It had been such a relief when he decided he didn’t have to submit to those teachings anymore, which had not so coincidentally happened around the time one of his friends came out, years before Nobu.At the time, Noah insisted that if Drew wasn’t going to theology classes anymore, he wouldn’t go either, and his parents acquiesced fairly easily.
