Page 49 of Love Hollow at Last
Her mom was between classes.She was in the little storage closet that functioned as a makeshift office, balancing the books.Aya envied her mother’s abilities.How did she run a business while raising three daughters?Aya had been tasked with one thing, saving the museum, and even that had been beyond her abilities.Their balance sheet looked terrible.At least they were not likely to lose the building during the Pilgrimage itself, though she wondered what would happen immediately after.
“Good evening,” said Emi cheerfully.“Any luck on the bathroom situation?”
Aya’s mother pulled her in for a quick hug.“Nothing on my end, I’m afraid.But I am good at rounding up volunteers.Aya, would you like someone else to take on a day or two of the Pilgrimage?Twyla said Professor Jin may need you during that time.Really, it’s no trouble.”
Aya pulled away, horrified.“Mom, the Pilgrimage is the one part of my job that usually goes well!That’s the most important thing I do all year!You would really want to take me away from that?”
“I just thought you might need help with it,” her mother murmured.“I know there’s been too much on your shoulders, Aya.I’m afraid I gave you too much responsibility when you were younger.I’ve always felt that?—”
“That I can’t handle anything?Thanks for the vote of confidence.We were going to see if you wanted dinner, but I think we’ll just go.”
She saw Emi mouthing an apology, which annoyed her more.And she heard a familiar voice coming over from next to the barre.
“Are you ready to start?”
She poked her head around the doorway.
“Oh, hi,” said Twyla, exchanging glances with their mother.And Aya noticed her mother and Twyla were dressed identically.Instead of the casual skirts that had to be tied on, they were wearing floaty black skirts.And instead of ballet pink, which was usually the color of choice, they were both in black leotards.
“What is this?”asked Aya.
But there was no response.
She looked at the two of them.Their other sister, Martha, would probably have been part of this, except thank goodness, her work was keeping her in Japan for the time being.That was more or less how Aya’s childhood had been.Mom, Twyla, and Martha on one side, united by their love of dance and their ballerina bodies, and Aya on the other side, too large to look good in half the costumes.
She had also asked her mother if she could be in a pageant.There was one that would have been perfect, and from the age of six, Aya had always asked to participate.Little Miss Love Hollow would have been ideal.They wouldn’t have even needed to travel, and at that age, Aya had already started singing lessons, so she had an obvious act for the talent portion.She could have even combined singing and dancing, if her mom would let her.
But her parents had both denied her that opportunity.And years later, Aya was forced to watch from the sidelines as Twyla and Martha alternated year after year.If one of them won Little Miss Love Hollow, that was a virtual guarantee that the other one would win the next year.So it was no surprise that they both ended up winning Miss Love Hollow, too, and becoming finalists for Miss Idaho.
Half the time, Aya wasn’t even allowed to watch.
“Fine,” she snapped.“You can just stay.I’ll figure this out.But no, Mom, I don’t need you to do my job for me.”
“Aya…” Twyla was getting close, probably trying to go in for some sort of conciliatory hug.
“No,” said Aya.“I get it.”
And she walked out.
43
Noah
He thought about texting Aya that night.But he didn’t because she had been so accusatory at her mom’s house.He wondered whether that was just her personality.Perhaps she, like other enlightened women of her generation, had decided to treat her lovers with the same wry indifference that men had made use of for centuries.
Aya actually didn’t seem very much like the one he had once known.She’d had few friends, but the people close to her were treated like royalty.But she must have changed in the intervening years.She had probably expected him to change too.
Noah woke in the morning resolute.At the very least, their night—and morning—together had been good.Mind-blowingly so, in fact, and he knew that there was no way it had all been fake.So if nothing else, she would probably be willing to see him again just for that.
He only needed to figure out how to ask her out on a date.They had to be out of public view, and they needed somewhere to go after.Not a hotel, because those were all booked, and not their parents’ houses.Pickings were slim, especially since the cabin was going to be otherwise occupied.
Nobu had reminded him of it early that morning, waking him up with a ruthlessness only a sibling could possess.
“Hello,” he said.“My darling brother, stop being laaazy.”
Noah pulled the pillow over his head.“Stop.I don’t have to go in until nine.”
“Early to bed, early to rise,” said Nobu.“What?You would strand your brother on the day he needs the most help?Rude!”
