Page 54 of Love Hollow at Last
Noah sighed.“I’m sorry it’s been such a tough time.”
Aya tried to shove down her disappointment.“It hasn’t been that tough.I mean, our grandparents were in an internment camp when they were younger than we are now.And I’m reminded of that every day.”
“They wouldn’t have wanted to see this happening, though.”
“I’m glad they didn’t,” Aya snapped.“If some of these people in Love Hollow had to answer to folks who were actually here, they might think about it all differently.”
“Some of the people coming for the Pilgrimage were interned here, right?”
She nodded.“Sure.But the last thing I want to do to the nonagenarians is force them to confront our local dickheads.No need to add any new trauma.”
After an uncomfortable silence, she beckoned to Noah.“Come on.Let’s go to the reading room.At least it has a good view.”
The landscape would have been desolate, but the temporary employees were buzzing around the festival grounds.It was the first sound check, so a random group of people were singing into microphones, banging on drum sets, and playing electric guitars.They were really good, actually.Music festivals always seemed to attract offbeat people who were talented musicians, so Aya wasn’t shocked.
“Aya,” Noah said, turning away from the window.“I don’t know how to fix this.But it’s not because I don’t care about you.”
“How am I supposed to know that?”she asked, another tear streaking down her cheek.She held her head up, but the tears kept coming down, whether she wanted them to or not.
“Trust me,” he said and kissed her.
Aya did not feel her body melt.She was still angry.Furious, in fact.
But she couldn’t keep herself from kissing Noah back.It wasn’t a contradiction, not exactly.Just something that she couldn’t help doing.
The music had stopped, thank God.
46
Aya
Emi was helping Aya get ready for the party, just like in high school, in a way.Except back then, they hadn’t been invited to many parties.Sheena’s parents had let her throw a New Year’s Eve party once.But the dumpling kids ended up hiding out in Sheena’s bedroom, escaping the orange peel game that the “cooler” invitees were playing downstairs.From then on, they had decided they would spend each New Year’s with one another.
“You look gorgeous,” said Emi.“You’re glowing.”
Aya rolled her eyes.“I’m sorry, preggo.Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to be glowing?”
Emi touched her neck.“I’m feeling kind of sick, actually.I think I might just stay here.”
“Stop.I’m sure the cabin will be cozy.You can just, like, take a nap or something.”
Aya’s dress was a pale-peach color, the kind that would be considered “skin tone” for the average American white woman.But because Aya’s skin was darker than the dress, it made for some contrast.It had long sleeves and a huge tea-length skirt with more tulle than she ever would have worn ordinarily.But she had to be fancy without shopping, so it was as good as it was going to get.She’d bought it to wear to a formal university event years ago, but at the last minute, she’d caved and worn a nondescript black dress instead.It had taken Twyla and Emi all morning to persuade her to wear it instead of jeans.
“Gay men are going to take it as an insult if you wear jeans to a formal engagement party,” said Twyla.“I mean, the invitation specified Japanese formal or American cocktail, so unless you want Mom busting out one of her old kimonos, you’re going to wear this.”
The memory of the Kato yukata made Aya blush.“Fine,” she told her sister, and Twyla flounced off with a smirk.Aya hadn’t even asked how Twy had known what was on the invitation.Aya hadn’t received a physical invitation, but if Justin was expecting her, she wasn’t going to skip it.
Though she was sorely tempted.
Emi smiled, stretching herself out on Aya’s bed.“Yes, I’m sure Nobu and Justin care so little about their engagement party that they’re ready to let people literally sleep through it.”
“Or nap in the car.Whatever you want.”
Emi shook her head.“That’s the part I don’t like.I think even driving over there is going to make me queasy.Good thing they didn’t do it up at the cabin.”
Aya stared at her.“But itisat the cabin.They’ve been getting the place ready for weeks!”
“Apparently, the weather’s too dicey.According to Twyla, anyway.They’re doing it at the Katos’ house.”
