Within the next half hour, one by one, the Bridal Brigade started showing up at Kamila’s house. First, Yuriko arrived with a block of aged cheddar and a wheel of Brie. Then Asha and Nicole with grapes, dried apricots, dark chocolate, Gruyère, and aged Gouda. Then Tim and Jerome with the most enormous wood board Jana had ever seen, along with a baguette and some crackers. And finally, Kamila arrived with bottles of wine, some Turkish pastrami, and beef soppressata, along with cured olives and some Quebec washed-rind cheese.
Jana stood back in awe as everyone set up the most epic cheese tray she’d ever seen, arguing about what should go where on the big board.
“I don’t understand how you all happened to have this stuff at home,” Jana said.
Asha snorted and turned to look at Jana. “We didn’t. Kamila gave us strict orders on what to buy at what store on our way here. She’s a one-woman well-oiled machine. Working with Elsie really made Kamila level up her event-planning skills.”
Jana stepped back to watch them set up this little impromptu get-together. Wine poured, charcuterie arranged, small plates distributed, and they were ready. They all sat around the living room with plates perched on their laps. The group was still making small talk—first, a little about Rohan and Kamila’s honeymoon in Barcelona, then Tim and Jerome had some funny stories about their fact-finding trip to Moshi to learn more about the Kilimanjaro climb. Neither Jana nor Rohan mentioned Jana’s crisis, which she appreciated. Jana didn’t really join in on the conversation, but being with friends…not being alone, felt comforting.
They started talking about the Toronto wedding reception, which would be the following night. “The restaurant has a karaoke machine,” Kamila said. “We should have aMamma Mia!revival show!”
Jana shook her head. There was no way in hell she was going to sing at a party again. Especially that song. She redirected the conversation by suggesting they open the boxes from Tanzania. As they sorted the souvenirs into piles, Jana told them about Dr. Lopez showing up while she was bringing them into her house.
“I can’t believe you opened that box in front of Sam Uncle!” Kamila said. “You knew the dildo would be in it.”
Jana shook her head. “Why would I think the dildo would be there? The box was labeled Serengeti. You made those in Amsterdam.”
“Maybe because we gave you the penis in Serengeti?” Asha said.
Jana stopped folding the kanga fabric in her hand and glared.
Kamila blinked, then burst out laughing. “It’s hilarious, though. I would have loved to see your mother’s face. I wonder if they told my dad? Or Rohan’s parents?” She shrugged. “I guess now I’m good to display my penis art on a shelf the next time my Dad or in-laws come to dinner.”
Nicole and Asha nearly fell into the pile of folded kangas laughing. Jana shook her head, imagining Nadira Aunty’s face if she came over to her son’s house to see a brightly colored penis on a shelf.
Jana chuckled. Her friendsweremaking her feel better, even without them knowing why she was upset. She pulled another box in front of her and used a small knife to cut the tape off. She started dividing up the contents, each item labeled on either the paper or plastic wrapping. There was a stack of woven bowls for Yuriko, a whole bunch of soapstone figures for Marc. And another heavy piece that was probably also soapstone. It was wrapped in paper and had Anil’s name on it.
“What’s that?” Yuriko asked.
“It’s for Anil.” She added it to his pile. Anil had purchased mostly wood pieces, but there were a few rolled-up art canvases, too.
“Open it. I want to see,” Kamila said.
They’d been opening the packages of anyone who wasn’t here to snoop at their purchases. Kamila said it was her prerogative, since she paid for all this stuff to be shipped to Canada.
“I’m not opening Anil’s stuff.”
Kamila snorted. “Why is it different from anyone else’s? Rohan opened Marc’s.”
Jana rolled her eyes. After she’d slept with him, then asked him on a date, then freaked out when she discovered that he was still talking to his ex-wife and maybe actually even back together with her, it felt weird to be opening the man’s knickknacks. But she knew if she didn’t, someone else here would. So, Jana unwrapped the paper. Inside was a creamy tan carving of a family. Jana had seen statues like these in most curio shops in Tanzania. Made from smooth carved soapstone, they depicted minimalistic figures of people. Often, a mother and child. Jana had also seen some of families—parents and two or more children.
Anil had bought one of a family of three—two parents and one child.
Jana ran her finger over the smooth stone. The adult figures each had one arm around the other and one around the child, which was reaching for its parents.
“Wow,” Tim said. “That’s a little on the nose, isn’t it?”
She started tearing up, looking at the little soapstone family.
“Jana,” Nicole said. “Are you okay?”
Jana nodded, putting the soapstone carving on the coffee table. “You guys…I’m sorry. I’m bringing you all down. Just ignore me. Had a rough day.” She sniffled loudly. Embarrassing. Potato was by her side in seconds.
“We can’t ignore you,” Asha said. “The brigade never leaves a wounded soldier down.”
“Is that what I am? A wounded soldier?”
“I wasn’t in the Bridal Brigade,” Rohan said.
