“I’m not saying hewouldhurt you,” Mom says.
“But you think because he’s more introverted and academic, he won’t appreciate me the way Dad didn’t appreciate you.” I did worry weeks ago that Miles was too stuffy for me, but those doubts are long gone. “Miles is attentive, generous, and helikesmy… positivity. He supports me the way I am.”
Mom sighs. “I don’t think Miles doesn’t support you because I don’t really know him. But Idoknow you, Sana, and I know you see things through rose-colored glasses,especiallyabout relationships. That’s not a bad thing. The rest of us could learn to be more optimistic. But I’ve seen more of the world than you. I don’t want you to miss red flags because of those rosy glasses you wear.”
“I’m not a naive child,” I say. I’m totally capable of seeing issues in my own relationship. After all, I’m the one who broke up with Priya when we weren’t working anymore.
“I know you’re not a child.” Mom smiles. “Hell, sometimes I think you’re wiser than me. You’re an idealist, and look what that idealism has accomplished this summer! I’m so proud of all you’ve done to make this festival happen.”
“All MilesandI have done. We complement each other.”
Mom nods. “You’re right. You’re a great pair. But remember, there’s nothing wrong with being cautious with your heart. To protect it a little bit.”
I don’t respond to that because I don’t know what to say. Mom’s wrong. IknowI can be a little wide-eyed, and I know I wanted a relationship so much a few months ago that I would have settled for less, but that doesn’t mean my eyes aren’t open to any issues that might be here now. Miles and I are great together. But I also know that arguing with my mother won’t get me anywhere. Not when we’re both stubborn.
Mom picks up her jar and paints some glue onto it. “The flowers for the heart sculpture will be in on Friday. I’ve set aside the morning to build it. We’re both going tohave a busy weekend—I also have a wedding on Saturday night. Thankfully, it’s pretty small.”
I nod.
“Sana, after the festival, on Sunday, how about you and I go for brunch? Just us.”
Brunch is really more a Noureen thing, but I don’t have plans with Dad on Sunday. “Why?”
“Why not? We’ve both been so busy. I think we deserve a treat.”
I shrug. “Okay. Let’s do brunch.”
Mom smiles as she wraps twine on the jar. “Good. Everything is falling into place. By the way, I have a meeting up north after the store closes tomorrow, and I’ll be home late. I’ll eat at my parents’.”
Despite her judgmental comments about me and Miles, Mom actually seems to be in a good mood this week. Maybe she’s not worried about sales anymore? Or her mortgage? Maybe she got a big new wedding. I feel kind of bad—I’ve been so wrapped up in festival planning and my new relationship that I haven’t thought much about Mom’s money issues. But Mom has been super busy lately—I can’t remember the last time she didn’t have at least two big events in a week. Maybe the early festival promotion is already helping the flower shop business? I rub Zuri’s head, then shrug. Maybe Mom will talk to me about how the store is doing when we have brunch on Sunday.
I smile as I realize something. Miles and I had plans to go to Chinatown for cheap dumplings tomorrow night, but now… maybe we should change that? I grab my phone to text him.
Sana: Wanna skip dumpling night tomorrow?
Miles: I was looking forward to it. Why?
Sana: Okay wanna relocate dumpling night tomorrow? Mom’s going up to my grandparents after the flower shop closes. We can get dumplings from the grocery store and have them at my place. Alone. Or we can completely skip the dumpling part.
Miles: Alone?
Sana: Just you, me and Zuri. All alone. For hours.
Miles: Yes let’s skip Chinatown. I have a meeting in the afternoon but then I’m free.
Sana: Meeting for what? Did I forget a festival meeting?
Miles: No nothing like that. A school thing. But now I know I’ll be distracted. I’ll only be thinking about seeing you later.
I grin. Tomorrow night can’t come fast enough.
The next day I’m working with Jenn at Cosmic all day. She’s in the back going through the pieces that she sourced specifically for Cosmic’s booth at the festival, pricing them and steaming out the wrinkles to make sure they look their best, while I watch the front of the store, which is pretty busy for a Wednesday.
Whenever I have a free moment, I work on my laptop, finalizing the festival volunteer schedule, the duty list for all the committee members, and my own to-do list starting at six a.m. on Saturday. I’m so engrossed in my document that it takes me a second to realize that a customer is standing in front of me at the counter.
Wait, not a customer. It’s Su Lin Tran.
She’s with three people, and all of them, including Su Lin, are in business suits, and they’re not looking like they’re here for vintage clothes. I smile widely at them anyway.
