“That’s the one! The one that sold out everywhere! Thank you sooooo much!” She had her arms around the cup, twisting on her tail gleefully. “I love it!”
Sumi had barely taken a breath to respond when another Naga appeared around the corner from the back room. She wasreminded of Hedda popping out, catching her in emotional fits, every time Ranar sent her some mean-spirited bouquet.You even have that in common. You both know the language of flowers, like two complete dorks.
“Where’s the fire, piya?”
This must’ve been his father, she realized, heart folding in a pile of guilt.This shop is my dad’s whole life. She could see the resemblance immediately, despite the gulf of years between them. His warm brown skin was creased in age and laugh lines, his hair a perfect snowy white, but he had the exact same strong profile as he questioned his granddaughter. His eyes raised, seeing Sumi, white eyebrows shooting up.
“Sumiko! Good morning, why did you come out in this rain? Hold on, hold on . . .” He turned slowly, his slow slither resembling a shuffle.Rectilinear. That’s what it’s called.“Drishi, Sumiko is here.”
When his mother gracefully slithered out from the back a moment later, it was with wide eyes, her hand at her throat. “I didn’t expect to see her, but you can’t ever be too sure. Welcome in again. You know Ranar isn’t here?”
“I already told her,” Ruma announced. “She said they’re trying to make up, Nani.”
Sumi almost swallowed her tongue. His family was full of perceptive women, it seemed. “Hopefully,” she added with a small smile. “He can’t stay mad at me forever, right?”
“He likes the color blue,” Ruma said seriously, still clutching her cup, evidently taking seriously Sumi’s request for help. “Even though he’ll tell you he can’t pick a favorite, but he says that about everything. And he likes to cook. He never lets us just make something from the freezer. He doesn’t notice anything, you can’t think he’ll know what you want unless you tell him. He has, like,negativeaura points when it comes to that, so if you want to stop fighting, you should just tell him that.”
It was all she could do to keep from laughing. His daughter looked so entirely serious, and she was reminded again of his conversation online.I’ve never once looked at their hooves.
“But he’s a really good listener,” Ruma went on doggedly. “He doesn’t ever get mad if you tell him things. And he’ll do things he doesn’t like if it makes you happy, and he’ll pretend he likes them too so that you don’t feel bad. I can tell, but it’s still nice that he tries to pretend.”
Like pretending he thinks it’s a great idea for you to go to a fancy, out-of-state school, even though it broke his heart for you to leave.Like pretending he’s cool as a cucumber carrying everyone’s shit, even though he feels like he’s ready to break.He was right. His daughter really was his best advertisement. Sumi thought her heart felt ready to burst, when his mother cleared her throat.
“Piya, will you please bring those white roses to Baba? That bucket is too heavy for these old arms.”
Ruma ducked her head, beaming at Sumi a final time before doing as she was told.
His mother fixed her with an appraising eye as soon as they were alone.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ranar so preoccupied with one person before, the way he has been preoccupied with you all summer. Not even his wife. So much agitation! I think you are bad for my son’s blood pressure.”
Sumi gulped.You were doing better with the kid.
“But that means you will likely be good for him in ways that a mother is meant to pretend do not exist. That’s good, he needs that in his life.”
Her smile spread, eyes twinkling, and Sumi almost choked.
“Can I ask, are you a relative of Sumiko Ito?”
Sumi was taken aback. She had been expecting to be asked about her great aunt, feeling her cheeks heat as she nodded. “Shewas my great aunt. She left me her house after she died, that’s why I’m even here in Cambric Creek. But – but I never knew her, so I can’t answer any questions.”
His mother smiled, nodding, as if she had already suspected the answer. “She was a very good friend of mine. Such a wonderful lady. I did the flowers for her service myself, one last goodbye. You look like her, you know. That’s why my husband . . .”
Tears raced to the surface before she had a chance to quell their movement. “I’m so glad. I’m so glad to know that she had good friends here. When I found out . . . I hated knowing she was alone at the end. I joined the Nippon club once I moved in, and I found out she was a member there as well. I feel a bit like I’m walking in her footsteps wherever I go. Everyone speaks so highly of her. I wish I could have known her.”
“She taught a flower arranging class at the Nippon club for many years.”
“I know,” Sumi choked out. “I’ve been toldIhave to do it now.”
They were both still laughing when he came through the front door.
Ranar stopped immediately, eyes narrowing as the bell jangled.
“Are you familiar with the phrase ‘turning up like a bad penny?’”
“Go!” His mother pointed to the back. “We are having a conversation that does not concern you.” She waited until he quickly slithered past, grumbling under his breath and casting back one last, dark look in Sumi’s direction. His mother rolled her eyes. “They are like little boys when they get their feelings hurt. But the answer is no. He won’t be mad forever. I suspect he’s not even mad now.”
“He is,” she corrected regretfully. “Unfortunately, he is. And it’s justified.”
