Incense and Sensibility (The Rajes #3) - Sonali Dev Page 0,48
unravel one sweater each for the three of you, one each of Mom’s and mine, then I’m going to use the yarn to knit squares to make a quilt.”
India picked up a rusty red cardigan she had worn on her first day of high school. The wool was soft and fine and it had worn away at the elbows. She’d loved that cardigan, with its too-long sleeves that gathered at her wrist.
A project. Not surprising at all. Tara was constantly coming up with projects. All the walls in their home and studio used to be hand-painted with murals. They’d lost them all to the renovation. But instead of being sad, Tara had been excited to get to paint new murals. Already the studio had a giant Buddha across one wall. The living room had the beginnings of a forest that Tara had been working on for the past year.
The mosaic backsplash in the kitchen. Beaded borders on all the lamps. Even the mandala rug in India’s room was hand-hooked by her mom. Never had India seen her mother sit still. Not even these past few days when her movements had gotten just a tad slower.
“I was lying down and I realized that having a blanket with all of us woven into it is exactly what I need.”
“It’s a great idea.” India ran a hand over the sweaters scattered across the floor between them.
“You’re worried about something,” Tara said. A statement, not a question.
“How can I not be?” She reached out and touched her mother’s forehead. No fever, but her batik caftan hung on her and the whites of her eyes were far too yellow. “How are you feeling?”
“You know, I’d rather feel a little bit stronger and have a little more energy. But I’ve been breathing and you’ve been giving me Reiki, so I’m going to be okay.”
“And Dr. Kumar will have the results today and we’re going to figure out a treatment and everything can go back to normal,” India said.
Her mother patted her face and smiled. “Is China’s lady love still here? Doesn’t a fancy star have her own home?” She held up China’s ocher-yellow poncho and India nodded in approval. “Is it mean to say that?”
“Yes, a little bit. She’s here because she wants to spend time with China, and I’m sure she feels welcome.” India hoped she hadn’t made Song feel unwelcome. She was hanging out here so much only because China felt guilty about leaving Mom.
“You’re always such a good girl. Always so kind. I should have named you Empathy.”
“Emotions instead of countries? What a novel idea!” India reached across the sweaters on the floor and took her mother’s hand. “Guess I wasn’t feeling all that empathetic just now when I basically scolded China about blowing off work.”
“China missed work?”
“And forgot to call in to let them know.”
Their mother looked sufficiently horrified, and India felt a little less terrible about being a killjoy. “I thought she was home because it was some sort of holiday.”
“She was supposed to take the day off. She just forgot to inform anyone that she was taking it.”
“China? Our China? Are you sure? That does not sound one bit like her.” The worry in their mother’s eyes was exactly the worry in India’s heart. The kind of worry you felt when something beautiful happened to a loved one but you knew it was tenuous and the fact that it was so beautiful was what made it so much scarier.
China had no experience with emotional disaster and heartbreak. For someone who took herself and everything she desired so seriously, she’d never taken a relationship seriously. Her obsession had always been her work.
Plus, Mom dodging the topic of her diagnosis and treatment did not bode well at all.
“Stop worrying about everyone else,” Tara said quickly, as if sensing the direction of India’s thoughts. “Look at you. You don’t wear stress well.”
“I’m not stressed. Concern for loved ones and stress aren’t the same thing. Are you ready to go to the hospital? They’ll have the results and we can finally have an action plan.”
“Oh, the appointment is canceled.” Tara started packing up the earthy rainbow of sweaters that hadn’t made the cut for the quilt.
“Mom? What are you talking about?”
“Well, I’m starting to feel much better and I made an appointment with the Chinese herbalist Tomas’s aunt recommended.”
“You canceled the appointment? Why? Why would you do that?”
“You know how Western medicine is. I’m not sure it’s for me.”