insurance, Mom? You’re sixty-two.”
“I know. But those things you said to me are true. I’ve practiced yoga all my life. I’ve lived as healthfully and mindfully as anyone can. I thought I of all people had nothing to worry about. I was only going to go off it until we got a new contract for the incense.” She reached out and took India’s hands and started stroking, tracing the veins and tendons, caressing the knuckles. “I am so sorry.”
India pulled her close and held her tight, her heartbeat mimicking her childhood nightmares. “Please don’t say that. It’s going to be fine. We’re going to the doctor. Let’s find out what we’re faced with. Our theory about our lifestyle isn’t just a theory. Our bodies are strong. Our minds are stronger. We’ll find a solution.” Smiling, she wiped her mother’s wet cheek. “It’s only money.”
That was what Tara had always said to them, when she paid for their college, when she paid for trips and supplies and shoes and backpacks. All the latest styles that China wanted. All the camera equipment Sid needed. All the reasons why there had been no money saved up when the structure of the studio was crumbling and they had to rebuild. Loans on the studio were how they had made it through all the early surgeries and tough times, and now they were borrowed out and already it wasn’t easy to make the payments.
“We will figure this out.”
Tara studied her with her kind eyes. “This is health care we’re talking about. Apparently no one can figure it out.” She smiled, more defeat in it than India could stand. “We’re already deep in debt over the renovation.”
“Stop it. I want you to stop this negative train of thought. Our business is solid. Didn’t you read the Daily Post last month? I’m the undisputed leader in stress management coaching in the Bay area? Do you know how much stress there is around here? It’s a gold mine. We’re going to keep our focus on what we can control, and the universe will take care of the rest.”
Chapter Eleven
It had been years since Yash had sat in the gazebo on his parents’ estate. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d just sat anywhere without actively doing something. Lying in a hospital bed drugged out of his mind didn’t count. It had been two weeks since the shooting, four days since he’d shelled peas in India Dashwood’s kitchen. He’d spent that entire time working on the policies his team was getting ready to post on his campaign website. Fortunately, there had been no more scheduled events to cancel until next week.
The wound on his shoulder barely hurt as he pressed a finger into it. The doctor had removed the bandages today and left just some strip dressing on. Same with his arm. Both wounds were almost healed.
“They’re going to leave a scar,” the doctor had said, and they’d both laughed. Sesame seeds in a river, his grandmother would say.
After he’d seen the doctor, he’d sat by Abdul for the rest of the morning, trying to block out all his scars, the new ones, the old ones. It had been years since he’d let himself think about how alive they felt on his skin. Like organisms crawling over half of his body, leeching at something. The only way he’d ever known how to deal with his own ravaged skin was to separate himself from it, to cut off the oxygen that gave it power by concentrating on the things that did need the oxygen of his focus.
Then Rico had come to get him. Did his family not trust that he would show up for his own campaign meeting?
Today was one of Ma’s Family Teas™. Which was basically code for an all-hands-on-deck meeting to recap the past week of the campaign and make plans for the upcoming week. Usually Yash looked forward to the meetings; they relaxed him and got him ready to take on the week ahead.
Today, however, Rico had to drag him out of the hospital and bring him here. If that wasn’t bad enough, he’d asked Rico to go inside and join the others because Yash had needed to come to the gazebo to gather his thoughts. Now he couldn’t get up off this bench.
It wasn’t like he didn’t want to be with his family. He did. He missed them, even though they were all right here, a few steps away, inside the