Incense and Sensibility (The Rajes #3) - Sonali Dev Page 0,73

smiled.

“Everyone’s staying for dinner,” Ashna declared, taking her shoes off and putting them in the shoe closet. China and Song followed suit. “I made some chicken makhani. China, there’s dal and vegetables for you.”

“I love chicken makhani,” Song said, her exuberance returning to its original turned-all-the-way-up pitch. “I can have China’s share too.” She made a face at China. “My poor vegetarian darling.”

Just as everyone turned to head to the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Yash was closest to the door and pulled it open.

“You weren’t supposed to leave the studio without me.” Brandy stood on Ashna’s front porch, her tone icy. Not that she had another tone.

“I’m sorry. I messed up. Won’t happen again,” Yash said. “But you didn’t have to come all the way back here to scold me.”

Brandy glared at him and held out his car keys. He’d given them to her to move his car to a longer term spot before she left.

Before he could apologize again he noticed a young girl in an oversized sweatshirt standing behind Brandy. She had a nose ring and hair tightly pulled into a curly ponytail, and that expression teens wore around their parents when they thought they were being embarrassed.

“This must be Ellie.” Yash waved to the girl and she waved back excitedly.

“Ellie’s been wanting to meet you,” Brandy said in a tone that suggested she couldn’t quite fathom Yash’s popularity. “Since I had to drop the keys off, I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

“Absolutely. I’ve been wanting to meet Ellie too,” Yash said just as Ashna came to stand next to him.

“Hi, Ellie,” she said. “And you must be the new bodyguard.” Only Ashna could say that in a tone that didn’t make Brandy uncomfortable, but also didn’t dismiss what had happened to Abdul. The sick sensation permanently lodged deep inside Yash rolled over.

Ashna introduced herself, then pulled the door wide open. “Come on in. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

Brandy blinked, something she tended to do when someone did something she found touching. “Thank you. But I’m not supposed to watch Yash in his family’s homes.”

Ashna smiled. “Good, then you can focus on the rest of us.”

Brandy looked at Ellie and the child grinned, said “thank you,” and came inside.

Two things happened simultaneously as soon as they walked into the living room: China and Song sprang apart, and Ellie gasped.

“Are you Song Ji Woo?” Veritable stars exploded in the teenager’s eyes as she gaped at Song, who fought to suppress that terrified look again. “My mom didn’t tell me you’d be here.” Ellie seemed to forget all about her excitement at meeting Yash. “Love in the Spring is my favorite K-Drama ever!”

Song regained her composure at that. “You know that show?”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that show? Well, maybe my mom doesn’t, but she might be the only one in the world. You’re my favorite actress ever, Ms. Song.”

Song walked up to Ellie and took her hands in the warmest gesture. “Call me Ji Woo, and it is very good to meet you. Actually, forget that. Just call me Song. That’s what everyone here calls me.”

“Isn’t that offensive?” Ellie asked, and Song laughed. Yash loved this generation. They gave him such hope for the world.

“It is, but only if I weren’t the one asking you to. It started as a mistake, but I like the sound of Song now. But thank you for making sure.”

Brandy gazed at Ellie like she might explode with pride.

China gazed at Song as though her heart might melt and trickle to her toes. “I’m China,” she said. “You’re Brandy’s daughter?” she added with some surprise.

Ellie turned to China with something of a fierce look. “Yes, can’t you see the resemblance?”

China burst out laughing. Ellie was clearly Black and Brandy was clearly not. “I love it.”

Ellie groaned. “Please tell me you aren’t one of those Black people who judges interracial adoption.”

China looked taken aback at that.

“Ellie, I don’t think Ms. Dashwood meant to be rude, and you shouldn’t be either,” Brandy said in the gentlest tone Yash had ever heard her use.

“No, Ellie, Ms. Dashwood most certainly did not mean to be rude,” China said, grinning widely. “And I don’t think you were rude at all. I was adopted from Kenya. My mother is not Kenyan.”

Understanding dawned on Ellie’s face. “I’m sorry I was rude.” She gave the tiniest sad smile. “My mother was Brandy’s girlfriend. She died.”

Awkwardness swept through the room.

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” China stepped closer to the girl.