smiled fondly at the girl, connection sparkling between them.
This was not at all like China. For one, she never took an interest in the studio. For another, recently she had been too preoccupied in her own life to take an interest in anything at all that didn’t involve Song.
They could not afford to pay an intern. Brandy looked stressed enough to burst. The way India always felt when someone was about to break China’s heart, or say something hurtful to Tara when she was being Tara, or when years of Sid’s work was about to go down the drain because funding for one of his photography trips didn’t come through.
“That would be lovely,” India said. “Would you like a tour?”
Ellie nodded, but her eyes were stuck on Tara’s mural.
“That’s our mom’s,” China said, tracing a finger over the bold raised-copper swirls of the Buddha’s hair.
Ellie turned worshipful eyes on China. “My mom was an artist too. All the walls of my room were covered with her murals, even the ceiling. It’s scenes from my favorite book, Where the Wild Things Are.”
“No way!” China squealed with delight. “That’s my favorite book too.” She’d been obsessed with the monsters India had been afraid of.
“My mom—Brandy—she had someone re-create the murals when I moved in with her. They’re not the same as my mom’s, but they’re really good.”
“I’d love to see them.” China said.
“You mean that? You should come over to our house. Maybe dinner?” The look she threw her mother was so filled with excitement and pleading, India didn’t know how Brandy stood it. “My mom makes the best pizza.”
Emotion rolled beneath the mask that was Brandy’s face. Something flared in her eyes when she looked at China, but just for an instant. Something too much like fear mixed in with . . . was that longing?
How had India never noticed this before? Or maybe she had. Longing or no longing, Brandy didn’t want China to hurt her little girl, because her little girl was smitten too.
China patted Ellie’s hand. “I’d love to. It sounds amazing. I never get pizza around here. My mom and siblings have no taste buds. They only eat”—she lowered her voice conspiratorially—“healthy food.”
Ellie made an impressive mock-horrified face.
“Can I take a rain check, though?” China said, obviously basking in the sunshine of the child’s adulation, even returning it. “I’m going to be out of the country for a bit. But when I get back, we’re doing this.”
Ellie looked at once excited and disappointed. “Where are you going? Is it for the show?”
“No. Not for the show.” Despite China’s wide smile, nervousness leaked into her voice. “I’m going to Seoul for a little while.”
“You’re following Song to Korea? You can’t be serious!” Brandy snapped. It was more emotion than India had ever seen come out of the woman. Almost immediately she looked like she regretted it, but China had caught the heat in her voice.
“What is that supposed to mean?” China snapped back.
Brandy looked at Ellie. “Nothing. I’m sorry.”
“Let me show you the rest of the studio.” India took Ellie’s hand and pulled her away. Or tried to, because Brandy, icy cool tone back in place, said, “It’s just that . . . Never mind.”
India tugged Ellie’s hand again and this time she moved. As soon as they were out of sight, however, Ellie froze in place again and refused to budge.
“It’s just what?” China snapped, not bothering to temper her voice now that Ellie was out of sight.
“I got the impression Ms. Song wasn’t comfortable with going public,” Brandy said, her voice so flat it had the opposite impact of what she intended.
China sputtered like she was going to bust a blood vessel. “Going public with what?”
Brandy cleared her throat. Silence followed, saturating the air.
India tugged Ellie into the yoga room and started explaining the types of classes they offered and asking her about gymnastics. Obviously the child, much like India, was more interested in the conversation that had started up again between her mother and China. They flew through the tour, half their attention on the indiscernible snapping outside.
By the time they came back out to the reception area, Brandy was standing by the front door, hands folded behind her military-style, and China was pretending to do work at the registration desk. The temperature in the room was tangibly colder, even though China looked like she had steam coming out of her ears.
As soon as she noticed Ellie, she softened and patted the chair next to