her. “If you like, I can show you the check-in system. Most people check themselves in, but some forget their card and you have to check them in manually.”
Ellie settled in next to her. “Thank you.”
“I need to make a call,” Brandy said. “I’ll be outside.” With a shuttered look at her daughter huddled with China over the keyboard, she let herself out of the front door.
India followed her out. “Ellie’s a lovely girl. You should be very proud,” she said.
“I am. And I’m sorry if China didn’t warn you. It’s okay if taking on a too-young intern doesn’t work right now.”
“You’re right that she didn’t warn me. But this studio is as much China’s as it is mine, and if China thought Ellie would be a good fit here, I believe that she knows what she’s talking about.” China might fly by the seat of her pants, but she wasn’t irresponsible.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any offense.”
“None taken.”
“I . . .” Brandy stared through the trellised glass of the door, expression so guarded it ended up giving away more than it hid. China and Ellie were absorbed in the check-in system. “I know China would never be callous with Ellie’s feelings. She’s been incredibly kind to Ellie and Ellie has talked of little other than China and . . .” Suddenly the mask crumpled and she looked positively stricken. “India . . .”
“What is it?”
“Aren’t you concerned?”
There were so many things India was concerned about right now, which one was Brandy talking about? For a second she wondered if something was wrong with Yash and her heart did a god-awful spasm.
“China going all the way across the globe with someone who won’t even acknowledge her here. Isn’t that asking to have herself hurt?”
India had not expected that. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I know it’s none of my business. I know it’s supposed to be some big secret, but your sister isn’t great at keeping her feelings hidden. I’ve seen them together. Ellie and I spent an evening with them at Ashna and Rico’s house. I’ve seen enough closeted people to know that Song is never planning to come out.”
“I think you might be mistaken about the situation,” India said. If Song wanted to be private about her relationship, then that was her prerogative and no one had the right to violate that.
Brandy’s icy mask froze back in place. “I don’t mean anyone any harm, and I’m never going to say anything to anyone else. I don’t want your sister to get hurt. That’s my only intention in bringing it up.”
“I don’t believe that is true.”
Brandy stepped back and swallowed. She obviously didn’t like being studied, and she certainly didn’t like being seen.
“I think you might have other reasons why you think my sister is better off not going to Seoul.”
“I’ll admit that your sister is . . . I’ve never met anyone quite so . . . well, she deserves better than to have her heart broken. I also know that she doesn’t return that opinion. But I promise you I’m not rooting for her to be hurt. It’s just that . . .” Brandy was still staring through the glass panes of the studio door, her eyes stuck on Ellie beaming up at China. Turning away, she dropped down on the front step.
India sat down next to her.
“Ellie’s mother was my best friend,” Brandy said, watching the cars passing by. “Growing up, her mother was my parents’ housekeeper. She and her mother lived on my parents’ estate.”
The only people in the world India knew who’s home qualified as an estate were the Rajes. She had no idea Brandy came from that kind of wealth.
Brandy looked embarrassed, as though she wished she hadn’t brought that up. “It wasn’t . . . My parents weren’t exactly, um, fond of who I was and I left home as soon as I could. The only good thing in my childhood was Nomi. I was always in love with her. I believe she was too, but she couldn’t stop struggling with it. After we graduated high school, she got pregnant and married Ellie’s father. I was heartbroken. I joined the Marines, did two tours in Afghanistan. She wrote to me. Upbeat letters, filled mostly with Ellie and what a joy she was. I never replied. I was too angry. Then the letters stopped.”
There was a long silence. Long enough that India thought that was all Brandy was going to say. Then she