The woman’s smile softened as she looked at me, as if she knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth, but she wouldn’t push me. It was as if we were co-conspirators, and the thought of conspiring with her sent a nervous thrill through me. I wondered who she was.

“Yes,” I said. “I’m a fan.”

She nodded as if she had expected me to say that. “Joan’s been a big influence on a lot of artists here in the Bay Area. She should be way more famous than she is.”

I felt shy as I asked, “Are you an artist?”

“I am,” she said, as if it surprised her.

“What medium do you work in?” I’d heard my grandmother pose this question to others before, and I thought it made me sound mature.

The woman blinked, her smile disappearing for half a second before it returned. “Metal and wire. Sculpture mostly.”

“Sarah! There you are.”

We both looked up as my grandmother came toward us. She was wearing a purple-and-gold-patterned blouse that draped around her in some complicated way that created wings when she opened her arms for a hug. The woman sitting next to me rose to her feet and embraced her.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she said.

“Of course I came. I’m so happy for you.” My grandmother saw me watching and said, “I see you’ve met—”

“Hi, Joan,” I said quickly, standing up and smoothing down my dress. I flushed as my grandmother gave me a funny look.

The woman grinned. “Yes, I think I’ve met one of your biggest fans,” she said.

My grandmother seemed a little puzzled. “Aria, this is Sarah Franco. She’s the artist featured here tonight.”

Metal and wire, she had said. I was embarrassed that I hadn’t put that together.

Sarah extended her hand to me. “Hello, Aria. Nice to meet you officially.”

“Likewise,” I said. Her palm was rough, her fingers a little scratchy.

I wondered whether my grandmother was going to explain who I was. We didn’t look related because she was white and I’m half Asian, although there was something similar about the shapes of our faces.

“I’d better go get ready,” Sarah said. “I have to make a speech.”

My grandmother squeezed her shoulder. “I’m looking forward to it. And congratulations.”

“Thanks. Nice talking to you, Aria,” Sarah said, and then she headed off toward the front of the garage.

My grandmother looked at me with an amused smile. “Shall we go up front and get a good spot? I want to be sure to see everything.” She put her arm around my shoulders, and I knew she didn’t mind that I’d called her Joan, and maybe she even thought it was funny.