“Lan?” Shizuka gently called her back.

“Shizuka?”

Shizuka let Lan breathe, then gave Lan her napkin. Lan nodded and dabbed her eyes.

“But now I have a donut shop. And my family. And you.”

Before Shizuka could react to that statement, Lan reached for the butter. “And another bread stick! And Eggplant Parmigiana!”

“Eggplant Parmigiana!” cheered the server as she walked by.

Astrid greeted Shizuka at the door.

“I’m sorry, the meeting took longer than expected.”

“How’s Lan?”

“She really likes Eggplant Parmigiana. How was practice with Katrina?”

Astrid opened her laptop and showed Shizuka a video of their session.

“How did you get her to follow your tempo like that?”

“I told her to,” Astrid said matter-of-factly.

Shizuka watched Katrina with Astrid. Katrina was playing with a newfound precision. Despite herself, Shizuka could not help but feel a little envious.

“Where’s Katrina now?”

“She’s making another video.”

Shizuka listened. “Yes … it sounds as if she’s dancing, too. I wonder if she’s trying to be like Lindsey Stirling?”

“Lindsey Stirling?”

Shizuka gestured for Astrid’s laptop.

Astrid peered at the screen.

“Some sort of elf, fighting a very large dinosaur?”

“Dragon, Astrid. Dragon.”

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she? And quite flexible. Oh … goodness … do you think you could have done that while you were playing?”

“Not even in my twenties. And not even if I had sold my soul.”

That night, Shizuka knocked on Katrina’s door.

“You need a gown. Tomorrow we’re going shopping.”

“Shopping?” Katrina hesitated. “I’m sorry … but maybe I can just find something online?”

“For a performance, you’ll need a proper gown that fits you well.”

“No. I mean—I don’t know if I can go there and—”

“Katrina.”

“Yes, Miss Satomi?”

“Stop. I am going to be with you at all times. It will be fine.”

“Y-yes, Miss Satomi.”

“Good night, Katrina. Dream of everything beautiful.”

“Good night.”

21

The next morning, Katrina rode with Shizuka to the Santa Anita Shopping Plaza. Katrina had been in shopping centers before, and in Asian areas before. But nothing had prepared her for this. The parking lots were full of shiny, beautiful cars owned by shiny, beautiful Asians. There was both a posh indoor shopping mall, as well as a posh outdoor shopping plaza. Well-dressed older people sat on stylish lounge furniture sipping Longjing tea from Wing Hop Fung, while the colorful play area fluttered with little Asian children in Fendi and Moschino.

Katrina wanted to apologize to all of them for being so plain and leave immediately. But Miss Satomi was with her, so she shuffled her feet forward and kept going.

Although Shizuka did not look back, she was listening to every footstep. It was important to be supportive, yet not supporting. As long as the girl kept walking, she moved with her, as well.