Chapters (77)
- Cover
- Dedication
- 1
- 2
- A Series of Screw-ups: The Chisaki Joan Katsuyama Story, Part I
- 3
- The History of My Beef with Brynn Foer-Preston
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- The History of the Katsuyama Family, Part I
- 8
- 9
- A Brief History of Chisaki Joan Katsuyama’s Romantic Learning Opportunities, Part I
- 10
- 11
- 12
- A Brief History of Chisaki Joan Katsuyama’s Romantic Learning Opportunities, Part II
- 13
- The History of the Katsuyama Family, Part II
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- The Complicated History of Chisaki Joan Katsuyama’s Imaginary Relationship with Her Nonexistent Dad
- 20
- 21
- 22
- A Brief History of Chisaki Joan Katsuyama’s Romantic Learning Opportunities, Part III
- 23
- 24
- 25
- A Brief, Backward History of the McAllister Family, as Paraphrased from the San Jose Mercury News
- 26
- 27
- 28
- A Quick and Eerily Relevant History of Asians in America
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- A Brief History of Chisaki Joan Katsuyama’s Romantic Learning Opportunities, Part IV
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- A Series of Screw-ups: The Chisaki Joan Katsuyama Story, Part II (Or Maybe It’s a Prequel)
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- The History of the Katsuyama Family, Part III
- 54
- A Note from the Author
- Index of Flowers and their Meanings
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Praise for This Time Will Be Different
- Books by Misa Sugiura
- Back Ad
- About the Publisher
“We’re not fighting,” says Mom. “I’m just trying to help your aunt, who, as you have pointed out, is a grown-up”—she pauses dramatically and glares at Hannah, who glares back—“to get a handle on her financial situation.”
“That’s bullshit. You’re totally fighting.” I look from one to the other, willing them to stop.
Hannah crosses her arms and says to Mom, “I asked you for help. I didn’t ask you to attack the way I do business.”
I see Mom get ready to argue, and I brace myself for another verbal stampede. But then I hear a deep breath: in, out. And Mom says, “I’m sorry, CJ. You’re right. The core issue is still important, but there’s no need to hash it out in front of you.”
Whoa. Stunned and hopeful, I try again. “And you didn’t need to be so mean to Hannah. She’s working really hard.”
Mom’s jaw clenches when I say this, as if it hurts her to hear it. Then it unclenches, and Mom says, “Yep. Right again, CJ.” She comes over to me, gives me a quick squeeze, and kisses my forehead. “I love you, kiddo. Thanks for keeping us accountable.”
I can’t believe it. “You’re welcome.”
“What would we do without you?” Hannah adds with a fond smile. “Our own conflict-resolution expert. Right, Meems?”
“Oh, the conflict’s still there,” says Mom, side-eyeing Hannah.
“Mom. Seriously?”
“Okay, okay. I’ll stop.” Mom smiles, and it’s a little forced, but I can tell she’s trying. “Here’s the thing, though. Back to square one, as you said.” Mom looks sternly at Hannah. “I won’t bug you anymore about finances. But I’m not putting any more of my personal money or energy into the business. You said you’d get it together by April, so, fine. But if it’s not profitable by then—sustainably profitable—I shut it down.” She crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows: End of discussion.
I look at Hannah, who has the frenzied look of a trapped cat in her eyes. “Fine,” she says, and crosses her arms, too. “I’ll make it work. You’ll see.”
“What do you think, though?” I ask Hannah later. “Really.”
Hannah shakes her head slowly. “I don’t know, sweet pea. But we’ll figure something out.”
We?
“You’ll help me, right?” she says, sensing my hesitation.
I don’t have the slightest idea what I could possibly do to help. But Heart’s Desire is Hannah’s life. And it’s starting to become mine, too. If I want to continue doing the only thing I’ve ever been good at, there’s only one answer I can give her.
“Yeah. Of course I will.”