“You’re pretty slim yourself,” I point out.
“Because I grew up in Korea after The War.”
I can hear the capitalization in her voice. To her, the Korean War is always going to be The War.
“Food was scarce, so I couldn’t eat when I was little. That’s why.”
I change into my peach-colored Dior dress, and Yu-Jin takes the four outfits that require work. I hand her a check plus an envelope.
Yu-Jin’s gaze grows soft. “Year-end bonuses again?”
I nod. “They deserve it.”
“You know I can pay them.”
“I know, but it’s a little extra from me. I’m an investor in this business, and I want to take care of the workers, too.”
Although Yu-Jin pays her workers well, Los Angeles is an expensive city, and money is always tight around the holidays for people working wage jobs. The bonus will ensure they’ll have enough to have a good Thanksgiving and Christmas…maybe even pad their savings accounts a bit.
“You’ve got a good soul, Elizabeth,” she says.
“So do you.” I’m about to leave when my mother walks in.
Mom is still a beautiful woman. Her skin is radiant and smooth, her hair jet black and her eyes the color of sapphires. She never passes up an opportunity to show off her fashionably thin figure by wearing dresses with tight, form-fitting bodices. If she appeared just a tad more grateful for her good fortune to have been born wealthy and pretty, she would be dazzling. But the corners of her full mouth are always slightly downturned, and a miasma of vague dissatisfaction clings to her.
“Elizabeth, fancy running into you here,” she says.
“Mom.” I smile warmly, as Grandma Shirley taught me to, even as acid floods my belly.
“You’ve lost weight.”
I can sense Yu-Jin nodding. “My new diet’s been amazing.”
“Not that amazing.” Mom studies me critically, like I’m a whore on display. “It’s doing terrible things to your breasts. They’ve dropped at least half a cup. The key is finding something that can make you slim without losing the good curves. Otherwise you end up loose and sagging around your breasts and buttocks. Nothing repels a good marriage prospect faster than that, no matter how prettily you smile or how many children you feed. I know a good surgeon in the city if you’re interested in medical intervention. You’re still young enough that it would be worth it.”
I swallow the bitterness gathering in my throat. “That won’t be necessary.” My voice is hoarser than I’d like, despite the forced smi
le on my lips. “I’m sure I can find a man who’ll appreciate me the way I am.”
“That’s what I thought, too…until I met your father. You aren’t getting any younger, and if you were good enough, you would’ve been somebody’s missus by now.”
Humiliation burns me. How can she talk about my relationships like that, especially in public?
I purposely invade her personal space, then lower my voice so only she can hear. “If you want to know the real reason I’m still alone, reflect on what you’ve done to me. Grandma might’ve forgiven you, but not me.” I pull back, pasting on a brilliant smile. I have to get out of here now if I want to maintain my calm. Mom isn’t someone I can deal with without at least two fingers of vodka. “I should get going. Don’t want to be late for my appointment.” I turn to Yu-Jin. “I’ll see you later.”
“Take care,” she says with an uncomfortable look on her face, frowning at Mom.
Not wanting Yu-Jin to know how running into my mom has affected me, I wave a carefree goodbye while Mom glares. Once outside, I go to my metallic white Aston Martin. Fast cars are my weakness, and I can’t seem to give them up, no matter how frivolous they are in the grand scheme of things.
“Liza?”
I freeze, air catching in my throat. I haven’t heard that name in a decade. Not even Dominic uses it anymore.
I turn slowly and face a pretty young woman in a beige peasant blouse, cropped skinny jeans and pink ballet flats. Her long hair is now bright red and pulled back into a loose ponytail, but her eyes… They’re the exact intense blue of Dominic’s.
“Kristen?” I whisper.
“Oh my God, it is you! I haven’t seen you in ages.”