When Connor and Elly came out of the sealing room, the temple concourse was flooded with afternoon light.
“I forgot all about the ring,” he apologized.
“So did I. Besides, exchanging rings is one of those silly western traditions promulgated by jewelry makers. It certainly never occurred to any of my Japanese ancestors until you Americans showed up. I know who I’m married to, Go-shujin-sama.” She hugged him with all her might. “I see that Auntie is waiting for me.”
She reluctantly left his side, flashing a smile over her shoulder as Aunt June led her away.
Connor stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room and adjusted his cravat. He could hear the beating of his racing heart. All that suspended anxiety and adrenaline coursed through his bloodstream. He stepped back and took several deep breaths.
A temple worker straightened the back of his collar. “Thanks,” said Connor.
“Just got married, eh? Congratulations.”
Nobody but a bridegroom ever wore a morning coat to the temple. He, Oh Sensei, and Martin decamped to the lobby, where they joined Glenn. Elly was not yet there.
Connor paced along the wall from the back partition to the reception desk. He tugged absently at the lapels of the morning coat. Elder Packard walked up to Connor and handed him an envelope. “Your marriage certificate. The temple will send you a much nicer facsimile.”
From behind them came an audible gasp. Somebody else whispered, “Look at that!”
Connor spun around as Elly came into the lobby. His eyes widened in amazement, his lips forming around the word, Wow! She looked like she was wearing a mantle of freshly fallen snow. The fabric of the shiromuku uchikake gleamed against her dark hair, red lips, and the tan of her cheeks. The obi gathered in a tight bow high on her back. The robe spilled down to the floor in a frozen waterfall foaming around her ankles. The traditional tsuno-kakushi adorned her head like a white crown.
Elly was escorted by June, wearing a more muted kimono. Sister Packard, Melanie, and Lynne followed close behind. Connor collected himself and crossed the lobby. Elly turned to him. The care with which she had to move lent every gesture a particular gracefulness. He said, “You are absolutely gorgeous.”
She grinned. “Then it was worth it.”
“Don’t scrunch anything,” June said under her breath.
Somebody asked Elder Packard, in a voice louder than courtesy dictated, “Who in the world is that?”
“That’s my granddaughter,” he announced, and none too softly either.
They made their way out of the lobby, under the portico, to the curb. Connor took hold of her arm, and a few times steadied her at the shoulder. Elly laughed. “Wearing a kimono like this is more a stand-there-andlook-beautiful type of thing.”
June got out her cell phone and made a brief call. A minute later, a man trotted up from the parking lot, two cameras swinging from straps around his neck. June said. “Once everybody gets here I think we’ll move over to the lawn by the fountain.” She nodded at the broad, sloping green before them.
A young man’s voice called out, “Sensei!”
Both Elly and her uncle turned. Four missionaries strode up the walk. The missionary in the lead beamed and waved. Her student, Bradley. His companions hung back and exchanged bewildered looks. “Omedet gozaimasu,” he said, bowing a bit too deeply.
Elly responded with a respectful nod. “D itashimashite,” she said. “And how are you, Bradley Ch r ? O-genki desu ka?”
“I’m doing well,” Bradley bravely responded in the language. “I don’t know if I told you, but I got my call to the Kobe Mission.”
“Please communicate my regards to my father. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. I wish you the best on your mission.”
Bradley bowed again, and then he and his troupe continued along the portico to the temple. Not yet out of earshot, one of his companions asked, “Who was that?” in tones of awe and envy.
“My Japanese teacher,” Bradley explained.
Oh Sensei said dryly, “That’s one way to get a positive teacher evaluation.”
They gathered on the grass before the fountain. The photographer (his name was Jake Kimball) positioned them for the light (from the back, illuminating the borders of the uchikake) while June mixed and matched: his hands on her shoulders, standing side by side, and lastly, gazing into each other’s eyes (“A required pose,” Jake quipped). And then various combinations with everybody else.
Elder Packard left to change out of his temple whites. Wanda said to Connor and Elly, “I’ve got to take care of something back at the house. It shouldn’t take long. I’ll see you at your aunt and uncle’s.”
“Thank you, Wanda,” Elly said, “for everything.”
“Seeing the two of you married is thanks enough.”
June bustled about, making sure everybody knew where to go next. Elder Packard returned from the temple in his business suit. They carefully bundled Elly into the back seat of the Buick. Connor got in next to her. The bow of the kimono’s obi pretty much prevented her from leaning back against the seat. So she rested against his shoulder. “We’re going to scrunch something,” he whispered in her ear.
“Scrunch away,” she murmured.
“I’ve taken plenty of wedding photographs in my life,” Jake-the-photographer said as he posed Connor and Elly in the Oh’s backyard. “But this is my first Japanese style.”
The late afternoon sun shone across the orchard canopy. The deep, shadowed, verdant green set off the glimmering white of Elly’s robes. A slanting yellow ray lit up the highlights in her hair. The smell of apples lingered in the air, accented by a sharp charcoal scent as Oh Sensei started up the barbecue.
Kusanagi Sensei arrived with her husband. Several members of the Ohs’ ward stopped by. They soon had a small audience. Wanda showed up, having dealt with whatever had called her away.
Jake stored the Hasselblad and wandered around the party, capturing more candid moments with a digital Canon. Elly announced that she was changing out of her kimono, which brought on a final flurry of snapshots. Connor and Uncle Martin and Oh Sensei carted the teriyaki chicken out to the back porch. Naomi, as per her mother’s instructions, had started simmering the sukiyaki sauce in the three electric frying pans (two borrowed from the Relief Society kitchen), and was keeping her eye on a pair of rice cookers.
Elly returned to the porch in her Sunday dress. “The carriage turned back into a pumpkin and now it’s plain, ordinary me.”
“Yet you still look exquisite.”
June came out to the porch steps and announced the menu. “And for those who prefer a more American fare, my husband is in charge of the chicken.”
Elder Packard delivered the blessing on the food.
There were settings at the picnic table, an extra folding table (also borrowed from the church), and the dining room table. As they were partial to the sukiyaki, Connor and Elly settled at the dining room table. The Packards joined them, though they resorted to more conventional utensils.
Sister Packard asked Elly, “That hooded cloak you wore with your kimono, does it represent anything in particular?”
“It’s called a tsuno-kakushi, which literally means hidden horns. It hides a woman’s jealous horns on her wedding day. Because if she gets jealous, she’ll turn into an oni, an ogre.” She placed her fists on her temples and extended her forefingers. She said to Connor, “And they are sharp.”
June interjected, “Like her mother’s.”
Elly’s grandmother said, “It’s interesting the gestures different cultures come up with. When you refer to yourself, don’t you point at your nose? I’ve seen your mother do that.”
Elly held out her hand, palm down, and waggled her fingers back and forth. “You probably saw her do this when she wanted me to come here. It’s the opposite of how we do it.”
“How about kuru-kuru pah?” Melanie said. She made a fist by her right ear and flicked her fingers outwards. “It means you’re nuts. Like them.”
“And when you make a promise—” Elly held out her right pinkie and Connor locked his pinkie with hers. “That’s making a promise.” They tugged playfully back and forth. Elly’s thoughts flashed back to all the silly romance manga she’d read as a child, and the inevitable scene of childhood friends entwining pinkies and vowing never to forget each other. “Yakusoku shimasu,” she softly said in Japanese. I promise.
June asked, “Do you miss Japan, Elly? You’d lived there most of your life until you were nine.”
Elly shook her head. “Not at the time. It was a great adventure. I was the one making all my friends jealous, because I got to go to America. Funny how I thought about it from that perspective—that I was Japanese, not American. One thing about Utah, though. I miss the rainy season.”
“You didn’t when you were there,” Melanie said. “I remember: monku, monku, monku, complain, complain, complain.”
“It’s different when you’ve got to tract all day.”
June said, “As I remember it, your mom would get furious at you for coming home soaking wet every day after school during the monsoons.”
Elly grinned. “I was only exploiting the talent all kids have for figuring out what will annoy their parents the most.”
“Something you were very good at.”
“So I’ve gathered,” said Connor. “Though she’s been sparing with the details.”
“I’m sure her mother would be more than willing to supply them.”
“That she would,” said Oh Sensei, coming into the dining room from the porch. “It’s getting a bit late,” he mentioned in an offhand manner.
“Yes it is,” said June. “You two need to go around and thank everyone for coming. I took seriously your not wanting a cake. But you do have wedding presents to unwrap.”
“You didn’t have to get us wedding presents as well,” Elly protested.
“I didn’t,” June said. “I won’t charge your mother for the photographer. But others did rise to the occasion. It’s a wedding, isn’t it? These things go hand-in-hand.”
Sitting on the piano in the living room were several cards and wrapped boxes. The remaining guests crowded in with them. Elly first opened the card from her grandparents. Inside was a clipping of a dinette set from a Vintage Oak newspaper circular. “For your new kitchen,” Sister Packard said.
“Wow, this is so nice.” She showed the card to Connor and hugged her grandmother. She looked up at Elder Packard. “Thanks, Grandpa.” The old man beamed.
Connor said to Wanda, “They had it delivered? So that’s what you had to go home to check about?”
“Among other things.”
Lynne and Glenn gave them a toaster oven. Martin’s present was an electric frying pan. The Kusanagis’ was a four-place table setting. “Ah,” said Elly, “I’m beginning to see a pattern here.”
“Not that I don’t enjoy eating dinner with you,” Wanda said.
“But I imagine you want to share a meal alone from time to time.”
Connor handed the two remaining boxes to Elly. “For you.”
Melanie’s gift was a black cocktail dress. “Oh, Mel,” Elly exclaimed.
“You did say your wardrobe was a little scant.”
“Let’s see,” said June. Elly stood and held up the dress. June quipped, “That’s what you wear when you want to get Connor’s attention off his schoolwork.”
The last box, from Wanda, was an Allison Woods pantsuit. Wanda said, “Melanie was the one who picked it out.”
“Melanie has impeccable taste,” Elly said, with a grateful smile to her roommate. “Thanks, Aunt Wanda. I didn’t expect anything like this.”
They opened the cards next. The take came to a little over two hundred dollars. Her uncle pointed out, “At your reception in Japan, money is all you’ll be getting, and with the attendant commercial implications, especially if your dad has any plans of returning to his consulting work after his mission.”
Elly’s brow furrowed. “I’m not looking forward to that.”
With the last card, the open house pretty much came to an end. Elly escorted her grandparents to the door. Sister Packard said, “You can come up for church on Sunday, can’t you? We’ll have to show you off to the ward. Sacrament meeting is at nine.”
“We’ll be there,” Elly assured her.
Wanda left as well. She handed Connor the keys to the Camry. “I’ll get a ride home with Lynne,” she said. “You take your time.”
After most of the guests had left, Elly went looking for Melanie. She was alone on the back porch, arms folded, staring at the dark orchard.
“Hey, Mel,” Elly said softly. Melanie glanced over her shoulder at her. Elly asked, “Is something the matter?”
Melanie shook her head. Then she laughed to herself. “No, just a little envy, that’s all. I should be the one wearing the tsuno-kakushi.”
“Envy?”
“It’s my stupid, competitive nature. I wanted to be the first. I wanted to fall in love first. I wanted to get married first.”
“But you said so yourself: I’m hardly the role model for how to get married, even at BYU.”
“I said it for spite. After all, I’ve always been the one making the other girls jealous. It’s tough having the tables turned.”
Elly shook her head. “It’s true. I’m not a role model. I think of myself as more of a cautionary tale.” She put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “If you hadn’t been there when it counted, I would have fallen to pieces.”
Melanie laughed in self-reproach. “You sound a lot more grown up than me.”
“No, Mel, you’re my senpai, my senior. And that’s forever.”
They hugged for a long time. Melanie said, in a brighter voice, “You need a ride tomorrow, don’t you? Connor has to return his tux and we’ve got to get Fall semester ID stickers and books.”
“Sure. Thanks, Mel. I’ve got a staff meeting at two, so if we came over around noon—?”
“Who knows what the lines will be like at the Marriott Center. Better make it eleven-thirty.” A mischievous glint came to her eyes. “You will be up by eleven-thirty?”
“Mel—” Elly said, slapping her arm playfully.
Melanie clutched her roommate’s hand one last time. “See you, Elly.”
“See you, Mel.”
And then Elly was alone on the steps. She looked up at the night sky, at Sirius shining in the deepening blue. It was true, what she’d said before: getting married was easy. Leaving friends, leaving family—that was hard.
June was at work in the kitchen. Elly felt guilty, leaving her with such a mess to clean up. “Auntie—” Elly said in Japanese. Words failed her.
The older woman wrapped her niece in her arms. When they parted, her eyes were glistening as well. “Be happy, Elly. That’s the best way you can thank me.”
Elly bit her bottom lip and nodded. A tear tumbled down her cheek.
“Good heavens,” June said crossly, “Connor’s going to get the wrong idea.” Elly had to laugh. “That’s more like it,” said her aunt. “Now go get him and go home.”
Connor and Oh Sensei were in the garage, loading the folding tables and chairs into the back of the minivan. The professor said, “To speak briefly in defense of my big sister, exaggerating the more severe aspects of her personality is something of a family hobby. I’m sure you’ve heard all the soap opera plots about the awfulness of the wife/mother-in-law relationship in Japan. My parents lived with my father’s parents until Sayaka was six. I was two when we moved back to Osaka, so my knowledge is mostly secondhand. But our grandmother apparently lived up to all the stereotypes, made worse in my big sister’s eyes by Mother’s expressions of relief when we finally moved. Sayaka’s determination not to be caught in a similar situation had the ironic consequence of making her more like her grandmother than her mother.”
Oh Sensei shut the hatch. “Add to that the family birthright. You are aware of those two infamous scrolls Samataro Oh penned for his daughters?” Connor nodded, and he continued, “My big sister is a fine woman and a good mother, and she’s got a heritage to live up to. So my advice is this, and it’s pretty simple: give her the respect she’s due. Feel free to disagree with her. But never condescend to her. That applies to the daughter as well.”
Elly came into the garage from the front walk. “What applies to me?”
“Your mother’s personality,” her uncle said.
“Was that a compliment to me or a threat to Connor?”
“Both.”
Elly tucked her arms around her husband’s waist. “Auntie says we should go home.”
“Good idea,” said Oh Sensei. “And not to spoil your honeymoon, but we’ve got a staff meeting tomorrow afternoon.”
He shooed them away and closed the garage door.