Page 12 (2/2)
"Oh Maja, that’s wonderful Čestitke," I said, conceding to congratulate her in ourmarried in June, here in the city, but then we’ll honeymoon on the coast You remember that old town in Croatia where Mama’s family is from?"
"No…I’m sorry I don’t reot you don’t remember as much as I do"
Maja, five years older than me, had much more substantial memories of our childhood there And since she’d returned nine years ago, her knowledge of the country was immediate, whereas mine was full of faded memories from early childhood and occasional summer trips back to see Maht?" she asked and h the possibilities and what it would involve to raise the money to purchase a plane ticket I’d already sent the last of nated-for-tuition money, sold the car and hocked the tiara What else could I spare?
Myto say that wasn’t either a lie, an excuse or a proot a lot going on here And the job I’ll try to see if I can get away"
A June wedding Right in the h Renaissance Faire season The Faire traveled all over the western United States throughout the year, beginning and ending its cycle in Southern California for two months in May and June
My plan was to join up for the next year, travel and see new places while oers It was all part of the plan to replenish e--if that’s where the wind took me
The only way I could afford a plane ticket to Bosnia was if I stopped payingover , I owed her aledon about the cake, the flowers, the gowns and how her drea and asking questions where appropriate
My body really wanted to go back to sleep, butWhat the hell could I do? My family had no idea that I’d spent the last few years slowly i myself in order to send theency as a secretary and Maja was a nurse, but their income just covered their basic needs The ency repairs, birthdays, holidays…and noedding
I’d ed, for theMonths ago, Maja had tearfully toldto be able to get ether to pay for the wedding I’d done everything I could to help, even giving up the tiara--temporarily
"Janjica?" she said, and for ainto Christ hours in church on Sundays when I wanted to run outside and play "I know it’s a lot to ask, but…can you bring Baba’s tiara with you? I’ve drea day My ‘so old,’ you know"
Guilt alht out ofthe backs of my eyes That day I’d taken the tiara in to have its value assessed, little pieces of my heart had died with each beat The jewelry broker had dispassionately inspected every antique crystal, every tiny aold while I’d burned with shaht noanted to curl into a ball and die
"Janja? You still there?"
I cleared"Yeah…yeah I a her tiara You ave it to you And I know it’s one of the few memories you have of him" Maja paused for a moment, and while I attempted to collect myself, she must have misunderstood my hesitation "I’d never want to keep it I just want to wear it To have Baba’s and Papa’s blessings on our wedding"