Free 1001 Cranes by Naomi Hirahara Page B

It’s been a long time.”
    Kawaguchi is surprised and spills her Day-Timer on the floor. The rings of her binder spring open and the pages fly out, littering the front of the sanctuary with a rainbow of dates and lists of things to do. The other woman immediately kneels down to collect all the loose pages.
    Oh my God, I think. This guy, the minister, knows Kawaguchi. And I told the minister that Kawaguchi was mean. She’s not going to be happy to hear that.
    “You’re the new minister here? I thought that you were out in Watsonville,” Kawaguchi says.
    “Been reassigned. It’s so good to see you, Lisa. You look great.”
    Something in the way he looks at her makes me think that these two are more than college friends. Maybe the wedding coordinator gets the same impression, because she quickly excuses herself after giving Kawaguchi her Day-Timer pages.
    Kawaguchi seems to forget that I’m in the sanctuary. That doesn’t surprise me, because I’m pretty invisible most of the time. It’s not necessarily a bad thing; sometimes it helps me figure out what’s really going on.
    “So you’re the new minister here. For good?”
    “Well, until Nako-sensei recuperates. Maybe some months.”
    “This isn’t going to work, you know. Kevin is not going to like it.”
    “Is that his name: Kevin? What’s his last? Maybe I know him.”
    “You don’t know him. He doesn’t need to know anything about you.”
    “Then why is it a problem that I conduct the ceremony?”
    “You know what the problem is!”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “He’s going to know. He’ll sense it.”
    “What, is he a mind reader or something?”
    “No, but he’ll be able to tell. You can’t do the ceremony. I’ll just have to get another minister.”
    “Well, then you’ll have to find another church.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Lisa, churches aren’t like hotel rooms. You can’t just pay money for the rental of the sanctuary. If you want this church, then I come with it. It’s a package deal. I’m over you, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m totally cool with doing your wedding.”
    “I’m not going to be able to find a temple on such short notice. And all the invitations are out already. I can’t just change the location.”
    “Well, then, I guess you’re stuck with me. We can be friends, Lisa.”
    “I don’t need a friend right now. Just a minister.”
    Kawaguchi is so mean that I can’t believe it. I start coughing and Kawaguchi finally notices me sitting in the pew.
    “Oh, that’s my new friend,” the minister says.
    I lower my head, hoping that I somehow won’t be that visible. But it’s too late.
    “She tells me that she’s doing some work for you.” My fingers dig into my thighs. I cringe while waiting to hear him repeat how I described Kawaguchi: “kind of mean” or something like that. “She said that you were so easy to work for.”
    Kawaguchi is taken aback by that, maybe even more than I am. “Well, don’t want to keep you here,” she says to me. “Don’t want your grandparents to worry.”
    “The deposit?” My voice is a mere squeak.
    Kawaguchi digs in her purse and pulls out her checkbook. “Inui Flowers. A hundred and fifty dollars, right?”

Ding-dong
    On my way home I stop by Tony’s uncle’s store. The uncle—I think his name is Carlos—smiles down at me from behind the counter. He recognizes me and I feel special.
    “Is Tony here?” I ask.
    Uncle Carlos shakes his head. Using a page of an old receipt book, he writes down a number. Although it’s summertime, he’s wearing long sleeves, and the cuffs go down to his palms.
    “You call him,” he says to me, handing me the sheet from the receipt book.
    I try to call Gramps and Grandma Michi first, but I get a busy signal. I try Tony’s next, but I get his voice mail. “Thanks,” I say. “It all worked out. This is Angie, by the way.” I close the phone and feel silly, but a good silly. I have a check for