Page 26 of Keeping Kama

A moment later, Teresa appeared at the threshold of her bedroom door. Leaning one shoulder against the door frame, Teresa’s gaze roamed over Leia. “You look nice.” Teresa raised an eyebrow. “Are you going somewhere?”

After she slid the closet door open, Leia dug out a pair of strappy leather sandals. “I’m going with Derek to Aunt Aria and Uncle Kalon’s food truck.” Sitting down on the edge of her bed, Leia didn’t glance over at Teresa as she buckled the back strap of her sandals.

Her voice raising an octave, Teresa commented, “You don’t say.” Teresa smirked. “I knew there was something there.”

Snapping her head toward Teresa, Leia said through a clenched jaw, “It doesn’t mean anything.”

Leia wondered why she was getting so defensive. As a grown woman, she could go to dinner with whoever she wanted without explanation. Though she knew her family enough to know everything was everyone’s business. Especially with her going to Aria and Kalon’s food truck, her appearance would no doubt send shockwaves through the family phone tree.

Teresa scoffed and folded her arms. “Sure, okay. Just keep telling yourself that, and maybe eventually you can convince yourself you aren’t attracted to Derek.”

With a huff, Leia stood. “So what if I am?” She smoothed out the front of her top. Wandering into her attached bathroom, Leia continued, “It doesn’t matter. Derek leaves soon enough, and I’ll go back to my life being boring and predictable. He’s a nice distraction. That is all.” Her brain was scattered, and Leia tried to remember what else she needed to do to get ready for her date.

Teresa followed Leia into the bathroom, sitting down on the closed toilet seat. Leia opened a drawer, pulling out her makeup bag. Unzipping the bag, Leia pulled out her mascara, twisting the top off. Leaning forward toward the mirror, Leia applied a layer of mascara on her top eyelashes.

“Makeup, huh?” Teresa laughed. “You might like him more than I thought. I haven’t seen you wear makeup in years.”

With her mascara wand in hand, Leia whipped her head in the direction of Teresa. “I wear makeup,” Leia said defensively. “Sometimes …”

“No, you don’t.” Teresa crossed her legs, resting her hands on the top of her knees. “You don’t even wear it when you teach,” said Teresa smugly.

“The kids don’t care what I look like.” Leia applied a layer of mascara to her bottom lashes.

As Teresa tapped her bottom lip with her pointer finger, she asked, “But Derek does?”

Twisting back on the cap of her mascara, Leia tossed it back into her makeup bag. Next, Leia took out her blush. After she flipped it open, she removed the little applicator brush. “No. I mean I don’t think so. He knows what I look like. Besides I’m not even putting on that much, only some mascara, blush, and lipstick.” She swept the blush across her first cheek.

Teresa held up both hands in defeat. “Ok. I think it’s nice you’re trying.” With one hand over her heart, she continued, “I, for one, like Derek, I think he’s a nice guy. Kai told me today about his ideas to make the farm more successful. But he lives in Los Angeles, you might be?—”

Interrupting Teresa, Leia pursed her lips together and asked, “Was there a reason you stopped by?”

Abruptly, Teresa stood and brushed a piece of lint off the front of her top. “I only came by to see if you wanted to watch a movie with Dad and I, but I can see you have other plans for the evening. I’ll let you get to it.” Taking a step to leave, Teresa said over her shoulder, “Remember, Leia, never kiss the guy on the first date. You need to make them work for it.”

Leia playfully hit Teresa on her arm. “Mom! Nobody is kissing anyone.”

Teresa cackled while she continued down the hallway. Her laugh trailed behind her echoing in Leia’s being. Eventually, the front door creaked open and closed.

With Teresa gone, Leia finished applying her makeup. Since Leia still had a few minutes to spare before Derek arrived, she decided to curl her hair. Once her entire look was complete, Leia took in her image. Staring back at her reflection, she wondered if she should wipe off the makeup. Did it look like she was trying too hard? A tapping at the door left Leia no time to change her appearance.

Swiping her purse off her bed, Leia slugged it over her shoulder. Teresa had left the door open, but the screen door closed. Leia spotted him first. Derek wore khaki shorts, sandals, and a plain blue cotton tee that made his eyes pop. Shifting, Derek saw Leia wandering down the hallway. He smiled and held his hand up in a wave.

“Good evening,” said Derek.

Leia pushed the screen door open. “Hey, Derek,” she said with a quiver in her voice. “You look nice.”

Derek’s gaze skidded over her, making her middle do a weird flip turn. Scratching his jaw, Derek said, “Thanks, but, Leia—wow.” He shuffled his feet, glancing down at them then back at her. “You look fantastic.”

Leia couldn’t hide the smile spreading across her face. “Thanks.” There was a beat of silence while they both stared back at one another. Leia fiddled with her hair before forcing herself to stop. “Should we head out?” asked Leia.

As he took a step backwards, Derek tripped on a potted plant next to her door. “Yea, sure.” He reached down and picked the plant back up, placing it back where it was. “Is it close enough to walk?”

Closing the door behind her, Leia replied, “It’s about a mile down the road, but I know a path that cuts through the farm and twists around to their property. I don’t mind walking. What you think?” Catching his gaze, she raised an eyebrow.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Derek said, “I’d love to walk. It’ll give me a chance to see even more of the farm.”

Gesturing toward the path, Leia said, “Sounds good. Let’s go.”

They started down the dirt path, worn smooth from years of walking on it. Her Kama ancestors had lived on the land for generations. Leia didn’t know the story of how they arrived, only that they had always been here. Generations lived in harmony with one another, sharing the fruits which grew freely on the land. Any excess crop was traded with other local families. As the Kama family expanded their fruit crop, increasingly more and more each year. A portion of the profits were poured back into Kama Farm. By the time her dad Noa took over, the farm had expanded to grow a wide variety of fruit.

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