Chapter 34

The drive to Healdsburg the next morning gave Bai time to think. Mostly, it gave her time to put together a plausible story for Elizabeth. She mentally tried out a number of scenarios. Nothing held together. After an hour of trying, she decided to tell her the truth—but not the whole truth.

The family had just finished lunch when she arrived. The triad soldiers looked a little heavier than the last time she’d seen them. Coleta’s cooking was broadening their waistlines along with their taste in Mexican food. The entire house smelled like roasting meat, sweet spices, and baking bread.

She found everyone in the kitchen helping with cleanup. Jia threw her arms around Bai to hug her while Dan held back. She could see the hurt on her child’s face. Alicia nodded a restrained greeting.

Bai smiled. “I have an announcement. I’m no longer dating Howard Kwan. I have no intention of marrying him.”

Dan grinned and ran to throw her arms around her mother. Bai laughed as she hugged her daughter. She’d managed to make at least one person in her life very happy. The stormy look on Elizabeth’s face informed her she’d managed to make another person in her life very unhappy.

“May I have a word with you alone, Bai?” Elizabeth asked.

“Certainly,” she acceded soberly and turned to walk into the living room.

Elizabeth followed her and confronted her when she stopped. “What do you mean you’re no longer dating Howard? I thought you were doing marvelously. His mother said he’d taken you shopping. What happened?”

“It’s a long and ugly story. The end result is that I don’t think Howard wants to marry me. Not after I stabbed him.”

“You stabbed him?!”

“I warned him first. He wouldn’t listen.”

“There are other ways to end a relationship. How badly is he hurt?”

“I suspect he’ll be signing his name with his left hand for a while.”

“Why on earth would you stab him?”

“You really don’t know him, Elizabeth. I met a young man for drinks. When I saw Howard for dinner the next night, he had that young man held down by his bodyguards so I could watch them beat him. Howard said he was teaching me a lesson—that people should know their stations in life.”

Elizabeth looked stunned. “Was this young man all right?”

“Yes, he’s fine, but that doesn’t excuse Howard’s behavior.”

Elizabeth grew silent a moment before replying. “No. I agree. I’d hoped Howard might be a good match for you, but I can see I was mistaken.” Her eyes met Bai’s gaze steadily. “I trust your judgment. You did the right thing.”

She put her arms around Elizabeth and hugged her. “I can’t say that I’m sorry for stabbing Howard, but I’m sorry if I disappointed you.”

“You haven’t disappointed me in the least,” Elizabeth replied hurriedly, though her dejected expression suggested otherwise.

Bai decided it was a good time to change the subject. “Will you be going to the spa with us?”

“Of course,” she replied. “I insisted Coleta come with us as well. We’ve all been working far too hard lately. We need an afternoon of relaxation.”

“What about Lee?”

“He’s coming too, not that he’s keen on a spa day. He’ll go anywhere just to get out of the house. You might want to take him back to the city with you. He’s starting to get irritable and restless.”

“I’ll talk to him and then to Dan. She’ll have a better idea of whether he’s ready to leave the nest.”

“She’s done really well.” Elizabeth said, referring to Dan’s role as a nursemaid.

“I know. I’m proud of her. My little girl is growing up.”

“Which reminds me,” Elizabeth confided. “There’s an older boy at the stables who Alicia feels is showing too much interest in Jia. She says Jia is very naive about boys and fears he may be up to no good. I didn’t want to say anything for fear Jia may have a crush on him. You know how foolish young girls can be, and she’s still very fragile. I feared if I were to caution her, she’d just become more determined in her pursuit of romance. I’ve seen this happen before.”

“Are you referring to me and Jason?”

“I knew you’d understand,” Elizabeth said sweetly.

Bai accepted the rebuke.

“Young love can be a trying experience for everyone involved,” she replied. “I’ll ask Dan and Alicia to keep an eye on Jia. I know how she feels; I won’t interfere with her romance unless I absolutely have to. Anything else I should know?”

“Alicia’s a lovely girl, and smart, but very reserved. When I talk to her about returning to school or her plans for the future, she retreats into her room. I’m not sure what to make of her.”

“Give her time,” Bai said. “She’s been abused. Her father was a gang member. She doesn’t know what happened to her mother. Her only family was the gang, and they were neither kind nor gentle. I’m happy to say one of her tormenters has moved on.”

“As in, left town?”

“I suspect he’s gone a bit farther,” Bai replied while avoiding eye contact.

Elizabeth lifted her eyebrows in silent appraisal but didn’t appear shocked by the revelation.

“I’ll talk to Alicia,” Bai continued. “I suspect she’s still trying to make up her mind whether or not to give this family a chance.”

“We must seem an odd bunch to an outsider,” Elizabeth mused.

“I used to think the same thing. Recently, I’ve come to realize perhaps we’re not the most dysfunctional family in the world. When I think about the Kwans and how badly they treat one another, I’m left feeling grateful for the family I’ve got. We may not always agree with each other, but we’ve always loved and protected one another.”

Elizabeth looked chastened. Bai quickly backtracked. “I didn’t mean to imply your sister is a bad person.”

“I don’t think you need to,” Elizabeth replied sadly. “Jade was single-minded even as a child. Her determination to acquire wealth became an obsession. I thought she would eventually realize there’s more to life than money.” She let out a deep sigh. “I guess I was wrong. I think I’ve been wrong about a lot of things.”

Elizabeth wiped tears from her eyes as she continued. “When you became pregnant with Dan,” she said in a soft voice, “you were little more than a child. I never told you, but I was selfishly pleased when you fought to keep your baby. Dan is as dear to me as you and Jason, but I often wonder if I didn’t take advantage of you.”

“What’s this all about?” Bai asked, wondering where the conversation was headed.

“You missed college, and parties, and the adventure of living on your own. I robbed you of your youth. I’ve never told you how sorry I am.”

Bai put her arms around the older woman. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I love my life. I love my daughter. And I love my family. And, if you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known my youth had ended.” She paused in thought. “Lee’s the same age I am. I wonder if he knows he’s no longer young.”

Elizabeth sniffed and spilled tears while gently rapping Bai on the shoulder with her clenched fist. Bai captured the errant hand and held it tightly while drawing Elizabeth closer, holding her as Elizabeth cried while wondering what she’d ever done to deserve so much love.