TYERSALL PARK, SINGAPORE
The morning light filtering through the windows made the mahogany art deco furniture in Su Yi’s bedroom glow like amber, and Nick was shocked for a moment to see how tiny and frail his grandmother looked in the middle of her hospital bed, the machines clustered around her like an army of invading robots. It had been almost five years since he had seen her, and now a tremendous sense of remorse descended over him. How had he let so much time pass? He had lost five precious years because of a quarrel, because of his pride. As Nick approached her bed, he was temporarily at a loss for words.
Astrid stood by Nick’s side for a moment, and then she announced in a gentle voice, “Ah Ma, here’s Nicky.”
Su Yi opened her eyes and gazed up at her grandson. Tien, ah. He looks more and more like his grandfather every day, she thought to herself. “You look even handsomer than before. I’m glad you haven’t put on any weight. Most men put on weight after they get married—look how bloated Eddie has become.”
Nick and Astrid both laughed a little, breaking the tension in the room. “I’ll be back in a while,” Astrid said, quietly slipping out through the bedroom door. No sooner had she closed the door behind her than Professor Oon entered Su Yi’s sitting room.
“Good morning, Professor Oon,” Astrid said cheerily, blocking his way.
The doctor was momentarily taken aback. It had been more than a week since he had seen Astrid, and he couldn’t believe how she was dressed today. Holy Annabel Chong! She looked even sexier than he could have possibly imagined in this skater punk outfit and those bootylicious camouflage pants. It was better than any Japanese-schoolgirl porn site. Was she wearing a sports bra under that big hoodie? Her body was a work of God. Recovering himself, Professor Oon put on his blasé, clinical tone. “Ah, Astrid. Welcome back. I was just about to run the morning vitals on your grandmother.”
“Oh, don’t you think that can wait for a moment? Why don’t you give me an update first, since I’ve been away? Ah Ma seems rather well this morning. Could her condition be improving?”
Professor Oon frowned. “It’s possible. We put her on a new cocktail of beta-blockers, and she’s benefited from a sustained period of rest.”
“I’m soooo grateful for all you’ve done,” Astrid said warmly.
“Um, yah. After I look at her latest EKG, I’ll be able to give you a more accurate prognosis.”
“Tell me, doctor, have you heard of a specialist at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston named David Scott? Dr. Scott has developed an experimental new treatment for congestive heart disease,” Astrid continued, not letting him off the hook.
Wow, beauty and brains. A woman who can talk so seductively about heart disease, Professor Oon thought. That damn Charlie Wu was one lucky prick. If only Astrid came from another family, if only she wasn’t so bloody rich, she could be his mistress. He would set her up at his secret apartment at The Marq and watch her do laps, naked, in the pool all day.
—
Inside the bedroom, Nick was wondering what precisely to say to his grandmother. “Nay ho ma?”*1 he said, and then immediately wondered why he had asked her such a stupid question.
“I haven’t been too well. But today I’m feeling better than I have in many weeks.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” Nick crouched beside Su Yi and looked her squarely in the face. He knew that the moment had come for him to deliver his apology. As much as he had been hurt by her, and as much as he felt that she had wronged Rachel, he knew that it was his duty to ask for her forgiveness. He cleared his throat and began, “Ah Ma, I’m so sorry for the way I behaved. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Su Yi looked away from her grandson and let out a long slow exhale. Nicky was home. Her dutiful grandson was by her side again, kneeling at her feet and asking for redemption. If only he knew how she truly felt. She was quiet for a few moments, and then she turned to face him again. “Are you comfortable in your bedroom?”
“My bedroom?” Nick asked, momentarily confused by her question.
“Yes, has it been made up nicely for you?”
“Um, I haven’t been staying here. I’ve been at Colin’s.”
“On Berrima Road?”
“No, Colin’s family sold that house a few years ago. He’s living in Sentosa Cove now.”
“Why on earth are you staying there and not here?”
It dawned on Nick at that moment that his grandmother didn’t have a clue that he’d been back for over a week. She obviously had nothing to do with banning him from Tyersall Park! He wasn’t sure what to say at first, but then quickly recovered himself. “There are so many people visiting at the moment, I didn’t think there would be room for me.”
“Nonsense. No one is supposed to be in your bedroom.” Su Yi pushed a button beside her, and within a few seconds Madri and Patravadee were by her bedside.
“Please tell Ah Ling to have Nicky’s rooms made up. I have no idea why he is staying at some godforsaken place instead of here,” Su Yi instructed her lady’s maids.
“Of course, ma’am,” Madri replied.
At that moment, Nick realized that this was his grandmother’s tacit manner of forgiving him. He felt suddenly lighter, as if a gigantic boulder had been lifted off his back.
As Su Yi’s lady’s maids stepped out of the bedroom, Adam and Piya walked into the sitting room and for a few seconds before the bedroom door closed saw their cousin Nick crouched by his grandmother’s side.
Astrid waved from the settee where she was seated talking with Professor Oon. “Adam! It’s so good to see you!”
“Oh Astrid, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you over there. Piya, this is my cousin Astrid. She’s Auntie Felicity’s daughter.”
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Piya said with a smile.
“Was that Nicholas I saw in there with Ah Ma? We were just going to have a quick look-in before breakfast,” Adam said.
“Nicholas Young?” Professor Oon said in alarm. “He’s in the bedroom? But we are under strict orders not to—”
“Francis, hold that thought for one minute,” Astrid said, placing her hand on his lap, her fingers almost grazing his inner thigh. The doctor trembled at her unexpected touch and immediately went mute. Astrid turned to Adam and Piya and said, “I’m sure Ah Ma would love to see you in a little while. She’s doing much better this morning. Why don’t you head down to breakfast first? I hear that Ah Ching is making her famous crepes.”
“Ooh, I do love a good crepe,” Piya said.
“Me too. And Ah Ching makes a special sauce of Belgian chocolate and Lyle’s Golden Syrup to drizzle over them. Professor Oon, have you ever had chocolate-infused golden syrup drizzled over your crepes?”