Eden leans over to whisper in Li’s ear, continuing to watch the exchange unfold. “Are they always like this?”
Li rolls his eyes and chuckles. “You have no idea, kiddo. You have no idea.” While Shang attempts to keep his mother at arm’s length, literally sticking his arm out like in those old black and white slapstick comedy movies, Li leans over to whisper to Eden. “Do me a favor?”
“Anything,” she replies.
“Take care of him for me, okay?” Something sad but accepting flashes across the man’s eyes. “I don’t know how many more years I’ve got left in me.”
Eden shifts, uncomfortable. “Don’t talk like that, Li.”
“Just hear me out. It’s something we all have to deal with, eventually. I’m not saying it’s going to happen right this second, but one day, I’m not going to be here, and I need to know that my boy’s in good hands.” Li smiles gently. “He’s got a short temper, as I’m sure you know. It takes a lot to coax him into talking about his feelings. But the way he looks at you... That’s how I know you’ll be the one who can do it. So take care of him, yeah?”
She nods, both warmed and resigned by Li’s words. “I was planning on it,” she admits.
“Thank you, kid.”
Shang approaches the car with a sigh, the envelope stuffed into the back pocket of his jeans. Xu Hong is right behind him, looking downright triumphant. Eden stifles her laugh.
“You guys should pop into the city soon,” Shang suggests. “Just be sure to call first.”
Xu Hong nods. “That sounds wonderful. Maybe I can finally convince your father to go shopping for a new chair.”
Li huffs, affectionately patting the worn-down material of his armrest. “What’s wrong with Ol’ Sparky?”
“I think the fact that you have to call itOl’ Sparkyis enough of an answer.”
“I don’t have to call it Ol’ Sparky. I just think it’s a cute name.”
“Mm-hmm. Yes, dear.”
“Don’t ‘yes dear’ me.”
“Okay, dear.”
There are hugs all around before Eden and Shang get into the car. They wave through the windows at Xu Hong and Li, who remain in the driveway until the car is well and truly out of sight.
Shang threads his fingers between hers and brings her hand up to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “Are you ready?”
She nods slowly. It hasn’t quite hit her, what she’s about to do. She’s been waiting to take this next step for literal years, and now that she finally is, a part of her worries that it’s too good to be true.
“As I’ll ever be,” she mumbles.
* * *
Eden’s never seen the inside of a private investigator’s office. All she has to go off of are those old-timey black and white movies she’s seen. Parsons usually hogged the television, but on the rare nights he worked late and she was alone, Eden liked to help herself to his DVD collection. She always had a soft spot for detective mysteries, especially the ones with happy endings.
Maxine Kendo’s office is spacious and bright, a far cry from the things Eden’s seen in movies. She and Shang occupy the guest chairs in front of a large mahogany desk. On the other side: Maxine Kendo.
She’s a small woman. Areallysmall woman. Maxine barely comes up to Eden’s chest. She has a lovely dark complexion and wise eyes. The glasses she sports makes them look massive. There’s a stillness to her, one acquired through many years of practice and observation. Eden is both calmed and unsettled by the woman’s presence, eager for her help, but mildly unappreciative of the way the PI seems to be making a study of her and Shang.
Maxine shuffles a few documents around on her desk. “I believe I have your story straight now. Such a sad case. You’re a resilient one, I can tell.”
Eden swallows. “Thank you.”
“And you’re sure you have no living relatives left?”
“No. It’s just me.”
Maxine hums, stroking her chin. “And everything about your parents’ disappearance is in the files you provided?”
