Meilin sighed and brought them to the back, and her mother followed.
“The reason I asked if he was a perfumer was because he seemedto have plenty of advice for what we should make.”
“Everyone has opinions.”
Her mother snorted. “Some more than others, and perhaps when they shouldn’t.”
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Mothers worry about daughters because we know what daughters don’t.”
On that note, Yulan went back to their small lab in the back of the store.
Meilin stayed in the front and stood at the glass door, looking down the street to see if Kevin was still in sight. She wished she had the nerve to do as he suggested and shut up the store so she could have fun, but she couldn’t. She turned to the sketch her mother had done of how the store could be. It would be rich, sumptuous, and matching the other luxury shops downtown. Those changes would have to be saved for and planned. A new dress sacrificed here, a second pair of shoes there. It all added up, and would have to do, at least until Meilin’s daughter changed things for the family and the store.
Meilin often thought of her daughter. That she would have one was a given; all Hua women did. Her daughter would be pretty, of course, and strong-willed, a trait that had run true since Aiai herself. She was proud she would be the mother of a fifth daughter, a girl who would have rosy cheeks and a strong voice.
Her name would be Luling. She’d known for years. Hua Luling.
Meilin touched her bangs to see if they were dry, then took out the clip she used to get the height she needed. Today they were going for a walk on the Seawall. It had been Kevin’s idea, after she’d suggested the Sun Yat-Sen garden. “You smell flowers all day,” he’d said. “It’ll be a good change.”
He was right, and it was thoughtful of him to get her into the sea breeze with all those new smells. He was astounded Meilin could describe her surroundings in smell rather than what she saw or heard.Kevin called her Rain Man for a while, but with a smile that told her it was meant affectionately.
“Meilin!” It was her mother, calling from the bottom of the stairs. “Are you going out?”
“I have a date with Kevin.” Even saying his name caused shivers. He’d kissed her last time they’d met, under a lilac tree that had tickled her nose with its rich scent. She’d sneezed, and been worried she’d hurt his feelings until he laughed.
Her mother came up the stairs and shook her head. “You look like a rooster with your hair like that.”
Her mother’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail so tight it was like a cap. “It’s the style.”
“Huas make our own style.” Her mother sat down on the bed. “You’ve been seeing a lot of this boy.”
“Five or six dates.”
“You brought him to the store.”
“He came by,” Meilin corrected, giving her bangs one more quick spritz.
Her mother wrinkled her nose at the smell. “Has he had any more suggestions for how we should make perfume?”
“No,” snapped Meilin. “And he was only trying to make conversation.”
Yulan looked at her closely. “You know we need to be careful about who we share our secret with. They must be trustworthy.”
“Kevin is trustworthy.” Meilin bristled. “And he wouldn’t care. He has enough going on in his life that me having a job wouldn’t bother him.”
Her mother snorted. “You don’t have a job, girl, you have a calling. Will he be able to handle being second in your life after Yixiang?”
“He’s not that insecure, and it doesn’t matter. He’s going to Shanghai in a few months.”
“Ah.” Her mother relaxed instantly. “He is?”
“Yes, back home. He was only here for school.”
“Good.” Her mother’s concern was assuaged. “Then there’s no need to tell him anything.”
“None at all.”
