Some time later, a doctor found me in the waiting room. He cornered me and started talking, not stopping until he realized I had trouble understanding. He slowed down, saying “sorry” and “don’t speak Chinese,” and that was all I grasped before an interpreter came. She was short, with bouncy curls that young people wore these days. Too cheerful for the somber news her job required her to deliver.
Philip had suffered a stroke, she confirmed, but the doctor found concerning signs of a chest infection, so they wanted to run some tests. He was breathing easier with oxygen, she added. She asked if I had any questions.
“Thank you,” I heard myself say. My voice wasn’t mine anymore. “He go home, okay?”
“Not yet,” said the doctor. He gave me a worried look. “Is there someone you can call, Mrs. Yuen?”
“No need,” I said. I mumbled a lie about living close by, but the truth was I needed to get away. My skin prickled, a millionpinpoints opening from my pores. I needed to find heat before I disappeared.
I threw my jacket on and hurried for the exit. The fresh air was a shock of cold. I could feel my blood shimmering, my steps barely making a sound against the pavement.
My car was still there. I shut myself inside, jammed the key in the ignition, and turned on the heater to full blast.
Calm,I told myself.Calm down.
A napkin Philip had left on the dashboard tumbled onto my lap, and I picked it up.
It was damp. I expected to feel a wad of gum folded inside, but there was no gum, only a splotch of dark, drying blood.
Why hadn’t he told me he was sick? Now he was in the hospital, breathing through a tube.
I threw the car into gear. I didn’t know where I was going, but anywhere was better than here.
I didn’t see the red traffic light, or the car hurtling toward me.
An instant before it hit me, I held my breath—and disappeared.
Chapter Fifty-One
Marigold
“We should phone the police,” Peony said worriedly. “It’s been over an hour since they called about the accident, and Mom still isn’t back.”
“There’s nothing they can do,” said Marigold. “We have to wait twenty-four hours before we can file a missing persons report.”
“What if... what if—” Rosie hiccupped. She was crying too hard to speak.
“Hey,” said Peony. “It’s not your fault.”
“It is. I didn’t mean to tell them about Kenji.”
It wasn’t until they’d gotten home from the restaurant that they found out Philip was in the ICU. Marigold and her sisters had driven straight to the hospital only to be told that visitors weren’t allowed until morning. No one knew where Helen was, not even Marigold’s grandmother.
Moonlight sieved through the part in the curtains. It was past midnight, but with Philip in the hospital and Helen missing, none of the Yuen sisters could sleep.
“I’m going back to the hospital,” Marigold said.
“I’ll come with you,” said Peony.
“Kenji will take me. Someone needs to be home in case the police call.”
“What about me?” said Rosie. “Can’t I come?”
“Stay with Peony—I’ll feel better if she and Po Po aren’t alone.” Her sisters didn’t argue.
It was a quiet ride to the hospital. Marigold leaned against the window, lost in her thoughts, until Kenji pulled up to thevisitor’s entrance. She unclipped her seatbelt. “I’m going to stay awhile. The police found the station wagon two blocks from here—Mom can’t be far.”
“Wait,” said Kenji. He knew her. “Are you okay?”
