After a lifetime of being misunderstood, of being trapped by tradition and expectation, after enduring two wars and suffering unbearable losses, Yuk Fong had accepted the fate she’d been dealt. She had accepted her curse.
Helen had accepted hers.
Now it was Marigold’s turn. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be a curse,” she began. “You see the pain that lies ahead, I see what haunts us from the past. Maybe... it’s meant to bring us together. Mom, too.”
Yuk Fong’s look bore an uncanny resemblance to Rosie’sAre you nuts?face. She parted her fingers and exhaled. “I haven’t seen much,” she said at last, “but I know it’ll end at 12 Harbourage. The house where your mother grew up.”
Marigold’s eyebrows flew up in surprise.Hong Kong?Helen would never go back to Hong Kong. “Tell me everything.”
Yuk Fong held out her hands to Marigold. “Take off those gloves, I’ll show you.”
A week later, the Yuens were closing up Three Flowers for the day. Rosie was wiping the kitchen counter, Peony was lookingfor her car keys to drive home, and Yuk Fong was stuffing cabbage buns.
Helen came into the kitchen with a tray of unsold pastries and abruptly asked, “How do I send a wedding gift to Hong Kong?”
Hong Kong? Marigold’s ears perked. She tried to catch her grandmother’s eye, but Yuk Fong gave nothing away.
“Who’s getting married?” asked Peony.
“Sui Chan’s eldest son.”
“You mean Aunt Winnie?” said Rosie. “Your best friend who you haven’t seen in what, thirty years? When’s the wedding?”
“End of the month.”
“Two weeks from now,” Marigold stated. She took the tray from Helen. “Are you going?”
“Why should I?” Helen started packing the pastries into a box. “She didn’t come for Peony’s wedding.”
“You didn’t invite her,” Peony reminded their mother.
“Tickets are expensive—I didn’t want her to feel she had to come.”
“Well, she invitedyou,” Marigold dared. “You should go.”
Rosie darted her theAre you nuts?look. There was diddly-squat of a chance their mother would do something as impulsive as jet off to Hong Kong.
Yes, Marigold was aware. But thanks to their grandmother, she also happened to know that if Helendidn’tgo, she’d never find her missing shadow. She’d disappear for good.
Their grandmother spoke up, “You ought to go, Yut Ying. One of your girls can come with you.”
Helen frowned at Yuk Fong in disbelief. Her mother never meddled.
“I’m sure the city’s changed a lot since you were there,” Rosie chimed in. “I’d die to come with you! I’m only working three days next week, hmm, I could call in sick and—”
“No!” Helen was indignant. “Even if I were going—which I’m not—I grew up in Hong Kong. I don’t need a chaperone. Besides, there’s too much to do here. Who’d help Peony run the bakery if I left? Not Paul. Certainly not Marigold. And who will look after your father?”
“Ican run the bakery,” said Yuk Fong. “And Rosie can look after Philip.”
“And I can go with you,” Marigold said.
Her mother looked displeased by the choice of daughter. “Don’t you have school?”
“I took time off.” Marigold didn’t explain.
“Let her go,” said Yuk Fong, who was the one person with authority over Helen. “It’ll be good for both of you.”
Marigold didn’t give her mother a chance to hesitate. She’d been waiting for this moment.You’re not going to be alone, Mom,she thought.I’m coming, too.
