Sui Chan’s smile faltered. She looked concerned for me. “You still think about Tommy?”
“Of course not,” I lied. His memory was a bruise, fading more slowly than I would have liked.
“Philip is a nice man, give him a chance.” Taking my silence as agreement, Sui Chan patted my hand. “I’ll arrange a meeting.”
His name was Yuen Fu Keong, but he went by Philip. Sui Chan said he’d grown up in the Sze Yup district not far from Tunglam. There was a story to be told there, since he’d been born in the United States.
I could tell he liked me. Most men did when I took some effort in my appearance. That afternoon I curled my hair, I wore my best cheongsam and pinned a lace ribbon over the collar, Iapplied pink lipstick to my mouth. As an afterthought, I dabbed some on my cheeks, too.
We met at a park in Jordan, intending to sit on the benches and talk, but a sudden rain shower thwarted our plans, so we ran into the first restaurant we could find. Philip invited me to order whatever I wished. I could tell it was more expensive than he’d anticipated, though, by how he studied the menu and elected to only order a drink.
Wanting to make a good impression yet not embarrass him, I ordered a simple buttered toast and milk tea. As I patted my face dry, I gave him my most winsome smile. “It feels old-fashioned to have an arranged meeting like this. Sui Chan even told me your zodiac sign. You’re a—”
“Snake,” said Philip, wincing politely. “I prefer to call it a little dragon. And you’re a rooster.”
“I prefer to call it a little phoenix.”
We laughed, breaking some of the tension between us, when Philip started coughing.
“Are you all right?”
“Asthma,” he explained between breaths. “I’ve had it since I was a boy. It’s worse during the rain.”
“Can I get you water?”
“No, sit.” Philip suppressed another cough. “The air’s warm, it’s not so bad. Where I’m from, it’d be snowing by now.”
“I’ve never seen snow,” I admitted. “My mother’s from the North. She said it’s beautiful at first, falling soft like feathers, but soon enough you start begging God for it to melt.”
“That sounds about right.” Philip let out a dry laugh. “Our winters are bitter—you wouldn’t like them.”
“I’m stronger than I look,” I said, deliberately raising my eyes to his.
Philip became flustered. “I should tell you the truth, I didn’t come to Hong Kong to find a wife. That was my brother.”
“Your brother?”
“He was supposed to come to Hong Kong, but he fell ill before the trip. I came instead.”
“You came to choose a wife for him?”
“No. American laws are strict—a woman would have to be married before she can enter U.S. soil.” He stared into his coffee. “I came to see friends and buy ingredients for our restaurant.”
Oh.I couldn’t stop my shoulders from deflating. “Why’d you agree to this meeting?”
“Sui Chan was eager to arrange it. She said you were a lovely girl, and I didn’t want to be rude. Besides, I... I don’t know that many people in Hong Kong anymore.”
“She told me you’re a widower,” I said.
“Yes.” The word ached of loneliness.
There was still a chance, I thought. Did I dare take it? I chewed on my toast and gathered my courage. “A month on a ship is a long time to travel for a few jars of pepper and soya sauce,” I started. “I’m glad you were able to see friends”—I rested my hand on the table, as close to his as I dared—“and make a new one.”
The smallest smile touched Philip’s mouth. “Sui Chan mentioned you wanted to leave Hong Kong.”
Silently I blessed my friend. “My relatives here don’t treat me well,” I explained honestly. “I want to move and get my mother out of China. The farther the better.”
“I see.” Philip glanced at our hands. He said, very quietly, “Would you want to come with me?”
