up for me to bring you to America. A Chu cousin in California had heard about my situation—your uncle Walt—and he offered to fund our way to America. He was the one who sponsored us, and that is how I came to change your name and my name to Chu.”
“What happened to your parents? My real grandparents? Are they still in Guangdong?” Rachel asked nervously, not sure she wanted to know the answer.
“No, they both died rather young—in their early sixties. The Zhou family used their influence to destroy your grandfather’s career, and it destroyed his health, from what I know. I was never able to see them, because I never dared to return to China or to try to make contact with them. If you had flown to China this morning to meet Zhou Fang Min, I would not have dared to follow you. That’s why when Nick found out about your China plans and told me, I flew straight to Singapore.”
“And what happened to Kao Wei?”
Kerry’s face clouded over. “I have no idea what happened to Kao Wei. For the first few years, I would send him letters and postcards from America as often as possible, from every town and city we lived in. I always used a secret name we had devised together, but I never got a single response. I don’t know if my letters ever got to him.”
“Aren’t you curious to find him?” Rachel asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
“I’ve tried my hardest not to look back, daughter. When I got on that plane with you to come to America, I knew I had to leave my past behind.”
Rachel turned to face the window, her chest heaving involuntarily. Kerry got up from her chair and walked toward Rachel slowly. She reached out to put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, but before she could, Rachel leaped up and embraced her mother. “Oh Mom,” Rachel cried, “I’m so sorry. So sorry for everything … for all the terrible things I said to you on the phone.”
“I know, Rachel.”
“I never knew … I never could have imagined what you were forced to go through.”
Kerry looked at her daughter affectionately, tears running down her cheeks. “I’m sorry I never told you the truth. I wanted so much never to burden you with my mistakes.”
“Oh Mom,” Rachel sobbed, clinging to her mother ever more tightly.
The sun was setting over Bukit Timah by the time Rachel walked out into the garden, arm in arm with her mother. Heading slowly toward the poolside bar, they made a detour the long way around the pool so that Kerry could admire all of the golden statues.
“It looks like mother and daughter have reconciled, don’t you think?” Peik Lin said to Nick.
“Sure looks like it. I don’t see any blood or torn clothing.”
“There better not be. That’s Lanvin Rachel’s wearing. Cost me about seven K.”
“Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s guilty of being extravagant with her. She can’t blame it all on me anymore,” Nick said.
“Let me share a secret with you, Nick. As much as a girl might protest, you can never go wrong buying her a designer dress or a killer pair of shoes.”
“I’ll try to remember that.” Nick smiled. “Well, I think I’d better be off.”
“Oh stop it, Nick. I’m sure Rachel would want to see you. And aren’t you dying to know what they’ve been talking about all this time?”
Rachel and her mother approached the bar. “Peik Lin, you look so cute standing there behind the bar! Can you make me a Singapore Sling?” Kerry asked.
Peik Lin gave a slightly embarrassed smile. “Um, I don’t know how to make that—I’ve never actually had one.”
“What? Isn’t it the most popular drink here?” Kerry said in surprise.
“Well, I guess if you’re a tourist.”
“I am a tourist!”
“Well, then, Mrs. Chu, why don’t you let me take you out for a Singapore Sling?”
“Okay, why not?” Kerry said excitedly. She placed a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Are you coming, Nick?”
“Um, I don’t know, Mrs. Chu …” Nick began, glancing nervously at Rachel.
Rachel hesitated for a moment before responding. “Come on, let’s all go.”
Nick’s face lit up. “Really? I do know a good place we could go.”
Soon the four of them were in Nick’s car, approaching the island’s most distinctive architectural landmark. “Wah, what an amazing building!” Kerry Chu said, gazing up in awe at the three soaring towers joined at the top by what appeared to be a huge park.