Started With a Lie

Chapter Twenty One

           Well, considering my mother is in the hospital on the brink of life and death, certainly not. But Brent is here, I have – almost – two friends who are with me, and now I have Madam Jin supporting me. I guess it’s not all too bad. “I’m fine,” I answer, hugging her back. She smells like a grandma.  I’ve never really had a grandmother in my entire life, so holding her is comforting.

               “I knew she would make you feel better,” Mark says, genuinely smiling from the corner of my eye. “Nobody’s better than grandma Jin.”

                   Madam Jin pulls back, but still holds my hands in hers. “Wait, you’re Madam Jin’s grandson?” I ask. Mark didn’t really look Asian, but maybe he was mixed or something.

              Mark chuckles. “I wish, but no. Our families are super close and I’ve basically grown up with Madam Jin all my life so she’s basically my grandmother. Though, it would be nice if we were related.”

                     “That would be horrid,” Madam Jin chimes in.

               “Aw, you know you love me,” Mark says. I’ve never seen this playful side of him. I can tell he’s really comfortable with Madam Jin and trusts her more than anyone else. “You are just too cute, Madam Jin.” Mark leans and pinches Madam Jin’s cheeks. Usually, it should be the other way around but with the way my life has been lately, I can’t even tell the difference between weird and normal. The line is blurring into one.

               “Anyways,” Madam Jin begins, “I will be coming back in a couple of days – maybe tomorrow if my schedule clears up – and we’ll go visit your mother together. I’ll bring flowers and everything.” She holds my hands in hers. “Ivory, even though we haven’t known each other too long, I feel a strange connection to you and if you’re hurting, I’m here for you.” She smiles a little. “You know that, right?”

            My cheeks are wet. “Thank you so much, Madam Jin.” I don’t realize what I’m doing but suddenly I’m engulfing her in a hug. Her floral perfume soothes me and I feel more close to a stranger I’ve only met than to any of the far away, distant relatives of mine.

                   Lee clears his throat. I almost forgot he was there. Almost.

                  “Madam Jin, are you hungry?” he asks. “You must’ve not had dinner yet – always so busy with work. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

                She chuckles. “That would be delightful.”

                   A phone rings.

               “Excuse me,” Madam Jin says, reaching for her pocket. Lee nods and heads to the kitchen where Mark follows. “Mmm-hmm,” she speaks to the phone. “Really? Oh my. Okay, yes. Thank you. Yes. All right. Goodbye.” She snaps her phone shut and places it back in her pocket.

                  “Is everything okay?” I ask.

               “It’s fine,” she replies, smiling. “Actually, more than fine. It seems my secretary has cleared up tonight so I guess I can stay for a while. But I have a meeting at noon tomorrow. I love my job, but I dislike it at the same time.”

              “I know the feeling,” I chuckle, thinking back to my own job. It must be hard for Madam Jin, running everything at such an old and fragile state. But, something tells me that despite her looks, she’s feistier than a wild bull. I mean, you can’t become queen of the market without having a backbone. “Oh! Madam Jin! If you were not busy till noon tomorrow, would you like to stay overnight? My brother is back in town from college and Lee and Mark are staying over, too. It’s kind of hectic without another female in the house.”