Started With a Lie

Chapter Twenty-Three

            I ignore him though because the donut and coffee are so good.

At home, we unpack and store all the foods that Mark blindly bought. It takes about twenty minutes and ten trips back and forth from the car to the house to get everything – even with three people helping. Madam Jin wakes up when I shut the door while carrying the last egg carton from the car.

            “Oh, morning, Madam Jin!” I chirp when she walks into the living room.

            “Good morning, Ivory,” she replies. Sadly, she’s back into her work clothes. In her hands, she holds the clothes I lent her with the slippers. “Thank you for taking good care of me. Best day off I had.”

            I grin. “No problem. Would you like some breakfast?”

            Madam Jin smiles back. “Well you did promise me gourmet food.”

            I nod and bring the eggs to the kitchen, where I place them in the fridge. Lee is leaning by the sink, just staring off into space. He looks casual but it’s kind of strange that he’s just randomly standing there in the kitchen, not doing anything. “Um, where’s Mark?” I ask.

            He turns his head and instantly he’s mad. “Shower.”

            Oh, so we’re sticking to angry one-word answers? Well, if Lee wants to play this game, then game on. “Okay,” I say silently.

             I don’t know what to make Madam Jin. What kind of breakfast is gourmet food? Mom usually did all the cooking, and I did the cleaning. There’s a pang in my heart thinking about her, that she’s not here with me right now. And the fact that she might never be again.

           Pushing the struggle away, I think to all the cookbooks Mom usually has out when she’s cooking. Maybe I can find a fancy looking breakfast in there that’s also healthy. I quietly shove Lee out of the way, which almost sends him toppling over, but I don’t care. He was standing near the cabinets where the cookbooks are. I open the cabinet above my head and there is a stack of books on the first shelf. I pick out the most eye grabbing and close the cabinet.

           “What’re you doing?” Lee asks curious, staring at me like a little boy would to when they’re wondering what their mother is doing.

             “What does it look like I’m doing?”

            “Thinking it’s a good day to cozy up and read?” He smirks.

            “Nice guess,” I say, playing along. “But no. I need to make Madam Jin some gourmet breakfast and if you’re not going to help, you can leave now. Thank you very much.” My eyes go back to the cookbook as I scan the table of contents looking for anything that has breakfast or fancy but easy to make.

            Lee doesn’t leave. “Maybe I can help you.”

            “I highly doubt that,” I tell him. Walking to another cabinet, I pull out an apron and get the knives, spices, and everything I might need out.

            “I know more about gourmet food than you,” he says.

            “Well, sorry I didn’t grow up with everything in the palm of my hands.” The words slip out before I can stop them and when I catch Lee’s eyes, I wish I could just crawl into a hole and die. There’s anger but mostly hurt in his eyes and I hate to see Lee – who’s annoying and strong – look so vulnerable.