CHAPTER 23

ZARIA

 

“Hey, Zaria!” Wang’s voice echoed cheerfully as if he was pleased to see me. Did his eyes just light up?

 

Fucking hell.

 

I forced a weak smile as the truck came to a stop, my heart pounding for reasons I didn’t want to unpack just yet.

 

Thomas squinted at me, then at Wang, then back at me again like he was putting pieces together that didn’t quite fit. “Briefly?” he repeated. “Airport?”

 

“Yes,” I said quickly. A little too quickly. “That.”

 

He shrugged and parked the truck with a loud groan. The engine coughed one last time before dying. I stayed seated for half a second longer than necessary, adjusting my jacket, pretending to look for something in my bag that wasn’t there.

 

I could already feel Wang’s eyes on me.

 

“Come, come,” Thomas said, hopping out of the driver’s side. “We arrive.”

 

I nodded and reached for the door handle, moving slowly. Suddenly, I was hyper-aware of every step I took. I put one foot down, then the other, careful not to rush or draw attention to my pregnancy.

 

Jesus, Zaria.

 

I was almost fully out when Thomas suddenly appeared at my side and grabbed my arm.

 

“I help you down,” he said.

 

I looked at him.

 

He froze when he saw… whatever he saw on my face. I bet it was incredulity.

 

“What?” he asked, confused.

 

What the fuck indeed. I pulled my arm back gently. “I can get down myself.”

 

He stared at me for a second longer, then realization dawned on his face. He sighed loudly and slapped his thigh. “Aiya,” he muttered. “How old man like me forget? You gangsta.”

 

I snorted. It was… completely unladylike.

 

Embarrassment washed over me.

 

Wang blinked. “Gangsta?”

 

How did he hear that? I turned to Thomas for help.

 

Thomas, as if on cue, walked straight past me and grabbed Wang, pulling him into a crushing hug that lifted Wang slightly off his feet.

 

“You!” Thomas boomed. “You come China and not see me first? You got nervous!”

 

“Uncle!” Wang laughed, trying to pry himself free. “You’re choking me!”

 

Thomas ignored him, hands patting his back hard. “When youland? How long you stay? You eat already? You get fat or thin? You still stupid or little smarter now?”

 

I took two steps back while they were distracted.

 

Then three.

 

I turned slightly, pretending to be interested in a cracked pot near the porch. My heart was beating faster now. That was close… freaking close.

 

Wang finally wriggled free, laughing. “Uncle, uncle, slow down,” he said. “I was going to come. I swear. I just had to branch in New York first…”

 

New York.

 

My body locked.

 

I felt it in my spine first. That coldness that crept in without warning. I didn’t turn around, but my ears perked up at their conversation.

 

Now, Wang, coming from New York, meant two things to me.

 

It was either flight or fight.

 

“...for work,” Wang continued. “Oh, and we made a quick trip.”

 

“New York?” Thomas said, interested. “Why go there?”

 

I resumed taking more steps away from them. No matter how invested I was in their discussion, New York adventures weren't pleasant to hear.

 

Still, their voices reached my ears. Typical of the countryside.

 

“For the rarest herb plant,” Wang replied. “There’s a private collector who—”

 

“Oh!” Thomas cut in excitedly. “What kind? Red stem or black leaf?”

 

“Black leaf,” Wang said. “But the root is the important part. It grows once in—”

 

My ears rang slightly. I told myself they were talking about plants. Herbs. Medicine. Nothing else. Nothing important.

 

Thomas turned his head toward me. “Zaria,” he called. “You hear this? Black leaf root very hard to find.”

 

“I hear,” I said, not stopping.

 

“Very good for circulation,” Wang added, eager. “Especially for women. We can use this to find a cure to period cramps.”

 

Thomas nodded. “You see? You learn good things today.”

 

I nodded again without looking back. I changed my direction, back into the yard and they both followed me, still talking. Wang animated now, hands moving as he explained where he’d gone, who he’d met, and how long it took to negotiate access.

 

Uncle Thomas listened with focus, occasionally interrupting with questions, and turning to me to include me in the conversation.

 

He didn’t notice my discomfort.

 

Or if he did, he didn’t understand it.

 

It went on like that for several minutes.

 

Finally, I stopped and turned around to Wang.

 

“Your New York,” I frowned, “Any news?”

 

They both looked at me.

 

“News?” Wang repeated.

 

“Yes,” I said. “Anything… big?”

 

He frowned slightly, then shrugged. “Well, one of the richest men… a business celebrity of some sort is still in a coma. Hasn’t woken up in a month and… four days? This week should make it a week. That's so sad.”

 

You've got to be kidding me.

 

I took a step closer. “Do you… have a picture?”

 

Thomas looked between us, confused. “What picture?”

 

“The celebrity,” Wang said, already pulling it out. “It was everywhere.” He unlocked it and held it up.

 

I leaned in just enough. Now, there was my lovely husband whom I haven't seen in weeks. He was all tubed, pale, and still unlike the message I received from May that he had woken up.

 

Then who had been sending me those warnings?

 

My face stayed blank as I searched for the worst scenario. Then I  straightened.

 

“That’s him,” Wang said, showing Uncle Thomas. “Big story.”

 

I nodded. “Okay.”

 

I handed the phone back. But during that exchange, I remembered when Renzo soothed that woman, when Renzo tried to restrict my freedom… all our subtle arguments, Grace giving me a cup of tea…why did I think that was a perfect life? And now Renzo was in a coma.

 

I watched Wang’s face, then Thomas’s, making sure neither of them saw anything in mine.

 

“Is there anything important on your phone,” I asked calmly, “that cannot be gotten again?”

 

Wang blinked.