Page 54

You pulled into my parents’ driveway honking your horn like that first time you came to see me. Mother, who was baking a cake for the party tomorrow, came out of the house, wiping her hands on her apron. “Why the ruckus, Evelyn?”

Billy threw open the passenger door and jumped out. “Surprise!”

Mother stared at him, wide-eyed, hands still tangled in the fabric of her apron.

“Aren’t you happy to see me, Mom?” he asked.

Her face twisted into a strange shape. A gurgling sound came out of her mouth. Looking on from the back seat, I wasn’t sure what was happening. Then she burst into tears.

“Why would you do this to me, Billy?” she cried as she flew into his arms. They held on to each other, both of them blubbering now, playing their parts in a perfect homecoming scene. Finally, Mother stepped back and dried her face with the hem of her apron, as if remembering she’d long ago cast herself as an understudy when it came to mothering Billy.

The screen door squealed as Daddy stepped onto the porch. He lurched forward at the sight of Billy, nearly tripping down the front steps. My brother extended his hand. Daddy pushed it aside, letting his cane drop as he gathered his son in a hug.

“You should know better than to scare your mother like that,” Daddy said, his voice cracking.

“I’m sorry, Dad. But hey, here I am! I’ve got another surprise—well, two surprises—so brace yourselves, okay?”

Billy extricated an arm from Daddy’s grip and waved. You and I let ourselves out of the station wagon at the same time. I came around to open the door for Mai, then helped her to her feet. You leaned against the hood and lit a cigarette as Mai and I walked forward, arm in arm.

Mother frowned. “Who’s your friend, Hazel?”

Billy picked up Daddy’s cane and put it in his hand. Stepping back, he threaded his arm around Mai’s waist, the three of us linked.

“Mom, Dad, this is my wife, To Thi Mai. And this . . .” He placed a hand on her round belly. “This is your grandchild.”

Mother sucked in a breath and held it. Daddy’s face went blank. My blood ran cold as I realized how badly this could go. Maybe I should have agreed to break the news of my brother’s engagement months ago. What’s done is done, I told myself. I could only hope our parents’ relief at the safe return of their only surviving son would soften any resentment they might feel at being duped.

Mai stepped forward with an extended hand and said, in beautifully rehearsed English, “I am honored to meet you, Mother and Father McIntyre.”

Mother darted her eyes to Daddy, who stood stiff as a statue, knuckles white around the handle of his cane. His head began to swing back and forth like the metronome on our unused piano. His lip curled into a snarl as he muttered, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no!”

Billy’s expression hardened. “Don’t do this, Dad.”

The vein that cut across Daddy’s forehead purpled and pulsed. He pointed a shaking finger at Mai. The rasp of a horror-movie villain erupted from his throat.

“You’re not bringing that slant-eyed bitch into this house, so help me God!”

“For Christ’s sake, Dad!” Billy shouted. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

But Daddy wasn’t listening. He’d barreled back into the house, cane stabbing the ground.

Billy turned to Mother. “Why is he like this, Mom?”

“Why?” Mother’s face darkened. “You have no idea what that man’s been through. What were you thinking, springing this on him?”

Billy shot me a scornful look. “Yeah, what were we thinking, Hazel?”

“We thought it would be better if you met Mai first,” I said. “She’s a wonderful girl, Mother. You’ll love her like a daughter as soon as you get to know her. She’s carrying your grandchild.”

Mai stood alone and confused, her untaken hand floating down to her side. Mother’s gaze dropped to Mai’s round belly. I imagined her thinking she’d have a chance, as a grandparent, to make up for the mothering she was unable to give her son. It was a terrible time when Billy was born, with Mother still mourning the loss of baby William and the war so fresh in Daddy’s mind. I didn’t blame her for what she was incapable of then. Everything could be different now.

Mother’s face softened. Tentatively, she beckoned to Mai. They each took a step toward the other. Then the screen door slammed open and Daddy came charging out of the house brandishing his rifle like a vengeful deity wielding a thunderbolt.

Mai screamed and covered her head with her hands. Billy got in front of her, shielding wife and child from his own flesh and blood. You were the only one with the courage to step up. Using the same calm voice as when you settled a riled sheep, you said, “Hey there, Mr. McIntyre, how about we take it down a notch?”

“Get the hell out of my way, Evie!” Daddy didn’t exactly aim the rifle, but he lowered the barrel enough to scare us all out of our wits. You dodged to the side. Billy backed up, herding Mai behind him.

“Dad, stop!”