Short Soup(20)

Chapter 7


Dion’s parents were already present when Toni and her parents arrived at the Happy Palace’s private dining room.

“Happy birthday.” Aunt Queenie swooped in and hugged Toni before pressing a gift into her hands. “This is for you, from your Uncle Kai and me.”

Uncle Kai patted her shoulder and smiled as she thanked them both. She hadn’t expected a birthday present from them, and when she unwrapped a silver bracelet she was even more surprised. The simple yet elegant piece of jewellery wasn’t something she could envisage Aunt Queenie – who loved her gold, jade, and pearls, preferably all in the same piece of jewellery – choosing.

“Oh, it’s gorgeous,” Toni said as she slipped on the bracelet and showed it to her parents.

Aunt Queenie beamed at her. “You like it? Dion help me pick it out last week. He knows what you like better than anyone.”

“He does.” Toni’s cheeks warmed. Hell, she hadn’t realised it would be this awkward, chatting to Dion’s mum and dad as if nothing unusual had happened. She’d slept with their son last night. Did they know that? She was willing to bet they didn’t, or she was sure they’d be looking at her differently. And she was convinced her parents wouldn’t have told them anything. It wasn’t the kind of news they’d like to share with their oldest and closest friends.

Pearl lifted Toni’s hand to examine the bracelet more closely. “Very nice.” She nodded with approval.

Uncle Kai was muttering with Toni’s dad. “Maybe I should check the kitchen,” he said.

Shen restrained his friend. “No, Dion can manage on his own.”

Uncle Kai continued to frown. “I just want to help him.”

“Wait until he asks first.”

“But he–”

Aunt Queenie rounded on her husband. “Not again. Why can’t you leave Dion alone?”

Uncle Kai huffed and tugged at the cuffs of his shirt. “He needs–”

“He needs you to trust him.” His wife pressed her lips together, looking uncharacteristically determined.

Before anyone could speak, footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Dion appeared, spruce in his chef’s jacket and black trousers, his demeanour smooth and collected.

“Evening everyone.” His gaze wandered around the room, passing over Toni without a flicker. “Why aren’t you seated yet? Dinner is about to be served.”

There was a general movement towards the table. When everyone was seated, Dion remained standing between his parents’ chairs.

“Dion.” His mother plucked at his sleeve. “Toni really like the bracelet you choose for her.”

His eyes met hers across the table. For a moment it seemed he was really looking at her this time, but he answered blandly, “I’m glad. I hope you like the dishes I’ve chosen for tonight as well. They’ll start arriving in a few minutes.” Without waiting for a reply, he disappeared down the stairs.

Toni released her breath. She didn’t know whether to be disappointed or glad that Dion appeared to have put everything they’d said earlier behind him. Evidently he’d gotten over his disappointment that they wouldn’t be sleeping together again pretty quickly and was satisfied they could still remain friends. If only she could get over it with the same equanimity.

Soon the waiter brought up the appetizers, small tasting dishes of delicate morsels. There was crispy tofu, pickled vegetables, and short soup with Dion’s special won tons in a clear broth. Toni breathed in the familiar aromas and felt some of the tension that had knotted her insides all day slip a little. These were some of her favourite dishes from her childhood, she realised, yet Dion had added his own twist to each of them, so they were at once familiar and yet different.

His culinary creativity continued with the main dishes. Barbequed pork, roast duck, steamed fish. All were dishes she’d eaten countless times before, dishes she’d longed for in the depths of her homesickness while sticking it out in London, dishes she’d miss when she left Piper Bay. Did Dion know what he was doing to her? Did he know that from now on all her favourite food would remind her not only of home, but of him?

The others were too busy clucking together to notice how little she was eating. “See, he can manage,” her father said to Uncle Kai. “This fish is excellent. Perfectly cooked.”

“It’s not bad,” Uncle Kai grudgingly conceded. “He would have got fresher one if he woke on time this morning.”

“What’s this?” His wife slid him a suspicious look. “You check up on Dion this morning?”

Uncle Kai heaved a sigh. “Yes,” he admitted. “I want to make sure he get up,” he added defensively. “He was still sleeping at nine-thirty!”

“Hmm. You only tell me now.” Aunt Queenie swivelled to Toni’s mother. “He always go behind my back.” Toni’s mother glanced about and fiddled with her chopsticks, making non-committal noises. Aunt Queenie leaned towards her. “You know about this already? Wah, you should have told me!”

At that moment Dion walked into the room. His mother beckoned him over urgently. “Dion, Dion. I hear you couldn’t wake up this morning. Are you sick? You shouldn’t work if you’re sick.”

“I’m fine, Mum.” He straightened, his shoulders stiff as he eyed everyone at the table. “And before anyone says anything, it was all my fault I didn’t wake up. Toni had nothing to do with it.”

His parents gaped at him, then turned towards Toni as one, their mouths still open. Her heart sank to her toes. Oh, Dion, you didn’t have to say that, did you? At the same time the realisation dawned on him too, making his eyes darken in dismay.

“What did you and Toni get up to last night?” Uncle Kai asked, still bewildered.

Cheeks flushed with embarrassment, Aunt Queenie nudged him in the ribs. “Ah Kai, you don’t have to ask. Can’t you guess?”

Uncle Kai blinked at her. “Oh …” Comprehension finally broke over him.

As they stared at Toni, a bead of sweat rolled down her spine. Her face felt as if it had caught fire.

“It just happen one time,” Pearl jumped in. “Don’t worry so much.”

Aunt Queenie’s eyes boggled. “You know already? And you don’t tell me?” Her voice squeaked.

Flustered, Pearl flapped her hands. “It’s Shen’s fault. He saw her and Dion this morning, and he didn’t tell me.”

Uttering a drawn-out groan, Uncle Kai clenched his fists on the table and lowered his head to his chest as if he was in great pain. Aunt Queenie started to exclaim, but before she could gather steam, Dion moved forward and rapped his knuckles on the table.

“Look, this is getting out of control,” he said. “I’m sorry about that, Toni.” He gave her a brief, wry smile. “I thought they all knew already. I didn’t know I was letting the cat out of the bag.” He turned back to the others. “But the fact remains that whatever Toni and I did last night is private and has nothing to do with what happened this morning.”

“But Dion, it does,” Toni felt compelled to speak out. “If we hadn’t, um, stayed up so late–” the fire in her cheeks intensified “–you would have woken up in time to go to the fish market. It is my fault.”

“How can it be when I wanted you to stay with me last night? I don’t regret that for a moment.” His eyes held hers. “Yes, it was slack of me to oversleep, but all that demonstrated was my dad’s lack of faith in me.” He glanced down at his father who was still hunched over the table. “Well, Dad? Are you going to check up on me every morning for the rest of my life? Because I may as well tell you now that most days I’ll be up when I’m meant to, and some days I won’t, and you just have to live with that, I’m afraid, because I’m not perfect.”

“Oh, yes, you almost perfect,” his mother chipped in, elbowing her husband. “Ah Kai, tell your son you trust him, go on.”

Slowly Uncle Kai lifted his head and gazed at Dion. “I thought you were … in trouble again. Why didn’t you tell me about Toni?”

“Come on, Dad!” A pink hue tinged Dion’s tanned face. “As if I would.”

“Okay.” Uncle Kai gestured calmly. “But if you told me I would be much happier. Toni’s good for you. She’s very sensible girl. She keep you out of trouble.”

His nod of approval towards Toni caused her throat to seize up. The last thing she’d ever expected was for Dion’s father to approve of her and Dion. But how was she going to tell him that his assumptions were completely false?

Dion cleared his throat. “Actually, Dad, Toni won’t be here to keep me out of trouble. She’s going to live in Sydney.” He gazed at her again. “Isn’t that right, Toni?” He didn’t seem angry, resentful, or even annoyed. If anything he appeared resolved.

“It’s for the best.” Her voice was a tight whisper. “Last night was … was an accident. It shouldn’t have happened.”

He shook his head. “No, you don’t get it. I–” He broke off and glanced around, clearly frustrated by the presence of their parents. He pressed his hand on his father’s shoulder. “Dad, I know I just insisted I could handle the restaurant on my own, but I’m also not too proud to ask for help. I’m asking you now. Can you run things in the kitchen while I talk to Toni in private?”