by Alexia Praks
Her sisters were at the door, waiting for her patiently, when Chandra turned up a little later in the morning after Sam and Lilly had dropped her off. She was indeed glad she was now wearing her clean dress and underwear. If she were to come home in Sam’s work shirt and nothing else, her sisters would assumed the worst had happened. Not that they’d be unhappy about it, though, considering how they’d happily left without her last night.
“So?” Soriya asked, smiling cheekily as they headed toward the living area.
Chan queried, “So what?”
“How was your sleepover?”
Dara looked heavenward.
On that note, Chan turned to frown at her sisters. “You guys didn’t wake me. I am so embarrassed. Gosh, falling asleep in other people’s house like a kid.”
Dara laughed. “Yeah, well, you and Lilly did look cute sleeping together.”
Chan blushed. “Who else saw?”
Soriya couldn’t wait to answer. “Sam, of course. Us. Then there’s Jeremy and Nina as well.”
“Shit!” Chan muttered. “I can’t believe both Sam and Jeremy saw me like that.”
Soriya shrugged. “Oh well.”
Chan flopped herself on to the sofa and sighed.
“Are you hungry?” Soriya asked, her eyes bright.
Chan shook her head. “No. I already had breakfast, thanks.”
Soriya came to sit beside Chan. She folded her arms across her chest and said, “Thought so. What did you have? And who cooked?”
Chan thought, Oh no, I’m not going there.
“Come on, Chan,” Soriya begged. “Give us all the juicy details.”
Chan shook her head. “There’s no juicy details to be told.”
“Ugh! You’re mean,” Soriya muttered, a dark scowl on her face.
Dara came over and asked, “When are we going to see Grandma Su? I’ve got everything ready.”
By that she meant their homemade satay meat and salad. It was impolite to visit Grandma Su without bringing anything, as the elderly woman had always given them fruits and vegetables as gifts every time they visited.
“I think we should leave now to beat the traffic,” Chan suggested. Dara agreed, while Soriya continued to pester Chan about her sleepover at the Harrington house.
Two hours later, Chan was sitting with Grandma Su, sipping green tea out on the veranda under the late-morning sun. They were taking in the beautiful scenery of wildflowers and butterflies and bees, and of course, Dara and Soriya in the distance, picking their own strawberries. Grandma Su had a big backyard, almost half an acre in size, and treasured it with lots of plants—flowers, fruits, and vegetables. She was self-sufficient and had never needed to buy vegetables from the supermarket to feed herself and her small family.
“Oh my God!” Soriya’s voice reached them. “These are awesomely delicious!” They were talking about the plump, juicy strawberries.
Chan chuckled. “They always act like kids when they’re here.”
Grandma Su nodded. “And you, Chan?” the elderly woman asked. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good.”
Grandma Su watched her; her eyes didn’t miss the radiant smile or the glow on the young woman’s skin. She smiled and nodded. “You’ve met him?”
Chan blinked. “Who?”
Grandma Su chuckled. “Your sun man?”
Chan licked her lips. Because she couldn’t utter the word, she nodded instead.
“Ah…” Grandma Su’s eyes twinkled. “He is big and handsome?”
Again, Chan nodded.
“And kind and warm, just like the sun?”
Chan nodded at that as well.
It was then Dara and Soriya returned, delighted with their picks of the day.
“Look at these,” Soriya said, showing them her ice cream box filled to the rim with plump, ripe strawberries. “They’re delicious, Grandma Su. How did you grow them like that? Even the ones in the supermarket aren’t as big and sweet as these.”
Grandma Su chuckled. “With a lot of care and love, dear.”
“Aww,” Dara said. “That’s so sweet.”
Soriya laughed. “Of course they’re sweet.” Then she added, “And juicy and delicious.”
“Now, are you girls staying for lunch?” the elderly woman asked.
“Yes, please,” both Dara and Soriya said in unison.
Thus, the sisters helped Grandma Su with preparing lunch of fried rice, garden vegetable stir-fry with the satay meat Chan had made, and Cambodian traditional curry. They had lunch with Grandma Su and Grandma Su’s son and daughter-in-law who were in their early fifties. By the time lunch was finished and the sisters were ready to leave, it was two o’clock in the afternoon.
Dara and Soriya quickly put containers of strawberries and plastic bags filled with vegetables into the boot of the car while Chan kissed Grandma Su good-bye.
“Thanks so much for the strawberries and vegetables, Grandma Su,” Chan said, smiling. “Looks like we don’t need to buy vegetables for at least a couple weeks.”
Grandma Su brushed aside Chan’s appreciation. “You take care of yourself and your sisters. Remember, Chan, it’s a new life for you now. Live it and love it.”
Chan understood the meaning behind the elderly woman’s words and nodded. “I will,” she said. “You take care, too. We’ll visit again.”
Grandma Su nodded.
Chan turned and hopped into the driver’s seat. Soriya and Dara waved.
“Bye, Grandma Su. Thanks for the berries,” Dara said.
“Take care,” Soriya said. “And thanks for the strawberries and vegetables.”
A few moments later, Grandma Su watched as the car started driving away. Her eyes were suddenly marked with worry as she wondered yet again if she should have told Chan about a series of unavoidable conflicts heading her way. Conflicts. Threats. Dangers. Those things that could pull her life apart and drown her into complete darkness.
But there was light, the sun, the man who’d help her climb out of that darkness. The man who’d be beside her no matter what might come. Hence, Grandma Su knew it was best Chan didn’t know about the danger, at least for now.