by Kevin Kwan
Peik Lin gave a slightly embarrassed smile. “Um, I don’t know how to make that—I’ve never actually had one.”
“What? Isn’t it the most popular drink here?” Kerry said in surprise.
“Well, I guess if you’re a tourist.”
“I am a tourist!”
“Well, then, Mrs. Chu, why don’t you let me take you out for a Singapore Sling?”
“Okay, why not?” Kerry said excitedly. She placed a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Are you coming, Nick?”
“Um, I don’t know, Mrs. Chu …” Nick began, glancing nervously at Rachel.
Rachel hesitated for a moment before responding. “Come on, let’s all go.”
Nick’s face lit up. “Really? I do know a good place we could go.”
Soon the four of them were in Nick’s car, approaching the island’s most distinctive architectural landmark. “Wah, what an amazing building!” Kerry Chu said, gazing up in awe at the three soaring towers joined at the top by what appeared to be a huge park.
“That’s where we’re going. At the top is the world’s highest man-made park—fifty-seven stories above ground,” Nick said.
“You’re not seriously taking us to the SkyBar at Marina Bay Sands?” Peik Lin grimaced.
“Why not?” Nick asked.
“I thought we’d be going to Raffles Hotel, where the Singapore Sling was invented.”
“Raffles is too touristy.”
“And this isn’t? You’ll see, it’s going to be all Mainlanders and European tourists up there.”
“Trust me, the bartender is brilliant,” Nick declared authoritatively.
Ten minutes later, the four of them were sitting in a sleek white cabana in the middle of the two-and-a-half-acre terrace perched in the clouds. Samba music filled the air, and several feet away, an immense infinity pool spanned the length of the park.
“Cheers to Nick!” Rachel’s mother declared. “Thank you for bringing us here.”
“I’m so glad you like it, Mrs. Chu,” Nick said, peering around at the ladies.
“Well, I have to admit, this Singapore Sling is better than I imagined,” Peik Lin said, taking another sip of her frothy crimson drink.
“So you’re not going to cringe the next time some tourist sitting next to you orders one?” Nick said with a wink.
“Depends on how they’re dressed,” Peik Lin retorted.
For a few moments, they sat savoring the view. Across the bay, the blue hour was settling in, and the crowd of skyscrapers lining the marina seemed to glisten in the balmy air. Nick turned toward Rachel, his eyes searching out hers. She hadn’t spoken once since they left Peik Lin’s house. Their eyes met for a flash of a moment, before Rachel turned away.
Nick jumped off his bar stool and walked down a few steps toward the infinity pool. As he strolled along the water’s edge, a bold silhouette against the darkening sky, the women studied him in silence.
“He’s a good man, that Nick,” Kerry finally said to her daughter.
“I know,” Rachel said quietly.
“I’m so glad he came to see me,” Kerry said.
“Came to see you?” Rachel was confused.
“Of course. He showed up on my doorstep in Cupertino two days ago.”
Rachel stared at her mother, her eyes widening in amazement. Then she jumped off her bar stool and made a beeline toward Nick. He turned to face her just as she approached. Rachel slowed her pace, turning to look at a couple of swimmers doing disciplined laps around the pool.
“Those swimmers look like they might fall right off the horizon,” she said.
“They do, don’t they?”
Rachel took a slight breath. “Thank you for bringing my mom here.”
“No worries—she needed a good drink.”
“To Singapore, I mean.”
“Oh, it was the least I could do.”
Rachel looked at Nick tenderly. “I can’t believe you did this. I can’t believe you went halfway around the world and back for me in two days. What ever possessed you to do such a crazy thing?”
Nick flashed his trademark grin. “Well, you can thank a little bird for that.”
“A little bird?”
“Yes, a little blue jay that hates Damien Hirst.”
At the bar, Kerry was nibbling the pineapple wedge from her third cocktail when Peik Lin whispered excitedly, “Mrs. Chu, don’t turn around now, but I spy Nick giving Rachel a long, slow kiss!”
Kerry swiveled around joyously and sighed. “Aiyah, soooo romantic!”
“Alamak, don’t look! I told you not to look!” Peik Lin scolded.
When Nick and Rachel came back, Kerry scrutinized Nick up and down for a moment and yanked at his rumpled linen shirt. “Aiyah, you’ve lost too much weight. Your cheeks are so sallow. Let me fatten you up a bit. Can we go to one of those outdoor food bazaars that Singapore is so famous for? I want to eat a hundred sticks of satay while I am here.”
“Okay, let’s all go to the Chinatown food market on Smith Street,” Nick beamed.
“Alamak, Nick, Smith Street gets so crowded on Friday nights, and there’s never any place to sit,” Peik Lin complained. “Why don’t we go to Gluttons Bay?”
“I knew you were going to suggest that. All you princesses love to go there!”
“No, no, I just happen to think they have the best satay,” Peik Lin said defensively.
“Rubbish! Satay is the same wherever you go. I think Rachel’s mum would find Smith Street to be more colorful and authentic,” Nick argued.
“Authentic my foot, lah! If you really want authentic …” Peik Lin began.
Rachel glanced at her mother. “They can do all the arguing, we’ll just sit back and eat.”
“But why are they arguing so much over this?” Kerry asked, amazed.
Rachel rolled her eyes and smiled. “Let them be, Mom. Let them be. This is just how they all are.”
Acknowledgments
In your inimitable and wonderful ways, you have each been instrumental in helping me bring this book to life. I am forever grateful to:
Deb Aaronson
Carol Brewer
Linda Casto
Deborah Davis
David Elliott
John Fontana
Simone Gers
Aaron Goldberg
Lara Harris Philip
Hu Jenny Jackson
Jennifer Jenkins
Michael Korda
Mary Kwan Jack
Lee Joanne Lim
Alexandra
Machinist Pia
Massie Robin
Mina David
Sangalli Lief Anne
Stiles Rosemary
Yeap Jackie
Zirkman
A Note About the Author
Kevin Kwan was born and raised in Singapore. He currently lives in Manhattan. Crazy Rich
Asians is his first novel.
Visit: www.kevinkwanbooks.com
For more information, please visit www.doubleday.com