Part 32 (1/2)
”He has a strange way of showing us his love,” Susan replied.
”There's a condo I thought of buying as an investment. Maybe I'll buy it and let you live in it and pay me rent.”
”Not the same,” Susan protested. ”I'd still be dependent on you.”
”You have to go somewhere, right?”
”Right.” Susan sat on the edge of the bed.
”The condo is a good investment. And you can save me the trouble of finding a tenant.”
”Oh, Mom, you're wonderful. I love you.”
Mary stroked her hair. ”He doesn't really mean what he says.”
Susan looked up ”Then why does he say and do such awful things?”
Mary sat next to her daughter. ”He gets mad and loses control of himself.”
”I know. He was never taught control as a child because Grandma spoiled him rotten.”
Mary frowned. ”I never said that.”
”But all the aunties do,” Susan said.
Mary shook her head. ”Try to understand him.”
”Do you?”
”I think so. We've been married long enough now.”
”I could never see why.”
”Susan!” Mary stood.
Susan shrugged. ”It's the truth. Why lie about it? Why do you stay married to him?”
”We've been married so long divorce would be more trouble than it's worth.”
Susan grabbed her mother's hands. ”But you could still find someone and be really happy for once.”
”I'm too old. Change would be too much for me.” Mary kissed Susan's forehead.
”So, instead, you just go on.” Susan dropped her mother's hands.
”What else is there?” Mary cupped Susan's chin in her hands.
Susan shook her head. ”I don't know.”
Mary sighed. ”You see, my dear daughter, it's not worth the effort to find out.”
George Han rifled through the monthly statements and leaned back with a smile. ”Well, after a predictably slow season this fall, it's gratifying to know that in December and January the Lotus Blossom did exceptionally well.”
Mary didn't answer. She was staring out the window.
”Mary?” George asked.
”What?” Mary turned and looked at him with embarra.s.sment. ”I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't really listening.”
George leaned forward on his desk. He still felt protective of her even though she'd turned out to be a remarkably strong person with tremendous inner resources. Still, he couldn't help but recall the pregnant young woman who stood on the sidewalk with rice spilled all around her. Waves of regret engulfed him and he reminded himself she was his brother's wife.
”You've been distracted all morning. Is everything okay at home?” he asked.
Mary looked down at her nails. ”Of course,” she said.
”Mark's gambling,” he began.
”It's under control,” Mary nodded. ”Really, it is. You mustn't be too harsh on Mark. It hurts his male pride that he has never been able to make as much as I do. I think it destroyed him. Mark wants to make just one big hit. It would make him feel more like a man.”
”You're too good for him.” George shook his head. ”You deserve better.”
”Don't say that, George. He's been good to me most of the time. Remember, he overlooked the fact I was kamikaze,” Mary whispered.
George averted his eyes. ”That was a long time ago. Anyway, if his gambling isn't upsetting you, what is?”
Mary looked at a picture of George's family on the wall. George was dressed in a suit and sat next to his wife Sarah who wore pearls and a Chanel suit she bought in Paris. Mary remembered how proud she was of her new wardrobe from Paris. George's sons stood behind their parents looking somber and uncomfortable in the suits Sarah had forced them to wear. They looked like a millionaire's family. ”It's nothing, really. I shouldn't even be upset. Susan moved out.”
”Kids nowadays want their freedom.”
”I suppose.” Mary bit her lip.
”Where's she living?” George asked.
”I put a down payment on a two bedroom condo near Iolani.”
George shook his head. ”Well, I wish I could say the same about Jeff. I've come to the conclusion he'll never leave. He's a spoiled brat tied to his Mama's ap.r.o.n strings.” George was disappointed in his son. To hear Jeff talk, his only problem was that the entire world conspired against him. Everything was always someone else's fault. Could Jeff help it he was born to a father who went to prison and ignored and criticized him?
”I guess I'm just being overprotective.” Mary paused and looked at the ledgers. ”Looks like the future projections for the tourist industry are great. I guess we can look forward to a good year.” She looked up.
”Yes, we've been lucky,” George said.
Mary s.h.i.+fted in her seat. ”No, we've worked very hard.”
”That too.” George handed her the ledgers.
Mary took them, tucked them into a manila file folder, and stuck it under her arm.