it to the tip of his father's finger.
Po Sin smiled.
– I love you.
The boy withdrew his finger and walked to a corner of the room and sat on the floor and wedged himself tight into the angle of the walls and put his backpack in his lap and squeezed it to his chest.
Po Sin pushed himself from his squat and looked at his wife in the doorway.
– What's the matter?
Lei came into the office, ruffling her spiky black hair.
– He lost a piece from his Bat Cave.
– Oh, Christ. At school? Please tell me it was at school.
She shook her head.
– Nope.
– Aw, shit.
She raised her hands.
– And I've already done what I can do about it.
– OK.
– You can take your best shot.
– OK.
– I'm just praying I can find some kind of mellow in yoga class and not fall asleep on my mat as soon as I get there.
– OK. OK.
She took a deep breath, exhaled.
– Sorry. Long one.
She looked at him and smiled.
– How about you, everything OK?
Po Sin scratched his moustache, waved a hand in the air over his head.
– Nothing's blowing up.
She pointed out the open door.
– Where's the van?
He glanced through the shop door at me where I was bleaching the slop sink, looked back at his wife.
– Gabe's out doing some pickups.
She looked where he had glanced, saw me, raised her eyebrows at Po Sin.
He pointed at me.
– Sorry. That's Web. Remember?
Her forehead creased, uncreased.
– Web. Yes, of course, I'm sorry.
She came through the door into the shop, hand held out.
– Nice to finally meet you.
I dropped my sponge in the sink and started to reach for her hand with one of mine, pulled up and stripped the thick rubber glove off.
– Hi. Nice to. Po Sin's said a lot about. Hi.
She took my sweaty hand; hers tiny and strong and cool.
– So he finally got you in here.
– Uh, yeah.
She kept my hand firmly in hers, looking up at me, smiling.
– He's been talking about it forever. Saying how he thinks you should be working.
Po Sin came to the door.
– Lei.
She waved her free hand over her shoulder.
– Shut up, Grandfather Elephant.
She touched the jade necklace that hung down over a loose orange cotton blouse.
– He'd just as soon no one knew he cares about anything, but he does. Of course.
– Lei!
– Ignore his bluster. He thinks I'm not minding my own business. How have you been? Are you feeling better? You're working here, you must be feeling better. Not spending all your time slacking at your friend's tattoo shop. Good, that's good for you.
– Jesus, Lei.
She tugged on my hand, pulled me a step closer, put a hand to her mouth for a stage whisper.
– I'm embarrassing him. Being overly personal with someone I've just met. He hates it.
– He has work to do, Lei.
Still holding my hand, she turned.
–
She tilted her head toward their son tucked in the corner, clutching his bag.
He slapped the back of his neck.
– I know, I know. Where is she?
– She's out in the car.
He started for the door.
– I'll get her. Just let Web do his work, OK? I don't pay him enough to get grilled by you.
He stepped out the door.
– Xing. Xing, over here. Now. Now. No, I will not carry you. Now, I said. No, you are perfectly capable of walking on your own two feet. Now. Now! Damn it.
He walked out of sight.
Lei turned back to me.
– I'm not a Hindu, Web, but I swear I must have done something in a previous life to deserve my daughter.
She nodded her head.
– I know, I know, it's my own fault, our own fault. She's ours after all. She didn't just appear out of thin air. We made love, we made a baby. One baby wasn't enough. We had to go back to the well for more. So we got what we deserved. And with all Yong's problems, beautiful boy that he is, she doesn't get all the attention she maybe deserves.
She leaned close.
– What she deserves is a good whack on the ass from time to time, but Po Sin won't allow it.
She leaned back.
– Of course, I'd be terrified to try it myself. Have you ever seen
I nodded.
– Sure.
She tapped the tip of her nose.
– That's our Xing.
– But I
We both looked as Po Sin ducked through the door, Xing on his shoulders.
– Honey, don't lie.
– But I'm
He took her from his shoulders and stood her on his desk and looked her in the eyes.
– Xing, my little lovely apricot, no one likes a liar.
She stomped.
– But I'm
He put a finger to his lips.
– Shh.
– But I'm
