Chapter 28
T he original office for Han Family Holdings was above the first nail salon her parents ever opened.
It had fake wood paneling, stained carpets, and fluorescent lights that buzzed.
Fiona remembered doing her homework at a chipped Formica table that also held a photocopier and coffee maker.
HFH was now located in a sleek, freestanding building with meticulously trimmed shrubbery surrounding it.
It was bland, cold, and professional—much like her mother.
Joseph was getting out of his car as Fiona pulled into the parking lot. Scanning the lot, she saw both her parents’ cars as well. Even though they lived together and worked together, her parents took separate vehicles because of their differing work habits.
Scrolling through his phone, Joseph waited for Fiona, shooting her a wry grin as she drew closer. “You’re wearing jeans. And your hair is down. Wow. Mother’s going to blow a gasket.”
“You should talk.” She removed her sunglasses as her gaze traveled over him, taking in the khaki slacks, unbuttoned and untucked shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and topsider shoes without socks. Joseph was much more relaxed since he’d started dating Andy, and she was happy for him.
“They’re expecting me. I’m updating them about the automotive shop purchase. I didn’t say you were joining me.”
“Good. It’ll probably piss Mother off, but Dad won’t mind.”
Turning as one, they walked the short distance to the entrance.
Joseph opened the door, and Fiona entered first, waved at the receptionist, and proceeded to her mother’s office.
She stopped just short of the open door, her palms sweating.
She hadn’t seen or spoken to her mother in three weeks, while calls and visits from her father had increased.
It was as if her mother’s outburst had broken down a wall between them.
A wall that neither Fiona nor her father could see but had felt for years.
Taking a breath, she looked into Joseph’s eyes, seeing the same determination she felt.
He cocked his head toward the door with a tight smile, moved past her, and walked into the room, Fiona right behind him.
Her mother’s office was similar to her mother herself.
It was a place of business. Clean, organized, with bare walls and expensive, functional furniture, lacking personality.
A large desk dominated the space, with two straight-backed armless chairs in front of it.
To the right was a conference table surrounded by similar chairs.
A flowering plant sat on the table, looking out of place.
It was from her father’s greenhouse, the only indication that her mother had a life outside her office.
Seated at the head of the table, her mother didn’t look up when they entered but did so when her father gasped. Nostrils flaring, back straightening, Linh Han’s cold glance swept over her children.
David moved around the table and took Fiona’s hand. “It’s good to see you,” he said with a smile that crinkled his eyes.
Fiona returned his smile. “You too, Dad.” She looked past him and met her mother’s gaze. “Hello, Mother.”
“Why are you here? I wasn’t expecting you.” She turned accusing eyes toward Joseph.
He ignored their mother. Instead, with a hand on Fiona’s back, he ushered her to the conference table, where they each took a seat. Their father returned to his chair across from Fiona and Joseph and pushed aside the papers in front of him, looking curious.
“We want to propose something to the company. An opportunity to assist the community while promoting HFH.” They’d decided Joseph would speak first as Fiona was no longer part of the day-to-day operations of the family’s business.
“Did you know about this?” Linh Han shot an accusing glare at her husband.
“No. But I think we should listen.” He gave Fiona a barely perceptible wink. Apparently, he didn’t share everything with his wife.
She huffed. “Very well. Continue.”
Fiona and Joseph tag-teamed their parents for the next thirty minutes, setting out how the venture would benefit HFH and Keeney.
“Remember the fire that broke out after the fourth of July three years ago?” Joseph drew their attention to an event still haunting the community.
A dry spring led to a tinder-like summer.
That, combined with illegal fireworks, caused a fire that ended in three deaths.
Pointed fingers and lawsuits meant that the five houses in the cul-de-sac where the fire occurred were never rebuilt.
They stood scarred and empty, a blight in an otherwise attractive neighborhood.
The burned-out buildings drew the attention of vandals and squatters, causing headaches for the police.
“I’ve spoken with the city manager. The city bought the houses and is willing to sell them to HFH for our project.
They like the idea of Keeney Builds working with low-income families, and using sweat equity to create homes.
With the houses being close to the high school and walking distance to an elementary school, families will jump at this. ”
Fiona watched her parents exchange glances. Her father was openly interested, smiling slightly. Linh Han’s expression was harder to read, but she was definitely paying attention.
She spoke while looking directly at her mother.
“With support from Keeney Building Supply, Tomas will be working with the families. Acting as the general contractor, being on-site to supervise the work, and providing instruction where necessary. The families will work together until all five houses are habitable.”
“Tomas? What nationalities will these families be?” Her mother’s lips curled into a sneer.
Fiona’s eyes flashed, but it was Joseph who answered. “Does it matter? Andy will be working with other churches and non-profit agencies to find families willing to do the work and are in the position to be able to put money into it.”
“A down payment?” Her father was scratching numbers on a tablet of paper. “Isn’t that the sticking point for most people, coming up with a down payment?”
“Yeah, which is why we’re going to eliminate that. Secure promissory notes with low, fixed interest rates that won’t skyrocket in the future and cripple families. With the amount of attention this will draw, I don’t think reneging on a loan will be a problem.”
“We won’t make any money that way,” Linh Han protested.
“This isn’t about making money. We will recoup our costs over time, but the more important thing is that Keeney families benefit, and the whole community benefits,” Fiona said. “That’s more important.”
Her mother ignored her. “They should be citizens.”
“Why?” Fiona challenged her. “You and Dad weren’t citizens when you bought your first house.”
“We didn’t need a handout. We did?—”
David Han put a hand over his wife’s arm, drawing her attention.
“It is a good idea.” He spoke directly to her.
“You’ve been looking for a legacy. This will be it.
Supporting families to work together and build a community while building homes.
This is how we give back to a community that’s supported us.
Yes?” At her reluctant nod he turned to Fiona and Joseph, and smiled.
“We will convene a board meeting for you to make a presentation. Bring Tomas and Andy. The other family members will no doubt have questions and will want to meet them.”
Her mother muttered under her breath while her father rose and walked around the table. He placed a hand on each of his children’s shoulders. “I’m proud of you. This is a great idea.”
Joseph and Fiona grinned at each other. They gathered their things, said goodbye to their mother, and followed their father out to the reception area.
“Well done,” he said, putting his hands together in silent applause.
“This is exactly what a legacy should be. Improving lives for others is so much better than a stone monument.”
“It was Tomas’s idea—not the legacy part, but the idea of working beside people who need help getting into homes. When he shared it with me, I knew it was worthwhile pursuing. I’m glad you think so, too.” Fiona smiled up at her father.
“Your young man is exceptional. I really need to make time to work with him. Maybe he’ll let me use one of those nail guns.
” Their father looked between Fiona and Joseph, smiling broadly.
“I’m glad you each found someone worthy of you.
” Kissing Fiona on the forehead, he grasped Joseph’s shoulder and then returned to his wife’s office.
“Wow. That was?—”
“Almost way too easy.” Joseph opened the door and stood back for Fiona to precede him out of the building.
“Mother’s not happy,” she said.
“Yeah. She has me worried. But Dad’s firmly on our side, and that’s a big deal.”
They made plans to meet up soon, both heading for their cars to get on with their days. Beeping the lock to open her car door, Fiona hoped and prayed that the tingling nerves were a letdown from the meeting, not a premonition of things to come.
“ H ave you set a date?”
Tomas sputtered into his coffee and glared at Ali. “What?”
“A wedding date,” Ali spoke as if addressing a young child.
“We’re not there yet,” Tomas growled, wiping coffee off his shirt. They’d just started exploring the idea. Talking about dates was way in the future.
“What’s taking so long?”
“Asks the guy who’s never been married.” Vincent strolled into the KBS break room with a shit-eating grin on his face. “And are you ever gonna make an honest woman out of my mother?”
A dull red blush stole up Ali’s cheeks and colored his bald head. He muttered something about invoices and beat a hasty retreat, the sound of Vincent’s laughter trailing behind him.
Vincent cocked his head in the direction of KBS’s chief operating officer’s speedy departure. “I love messing with him.”