34. Chapter 34
thirty-four
Hong Kong
S o much food. So much laughter.
Curtis took his guitar out of the case and walked back to the children at the seating area in Ed and Siu Lin’s apartment. The small space was filled with more people than it probably could house. On top of Lina’s immediate family, Ed and Siu Lin’s children had arrived with their little broods. There were greetings exchanged, hóngbāo— red money envelopes — were given out to the children, loads of auspicious food was eaten.
There were pork dumplings, representing wealth. A whole fish steamed with soy and ginger, representing prosperity. Nin gau sticky rice cake that symbolized growth. But he found some of the other dishes interesting because they weren’t what Popo would make. Poon Choi , for example, he’d learned, was uniquely a Hong Kong dish. It was a dish brimming with layered pork and seafood, drenched in gravy. It was delicious.
“People in the community used to bring whatever ingredient they had to put into the pot and share with everyone. That’s why Poon Choi signifies unity,” Ed had explained to him earlier. “We each put different ingredients in our pot today.”
“I didn’t.” Curtis had grimaced.
Ed had just laughed. “You’re a guest in our home. You bring a different blessing to us, Curtis. Don’t you worry.”
With that in mind, Curtis sat on a small ottoman where the children, ranging from three to twelve years old, were waiting for him to play. Perhaps he could bring the blessing of music. The problem was he didn’t know any Chinese songs. He should’ve paid more attention to Popo when she sang for his niece.
“Play whatever you want,” Lina suggested, probably seeing his hesitation. Standing not too far from the kids, she looked gorgeous in her red cheongsam dress. It looked painted on her, accentuating her curves to perfection. It made him drool.
“Play one of your songs, Curtis,” Eric, Ed’s twelve-year-old grandson, requested, bringing Curtis back to his audience.
He quickly racked his brain for something appropriate for the children and the occasion. He settled on an upbeat song he and Ram had initially written about a wild party they’d thrown. But without the lyrics, he thought it captured the spirit of the new year.
“Can you teach me to play like you?” Eric asked.
“Have you played an instrument before?” Curtis went to sit on the floor with the children and patted the space next to him for Eric to sit.
“Yes, a few at school—guitar, keyboard, drums. But only the basics,” the boy answered.
“That’s good.”
“Can I learn, too?” Mei, Lina’s eight-year-old niece, asked.
“How about me?” Tommy, Eric’s little cousin, inquired.
“Of course.” Curtis smiled happily at his little pupils. “One at a time, okay? I’ll show you the basic chords first. Then Eric can try, then Mei, then you, Tommy.”
He looked at Mei’s little sister, Gracie, who just watched her older cousins. “How about you, Gracie? Do you want to try, too?”
“I’m too little.” Gracie stared at the guitar.
“Yeah, this guitar is a bit too big for you, but I can help you make a pretty sound,” Curtis offered.
“Okay,” little Gracie smiled widely.
Joy poured over Curtis when he saw the happiness in Gracie’s and the other kids’ faces as they watched his fingers play the simplest of chords—E minor with only two fingers holding the top two strings in the second fret—and strummed all six strings with his pick.
“Here, you try that.” Curtis handed the guitar to Eric.
The boy executed it beautifully. He did know his basics.
“That’s great. Let’s have your cousins try, okay?” He could tell the boy wanted more. He whispered to him, “Maybe we’ll work on a song later after we teach the others.”
“You want me to help you teach?” Eric asked, eyes wide.
Curtis nodded. “I see you know your chords. So, yeah.”
“Cool.”
Seeing the pride in the boy’s face reminded Curtis of when he’d first picked up the guitar. It had felt as if he’d found a missing limb. Brandon had always had his pencils and paper, drawing anything, anywhere. Callie had had all of her studies and volleyball. But Curtis had tried all kinds of sports. Math had been too easy and boring for him, and reading hadn’t been his favorite thing to do. But music called to him. Once he’d bought his first guitar, it had barely left his sight.
Curtis placed the guitar on Mei’s lap and helped her position her fingers to make the same chord. On his other side, Eric showed Tommy the finger placements via air guitar. Not to be left out, Gracie came to him and sat on his leg as they watched her sister played a chord repeatedly.
Feeling Lina’s eyes on him, Curtis looked up and found her watching him. She flashed him a smile before she returned to her conversation with her aunt.
At that moment, everything was right with the world.
Lina couldn’t take her eyes off Curtis as he taught the children to play the guitar. Looking dapper in his tangzhuang , he barely resembled the carefree rock star she knew. With his long, lean physique, he could carry any outfit, but few guys could wear red and still looked sexy.
Then there was him with the children. This was the side of Curtis Bisset few people got to see. She’d seen a glimpse in Paris when he’d played with his niece and jammed with Luc on the guitars. But Luc had been pretty good. These were children who had never touched a guitar before, except for Eric.
He ’ s so gentle with them. Who knew he ’ s so good with children?
“He’ll be a good father, Lina,” Aunt Siu Lin said. “You chose well.”
“Pardon?” Lina turned to her aunt.
The older woman smiled. “You heard me.”
Lina was stunned. She’d never thought of herself as a mother. Ever since she could remember, all she’d focused on had been her studies and martial arts training. When she’d gotten to the Army, duty and career had been her focus. When she’d given all that up, she’d merely stayed afloat. Sure, she had a new career, but not a purpose.
But now there ’ s Curtis.
Turning her gaze to the man who’d helped her breathe again, Lina remembered how happy he’d been this morning when she’d called Paul’s secure line in Provence. He’d talked to his family and his best friend with so much enthusiasm and hope. He promised them things would be okay soon.
Lina had also made another call to headquarters. She was going to make sure Curtis fulfilled his promise to his family.
First that.
Then maybe Lina could see the future Curtis had asked her to share.