Crazy Rich Asians

Rachel turned to face the window, her chest heaving involuntarily. Kerry got up from her chair and walked toward Rachel slowly. She reached out to put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, but before she could, Rachel leaped up and embraced her mother. “Oh Mom,” Rachel cried, “I’m so sorry. So sorry for everything … for all the terrible things I said to you on the phone.”

“I know, Rachel.”

“I never knew … I never could have imagined what you were forced to go through.”

Kerry looked at her daughter affectionately, tears running down her cheeks. “I’m sorry I never told you the truth. I wanted so much never to burden you with my mistakes.”

“Oh Mom,” Rachel sobbed, clinging to her mother ever more tightly.

The sun was setting over Bukit Timah by the time Rachel walked out into the garden, arm in arm with her mother. Heading slowly toward the poolside bar, they made a detour the long way around the pool so that Kerry could admire all of the golden statues.

“It looks like mother and daughter have reconciled, don’t you think?” Peik Lin said to Nick.

“Sure looks like it. I don’t see any blood or torn clothing.”

“There better not be. That’s Lanvin Rachel’s wearing. Cost me about seven K.”

“Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s guilty of being extravagant with her. She can’t blame it all on me anymore,” Nick said.

“Let me share a secret with you, Nick. As much as a girl might protest, you can never go wrong buying her a designer dress or a killer pair of shoes.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” Nick smiled. “Well, I think I’d better be off.”

“Oh stop it, Nick. I’m sure Rachel would want to see you. And aren’t you dying to know what they’ve been talking about all this time?”

Rachel and her mother approached the bar. “Peik Lin, you look so cute standing there behind the bar! Can you make me a Singapore Sling?” Kerry asked.

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.”