Author's Note: Phew, back to Meg's point of view. Much easier!
Disclaimer, etc., miscellaneous, and so on are located in Chapter One.
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Chapter Five
The first stop for Meg and Mia was the Holiday Inn Lido where the Gary Lewis salon was located. While the idea of the best salon being located in a hotel was an odd concept for Meg, she had discovered that many of the best and well known clubs, shops, and spas resided in hotels in Beijing.
Gary already had a full schedule for the day, but when Meg pleaded a hair emergency, shoved a long locked Mia in view, and flashed a thick roll of RMB's, Gary took pity, delegating his remaining appointments to various underlings. An hour later, Mia emerged with a sleek, very short boy length cut. Gary had also added a burgundy rinse that gave her hair a violet-red tint. She looked completely different. Her fine bone structure was beautifully set off, her skin seemed to glow, and the color of her eyes looked an even darker brown. Meg was impressed. Mia stood in front of the mirror turning her head this way and that. She met Meg's eyes in the glass and smiled.
"I bet your brother won't even recognize you," Meg commented. She then turned to Gary, peeled fourteen-hundred RMB's from her roll and handed them over. Seven hundred for the cut and coloring, another seven hundred as a tip. About one-hundred-seventy in US dollars. They gathered their bags and caught a cab to the Palace Hotel, which had the largest selection of European brand name clothing and accessories. Mia ended up choosing a white Gucci blouse and skirt, a Dolce & Gabbana mahogany pants and print shirt, and a pair of low heeled Fendi shoes that went with both. On the way out, Meg made sure to get her a wheeled pilot's case to use at the airport.
Now weighed down with many bags, the women finally headed to the hotel. Meg had the driver park by the side entrance instead of the semi-circlular front drive.
"I'm going to the front desk to get another key card, I gave John mine this morning. Wait here, I'll come open the door for you. Got it?"
"Got it," Mia responded. Meg nodded, got out of the taxi, and walked around to the front door and into the lobby. She approached the front desk and gave a sob story about misplacing her key card. Another was promptly activated and handed over. Meg thanked the desk clerk and headed for the elevators, bypassed them, and made her way to the side door. The door could be pushed open from the inside by anyone, but to open it from the outside required a key card. Meg let Mia in and they took the elevator to her room.
When they had settled in, Meg decided to order them room service. When she asked what Mia wanted, the girl immediately replied, "A cheeseburger!" Meg grinned, ordering them both cheeseburgers with the works, fries, and milk. Mia frowned at the mention of milk, but Meg insisted.
This time, there was no excitement with the food delivery. Son had apparently gone home for the day. The ladies each took a chair at the table and started eating. Meg thought this was as good a time as any to continue their conversation about John.
"So," she began, chomping on a fry, "what happened when John came home last year?" Mia looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking.
"Our mother died soon after John's return. She had been sick for some time, but did not want him to know. She knew he had very much wanted to become a teacher. He could have continued his studies under a special work program at the school, but it would not have provided enough to support us all. She felt much guilt for John going to work for Mr. Wei. Her health was not good.
"Just before John's return, we were quickly moved from Shanghai to Canton. The journey was very frightening, we were not told why we were being moved, only that we were in danger. John finally came to us and brought us to Beijing. When he realized how ill our mother was, he wanted to take her out of China to see a doctor. She wouldn't go. She was born in China and would die in China." Mia paused here before going on. "I believe she and John made their peace before her death."
Meg put her hand over Mia's and offered her condolences. Mia gave her a sad smile. They ate in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again.
"My brother thinks very highly of you," she announced. Meg froze in mid chew, not quite knowing how to respond.
"Well," Meg said slowly, after swallowing her food, "I think very highly of him too." She considered Mia's statement a moment longer. "Does John not think highly of many people?" Mia shook her head.
"No. You are the only one he speaks of in this way," she said seriously. Meg was intrigued.
"Talks about me a lot, does he?" she asked, half joking, swirling a fry through her catsup. Mia frowned and shook her head.
"No, not so much anymore. I think you make him sad." Meg nearly choked on the fry.
"Me? Why?"
"I don't know, it is only an impression." Before Meg could ask her to elaborate, Mia delivered another zinger. "Do you have a . . . ," she struggled to find the right word, "manfriend?" It took Meg a second to realize what she was talking about.
"You mean a boyfriend?" Mia nodded. "No."
"Why?" Meg frowned at her, wondering where this was going. She shrugged.
"I don't know. What for? They're kind of annoying. You have to call them and talk to them and go places with them and do things together - too much hassle. Of all the men I've dated, I can honestly say I prefer my own company."
"Have you dated a lot of men?" Meg looked at her quizzically, but Mia merely looked back in frank interest. She shrugged again.
"I don't know. Guess it depends on your point of view. But, no, technically, I guess I haven't dated a lot of men." Mia appeared to think this over seriously. A thought suddenly struck Meg. "Do YOU have a boyfriend?" Mia had that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on her face.
"You will not tell my brother?" she begged, panic stricken.
"You mean John doesn't know?" Meg asked incredulously. Mia shook her head. Meg sighed and thought for a moment. "So tell me about him," she finally said. Mia realized she hadn't yet promised not to tell her brother.
"His name is Liu Jian, he is a . . . drink maker at Vogue. That is a dance club. We met in the park. He is nice," Mia assured her.
"How old is he?" Meg asked suspiciously.
"Thirty-two," Mia finally answered after a pause. Meg only shook her head and sighed.
"Oh, boy. No, I don't think I'll tell your brother, could be hazardous to your health." Mia looked relieved and worried at the same time.
"I can't leave China without seeing him," Mia said earnestly. "I want to say good-bye." Meg shook her head.
"Oh, no. If you want to see Liu, you'll have to tell your brother and let him decide. Don't put this all on me." With that, she stood up and began clearing the dishes and napkins. Mia sat still for a moment, then began helping. When the dishes were outside the door and their hands washed, Meg turned to Mia. "I'm gonna take a shower. It'll be a fifteen to eighteen hour trip back to L.A., depending on which flight we get. You might want to shower after me," Meg said as she gathered her clothing and toiletries. "Don't open that door unless it's John, all right?" Mia nodded mutely. Meg paused and squeezed Mia's arm. "Hey, it'll be okay." Mia nodded again. Meg continued on to the bathroom and closed the door.
While Meg was showering, she thought over what Mia had said about John and wondered what it meant. She knew what she hoped it meant, of course. But what she wanted and what was weren't always the same thing. In fact, they were hardly ever in agreement. Then she thought back to the boyfriend question. It was true, Meg hadn't dated a lot of men, and the ones she did date she kept at arm's length. Ever since she'd had to run away from her last foster home when she was fourteen. Well, she didn't like to dwell on the past. It had made her who she was and that's the only credit she gave it.
Meg rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her head turban style. She dressed in black dress slacks and a silk garnet dress shirt, again putting on her boots. She looked professional enough to pass unnoticed through customs, but if she had to jump, duck, and run for it, she could do that too. In with the contacts and she stepped out of the bathroom, vigorously rubbing her hair with the towel. She wanted it dry before she put on the wig. Her hands stopped in mid rub as her eye scanned the room. Something was missing. Mia. The hotel stationary pad had been thrown on the bed. Meg picked it up.
"I must say good-bye to Liu," it read in Mia's precise english handwriting. "I will return before ten o'clock. Mia." Meg dropped the pad back on the bed.
"Shit. John's gonna kill me."
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Chapter Five
The first stop for Meg and Mia was the Holiday Inn Lido where the Gary Lewis salon was located. While the idea of the best salon being located in a hotel was an odd concept for Meg, she had discovered that many of the best and well known clubs, shops, and spas resided in hotels in Beijing.
Gary already had a full schedule for the day, but when Meg pleaded a hair emergency, shoved a long locked Mia in view, and flashed a thick roll of RMB's, Gary took pity, delegating his remaining appointments to various underlings. An hour later, Mia emerged with a sleek, very short boy length cut. Gary had also added a burgundy rinse that gave her hair a violet-red tint. She looked completely different. Her fine bone structure was beautifully set off, her skin seemed to glow, and the color of her eyes looked an even darker brown. Meg was impressed. Mia stood in front of the mirror turning her head this way and that. She met Meg's eyes in the glass and smiled.
"I bet your brother won't even recognize you," Meg commented. She then turned to Gary, peeled fourteen-hundred RMB's from her roll and handed them over. Seven hundred for the cut and coloring, another seven hundred as a tip. About one-hundred-seventy in US dollars. They gathered their bags and caught a cab to the Palace Hotel, which had the largest selection of European brand name clothing and accessories. Mia ended up choosing a white Gucci blouse and skirt, a Dolce & Gabbana mahogany pants and print shirt, and a pair of low heeled Fendi shoes that went with both. On the way out, Meg made sure to get her a wheeled pilot's case to use at the airport.
Now weighed down with many bags, the women finally headed to the hotel. Meg had the driver park by the side entrance instead of the semi-circlular front drive.
"I'm going to the front desk to get another key card, I gave John mine this morning. Wait here, I'll come open the door for you. Got it?"
"Got it," Mia responded. Meg nodded, got out of the taxi, and walked around to the front door and into the lobby. She approached the front desk and gave a sob story about misplacing her key card. Another was promptly activated and handed over. Meg thanked the desk clerk and headed for the elevators, bypassed them, and made her way to the side door. The door could be pushed open from the inside by anyone, but to open it from the outside required a key card. Meg let Mia in and they took the elevator to her room.
When they had settled in, Meg decided to order them room service. When she asked what Mia wanted, the girl immediately replied, "A cheeseburger!" Meg grinned, ordering them both cheeseburgers with the works, fries, and milk. Mia frowned at the mention of milk, but Meg insisted.
This time, there was no excitement with the food delivery. Son had apparently gone home for the day. The ladies each took a chair at the table and started eating. Meg thought this was as good a time as any to continue their conversation about John.
"So," she began, chomping on a fry, "what happened when John came home last year?" Mia looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking.
"Our mother died soon after John's return. She had been sick for some time, but did not want him to know. She knew he had very much wanted to become a teacher. He could have continued his studies under a special work program at the school, but it would not have provided enough to support us all. She felt much guilt for John going to work for Mr. Wei. Her health was not good.
"Just before John's return, we were quickly moved from Shanghai to Canton. The journey was very frightening, we were not told why we were being moved, only that we were in danger. John finally came to us and brought us to Beijing. When he realized how ill our mother was, he wanted to take her out of China to see a doctor. She wouldn't go. She was born in China and would die in China." Mia paused here before going on. "I believe she and John made their peace before her death."
Meg put her hand over Mia's and offered her condolences. Mia gave her a sad smile. They ate in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again.
"My brother thinks very highly of you," she announced. Meg froze in mid chew, not quite knowing how to respond.
"Well," Meg said slowly, after swallowing her food, "I think very highly of him too." She considered Mia's statement a moment longer. "Does John not think highly of many people?" Mia shook her head.
"No. You are the only one he speaks of in this way," she said seriously. Meg was intrigued.
"Talks about me a lot, does he?" she asked, half joking, swirling a fry through her catsup. Mia frowned and shook her head.
"No, not so much anymore. I think you make him sad." Meg nearly choked on the fry.
"Me? Why?"
"I don't know, it is only an impression." Before Meg could ask her to elaborate, Mia delivered another zinger. "Do you have a . . . ," she struggled to find the right word, "manfriend?" It took Meg a second to realize what she was talking about.
"You mean a boyfriend?" Mia nodded. "No."
"Why?" Meg frowned at her, wondering where this was going. She shrugged.
"I don't know. What for? They're kind of annoying. You have to call them and talk to them and go places with them and do things together - too much hassle. Of all the men I've dated, I can honestly say I prefer my own company."
"Have you dated a lot of men?" Meg looked at her quizzically, but Mia merely looked back in frank interest. She shrugged again.
"I don't know. Guess it depends on your point of view. But, no, technically, I guess I haven't dated a lot of men." Mia appeared to think this over seriously. A thought suddenly struck Meg. "Do YOU have a boyfriend?" Mia had that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on her face.
"You will not tell my brother?" she begged, panic stricken.
"You mean John doesn't know?" Meg asked incredulously. Mia shook her head. Meg sighed and thought for a moment. "So tell me about him," she finally said. Mia realized she hadn't yet promised not to tell her brother.
"His name is Liu Jian, he is a . . . drink maker at Vogue. That is a dance club. We met in the park. He is nice," Mia assured her.
"How old is he?" Meg asked suspiciously.
"Thirty-two," Mia finally answered after a pause. Meg only shook her head and sighed.
"Oh, boy. No, I don't think I'll tell your brother, could be hazardous to your health." Mia looked relieved and worried at the same time.
"I can't leave China without seeing him," Mia said earnestly. "I want to say good-bye." Meg shook her head.
"Oh, no. If you want to see Liu, you'll have to tell your brother and let him decide. Don't put this all on me." With that, she stood up and began clearing the dishes and napkins. Mia sat still for a moment, then began helping. When the dishes were outside the door and their hands washed, Meg turned to Mia. "I'm gonna take a shower. It'll be a fifteen to eighteen hour trip back to L.A., depending on which flight we get. You might want to shower after me," Meg said as she gathered her clothing and toiletries. "Don't open that door unless it's John, all right?" Mia nodded mutely. Meg paused and squeezed Mia's arm. "Hey, it'll be okay." Mia nodded again. Meg continued on to the bathroom and closed the door.
While Meg was showering, she thought over what Mia had said about John and wondered what it meant. She knew what she hoped it meant, of course. But what she wanted and what was weren't always the same thing. In fact, they were hardly ever in agreement. Then she thought back to the boyfriend question. It was true, Meg hadn't dated a lot of men, and the ones she did date she kept at arm's length. Ever since she'd had to run away from her last foster home when she was fourteen. Well, she didn't like to dwell on the past. It had made her who she was and that's the only credit she gave it.
Meg rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her head turban style. She dressed in black dress slacks and a silk garnet dress shirt, again putting on her boots. She looked professional enough to pass unnoticed through customs, but if she had to jump, duck, and run for it, she could do that too. In with the contacts and she stepped out of the bathroom, vigorously rubbing her hair with the towel. She wanted it dry before she put on the wig. Her hands stopped in mid rub as her eye scanned the room. Something was missing. Mia. The hotel stationary pad had been thrown on the bed. Meg picked it up.
"I must say good-bye to Liu," it read in Mia's precise english handwriting. "I will return before ten o'clock. Mia." Meg dropped the pad back on the bed.
"Shit. John's gonna kill me."
