AN: Hello. Thank you for your patience with my lack of updates. I know it's irritating when there are a slew of updates and then none for awhile. Sometimes that it just how the creative process works though. So sorry. Here's the next chapter. It's unusually short, but more is coming after it. It's also not the most exciting chapter in the world, but it's necessary for the rest of the story. I hope you enjoy knowing that this story is not forgotten. More soon.
Peter
The letter on my grandfather's desk first caught my attention because it had been sent airmail, but I grew more interested in it when the words "Peter" and "China" registered. An hour later my grandfather fell asleep in his chair with a copy of the evening paper across his chest, and I finally got the chance to thoroughly read the letter. My heart raced faster with every word, both from worry and anticipation.
"Dear Dr. Mellark,
We received your request to return to China at this critical time of need and appreciate your offer. Your experience and professional skills would be extremely helpful to some of our younger physicians and nurses as well as to our patients. At this time we cannot not guarantee where or in what conditions you would be living or working should you return to China. The situation is changing rapidly. However, we would welcome your assistance.
Funding is limited, but if your church is willing to assist with travel costs we can accommodate you in the small dormitories used by our staff wherever such dormitories are available. The Director of Humanitarian Services and I have discussed your desire to bring your grandson, Peter, with you. We've agreed that given your age and health it is appropriate to bring Peter with you. Again, we can accommodate Peter in our dormitories, but your church or a similar sponsoring organization will need to assist with travel costs."
I watch my grandfather's chest gently rise and fall, causing the newspaper to make soft crinkling sounds which do not appear to disturb him at all. He's well over seventy. While he remains active as a physician by working with refugees at a clinic he's gradually decreased his work hours, working far less than when I left for the war. While I can't be sure of all his motives, he must be planning to travel to China in part for me. For the first time the potential selfishness of my actions hits me. I've considered looking for Cai as a completely self-less act all this time, never thinking of the consequences for others. While it might impact others I still feel that trying to find Cai is the right thing to do, but I wish there was another way. My grandfather shifts in his chair and starts to snore softly. I put the letter back where I found it wondering when he'll share the information it contains with me.
/
Cai
Ping's attachment to the woman is ridiculous. My only explanation for it is that she looks a little like his wife. I'm not sure if that makes the attachment more understandable or more frustrating to me. Has Ping forgotten all about his wife? Is he planning to replace her with somebody else? What's really odd is that he talks to this woman he's met about his wife. He tells her how much he misses his wife. The woman comforts him, saying she understands. She tells him about her lost family too. I watch them, bewildered by their strange ways. I'm alone with my grief, staring at the sky in this miserable camp waiting for the sun to rise or the sun to set. There are people everywhere, but Ping says this is a good place because there are foreigners providing food to people like us who have no home now. I think he's wrong. I want to leave.
Most people in this camp would avoid someone like the woman to whom Ping has grown attached. She's needy. Her tiny baby is needier still. When Ping convinced those in charge of the food to allow him to bring the woman's food bowl to the line for her I knew then that my plan to continue our travels was in jeopardy.
"We need to leave," I tell him while we wait in line.
"No, I've told you before that there aren't many places that we can find food. There's no fighting here. This is safer for now."
"I'm leaving tomorrow," I threaten.
He sighs, but he knows I won't go. Ping is able to get information that I wouldn't be able to get on my own. Neither of us wants to lose our only friend left from home either.
"Just give it a little longer, Cai. You are very impatient. It's always been a fallacy for you."
"Really? And what are your fallacies, Ping?" People turn to look at me sternly. That's not something you usually ask a man, I guess. It's something you only observe.
Ping glances at me, raising an eyebrow, "getting involved, where maybe I shouldn't have," he answers. I know he's talking about me and my family as much as his new-found female companion.
Peter
My grandfather places the letter on my desk unceremoniously.
"You're going with me to China," he says.
I act surprised, of course.
"I have no idea if we'll be anywhere near Hong Kong, but there's a good chance we'll start out there," he continues.
I read the letter while his eyes study my reaction over the rims of his glasses.
"I'm not so sure this is a good idea," I tell him quietly.
"Why's that? You don't think the old man can do it?"
"Well, I think it's going to be hard for both of us to do it. For different reasons," I answer.
He shakes his head.
"You said you wanted to go back. You can't be choosy about how that happens. There might be a better opportunity later, and there might be no opportunity later. I know about how opportunities come and go in places like China, Peter."
"Um, what about the money?" I ask hesitantly.
"Your Dad is taking care of that," he says.
"How?" I ask, surprised.
"There's some people interested in sending us there."
"Some people?" I ask, unsure.
"Yes, some people in the church. Some people made money off this war, you know. They want to do some good with it besides just winning the war."
I suppose that's as good an answer as any.
"Money is not our primary concern. Your mother is our primary concern."
"I hadn't thought of that," I tell him.
"Well, I have. We're going regardless. She'll be alright. She won't have much time to think about it anyway. We're leaving next week."
I'm taken aback.
"Next week? How long have you been working on this?"
He laughs for a moment. Then his face wrinkles more than usual with the concentration needed to pinpoint the time.
"I started about a week after your big revelation. I just didn't want to tell you until I had everything arranged."
I'm confused. Surprised. Even amazed.
"You didn't believe I'd change my mind? That I might really marry Delly?"
"No," he says. "Definitely not."
I fold the letter carefully while I take in what he's saying, more curious than ever.
"Why not? Everybody else did. They still do!"
"Because I listened to you," he said, pushing his glasses higher on his nose. "You were talking about her like you'd…well, like you'd loved her a very long time even though you hadn't even known her a long time. You weren't going to give up on her. Besides, I knew there was a girl even before you told us. I just didn't know how important she was to you until you started talking about her."
"I don't know whether to be angry that my ally in this was unknown all along or happy that I have one."
"Just be happy," he tells me.