The Girl Who Wrote in Silk (33 page)

Wednesday, August 29—present day

Lake Union, Seattle

Early on the second morning after her father’s funeral, Inara had Nate drop her off at the Kenmore Air seaplane terminal on his way to work, which meant she was an hour too early for her flight. Luckily, there was a Starbucks on the other side of the parking lot where she could kill time, so, after checking in with the reception desk, she headed there.

She ordered a tea latte and chose an outdoor table to watch the morning take shape over Lake Union. From her vantage point, she could see the southern shore of the lake where the Museum of History and Industry would later be drawing tourists but for now sat empty. Maybe someday, after she and her siblings revealed what they knew, the real history of Seattle’s Chinese would be displayed in that building. Maybe she’d contact the museum and suggest it.

Shifting her gaze, she saw the sun had crested the top of Capitol Hill to the east and would soon bring heat to the air that still held the cool freshness of night. A ribbon of traffic wove around the base of the hill, heading to another workday in the city.

As beautiful as Seattle was, she ached to be on her beach away from the people, noise, and congestion. She wanted to hear the breeze blowing through the forest, not the hum of traffic or the cry of seagulls rooting in garbage cans. She wanted to watch the sun rise over Mount Constitution, not the steel and concrete that made up her eastern horizon now.

She needed to be alone to process everything that had changed in her life in the last few days. She missed her father. Was still working through the fact that he was gone.

And she missed Daniel. Missed his one-dimpled grin and that lock of hair that always fell over his eye. Missed hearing his voice at the end of every day.

She sipped her latte and watched the sky lighten to the robin’s-egg blue of summer. It was probably for the best that Daniel broke up with her. She needed time to be alone to mourn her father, to rework her hotel plan to fit the budget she now had with her unexpected inheritance.

The dichotomy of joy and pain she felt was tearing her apart. On one hand she couldn’t be happier that she got to keep the hotel. She would see her dream come true! But on the other hand, it had taken losing her father to get it.

She’d rather lose Rothesay a hundred times over.

She checked the clock on her phone. Forty-five minutes until her flight. She groaned under her breath and consoled herself with the reminder that by lunchtime she’d be home. In fact, she should call Tom and have him meet her at the house so they could get to work right away. She dialed his number.

He was surprised to hear from her but, thankfully, was available that afternoon. She hung up and slipped her phone back into her pocket, glad he hadn’t offered condolences. She was nearing her breaking point on condolences.

“Inara!”

She turned at the sound but didn’t see anyone. Then the call came again: “Inara, over here.”

She looked in that direction and was shocked to find Margaret Chin, of all people, heading toward her from the air terminal. She waved to Inara with one hand as the other clutched a gold purse to the waist of her tailored burgundy skirt and jacket.

Inara got up and went to meet her, wondering all the while why Margaret Chin was at Lake Union at this time of day dressed like she was heading to a business meeting. “Margaret, good morning,” Inara said in way of greeting as she hugged the woman who had been nothing but kind to her in spite of the hurt Inara had inflicted on her son. On their whole family.

“You’re a hard woman to get ahold of,” Margaret told her as she hugged her back. “Don’t you ever answer your phone?”

Inara flinched. “It’s been a difficult week.”

A look of sorrow came into the older woman’s eyes. “Yes. I’m so sorry about your father. I heard the service was beautiful.”

Inara nodded her thanks but said nothing.

“Your brother told me I’d find you here.” She motioned toward the table Inara had just vacated. “Can we sit?”

A tremor went through her as she returned to her seat. “Is Daniel okay?”

Margaret patted her hand. “Daniel’s fine. This is about you and me.”

“What do you mean?”

Margaret crossed her toned legs and regarded Inara with a small smile. “Did you mean what you said that morning about us working together on your hotel and me running the restaurant?”

Inara let the question sink into her brain. Was she hearing Margaret correctly? “I…I meant it, but I have to admit, my financial circumstances have changed now.”

Margaret pressed her lips together and seemed to be considering something. Then she opened the bag on her lap and pulled out a one-inch binder, which she opened and set in front of Inara. “This is a report I’ve put together showing you some sample menus, staffing needs, ideas for decor, and, most importantly, financial projections for the restaurant. The way I figure it, your hotel still needs a restaurant, and I’m the best you’ll find. Plus, I’m dying to relocate to Orcas part-time and work with you, if you’ll have me.”

A bit overwhelmed, Inara flipped through the pages in the binder, growing increasingly intrigued by everything she saw. “I’m not promising anything, but if we were to do this, I suppose we could renovate a space on the third floor for you to live in.”

Margaret waved her hand in the air. “No, no. I already have my agent looking for condos in Eastsound.”

“What about your restaurants here? Your family?”

“I’ll commute back and forth but can commit most of my time to being on Orcas for the next few years until I find a chef I can trust with the menu and whom you and I both like.”

Margaret had yet to mention the biggest obstacle Inara could see. She looked down at her lap. “What about Daniel? Does he know you want to work with me?”

“He told me I’d be stupid not to pursue this. In fact, he wants to talk to you himself. He drove me here.”

Inara jerked her chin up and followed Margaret’s gaze toward the parking lot. Daniel leaned against the metal railing, watching them with his hands tucked into his pockets. A lock of black hair hung in his eyes, just the way she loved. Her fingers itched to brush it aside.

Somehow she got to her feet despite the nervous shaking that had overtaken her body. She didn’t remember moving, but she was suddenly in front of him, her body straining to touch him and barely holding back. “Daniel. It’s good to see you.”

Those smooth lips she loved so much spread into a smile that could have broken her heart had it not been broken already. He didn’t move to touch her, but his eyes were warm as he said, “You too. I missed you.”

His words shot straight to her heart, her eyes stung with tears. She took a step forward, reaching for him, but stopped. Too soon.

She stepped back and looked down at the pavement, noticing that someone had dropped a nickel. “Daniel, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about—”

“Look, I need to apologize,” he interrupted her. “I handled things between us horribly, and for that I’m sorry. Inara, look at me.”

What if he was just playing nice for his mother’s sake?
Don’t get your hopes up, Inara.
Still, her chin lifted; her eyes met his. His face softened into a smile filled with all the memories of their days working together, their nights in each other’s arms.

With the sound of commuter traffic and piercing seagull cries surrounding them, Inara allowed herself to admit the truth—she still wanted to be with him, despite all that had gone wrong between them.

“Your brother called me last night. He told me you’re planning on revealing what Duncan Campbell did.” He shifted his weight to the other foot and kicked at a tuft of grass growing in a crack in the pavement. “Don’t tell the story on my account, please. I don’t want you or your family hurt.”

He
still
cared!
“Thank you, but Nate and Olivia and I have talked, and we think it’s time. We’re going to make the announcement next month.” She crossed her arms to hide her awkwardness. “It would mean a lot to me if you were there.”

His eyes gleamed. “I’ll be there. My whole family will be there.” His hand came up, his warm palm cupping her cheek. “I missed you so much.”

She leaned in to his touch and closed her eyes. Suddenly his lips were on hers, and she forgot all else except how right it felt to be in his arms again. She melted into his kiss and let her body fit perfectly against his.

It was only the loud clearing of a throat that brought them back to the present. They looked at each other and laughed before turning toward Margaret, who had remained at the table. She was smiling, and Inara would have sworn her eyes were damp.

“Before you two get carried away, let me remind you that Inara has a flight to catch and I still need an answer from her.”

The restaurant. She’d forgotten all about it when she’d seen Daniel.

With Daniel’s arm around her, and Margaret and her binder of ideas, Inara felt the rightness of it all. She’d wanted her hotel to be a place where her family could come together again. With her father gone, her vision would never come to fruition, but that didn’t mean her definition of family couldn’t evolve.

The Rothesay Hotel would be a place for family—hers and the Chins, and all the families who would come to stay over the years.

“Inara? Your flight?” Margaret reminded her.

Her
flight!
Panic chased away the warm fuzzies. She pulled out her cell phone and saw it was time to head to the floatplane dock or she’d risk missing her flight. “I have to go,” she told them, for the first time wishing Tom wasn’t waiting for her. “But my answer is absolutely yes. I want nothing more than for you to run the restaurant. How soon can you be there?”

Margaret jumped to her feet and grabbed Inara for a hug. “Thank you! This is going to be wonderful!”

Inara squeezed her in return. “Thank you, Margaret. For everything.”

Margaret drew back and smiled in a way that showed she understood. “You’re welcome. Now go, catch your flight. I’ll call you tonight.”

Torn, Inara looked toward the dock and back at Daniel. Seeing her struggle, he gave her a nudge. “I’ll come up to see you this weekend. We have some time to make up for.”

At that she stood on her tiptoes and gave Daniel a kiss that would have to keep both of them satisfied for the next two days. She grabbed her bag and ran for the floatplane that would take her home.

Saturday, October 6—present day

Waterfront Park, Seattle

Inara listened as Nate addressed the crowd assembled for the dedication of the new waterfront park. The press releases they’d sent out had promised an unexpected announcement at the dedication ceremony but she could tell by the shock on most faces that none of them had expected anything like what they’d just learned.

With Elliott Bay sparkling in the autumn sun behind her and Mount Rainer hovering in the southern distance, Inara had revealed Mei Lien’s tragic story and her great-great-great-grandfather’s role in the murders of hundreds. She’d left nothing out as the news cameras recorded everything, and she knew—they all knew—that the news would spread around the world, sending shock and outrage back to her family and PMG. They hoped the statement Nate was reading would help people understand their own family’s sorrow and how deeply sorry they all were for their ancestor’s actions.

“This park is not being dedicated to the memory of Duncan Campbell as originally planned,” Nate was saying and Inara held her breath for the rest. “This park is dedicated in memory of all who lost their lives that tragic day and is being named in honor of the woman who made sure the truth would not be forgotten. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you the Mei Lien McElroy Memorial Park.”

With that the cloth was pulled from the statue at the center of the park to reveal a bronze Chinese woman staring out to sea, a sad look in her eyes and a bolt of cloth in her hands. Inara heard Margaret gasp beside her and knew she’d caught sight of the face. She’d given the artist a picture of Cassie to use as a model for Mei Lien. He’d only had a month to create this new sculpture and it had cost an exorbitant fee, but it was worth it for this single moment of awe.

“Oh, Inara, it’s beautiful!” Margaret pulled Inara against her for a hug but her eyes never left the statue.

“I’m happy you like it.”

“Why’d you make her look like Cassie?” Daniel asked from her other side as they watched Cassie pose for a picture next to the statue while news cameras rolled and reporters fired off questions to her about her newly discovered ancestor.

Inara laughed. “Do you think she minds?”

“Not at all.” Something in Daniel’s voice made her glance at him and she found him looking down at her with a tender expression. “Thank you for this. All of this.”

She knew he understood how difficult the next few days and weeks would be for her family. She also knew he’d be right there beside her during the worst of it. She stepped to him for a kiss. “Thank you.”

With his forehead to hers, he murmured, “I have a surprise of my own waiting for you back at Rothesay.”

She pulled back. “I hope to be back next week, but I have to stay to help Nate and Olivia deal with the fallout for however long it takes—”

“Don’t worry,” he interrupted. “It’ll be there whenever you go back, and when you do, I’m going with you. No hurry. For now, though, I think you’re needed.” He nodded toward Nate who was surrounded by a knot of people flinging questions and accusations at him as though he, not Duncan, was the guilty party.

“I’d better go help him. I’ll see you later at Toisan, right?”

“Mom promised to hold dinner until you all get there. Take the time you need to deal with this.” With one last kiss, he nudged her toward the waiting crowd.

Gathering her strength, she stepped beside Nate with a hand on his back so he knew she was there and then she pasted on a smile for the crowd. Olivia stepped to his other side. Together they’d face what came and they’d do whatever it took to bring peace to those shattered by their news.

• • •

“I’m exhausted, but so happy to be back,” Inara told Daniel as she climbed out of his car in front of Rothesay a week later. After all that had happened, she finally felt confident in thinking of the house as hers. She was home. “Thanks for driving.”

“No problem. Hey, my mom must still be here.” He nodded toward the car parked in front of the main porch and the lights shining through the front windows. “Let’s go say hi.”

She left her bags in the car and came around to slip her hand into his and walk through the cool blue evening to the hotel. She couldn’t wait to see what Tom’s crews had accomplished during the three weeks she’d spent in Seattle. She would have stayed longer, but Nate had practically packed her bags for her and pushed her out the door.

“We’ve got it under control,” he’d said in reference to the public relations fiasco their announcement had caused PMG. “I’ve hired Daniel’s research team to start identifying the victims and tracking down any living family. We’re over the worst of it. Go. Be a hotelier.”

She’d laughed at the title as she’d hugged him good-bye. Hotelier. Yes, that was what she was. It fit, she decided.

“Mom, you here?” Daniel called as they entered through the front entry.

“She’s probably back in the kitchen and can’t hear you…” Her words dwindled away as she caught sight of Margaret standing in the newly tiled lobby between the reception desk and a large glass case Inara had never seen before. Margaret’s gleeful grin made Inara take a second look at the case and what was inside. Her breath stuck in her throat. “Is that…”

“Yes, your surprise,” Daniel answered without hearing the full question. “We had the robe cleaned and hung on a floating form with your sleeve. It’s a temperature- and humidity-controlled case so it should keep well here in the hotel, if you like it.”

Somehow she made it down the steps and across the lobby to the case where the full impact of the robe and sleeve hit her. They were together, here on the property where Mei Lien had poured her heart and soul into them.

Even though the robe had been cleaned, it was still yellowed with age and bare in places. The contrast between it and the sleeve was remarkable and showed how intensely the robe had been loved. Worn on his body or not, Yan-Tao had clearly treasured the robe, probably because his mother had made it for him. The hem was even frayed, like it had been dragged on the ground.

She still couldn’t figure out why Mei Lien or Yan-Tao had cut off the sleeve and hidden it.
But, really, does it matter?
She was glad they did it because she, and now anyone visiting the hotel, could see how breathtaking the colors had once been. The sleeve practically glowed under the lighting Daniel had set up in the display, the vibrant colors telling their story in a way that was almost three-dimensional.

The robe itself had many stories to tell too. More than she realized, she thought now as she circled the display and got the full view of all sides. She’d have to spend some time studying it over the next few days, she decided. Was that a rabbit?
Later.
She’d study it later.

She turned to find Daniel and Margaret watching her. “Are you sure you want to give them to me? Doesn’t Vera want them? Or the museum?”

Margaret squeezed her shoulder. “We think you should have it. It’s our way of saying thank you for connecting us with our family history.”

“It’s perfect.” She pulled Margaret to her for a hug. Over Margaret’s shoulder she smiled at Daniel. “Thank you so much,” she said again.

Later, she and Daniel made their way to the beach through the dark forest. After the emotional and hectic last few weeks, Inara needed to reconnect with the peace the beach always brought her.

“I’m so glad we revealed the truth. It just feels right, you know?” she said to Daniel as they came out of the trees onto the beach, her breath showing in the cold night air. She switched off her flashlight since the moon lit the night nearly as bright as day.

They walked in silence to the edge of the low tide where they stood in a path of moonlight stretching across the water. “You know,” she said in a muted voice since the night seemed to call for quiet. “It’s strange that of all the people I might have gone to for help identifying the sleeve, I found you and you ended up being connected to it.”

“I was thinking about that too,” he admitted, holding her close to his side for warmth. “I think Mei Lien and Yan-Tao had something to do with that, if you can believe in such things.”

Just like how Dahlia brought her back to the place where she belonged so she could find the sense of self she’d lost along with her mother. “Yes,” she told Daniel. “I think I can believe such things.”

She looked up at the bright moon and wondered aloud, “What do you think happened to her, really? We know Duncan didn’t kill her.”

She felt Daniel shrug, though she didn’t take her eyes off the moon. “We may never know for sure,” he answered softly.

A sudden thought occurred to Inara and she turned to look at him. “What do you think Mei Lien would think about us being together? Do you think she’d hate for you to be in a relationship with a Campbell relative?”

Daniel seemed to mull it over as he stared at the water, his features highlighted by moonlight. Then his face softened. “You know, I think she approves. I think she’s forgiven your family.”

Inara laughed. “You talk like she’s still here.”

Daniel didn’t laugh with her. Instead he turned his face to her and she saw he had a thoughtful expression there. “I think she is,” he told her. “Don’t you feel it?”

Inara’s laughter faded. “There’s something about this beach, isn’t there? I didn’t know anyone else felt it.”

Now Daniel did smile, but it was one directed back across the years to the woman who’d left them her story on an embroidered sleeve. “I feel it.”

He pulled her into his arms and tilted her face up to his. “You found her story and you brought her family back here to her home. You’ve also made her great-great-grandson a very happy man.”

His lips came over hers, warm and demanding. Inara sank into his embrace, responding to his hunger with her own.

From somewhere out in the water, the sound of a splash echoed to where they stood wrapped together on the beach and she knew Daniel was right.

Mei Lien approved.