A sudden gleam came over Nick’s eyes. “I have an idea—why don’t we go away tomorrow? Let
’s skip the tea ceremony at the Khoos’. I don’t think you really want to stand around and watch Araminta get piled with tons of jewelry from all her relatives anyway. Let’s get out of Singapore and clear our heads. I know a special place we can go.”
Rachel eyed him warily. “Is it going to involve more private jets and six-star resorts?”
Nick shook his head rapidly. “Don’t worry, we’re driving. I’m taking you to Malaysia. I’m taking you to a remote lodge in the Cameron Highlands, far away from all this.”
11
Residences at One Cairnhill
SINGAPORE
Eleanor was just sitting down to her usual breakfast of toasted seven-grain bread, low-fat butter, and low-sugar marmalade when the phone rang. Whenever the phone rang this early in the morning, she knew it had to be one of her siblings in America. This was probably her brother in Seattle, begging for another loan. When Consuelo entered the breakfast room with the phone, Eleanor shook her head and mouthed silently, “Tell him I’m still asleep.”
“No, no, ma’am, not Seattle brother. It’s Mrs. Foo.”
“Oh,” Eleanor said, grabbing the phone as she took a bite of her toast. “Daisy, what are you doing up so early? Did you have indigestion too after that awful wedding banquet?”
“No, no, Elle, I have breaking news!” Daisy said excitedly.
“What, what?” Eleanor asked in anticipation. She said a quick prayer and hoped Daisy was going to report on the tragic breakup of Nicky and Rachel. Francesca had winked at her during the fireworks last night and whispered two words—It’s done—and Eleanor noticed during the ferry ride home that Rachel looked like she had been hit in the face with a durian.
“Guess who just woke up from a coma?” Daisy announced.
“Oh. Who?” Eleanor asked, a little crestfallen.
“Just guess, lah!”
“I don’t know … that von Bülow woman?”
“Aiyah, no lah! Sir Ronald Shaw woke up! Nadine’s father-in-law!”
“Alamak!” Eleanor almost spat out her toast. “I thought he was a living vegetable.”
“Well, somehow the vegetable woke up, and he’s even talking! The cousin of my maid’s daughter-in-law is the night nurse at Mount E, and apparently she got the shock of her life when Patient Shaw woke up at four this morning and started demanding his Kopi-O.”*
“How long has he been in a coma?” Eleanor asked, looking up and noticing Nick stroll into the kitchen. Oh my. Nick was over bright and early. Something must have happened!
“Six years now. Nadine, Ronnie, Francesca, the whole family have rushed to his bedside, and the news crews are just arriving.”
“Huh. Do you think we should go down too?” Eleanor asked.
“I think let’s wait. Let’s see. You know, I hear that sometimes these coma victims wake up right before they die.”
“If he’s asking for Kopi-O, something tells me he’s not going to kick the bucket anytime soon,” Eleanor surmised. She said goodbye to Daisy and focused her attention on Nick.
“Francesca’s grandfather woke up from his coma this morning,” Eleanor relayed, buttering another piece of toast.
“I didn’t even realize he was still alive,” Nick said disinterestedly.
“What are you doing here so early? Do you want some breakfast? Some kaya toast?”
“No, no, I already ate.”
“Where’s Rachel this morning?” Eleanor asked a little too eagerly. Was the girl tossed out in the middle of the night like garbage?
“Rachel’s still asleep. I got up early to talk to you and Dad. Is he up yet?”