Lies and Weddings(85)

Eden squinted as she noticed the most peculiar sight beyond her father’s shoulder. A Fellini-esque procession was moving slowly up the hill toward the pavilion. It consisted of a shrunken man wearing a woolen cap, swathed in an Hermès Avalon blanket, with tubes coming out everywhere—his nose, his arms—being wheeled by a hulking Nordic male nurse, followed by half a dozen or so nurses carting medical devices and machines that were hooked up to the man. Was this her father’s mysterious patient?

“Here comes your fighter, I think,” Eden said.

Thomas swiveled around in shock. “Good god!”

Before Thomas could intercept them, Rene and his entourage arrived at the pavilion. Thomas looked at the male nurse in dismay. “What happened, Olaf? You were supposed to be going to Cedars-Sinai.”

“Dr. Tong, I tried. Mr. Tan got a text and made us turn around,” Olaf nervously explained.

“Thomas Tong, you fucking asshole…why didn’t you tell me…your daughter was visiting? I had to…find out from Tessa,” Rene breathlessly admonished Thomas.

“Rene, I’m sorry, I didn’t think you’d mind if my daughter paid a visit while you were out getting your PET scan,” Thomas said, all flustered.

“Do I mind? Nei lyun gong mat yeh?[*4] Why should I take…another PET scan…to tell me all the fascinating new places…my cancer has spread? I want to meet…your daughter.” Rene craned his neck toward Eden, who was sitting at the far end of the table. “Come over here…what’s your name?”

Eden got up from the table and crouched down next to Rene’s wheelchair. Even with a cursory glance she could tell he was in very bad shape. “Hello, sir, I’m Eden,” she said with a smile.

Rene stared at her intently. “Thirty years I’ve…known your father…and not once has he…even showed me…a picture of you. How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-seven,” Eden replied, surprised to learn that this man had known her father for so long. She had assumed he was one of her father’s newer clients from China.

“And you were…born in…England?”

“No, Houston.”

“Ah yes…where your dad was…doing his residency.”

“Actually, it was where he did his specialization in oncology. But we moved to England when I was three, after my mum died.”

“Your poor mother…she was ABC, an American-born Chinese?”

“Canadian-born Chinese, actually.”

“What…was her…name?”

“Faye.”

“Faye what?”

“Faye Wang.”

“Faye…Wang…how interesting.”

The blood pressure machine started beeping, and Olaf shot Thomas an anxious look. Rene’s blood pressure was suddenly rising faster than a rocket.

“Rene, we need to get you back to your suite now,” Thomas cut in urgently.

“Fuck you…I’m having…a conversation.”

Eden glanced at the reading on the blood pressure monitor, marveling that he was even alive, and continued calmly, “Mr. Tan, why don’t we continue this back in your room?”

“You won’t…leave?”

“I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere,” Eden replied, taking his hand.

The entire group decamped to the guest wing of the main residence, which had been transformed like the Houston house into a state-of-the-art medical suite. As soon as he was settled onto his bed, Rene resumed his conversation with Eden.

“Tell me…your mother…what did she do?”

“She worked in public relations, but after I was born she was a full-time mother…until she got sick.”

“She had cancer too?”

“Yes.”

Rene was quiet for a few moments before he spoke up. “We can send…robots to Mars…but we still can’t conquer…this silly disease. You know I was…supposed…to be dead…four years ago but…your father has kept me…alive.”

Eden smiled at him encouragingly.

“But what is the…point of being alive…when everything tastes…like horse shit and…you can’t chase…all the pretty girls? I used to love coming to LA…so much temptation…now…what’s the point? I am a…eunuch in a harem.”

“You’ve managed to have more time with your son…,” Thomas remarked.

“Yes…Luis Felipe…and where is he? I’ve seen him…twice since we got here. He’s too busy…meeting with…those Hollywood grifters. He should be here meeting you.”

Just then, Tessa poked her head into the room. “Miss Eden, Mr. Freddy has arrived to fetch you.”

“Thank you, Tessa.”

“Tessa…where the hell is my son?” Rene barked, straining himself.

“Sir, I believe he is hosting a sneaker release party at the Ron Herman boutique.”

Eden couldn’t believe her ears. If this were her father, she would not be hosting a party right now. She wasn’t even sure he would make it through the weekend. Turning back to Rene, she said, “Mr. Tan, I’m afraid I have to run to dinner.”