Page 46 of Share with Me

“Everything I need to know about God is in here.” Yun patted the worn-out leather-bound Bible on the side table next to her rocker. “God is patient, Brinley. God will wait patiently until my Jade comes home.”

“Jade. That’s an interesting name.”

“You know what’s even more interesting? Do you know the name of Ivan’s tour group of concert musicians?”

“The one after Juilliard?”

Yun nodded. “The one that lasted only two years.”

“Let me guess. Jade something.”

“Jade Strings. Willow came up with the name. She was the piano accompanist in the group. She suggested the name so that maybe someday Jade would see them in the news and contact them.”

“She never did.”

“You guessed it, Brinley.”

“So we don’t know if she’s dead or alive?”

“No.”

“And she goes by Jade McMillan?”

“Yes. Jade Ji-Yun McMillan.”

Brinley made a mental note to call Helen Hu, the private investigator who could find anything and anyone. She might have to talk with Yun to get more information so she could find the missing mother. It would take time, but it could bring closure for Yun. She wasn’t getting any younger. She was older than Grandpa Brooks. Any day now, Yun could die. It would be a tragedy for her to die without knowing where her daughter was. The same way it had been a tragedy for Grandpa Brooks to die without ever seeing his quest fulfilled.

“More tea?” Yun asked.

“No, thanks. But I’ll have a shortbread.”

“Oh yes, we forgot about that.” Yun smiled. “Better eat up. That’s Ivan’s favorite and it’ll be gone before you come back next.”

“I’ve enjoyed tea with you, Yun. It’s nice and quiet out here.”

“Only now because Ivan’s music studio is on break for two weeks. When it starts back up again, it’s violin and piano music all day long.”

“Let’s have tea again before I go back to work.” Brinley bit into her shortbread.

“When is that?”

“First week of January.”

“That soon.”

Too soon indeed.

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