Page 116 of The Friend Zone Experiment

“I’m good, thanks,” said Renee.

“At your age, you should be thinking about getting married,” said Dad. “Otherwise, it’ll be too late to have children. We can arrange a meeting with the man when you’re back in Singapore.” He yawned, about to head off up the stairs.

“Dad,” said Renee. “You haven’t asked me yet.”

He looked back again, surprised. His eyes were red and a little watery, the lids drooping. Dad had been straight-backed and strong for as long as Renee could remember, but as he stood there by the stairs, she saw that he was stooping, his shoulders curving in. Her heart failed her.

Her father’s force of personality, his power, his position as the head of the family all made it hard to remember he was a human being, subject to human frailty. But for once Renee looked at him and saw not Goh Kheng Tat, a man possessed of more wealth and resources than most people ever dreamt of having. She saw an old man, worn out from jet lag, the burden of responsibility, and the intransigence of his children.

“You know how many people work for Chahaya Group?” he’d said to her once, when she was a teenager. Su Beng or Su Khoon had messed something up—she couldn’t remember what, now. “Fifteen thousand. If I don’t work hard, or I make a mistake, fifteen thousand families will lose their rice bowl. Means it’s worth taking seriously, right?”

If only she could have left this conversation for another day, put off the moment when she had to disappoint him yet again. But there wasn’t time. Dad was flying off in a few days’ time, and once Jessie knew about the outcome of this meeting, there would be no hope of keeping the news within the family.

Dad’s brow furrowed. “Asked what?”

“If I’m going to accept the job,” said Renee.

31

No one respondedwhen Renee texted Dad, Su Khoon, and Jessie to ask what time they were leaving for the airport. But she had their flight details from Dad’s PA, who was acutely conscious of the fact that rebooking the flights at Dad’s demand meant they were leaving on Renee’s birthday. Miss Adibah already had a guilty conscience over all the times she’d cancelled birthday dinners and scheduled business meetings against school plays and graduation ceremonies. Getting the information out of her had been easy.

Dad liked to be at the airport early, so Renee turned up at the Chelsea house midafternoon, five hours before their evening flight back to Singapore. It was Jessie who opened the door.

“Oh,” she said.

Renee had come for reasons no one could fault, but there was no denying that Jessie’s expression was a reward for her effort. She’d never seen her sister-in-law quite so much at a loss before.

Renee smiled. “Came to say goodbye.” She raised a shopping bag. “I got some things for the kids. Nothing big. I thought they could play with them on the flight.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” said Jessie, recovering. “The kids will be so excited to see you. Kai made you a birthday card, we were going to post it. Guys, Gu Gu is here!”

Renee followed her through to the reception room, where Su Khoon’s three kids were watching TV. Dad was on the sofa, frowning over his iPad.

“Your brother’s upstairs,” said Jessie. “I’ll tell him you’re here.”

She slipped out of the room before she could be detained by either kids or in-laws, and who could blame her?

Dodging enthusiastic greetings from her nieces and nephew, who recognised the Hamleys branding on her shopping bag, Renee said:

“Hey, Dad. All packed?”

Without looking at her, Dad got up from the sofa, tucked the iPad under his arm, and went out of the room.

“Where’s Gong Gong going?”

“He’s going to get ready,” said Renee. She had been prepared for the snub, so it only hurt a little to watch him leave the room, back stiff with affront.

She knelt, turning a smile on the kids. “You guys want to see what I’ve got for you?”

Su Khoon came downstairs while she was distributing her gifts. It was their first meeting since it had been decided that Su Khoon would be CEO of Chahaya. He looked as dubious about having the pleasure of Renee’s company as Jessie had.

The kids’ presence was helpful. First it was necessary to mediate between the girls when they fought over which of the two nearly identical Disney Princess arts-and-crafts kits they wanted. Then it transpired the youngest boy had concluded from Renee’s sudden appearance that she was coming back to Singapore with them. Soothing him when the truth was broken to him consumed all of Renee and Su Khoon’s attention.

By the time Jessie and the nanny showed up to whip the kids away for a pre-departure snack and shower, any awkwardness was gone.

Renee said to Su Khoon, with feeling, “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Two helpers and a nanny,” said Su Khoon. “It’s like a bloody zoo.” He collapsed onto the sofa. “You’ve seen Dad?”

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