White Tiger

words came out before I even thought about them. ‘More than anything in the world.’ And it was true. Simone was very special to me.
    We shared a thought: both of us loved her more than anything in the world.
    He turned to leave. ‘I think that Simone and I are very lucky to have you, Emma,’ he said without looking back.
    I watched him go, feeling that I was the one who was privileged.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    S imone and Charlie sat giggling together over breakfast. When Mr Chen came in he sat at the kitchen table next to Simone. He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek, and she kissed him messily back.
    Charlie quickly rose to serve him some congee. ‘I’ll put this in the dining room for you, sir.’ ‘No need, I’ll eat here with the ladies.’ Charlie stood stiffly next to the table, holding the bowl of congee. ‘That’s not fitting, sir, you should eat in the dining room.’
    He waved her down. ‘Here. With Simone.’ He smiled into my eyes. ‘And Emma.’
    Simone giggled. Charlie sighed with exasperation and placed the congee in front of him. She collected some bowls of pickled vegetables from the kitchen bench and put them in the centre of the table. ‘Sit, Charlie,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Finish your tea.’ Charlie looked uncomfortable, then sat down. ‘Did you make the congee?’ I said. ‘Hold on, you cooked the Chinese meal we had last night?’
    ‘Of course I did,’ Charlie said. ‘My mother taught me.’
    ‘And you’re nearly as good as she was,’ Mr Chen said, reaching for some pickled vegetables with his chopsticks. He raised the pickles. ‘These are very good.’
    ‘Why, thank you, sir,’ Charlie said with pleasure. ‘I should come to Hong Kong and brush up.’
    ‘That’s a good idea. I’ll arrange it for you.’ Mr Chen stopped. ‘Is the car fit to drive?’
    ‘Of course it is; it’s in the basement waiting for you. James has been taking it out for regular runs.’
    ‘You had the rollbar fitted?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘Good,’ Mr Chen said. ‘I’ll drive it myself to Cambridge.’ He bent his head to speak to Simone. ‘Do you want to come for a drive with me before I leave?’
    ‘Not in that funny old car,’ Simone said without looking at him.
    He moved his face closer to hers. ‘You love my funny old car.’
    She glared into his eyes. ‘It’s a silly old car.’
    ‘Well, I’m a silly old man,’ he said, and they both collapsed laughing.
    Leo came in, and stopped when he saw them.
    ‘Daddy’s going to drive his silly car, Leo,’ Simone said through her giggles.
    Leo pulled a coffee mug out of the cupboard. ‘It’s not silly; actually it’s a very nice car.’
    ‘It’s silly ,’ Simone said with scorn. She glared at her father. ‘And so are you .’
    ‘I know.’ He saw my face. ‘MG TF, 1500cc model, one of the rarer ones. Bought it in 1955. Original owner, low mileage.’
    ‘Black?’ I said. ‘I didn’t know they came in black.’
    ‘Nope.’ His eyes sparkled over the congee. ‘Racing green. Only car I’ve ever owned that wasn’t black.’
    ‘Take me for a ride in it, please,’ I begged.
    ‘I will if I have a chance, Emma, I promise. But I can’t guarantee anything.’ His face softened as he remembered. ‘All my friends thought I was crazy to buy it. They said it was much too cheap and old-fashioned.’ He looked down at his congee and his voice softened. ‘Michelle loved driving it.’
    Leo cleared his throat uncomfortably and poured himself some coffee.
    After Mr Chen had gone out, Leo sat next to me at the table. ‘That’s the first time he’s mentioned his wife’s name since the funeral.’
    ‘Michelle,’ I said. ‘There’re no photos or anything in the apartment.’
    ‘He shouldn’t have kept it bottled up for so long, poor dear,’ Charlie said. ‘It’s good to hear him talk about it. He’s changed.’
    ‘In what way?’ I said.
    Charlie stopped and mused. Then, ‘I think he just seems happier. Last time he came, he didn’t talk much, he didn’t laugh, he didn’t want to do anything. It’s good to see him so happy.’
    ‘I wanna go to the Science Museum!’ Simone yelled.
    Leo and I groaned.
    The next day we all went shopping in Harrods so that Simone could see the toys and Leo could check out the menswear. After the third time through the toy department Simone was becoming restless, so we went back to the menswear section.
    Mr Chen called Leo over. ‘How much longer will you be?’
    Leo