Page 76 of Dangerous Rhythm

Lina told her mother what had kept her away from home. She was glad she’d let out all the bottled guilt with Curtis earlier, or else she’d have been a blubbering idiot in the clothing store. Thistime, she kept the tears at bay. Perhaps talking about it really made things easier.

“Oh, Lina.” Agnes hugged her. “You have no idea how I wondered at night if you were safe.”

“I’m sorry,” Lina said.

“Honey, you were hurting. I can understand that. But you should’ve let us in.”

“I couldn’t bear the guilt.”

Her mother cupped her face and looked her straight in the eyes. “It was never your fault, Lina. But we all lose in a war, somehow. I’m sorry you had to go through that alone. I wish I had pushed harder to see you. Made you—”

“Ma, there was nothing you could do.” Lina smiled sadly. “I needed time to figure it out myself.”

Agnes sighed knowingly. “You are my stubborn child.”

She pulled Lina back into her bosom and held her. For a while, they stayed silent, absorbing what had been shared and feeling thankful for the quiet moment together.

“So, how does Curtis fit into the picture?” asked Agnes finally.

“He’s not really my boyfriend,” Lina confessed.

“What do you mean?” Agnes frowned.

“I mean, I don’t know exactly what we are. The truth is, he’s my client. I’m keeping him safe from some bad people. We’ve been in hiding in the past two weeks. And we…” Lina shrugged.

“Bonded?” Agnes suggested.

Bondedwas as a better word than what Lina was thinking. “Yes. We bonded. I’ve always had a thing for him since we met. But just like me not going home, I also never thought I deserved…”

Words failed Lina again.

“Love?” her mother finished for her again.

Lina looked at her mother. “Anything that Taylor should’ve had.”

“Honey, I didn’t know Taylor, but I’m going to bet she wouldn’t have wanted you to deprive yourself of a happy life. I never want to think about this, but if you were in her shoes, would you not want Taylor to live her life to the fullest? You wouldn’t want another life wasted because of a misplaced guilt.”

“It shouldn’t have been her on the ground.”

“I wish nobody was lost, Lina. But the fact is we lose people every day. That’s why we, the living, need to respect those lives who have passed before us by living our lives in the best possible way.

“Tonight, let’s pay our respects to those souls we miss.” Agnes squeezed her daughter’s hand. “But Lina, don’t waste another minute of your precious life.”

Lina listened to her mother’s words and nodded.

“And that means stop denying what you feel for that young man out there,” Agnes advised. “I know I’ve only met him, but that man is crazy about you.”

“How could you know that?”

“Oh, no man would put up with our ridiculous questions if he didn’t have something invested.” Agnes laughed. “And bless him, he’s such a trooper. I wonder how he’s faring now with your father, brother, and uncle.”

“Oh, god. I gotta go save him.” Lina stood.

Agnes smiled and didn’t look worried at all. “I think Curtis can hold his own, honey.”

“I love this one.” Curtis looked at the deep redtangzuangwith small gold details on the buttons. “What do you think?” he asked his audience.

“I like the one with the golden dragon,” Daniel said.

---