Page 95 of Happy Endings

The three of them turned around, the heat of the fire now on their backs.

Andre wiped his eyes, watery from the smoke. A tall Asian man stood in front of them. He looked familiar.

“Mike Chen? Is that you?” Andre studied Mike’s expensive suit, which probably smelled like smoke. They weren’t very close as kids, but had sometimes played pickup basketball together. Then Mike got into MIT and never came home. “Didn’t you move to California?”

“I’m back in town for business. I was on my way down here—” Mike looked at the fire. “I’m sorry, man.”

Andre sighed.

“I know my timing sucks, but we were supposed to have a meeting this morning,” Mike said.

“We were?” Andre was confused. “The only meeting I had was with our new landlord.”

“That’s me. I bought the building.”

“You’re our new landlord?” Andre laughed bitterly. “I’m sorry about your investment. I guess it’ll be easier to bulldoze for your condos.”

“Who said I was building condos?” Mike made a disgusted face. “No way. I grew up here, just like you. This isn’t the righttime to go into details, but I have an idea for how to revitalize the neighborhood. But I need your help.”

The three of them stared at Mike in disbelief. It was too much to take in.

“How about we talk later. You have more important things to deal with. And I promised my mom I’d drive her to see some old friends while we’re in DC.” Mike handed his card to both Andre and Keisha. “I know things seem bad right now. Hell, I didn’t expect to find the building I’d just purchased on fire. But we can figure things out. Call me, please.”

THE PAST SIXhours had been the longest in his life. Andre stood at the entryway of Mama Hazel’s, now blocked by yellow caution tape. The fire chief deemed the entire building unstable but not a total loss. The charred remains of his mother’s legacy were soggy and smoky. It was unlikely that anything could be salvaged.

Luckily, they were able to contain the fire before it spread to the buildings next to it, but everything in their building was gone. The hair salon, the bookstore, and worst of all, his restaurant. Everything that reminded him of his mom had disappeared under smoke and flames.

He dropped down onto the front stoop. Andre didn’t know if he was supposed to laugh or cry. What the hell was he going to do now?

“It’s going to be all right, Andre.” Keisha sat down next to him. She held up a plastic shopping bag. “Hungry? Mrs. Kim made us some SPAM kimbap.”

His stomach growled at the mention of their neighbor’s Korean rice-and-seaweed rolls. He hadn’t eaten anything since the nachosand beers from the night before. Oh God, his drunken rant. He’d been an ass.

“I’m so sorry, Keisha.” He wrapped his arms around his sister. His only sister. “I was such an asshole.”

“What’s new?” She handed him a bottle of water and set a black plastic takeout container on her lap. “Mrs. Kim was worried about us, so she cooked.”

“Food is love no matter where you’re from.” He tossed a roll into his mouth. “Wow. I’ll never get tired of these. Remember when she bribed us with kimbap?”

“You mean she bribed me to tutor her son. I just shared them with you.”

“Thanks for sharing these with me,” Andre said softly. “Thank you for sharing Mama Hazel’s with me, even if I was terrible at it.”

“I’ll accept your apology if you promise no more secrets.”

“I promise. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Mr. Jackson selling our building,” he apologized.

“Or Mike Chen buying it,” Keisha added.

“That I didn’t know about. I’d only talked to his admin, and she was super secretive about everything.”

“Can you believe Mike Chen is a tech millionaire now?” Keisha laughed. “He was so awkward and nerdy in high school. I guess it paid off.”

“I bet you regret not going to prom with him now,” Andre teased.

“Very funny.” Keisha squeezed his hand. “I’m just glad you were at Xavier’s and not sleeping in your office.”

“You can’t get rid of your annoying big brother that easily.” His joke fell flat. Things could have gone very badly today.

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