“In what way?”

“Well, her mother was gone, her sister was older and more bitter, and everyone had their own lives, families, businesses. We were no longer teenagers with the world before us. I don’t know what your mother was expecting.” Che Eng sighed and shook her head, a bit exasperated.

“I heard that she stayed with my auntie Ah Lian.”

“Yes, that didn’t last. They both were so cruel to each other. But Ah Lian is a special kind of person,” Che Eng said acidly.

“Apparently, she passed away last year.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“I didn’t know her.”

“I knew your mother wouldn’t last there. I offered her a place to stay after she left Ah Lian, but after a few weeks, Swee Hua didn’t want to be a burden anymore. She just left without saying a word to me. Not even a goodbye. I came home one day and found her things gone.”

“Nothing? No note, no phone call?”

Che Eng shook her head sadly and shrugged.

“She’s really good at doing that,” I snarked.

“She wasn’t herself. I know in my heart she didn’t do that to hurt me. And I know she didn’t do it to hurt you.”

“How do you know?”

“She was very unhappy. I could tell that she found leaving Canada, and then being home, difficult. Things were not easy for her. She had a hard time finding work. She was lonely. She missed you all. I tried to talk to her about what happened with Ah Loy, but she would only say she didn’t want to go back.”

“Did she say anything about me or my sister?”

“A little, but I could tell it was hard for her to talk about. She kept it inside.”

“What did she say?”

“Only that she missed you girls. She was very private about it.”

“Did you try to contact her after she left?”

“Yes, I called Ah Lian. I tried all our friends. Nobody had seen or heard from her. I even called Ah Loy.”

“You called my father?”

“I thought maybe she had changed her mind and went back. He told me he knew nothing.”

“She never came back.”

“I see.”

I could tell this was news to Che Eng. She took a sip of her coffee, ordered another one, and looked at me earnestly. “I just assumed she went back. I was surprised to never hear from her again. I know Swee Hua. She has a sensitive heart, and it can break easily. I thought I had wronged her somehow, that she had decided to cut ties with me because I pushed her too hard to make amends with Ah Lian, to talk to Ah Loy.” Che Eng sighed deeply and clasped her hands together contritely.” At one point, I even told her she should not have left you two young girls behind. I was only trying to help her, but she must not have liked the advice I was giving.”