When she finished, she was surprised to find Old Lee, Tak-Tam, and Yim-Fong waiting patiently at the back of the chapel. She had been so absorbed in her own remorse, and perhaps a little self-pity too, that she had not even noticed them enter.

“Brother Tak-Tam! Auntie Yim-Fong! Father!”

“Sit down, daughter,” Lee said. “You might guess why they are here.”

“Oh no,” she said.

Tak-Tam’s face fell.

“Yes,” said Lee. “If you are sorry about what you did to poor Tak-Wing, you’ll treat his brother with respect and dignity.”

“What I did to Tak-Wing!” The hurt and jealousy had not left her yet. It was too much to ask.

“Weren’t you just praying to lift the curse you laid on them?” her father asked.

“No,” she lied.

“Sinner.”

“Okay, I was.” She sighed a long sad sigh, and turned to Tak-Tam. “What is it? Why are you here?”

“Daughter,” Lee said, with a tone of reprimand.

“My good friend,” she said. “I’m happy to see you.”

In truth, she did like Tak-Tam and was happy to see him—it just wasn’t the kind of happiness that he wished her to feel.

Poor Tak-Tam! Not only did he have to propose in front of his mother and his beloved’s father, but she liked him as a friend only and did not see him as a potential lover or husband. A lesser man would have talked about the weather, fled, or gotten his mother to do the talking. But Tak-Tam, though slender, bookish, and shy, was not without courage.

“Ting-Yan,” he said. “I know you know why I am here. I can see as clearly as your esteemed father and my respected mother that you don’t feel for me as I feel for you. And yet, as this is my one and only chance to say to you what I need to say, I have to say it. I have loved you since we were little children, playing on the beach down there by the sea below. Then, you were bigger and I was smaller, but now we are equals. Nothing would make me happier than if you would respond positively to my suit.” Tak-Tam read books. He knew what to say, and he knew how to say it eloquently. Though he sweated like a demon and his voice was soft, he didn’t tremble. He waited for her reply.

She stared at him for a long, cold moment.

Old Lee and Yim-Fong waited too, holding back the urge to push.

Finally, Ting-Yan spoke. “Stay the night in the chapel. I’ll give you my answer tomorrow.”