Tears began streaming down the elderly man’s cheeks. A moment later Bo-Seon had strode across the plaza to stand glaring down at Amber. His tone was curt. “You have upset my grandfather. I will take him home now.”
Charlie wiped at his eyes. “No, no, it’s all right. Just old memories coming back to haunt me.”
Bo-Seon seemed unconvinced. “Mother just texted me. It’s time for dinner. I need to get you home.”
Charlie sighed and reached for the creased photo. He folded it in half and tucked it into his breast pocket. “Maybe you’re right, Bo-Seon. Maybe it’s too late to change anything now anyway.”
Amber’s heart thudded against her ribs. She took up one of Charlie’s frail hands. “There must be more to this story. Surely In-Na cared about what happened to her sister. Did you ever hear from Jinju again?”
Bo-Seon looked between them in confusion. “Grandmother had a sister?”
Charlie’s throat grew tight, and his gaze shuttered. “I find that I am feeling tired, after all. Please take me home, Bo-Seon.”
The grandson helped Charlie up to his feet.
Amber struggled against the wave of panic. If she pressed too hard, both could break off communications completely, and she would never know the truth. She strove to keep her tone as even as possible. “I am staying at the Seaside Hotel until the weekend. When you are feeling better tomorrow, Mister Atene, please come by and see me, even for a short while. I still have so many more questions.”
Charlie’s mouth said, “Maybe,” but she could tell from the shadowed look in his eyes that he would not come.
She forced her words to remain calm. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Mister Atene. It was wonderful to finally talk with you, after all my father has said about you over the years.”
He gave a short nod.
And then he was walking away into the fading afternoon, his grandson carefully supporting him by the arm.
The seagulls soared high above, their eyes attentively watching for a fish or perhaps a stray potato chip. The waves of oval-faced tourists continued to pose by the faux lighthouse.
Amber found herself turning to face north. North, to where, long decades ago, her grandfather had apparently risked everything – including his own life - to rescue his beloved wife.
Tears welled and overflowed down her cheeks.
And what thought had he given to the wife and son he had left behind in Arizona?