For once, Dexter walked the stairways to his ex-in-law's house with a grateful heart. He realised how long he had not felt this way. To be free from all responsibilities. No more meetings to rush to. No more strategic plans to think about. Ultimately, to look forward to a home meal with his loved one.
It reminded him of the last meal he had with his mother over an afternoon tea. Though he was forced into the meal despite his busy schedule back then, today, he was glad he still made it.
He now knew that's how humans are. We would never know the value of what we lost till we had lost it. And it took a death to teach him such a valuable lesson. He felt disappointed with himself, but also knew it was life. At the very least, he still had a homely ex-father-in-law who treated him like his own only because Sam and Violet were working overseas.
"Dad!" Dexter called out from the door as Uncle Choo came out from the kitchen with a bowl of hot piping radish soup.
"Wei Xi! Come in, come in! Dinner is ready…" Uncle Choo said as Dexter locked the grills and walked over to the dining hall.
"Here, some roasted pork to add on for dishes…" Dexter opened up the packet.
"There's no need for more food, Wei Xi. It's only us." Uncle Choo laughed.
"It's alright… Aren't we having some beer? This goes well with it!" Dexter cheered as they both laughed heartily.
"Only if you don't tell Fei or Yong…" Uncle Choo said before heading to fetch the cans of beer from the refrigerator. Both Uncle Choo and Dexter then open a can to cheers together.
"Come sit… Let's dig in…" Uncle Choo invited, but Dexter gave him a sad smile.
He recalled how he couldn't make it to most of the meals in this house, partly because of his busy schedule but also because of how estranged he had been from Violet after their marriage. He wondered if they had communicated well; he would have felt this warm of dining with his loved ones much earlier.
The thought of his last meal with his mother crossed his mind as he teared up before taking a deep breath to shove his sentimental feelings aside. Uncle Choo gently patted his shoulder as he took a piece of roasted pork to place on Dexter's rice bowl.
"Eat, boy… You will feel better. Everything will be alright when you eat well." Uncle Choo smiled, trying to comfort him.
"Dad… Thank you for still accepting me after all I put Fei through…" Dexter said while rubbing away his welling tears. Uncle Choo nodded knowingly as he scooped him a bowl of soup.
"Now that everything's settled legally, live your life. Make it worth it…" Uncle Choo said as Dexter hesitated with his next question.
"What do you do when you miss Mum?" Dexter asked as he sniffed. Uncle Choo smiled, knowing the reason Dexter was sad was probably that he missed his mother.
"I had no time back then to miss her. Those two rascals were always giving me a mess to clean up. They can never stay out of trouble. It's always either one of them… like a vicious cycle…" Uncle Choo shook his head as both of them chuckled.
"Wei Xi, life and death are the reasons we are here in this world. It's part of life. The departed has to go. The living ones would need to keep moving on in life. Grieve when you feel like it, but don't drown yourself in it. That would only make the departed sad and hinder them from moving on." It was Dexter's first time seeing Uncle Choo's soft and gentle side.
It took Dexter by surprise, but he was more grateful to feel the warmth of a parent once again. He forced his tears away as he nodded.
"Come, eat more…" Uncle Choo urged as he took another piece of roasted pork for Dexter.
"Thank you, Dad…" Dexter said before taking a bite.
"What's your plan after this?" Uncle Choo asked, trying to change the topic to something lighter.
"I was with a property agent earlier. I wanted to buy a place closer to here…" Uncle Choo was surprised but glad at Dexter's update as he laughed.
"You could stay here anytime you want…" Uncle Choo offered.
"That wouldn't be so nice. I'm going to disturb you with Fei and Yong. It will make everyone not comfortable." Dexter grimaced.
"Boy, didn't I say you're my son too? You can stay in Yong's room anyday. Stay here tonight! How often do you think they are back? Even if they are, they are never home! " Uncle Choo complained as Dexter laughed.
"More like you are never home!" Dexter defended the siblings, causing Uncle Choo to huff angrily.
"Now, you're siding with them or me?" Uncle Choo asked jokingly. "Dad… Dad, of course. Here, here, have some soup… Please don't be angry." Dexter tried to appease him as Uncle Choo gladly accepted the bowl of soup.
"Dad, do your friends who are old often eat home-cooked food?" Dexter prompted him to test his charity idea.
"Hmm… Some of them still have wives. Those of us who are single would have a heavy breakfast at the shops downstairs. Why?" Uncle Choo asked while taking a bite of the roasted pork.
"I have this idea… I asked Fei a few nights ago. She loved the idea, in fact and thought I should talk to you about it." Dexter said while munching his mouthful of rice.
"What is it?" Uncle Choo asked.
"Today we went for my mother's will reading. Fei and I both inherited quite a lot from my mum, half and half. Because of that, the whole family is in an uproar now. I felt it's best for me to leave the company and…" Uncle Choo felt bad for Dexter, whose voice cracked as he choked on his words, unable to bring himself to continue his idea.
He now understood the reason he was sad earlier.
"You're always welcome in this family. Whether you're on good terms or not with those two, you're still going to be my son, boy. If you have anything, just feel free to tell me otherwise; we drink and forget about our sorrows." Uncle Choo lifted his can of beer to Dexter, who did the same as they cheered and drank a huge gulp.
"Sorry… I meant to tell you I wanted to run a small business to help the community with free food or lower-priced food. Basically not really making money but to help people like your friends or those homeless and low-income individuals…" Dexter explained after keeping his emotions in control while scooping some stir-fried vegetables.
"Hmm… You mean we can have three meals a day for free with some free tea as well?" Uncle Choo tried to clarify as Dexter chuckled.
"Is that what you wish for?" Dexter asked in return, and Uncle Choo laughed heartily.
"How are you going to make money, boy? Giving away money may be noble, but in the long run, you have rent to pay, bills, and business expenses... How are you going to survive? Not forgetting, alimony to pay too…" Uncle Choo pointed out the blunt truth, and Dexter smiled, knowing Violet must have explained to him the reason the alimony was still in place.
"But if I could lower the cost…" Before Dexter could continue, Uncle Choo waved him to stop.
"Boy, if you want to run a business, you run it like a business, you always do. If you want to do charity, do it like one. There's no in between. You will only burn money. Where are you going to get workers to do the work for you if you don't pay them minimum wage? Where are you going to get all those imported ingredients from cause you know, Lagospool don't even plant anything. There's no land here! The eatery business dies very fast. Why? Rent is a killer, boy!" Uncle Choo explained enthusiastically as Dexter listened in while eating.
"That's why, instead of playing mahjong the whole day, whoever loses needs to help with the cooking. The ingredients, I have so many contacts. I could buy in bulk. Who said I need rent? I could just cook here or at my new house and pay for the fixed cost only. Since I am going to test the community here, I would prefer to do it here while I search for collaboration with those community services. They are not consistent, but with funds, they should be able to do something." Dexter tried to retaliate with Uncle Choo's realistic point of view.
"Still, I am not convinced. Your costs would definitely exceed the returns. Think about your life. You still need money to sustain. How long can this stand? You should find community service who are already working on this and work with them. It would be better that way. Burn less money." Uncle Choo advised as Dexter chuckled.
"Yes, Dad. I will…" Dexter pondered on the suggestion and thought it was wise too.
"Didn't Fei tell you all these?" Uncle Choo questioned as though judging his own daughter.
"She did. She said the same as you. To look for the existing welfares who would be able to identify those in need better." Dexter defended Violet.
"Good." Uncle Choo continued eating as though Violet truly deserved being her daughter.
"You do underestimate that girl sometimes, don't you?" Dexter teased him as he snorted.
"She is always so free-spirited. I thought I did well tying that wild horse with you, but I was only killing her." Uncle Choo put on a bitter face.
"That's what I thought too… She was more carefree before marriage… The same as now after the divorce." Dexter admitted with a smile.
"Are you not sad about the divorce?" Uncle Choo questioned as he shook his head.
"Why would I? She is so much happier now, Dad. I'm glad to see that glow and confidence back in her." Dexter smiled, which made Uncle Choo do the same.
"You're right. That girl is the same as her mother. I wonder if her mother is also glowing in freedom up there…" Uncle Choo pondered as he drank his bowl of soup.
"Just how much had we not understood these women?" Dexter said as they both chuckled, enjoying their meal and more beers into the night.