Amidst The Stars

Where The Lights Are

  It turned out he wouldn't be bringing his mooncakes out to Madeline just yet. With the unexpected arrival of a group of high-school students, Yao was suddenly swamped with orders he couldn't fill on his own, and Vicente had to abandon his baking to help his brother out.

  Together they worked through the many dishes the hungry kids had ordered, then pushed them out to Kiku, who had decided to act as a temporary waitress. Leon ran up to the kitchen to take a plate of char siu, reporting, "those guys are a choir from a high school in the city centre. Apparently, they just won a competition, and one of them suggested they go here." He balanced a plate of shrimp-roe tofu on his other arm. "Since, you know, our stuff is cheap."

  "Oh, nice." Vicente propped up the plate of tofu before it could slip off Leon's arm. "Tell them congratulations for me."

  Leon and Kiku returned to the kitchen a few more times afterwards to pick up dishes that ranged from deep-fried chicken to egg tarts. They only stopped coming back when the sky had turned dark, and the students were finally gone. Vicente went out into the restaurant and saw Madeline helping Ling out at the register, sorting out coins and banknotes at lightning speed. He waited until she was finished to speak up, "hi again."

  "Hello." She pushed the drawer shut. "You look like you had a tough evening."

  "It was challenging. It's not every day forty hungry teenagers show up and order enough food to feed a small village," he joked. "But I'm alive."

  Madeline leaned against the register, glasses slightly crooked. Vicente had to stop himself from reaching out and straightening them. "I'm sorry for making you wait," he apologised. "I mean, I brought you over to celebrate Mid-Autumn's, but you just spent two hours helping Ling out."

  "I don't mind working at the register." She straightened her glasses. "And it was interesting, watching all the customers come and go."

  "Let's go have dinner now." He untied his apron, rolling his shoulders back. "It's getting pretty late."

  They went into the kitchen where Kiku, Leon and Ling were already sitting down, while Yao was rummaging through the fridge. "Dammit, we ran out of leftovers."

  "We what?" Leon asked incredulously.

  "Ran out of leftovers." Yao kicked the refrigerator door in frustration. "Give me a moment to make something."

  Kiku stood up. "You've been cooking all day. Let me do it."

  Yao pushed her back down. "And you've been on your feet all day. You're going to sit down and rest."

  "I can cook," Madeline offered.

  Everyone stared at her. Yao gasped in horror. "My goodness, you're our guest! I won't have you lifting a single finger while you're here."

  "You're all tired out, while I've been doing pretty much nothing," she continued. "I've been over so much, it's only fair I do something to return the favour."

  From the bench, Leon groaned. "Let her do it. I feel like I'm going to die if I don't eat soon."

  "All right," Yao sighed. "Thank you so much, Madeline. You can check the fridge and cupboards for ingredients."

  Vicente followed her to the fridge. "I'll help you."

  Ling snorted. "Of course you will."

  From the fridge, Madeline had already pulled out a bundle of leeks, as well as a bag of chard. She handed the chard to him and took out an onion and two eggs next. From the cupboard, she took flour, canned anchovies and a box of shredded parmesan. "I didn't expect you to have all this."