The Memory Keeper: The Sin In Our Name

Khai's POV

I pulled into the parking lot of Broad St. Cafe, the familiar sight of its cozy exterior offering a brief moment of relief from the whirlwind of business that had consumed my day. I spotted Dad and Aunt Jenn at a corner table as soon as I walked in. They were deep in conversation, the tone between them professional and efficient.

"Hey, Khai. Sit down," Dad greeted, waving me over. Aunt Jenn looked up and smiled, a warm expression that made the conversation feel less business, more familial.

"I trust you two have caught up?" I asked, settling into the seat next to Aunt Jenn.

"Yes, we've discussed the initial steps for the transition," Aunt Jenn replied, her tone practical yet calm. "Now, let's focus on the next phase."

I nodded, taking a moment to adjust my thoughts before diving into the details. The next few minutes were spent reviewing the key points for the upcoming transition, making sure everything would be in place before I left for Canada. The weight of the upcoming changes felt heavier with every word spoken, but this was my responsibility now-one I had to handle, no matter what.

As we sipped our coffee, Dad leaned back in his chair, clearly ready to wrap things up. "Tanaka will handle the finance team, as we discussed. You'll need to oversee the transition and ensure everything goes smoothly before you leave. I trust her to manage it."

Aunt Jenn's smile faltered for just a moment, a subtle shift in her expression that no one else at the table seemed to notice. She quickly recovered, her eyes bright as she turned to me. "I'm sure Tanaka will do a great job. I look forward to working with her... and Rainah, of course."

I felt a knot tighten in my chest, but kept my tone light. "I'm sure she'll appreciate the support," I replied, eager to move the conversation along.

Dad didn't seem to notice the brief hesitation. "Well, we'll need you to finalize everything, Khai. Make sure the handover's complete."

I nodded, my thoughts drifting for a second. There was something about Aunt Jenn's reaction-something beneath the surface. But I pushed the thought aside. This was business, and there was no room for distractions.

The conversation shifted back to business, and I focused on the task at hand. We discussed the expansion plans for the restaurant chains in Canada, and Dad outlined the major details of the transition for St. Martha's Hospital.

"We'll need to bring in more investors for the Canadian expansion," Dad said, his voice steady and confident. "It's all about securing the right locations and maintaining the quality of service we're known for here."

I nodded. "I'll start making some calls, and we'll need to prepare a solid proposal for potential investors."

Aunt Jenn chimed in, her enthusiasm more genuine now. "I've already started looking into potential partners. I can handle that part when you're ready." She glanced at me, her tone softer. "And I'm excited to see what we can do with St. Martha's. It's an incredible opportunity."

I could feel the weight of her words. Even though she was trying to sound confident, there was something in the way she said it-like she was trying a little too hard to convince herself. But I didn't dwell on it.

"Let's focus on getting everything lined up first," I said, not wanting to stir up anything. "We can worry about the details later."

Dad leaned forward. "Exactly. But remember, the goal is to make sure both the hospital and the restaurant chain are running smoothly before the end of the year. We need to set everything in motion now."

Aunt Jenn nodded. "I'll handle the internal stuff, and you two can focus on the external partnerships. We'll make this work."

I wasn't sure if she was being overly optimistic or just pretending to be, but her demeanor remained calm, despite the underlying tension I could feel.