Face Time (33 page)

Nari starts crying, and I hesitate a moment before hugging her. My embrace is awkward at first, because I don’t know this woman at all, but something in her told her to trust me. She softens as I pat her back, and I let her squeeze me, as an extension of Lee. When she pulls away, I get a tissue out of my bag and give it to her. I’m providing tissues to the whole Park clan today.

“Would you mind telling Lee? I’m sorry I exploded all of this on you, but you just seem like… like someone I can talk to.”

On our first date, Lee said almost the same thing, that he and I clicked, and I was easy to talk to. Maybe Lee and Nari are not so different after all, just a little twist in the brain chemistry that’s kept her from bonding with her brother all these years. I don’t know if an explanation and an apology is going to fix their problems and erase a history of past wrongs, but it’s a step in the right direction.

“Sure, Nari. I’ll see what I can do.”

(>’o’)> ♥ <(‘o’<)

Between 4:00 and 6:00pm, we have another break, so Lee takes me to get a slice of pizza and then coffee at a local cafe. While we’re standing and drinking from our hot cups near the window, several people approach Lee, express their condolences and stare openly at me. Each time, Lee introduces me as his girlfriend, and we shake hands and smile before the other person either nods and leaves or asks, “I thought you were back together with Sandra?” To which he replies, “No. Absolutely not.”

The whole situation is uncomfortable for me. None of these people look at me and think I belong, either in northern Seattle or next to Lee. If we stay together, this is the kind of treatment we’ll get for the rest of our lives. Normally I wouldn’t care, but the questions and stares bother Lee. His smile is gone, and his jaw is rigid. He slips his arm around my waist and kisses me on the temple but doesn’t say anything, just stares out the window until our coffee grows cold.

Is he freaked out by me too? We fell in love so fast, and I already know I love him completely. I wonder if he’s regretting this.

Back at the car, we stand together for a moment in the misting rain, Lee frozen with the keys in his hand before he lashes out and kicks the front tire with a lion-like roar.

“I never want to come back here again! I hate this place. I hate these people. It’s like I can’t have a real life outside of their narrow view of ‘How Lee Park Is Supposed to Live.’” He turns back to me, rage pouring from him so intense it’s almost scary, but it’s not because of me, so I stand my ground. “There are lots of reasons I left this place, Laura, and that…” He jabs his finger at the cafe. “Is one of many.”

Okay, he is not freaked out by me or regretting this new relationship. He is pissed off at everyone else.

“Lee,” I say, gently, but he’s fuming so mightily, he doesn’t hear me. “Lee!” I shout and step up to him. “You never have to come back here if you don’t want to. Never.”

“But…”

“No. You stand by your principles, Lee. If you want to see your family, let them come to you. My father never once came to see me.” My voice breaks, and he softens, the rage melting away. “I always went to him, even when he was abusive to me. I will not make that mistake again. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Just go and never come back. What would you be missing?”

“My nephews growing up?”

“Fly them to Korea. I’m sure they’ll love it. FaceTime with them every week. They have iPhones, for fuck’s sake.”

He laughs. That’s better.

“Look at how our relationship worked, and we could only see each other, couldn’t touch…” I get a little closer and snake my arm around his waist. “Couldn’t wipe each other’s tears. Couldn’t hug. Couldn’t kiss.” Tipping my face up to him, I nod my head and urge him to give me a kiss. He leans over, crushing me to his chest with both arms, and takes one of those dominant kisses that makes my knees weak, so hungry it tries to eat away the crap day we’ve both had.

He pulls back, and I gulp a huge breath of air deep into my lungs. I think my lips will be red for a few hours. Lee rests his forehead against mine until a car door slams two slots over and startles us.

“I want you to be happy,” I whisper into his ear. “Don’t let your mom pressure you into staying or coming back when you don’t want to.”

“Just two more hours of this and then I’m taking you back to the hotel. We’ll get under the covers, be warm and dry together, and I just want to sleep…”

“Just sleep it all away…”

“Yeah. Laura, I love you. I’m so glad you’re here with me.”

“I’d do anything for you, Lee. You just ask and I’ll be there.”

He nods his head and tries to focus on me, though he’s detached, far away. “I know what I want.” He pulls back from my face and smiles at me. He has a secret. “Tomorrow, I need to go shopping before we go to the house for dinner.”

“Okay.” I smile at him. “Alone?”

“Yes.” He laughs, and I relax my shoulders, unclench my jaw. “It’s the surprise I was thinking of in New York.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Get in the car before you ruin it.”

(>’o’)> ♥ <(‘o’<)

I’m chatting with Nari about yoga when Sandra enters the funeral home. It’s a Korean tradition for only the sons to stand by their parent in this situation, so we both see little of Lee or Jin all day. Daniel offered to take Chase home around 5:00pm, to feed him and put him to bed, but it leaves me friendless in a sea of unfamiliar Korean faces. I’m grateful for Nari taking an interest in me. I like Mimi, too, but she seems popular, and someone is always waiting to talk with her.

Nari’s face tightens, what little age lines she has around her eyes smoothing flat, and she squeezes my upper arm. “Sandra is here.” She lets go and looks at my bare bicep. “Maybe I should lift weights.”

I heft a small smile at her. Hey, if I can empower more women to exercise by showing off my arms, I don’t care how badly I offend Lee’s mom.
 

“I’ll point you in the direction of some good books,” I lean in and whisper before turning around.

My heart plummets to my stomach. Sandra is possibly the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. Perfect height. Perfect, long, jet-black hair that flips a little along her shoulders. Perfect thin face with barely a wrinkle, rounded pink lips, and a dazzling white smile. The heads of most of the men turn and watch her remove her coat and hand it to an older, graying man who must be her father. She’s wearing a black wrap suit jacket and matching black pencil skirt and heels. She’s far and away better dressed than everyone else here. The outfit alone must have cost a fortune, not even mentioning the diamonds she’s wearing. I can see why Lee and Sandra were the power couple. Lee is always smartly dressed, his suits tailored perfectly. I wet my lips and swallow to keep the afternoon’s coffee in my stomach where it belongs.

I note with the barest amount of satisfaction that I’m in much better shape than she is. She may be thin, but her legs lack the definition of muscles. And I’m stylish in my quirky way. My dress fits me well and the bracelets Lee gave me tinkle when I move. It’s not a lot but it’s something.

I hate myself. I can’t believe I’m comparing physical traits with Lee’s ex-girlfriend. I know what a horrible person she is. I’ve seen some of the texts she’s sent him and heard the stories, and I know Lee is with me because I’m not like her. Why do I still feel so intimidated?

Maybe because… “Well, well,” Sandra croons, approaching us. Nari smiles, but I can tell the gesture is forced. Nari’s eyes don’t reflect the smile like they did earlier in the garden watching Chase run around.

“Nari, I haven’t seen you in ages.” Sandra air-kisses Nari and leans back to scan me from tip to toe. She then completely ignores me. “I think it’s been months.”

“Sorry, Sandra. I’ve been busy at work and at home.”

“Sure you have,” Sandra says with a smile, but her voice indicates the opposite. “Are Daniel and Chase here? I’d love to see them.”

“They’ve gone home already.”

Since I’m being ignored, I reach into my bag and get out my iPhone.

Laura Merchant

Sandra is standing right in front of me, talking to Nari, and ignoring me.

What a bitch.

I smile down at my witty repartee hoping Lee is not too swamped to pull out his phone and find my text. But he’s typing his response before I can put my iPhone away.

Lee Park

She hasn’t said anything to you?

Laura Merchant

Nope. I don’t even know if she knows who I am.

Wait.

I look up and Sandra and Nari are now speaking in Korean, and Sandra’s mood has changed to annoyed and disgusted, her eyebrows drawn together and a deep frown in place of the fake smile. She glances from me to Nari and back to me again. I smile widely as I catch words I had memorized from the Dirty Korean book: bitch, fucking (as in sex), and geek. Really? She thinks I’m a geek. Well, I guess that’s not too bad.

Laura Merchant

She’s switched to Korean and now I think she’s insulting me.

Lee Park

I’ll be right there.

Laura Merchant

Oh, Lee. Pshaw. Don’t bother. I don’t care what she says about me.

But heads are starting to turn.

She’s making quite a scene.

I burst into a laugh, looking up to find the whole room staring at me. Sandra’s arms are crossed, Nari is mortified, her hand pressed to her lips, and I’m oblivious because I only understood three of the hundreds of words that just came streaming out of Sandra’s mouth.

Everyone is frozen, barely a breath being shared, so I shoot out and snap my finger in front of Sandra and Nari.

“Hello? What’s all the fuss? This is a funeral, not a dinner party.” My English defrosts a few people, and they turn away.

Nari clears her throat. “Sandra, this is Lee’s girlfriend, Laura. Laura, Sandra.”

“Hello.” I nod, but I do not add, “Nice to meet you,” because I’m not a liar.

“I can’t believe he finds you attractive.” She scans me again, and I repress a shudder.

“And that’s why you’re not dating him anymore.” I shrug my shoulders because, really, who fucking cares? Certainly not me.
 

An old Korean woman in her mid-sixties behind Sandra titters, and, when I glance at her, Lee is standing in the doorway. I drop my iPhone in my bag and turn to Nari. “I’m going to get some air with Lee. Be back in a bit.”

I purposely step around both women and walk through a path that widens in front of me. Everyone jostles aside to allow me get to Lee, my tired and grieving boyfriend. He doesn’t need this drama, and I won’t let Sandra make a big deal out of Lee’s father’s wake. I’m pleased he doesn’t even acknowledge Sandra, not a glance, not a word.
 

He only has eyes for me.

Laura and I split up for an early afternoon amble about town. We woke up late and had long, leisurely, easy sex, the kind of sex that makes me think I’m making love to a woman. It’s different from the other hurried fucks of my life. I love to hear her moan and sigh and turn her strong body into jelly, and I’m still thinking about it as I stare into space, holding the gift I bought her in my hand, and wondering what to do next. We had breakfast and lunch together, and she told me she would walk, shop, and check out a museum. I was hesitant to leave her, but I’ve had this idea for a surprise since New York and this was my first opportunity to purchase it. I did really want to show her around Seattle, though. Maybe we’ll get the chance tomorrow.

My phone buzzes, so I lean back against the brick wall of the store next door.

Cori Winslow

I’ve been thinking about you Lee. I hope the funeral went well yesterday. I’m sorry I was traveling.

Lee Park

It’s ok. I knew you and Evie were on a plane. How are you?

Cori Winslow

Suffering jet lag and puking. You know, the usual pregnancy stuff. How’s Laura?

Lee Park

She’s amazing, Cori. Handled my family like a pro. I’ve asked her to move to Seoul, and she said yes.

I smile down at my phone, aware Cori is probably flipping out on the other end.

Cori Winslow

I just dropped my phone because I was doing a happy dance for you! I can’t wait to meet her in person.

Lee Park

Will you help her adjust to Korea?

Cori Winslow

Of course! I’ll show her all the great hidden spots, teach her some Korean phrases…

And most importantly, I’ll show her how to order groceries from the kiosks in the subway station.

Lee Park

Lol. Thanks. Priorities. You have them.

Cori Winslow

Haz, Lee. HAZ. Sheesh, you’re bad at pop culture.

Gotta go take Evie to my cousin’s house. Later!

I’m about to put my phone back in my pocket when it rings in my hand. Jin is calling. Great.

Today is one of those Seattle days when the weather is not misty but instead peppered with freak showers. I miss my parka. No one wears them in Seoul. So I start walking towards the car, ducking my head against the oncoming rain, while I debate answering the call. In a few hours, I’m taking Laura to my family’s house just north of Seattle. I’m sure this call can’t be too important, and I’d rather not bother, find Laura, and spend time with her instead.

But I’m a sucker, and I answer it.

“Hey, Jin,” I say, hurrying my steps through a gust of wind.

“Lee, hi. We need to talk about something before you come to the house later.”

“Okay, what’s up?” What could it possibly be now? I open the car, put the package in the trunk, and slide into the driver’s seat.

“You’re not going to like this news, at all, I’m afraid. Mom hired a private detective two weeks ago.”

I close my eyes and rest my forehead against the steering wheel. “Not again.”

“Yes. Again.” Jin’s voice on the other end of the line is tight and angry. I can only imagine what Mom was investigating.
 

When I was in college, she did this to me. I was dating a Korean woman I met through an organization at school, before I met Sarah. Jinny and I weren’t a couple for long, and we were still in that awkward phase when I wasn’t sure what to tell people of our relationship. My mother got paranoid, thinking I was covering up a huge secret, so she hired a private detective to investigate Jinny, her family, and all her friends. I came home at break to find my mother with a stack of papers detailing everything Jinny and I did. I don’t think I’ve ever yelled at her like I did that day. She admitted to the snooping easily, like it was her duty to protect her family at all costs. I told her all her efforts were for nothing because Jinny and I had broken up two days prior to break. She has hired this detective several times since for other purposes. He must be on the family’s permanent payroll.