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“And I’m afraid your new girlfriend is the subject this time.”

“What?” I yell into the phone, startling even myself. “How is that possible? No one met Laura until I brought her here!”

Jin sighs on the other end, and I want to reach through the phone and deck him. I show too much emotion as far as he’s concerned. “Lee, she’s been on the phone to Korea almost everyday. Dad was complaining of it before he died.”

That can only mean that she’s been talking to Min-Yung. Fuck. I told Min-Yung not to talk to Sandra, but I never thought to warn her about my mother.

“Min-Yung. Goddamn it. I should have sent Laura all the gifts myself.” I was too busy with meetings and traveling so I hand-addressed all the packages to Laura and left them with Min-Yung to be sent out. This is what I get for trusting my assistant. She correctly guessed weeks ago I was wooing Laura, and I’m sure she gave Laura’s full name and address to my mother.

“I’m sorry, Lee. I think she was hoping you and Laura would break up because whatever the private detective found made her so angry, she badgered Dad about it for days before his death.” Jin pauses for a second as Mimi talks to him in the background. “Mimi says Mom is being unfair.”

“Thanks, Mimi,” I mumble. I switch my phone to the other hand and rub my face. I glance around the car and assess my options, but really I can only think of one thing: get on a plane and go. I want to run. I want to take Laura away from here and live our lives in peace.

But my father just died and I know I can’t leave yet.

“I’m sorry, Lee,” Jin repeats. “It’s going to be messy this time because according to Nari the packet from the private detective is thick. And I can tell this one is going to stick around… Laura. Sorry. Sorry.” He sighs again, apologizing and correcting himself. “I’m just as angry as you are. I don’t know why she continually pokes the hornets’ nest, why she thinks she can harass you into everything. I wish she would stop. She’s already on Leland about getting good grades and joining all the sports. Mimi is annoyed as well.”

This is the thing about Mom. Anyone who does not fit into her mold of how the Park family should act gets badgered to death. Literally. My poor father.

“No. I’m sorry, Jin. It’s my fault you’re dealing with this…”

“Please don’t apologize, Lee. Date or marry whomever you want. This should never be an issue.” Jin got Dad’s good sense and diplomacy. “I’ve got to go. We have errands to run before we’re at the house later. What time will you be there? Are you still coming?”

That’s a good question. I’d like to cancel, pack our bags, and head back to New York so Laura can take care of her belongings. But if we do that, Laura will always wonder why we didn’t stick around. Maybe Mom will show some restraint and not say anything with Laura present. Maybe she’ll just corner me in a room and let me have it on my own. She rarely makes a scene in front of guests. Her honor is more important.

“Yes. We’ll be there.”

Nicole Kapur

What are you going to do?

Laura Merchant

Good question. I think I may need a backup plan, right?

It’s still raining in Seattle. Does it ever stop? I spent the whole day sightseeing from underneath my umbrella. I bought one and I’m sure Lee will roll his eyes at it, but I am just not the parka type of girl. I had breakfast at the hotel with Lee and lunch with him too at a local place that serves everything with biscuits. Mmmm, it was good. Then he kissed me goodbye, and we went our separate ways for the afternoon. I pull out my camera and take a photo of two kids stomping in puddles along the front walk of the Seattle Public Library. One little girl smiles up at her mother cringing away from the splash, diamonds from the library’s structure reflected in the still puddle next to her.

I close up my umbrella and walk inside. The atrium rises at an acute angle overhead, echoing sounds of hushed conversation at me. I need a spot to sit down for a moment and text with Nicole so I grab a seat on a red bench shaped like a plus sign, and leaning back, I gasp. Wow. I love modern architecture. The glass wall of diamonds is immense, breathtaking.

Nicole Kapur

Here’s another question… What do you WANT to do?

Laura Merchant

I love him, Nicole. He says he loves me, too.

I have no reason not to trust him.

And I want to go to Korea with him even though it’s WAY early in our relationship.

I just worry I’m going to rip his family apart.

Nicole Kapur

Was it really that bad?

Laura Merchant

Trust me. His mother hates my guts.

I can see it in her eyes.

She called me a gold digger in Korean.

And a bunch of other stuff I couldn’t translate.

It was awful.

Nicole Kapur

That’s fucked up.

What did Lee say?

Laura Merchant

Basically that his mother is fucked up.

And there’s not much anyone can do about it.

Nicole Kapur

So what do you want to do?

I sit and look at Nicole’s question. I know what I want to do, but what I have to do? That’s another story entirely.

Laura Merchant

I want to move to Seoul with Lee.

But I don’t want to be the wedge that drives his family apart.

I think maybe I’m no good for them.

A few tears roll from my eyes, off the end of my nose, and plop on my iPhone screen. I’m the type of person to not give a shit about what other people think of me, but this is Lee. This is his family. If we work out, the two of us, we’ll have to deal with them for the rest of our lives. That kind of pressure can easily kill a relationship.

Nicole Kapur

Laura, you’re crazy.

I know we’re new friends but I can tell by the way Justin loves you that you’re good for anyone.

Laura Merchant

My mother would disagree with you.

Nicole Kapur

From what I’ve heard, your mother is a raging lunatic.

Crazy.

Certifiable.

I let out a barking laugh and startle the people sitting nearby. “Sorry,” I mumble at them. I open my purple bag and find one last tissue.

Nicole Kapur

I’m sorry we didn’t get to do the Korean cooking class.

I promise that when I’m in Seoul we’ll get together.

You should stick by Lee.

Think of it that way.

You’re sticking by him when his family will not.

Besides, it’s just his mom, right? Maybe she’s outnumbered.

Laura Merchant

You’re right.

I think I’ll have to see what happens later and decide.

But I’d rather be with Lee than without.

And that’s the truth. We’ve only been dating five or six weeks now, but I’m sure he’s the right one for me. I can’t imagine breaking up with him and trying to find someone I’m compatible with in New York or New Orleans. I rub my finger up and down the side of my iPhone and think about the night we first met. Who could have predicted I’d be here now?

Lee Park

Where did you end up, gorgeous?

My phone buzzes in my hand with Lee’s text, and I smile down at it, my tears gone. He’s thinking about me when I’m thinking about him.

I wipe my eyes again, smiling at the old woman across from me who is watching me with concern. Leaning back, I take a photo of the atrium’s diamond wall with my iPhone, then I leave my spot and wander into the stacks taking photos of the books and shelves. I send them all to Lee with the preface, “To Lee. From Laura.”

Lee Park

One of my favorite places in the city.

I wish I was there with you now.

Laura Merchant

Meet me here.
 

It’s only 3pm.
 

We have some time before we need to go to dinner at your family’s home.

Lee Park

I have a better idea.
 

Come back to the hotel, get dressed, and meet me for drinks at the Purple Cafe.

4:00

Here’s the info...

He includes the address and it’s only a few blocks from the hotel.

Laura Merchant

Great.
 
I’ll see you soon.

Lee Park

This is what I’ve been up to…

I wait and a photo of the corner of a large white shopping bag comes through and inside is a thin white box, but I can’t see anything more.

Laura Merchant

That’s awfully cryptic, Lee.

Lee Park

I know. Xo.

Before gathering myself up for the rain outside again, I switch back to my conversation with Nicole.

Laura Merchant

Lee has a surprise for me and wants to meet for drinks.

Nicole Kapur

Perfect. I hope it’s something nice and shiny ;)

Laura Merchant

I will keep you apprised of the situation.

Nicole Kapur

Don’t forget to just be yourself.
 

(>’o’)> ♥ <(‘o’<)

I hope I’m not horribly overdressed for a place called the Purple Cafe. Lee’s family saw me dressed nicely yesterday, and they all pretty much hated me (except Mimi and Nari) so I don’t give a shit about the skinny black pants, black and red striped low-cut V-neck shirt, and red heels I’m wearing today. I wrap my turquoise pashmina scarf around my neck and shrug on my black cardigan before I leave the hotel. The temperature is in the low sixties and still raining outside so better to be warm than freezing. I hate being cold.

Lee surprises me again by picking a modern and chic place to meet. The Purple Cafe is a bar with a soaring, two-story, open seating area. When I enter, the staircase, spiraling around a huge cylindrical center wine shelf, greets me. The bar hugs half of the wine shelf, and people are already seated along the length, off work early, having drinks and chatting. I don’t find Lee until I head left past the stairs. He’s secured a two-top for us. A cheese plate with cured meats and figs sits on the table next to two glasses of red wine.

Standing up, he smiles at me, and I grin back. I wonder if I’ll ever lose this feeling, the one where I look at him and think,
“Holy shit, this guy is my boyfriend.”
I can’t believe I met him in a bar in New York. I can’t believe he talked to me after I told him to mind his own business. I can’t believe what a good lay he is. Wow, I’m head over heels for him. A tug straight from my navel pulls me to him, and I want to run, want to jump into his arms and never leave. Our attraction is so complicated yet simply instinctual. It must be right.

Lee’s wearing an untucked white button down shirt and dark jeans with black shined shoes that come to a point. His hair is somewhat calm, though I truly love it messy. He leans to the side to peer past me, and I glance back to find two men at the bar checking my ass as I walk by.

“I swear that only happens with these pants.” I laugh and kiss him at the table, but I make a little show of it, not just a peck, but a full-on kiss. If anyone had any doubts we’re dating, they wouldn’t now. I love how warm he is — never cold — and I take a moment in his arms to capture some of his heat and keep it with me.
 

“I may need to burn the pants,” he says, turning and pulling out my chair. “And, no, Kade checked you out at the restaurant yesterday.”

“Your nephew?”

“Yes.” He sits down and smirks at me. “You turn heads wherever you go.”

“Poor young Kade. I’m like reverse jail-bait.”

“Oh my god.” He laughs and shakes his head. “Don’t even joke about that.”

“Sorry.” I smile back at him. My foot bumps up against something under the table, and I lean over and see the large white bag.

“No peeking. It’s a surprise.”

Too big to be jewelry. Maybe it’s more clothing? Hmmm.
 

“How was your afternoon?” he asks, handing me a plate, and my stomach growls in response. I spent the last few hours walking around and didn’t even snack on anything since lunch. I load up my plate with crackers, cheese, olives, and sopressata, and talk when my mouth isn’t full. I walked all over downtown starting at the Market first. I wanted to do some of the tourist things one does in Seattle. I watched fish being tossed but enjoyed more time watching people on the boardwalk outside. I walked south along First Avenue and came across the Seattle Art Museum where I spent almost an hour wandering through the exhibits. I love museums, but they make me sleepy. No matter how interested I am in an artist, I yawn and yawn, so an hour is about all I can handle.

“I have no idea how I ended up at the library. It was raining, again, so I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“Do you always sightsee like that? Randomly?” he asks, spreading some cheese on bread.

“No. I like make plans to see a few things when I travel, but this trip was a little unexpected.” Sipping the wine, I roll it in my mouth again, and it’s peppery with hints of currant. “Mmmm, the wine is nice. I shouldn’t drink too much, though, because your family is bound to be hard on me tonight.”

He frowns. “Maybe you should numb the pain and have more. I’m only going to drink one glass since I’m driving.” He reaches around the plates and takes my hand, squeezing it. “It’s okay, really…”

“Lee, please don’t lie to me…”

“I’m not lying,” he says, softly.

“Well, maybe it’s okay for you. I knew it would be hard on them all, me not being Korean…”

“It’s more that you’re not Sandra than anything else, Laura. I’m sure not being Korean is just the icing on the cake.” He sneers, and my stomach drops.

I let go of his hand and draw it back to my lap, as if it’s an injured animal.
 

“Wait,” he says. “That didn’t come out the way I meant it to.” He takes a deep breath and lets it all out again. “I’ve been trying my entire life to please my family, and it’s always been a struggle. Always, Laura. Since I was a kid, my mom would pick fights with me over everything. Nari, too.”

Shit. I forgot to tell him about Nari.