Simon leaned his head on his hand, seemingly engrossed by my story. "Then what happened?"
"Well, they do extensive training before they're sent off on their mission. Part of their training is learning the local language and culture. My dad could get by conversationally, so that helped a lot. My mom only knew a little English - just the basics."
"Did she feel the same way about him?"
"Oh, yes," I laughed, "well, she told me it wasn't the same love at first sight that my dad had. At first, he scared the crap outta her. But between her broken English and his Samoan, they fell in love."
"But the mission..."
"Ah, yes. Well. Obviously, he couldn't sneak out and meet her all the time. They were monitored pretty heavily and had strict rules they had to adhere to. So my dad was rumbled pretty fast. He got kicked out but refused to go, not without mom. His parents wouldn't help him; they were embarrassed by what happened. Dad did everything right, followed the rules all his life, and then this local Catholic village girl struts by and derails him. That's how they viewed it, anyway."
"She wasn't Mormon? Your mom?"
"Nope. Her family was - still are - devout Catholics."
"So, how did they end up together?"
"My dad had to leave Samoa eventually. You're not paid a salary for the mission; you have to fund yourself. My dad had scrimped and saved for his mission since he started working, and his parents helped fund the rest of the trip. Obviously, they weren't going to fund him anymore. He wasn't sure when he could return, but he promised my mom he'd find a way. He was no longer welcome at his church, and his parents refused to help reunite him with mom. So he left the church - which was super hard for him to do - and moved to New Haven, where his cousin lived. Dad got a job working as a janitor, saved up money, and went back to Samoa and married mom."
I wiped a tear that had rolled down my cheek. It had been a long time since I'd relayed that story to anyone. It made me miss my dad, but it also made me sad for my mom.
"So then they moved back to New Haven?"
"Yeah. Mom had family in New Jersey, but Dad already set up a life in New Haven. He even started working as an insurance salesman, started to make some good money."
"And then you came along..."
"I was a surprise. They tried for many years to have children and just assumed that one of them was infertile. My mom was forty when she discovered she was pregnant. Just when they had come to terms with the fact that they'd be childless and happy."
"Can I ask how your dad died?" His voice was seeped in tenderness.
I took a shaky breath, my mind transported to that fateful day. "He had a heart attack when I was thirteen. He was alone when it happened."
"Ah, Sofia. I'm so sorry."
"Thanks," I croaked. "Anyway, that's what I want. An epic love like that." I shook my head. "Obviously, I don't expect them to turn their backs on their family and convert to a new religion for me," I laughed. "But I want someone to love me like my dad loved my mom."
Simon didn't respond, so I curled up in a ball, swiping the remaining tears from my face.
The air was still, quiet.
I started feeling awkward about sharing so much with Simon, someone I was beginning to get to know but still relatively a stranger. What made me pour my heart out to him, of all people? I'd never told anyone I was holding out for a great love, and here I was - confessing all to my nemesis.
"Sofia?" Simon's voice was low and rough, making me jump slightly.
I licked my dry lips. "Yeah?"
"I would totally change my religion for you."
I burst out laughing, not expecting that response. A bit of my dejected demeanor lifted. "Why, what religion are you?"
"Uh, well, I'm agnostic, but I would definitely start believing in a man in the sky for you."
I grabbed a pillow from the floor and threw it at him - well, in his direction, anyway. "Shut up," I laughed.
He reached down and grabbed the pillow I threw, putting it behind his head with a laugh.
I put my head down, still grinning.
