Unfortunately, the music didn’t deter my father, who was in the front seat beside me, from watching me. I tried to ignore it as I focused on the road, but the weight on my chest got heavier the longer he stared and I stayed silent.
My mom spoke up about halfway to the restaurant. “So…how long ya been datin’ your girlfriend?”
I was prepared for the question and turned down the volume on the radio.
“Six weeks.”
“Wow. How’d y’all two meet?” My mom asked, clearly trying hard to conceal how excited she was to hear the details.
“Um,” I flicked the wipers on to a higher speed,“I met her at a work event.”
“So, she’s active duty too?” my dad asked. “That must be nice, to be with someone who understands your work commitments.”
“No,” I shook my head. “She just happened to be at the location where the event was held. She’s a civilian.”
“Oh.” My mom hummed and I glanced in the rearview mirror to see she had turned her attention out her window.
“Sounds pretty serious,” my dad said after a few moments of silence. “If you’re staying at her house.”
I nodded, unsure what to say. It was definitely serious, but how did I explain that we hadn’t known each other for just six weeks. That our story began five years ago. That I already loved her. Had practically proposed to her last night.
Jae’s call interrupted the awkward silence and I answered.
“Hey.”
“I found parking. There’s space in the garage one block behind.”
“Okay, thanks. We’re a minute out.”
“See you soon.”
I ended the call, adjusting my hands on the steering wheel. Fuck, this was painful.
“I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday,” I rushed out, glancing in the mirror to see my mom and sister’s reactions.
They both turned their heads to meet my eyes in the mirror.
“I shouldn’t have spoken to either of you the way that I did. And I’m sorry.”
My mom reached forward, squeezing my shoulder.
“Thanks, honey. I knew ya didn’t mean it.”
No, at the time I really fucking did.When she dropped her hand, I rolled my shoulders back. Esther remained silent and I accepted the sadness that followed the increased guilt.
She had a right to still be upset with me.
I sighed and pulled into the parking garage, looking for Jae’s car as I drove through the aisles until I found a spot near his.
When I stepped out of the car, my mom pulled me into a hug, and I forced a smile as I hugged her back.
We ran into Eden, Seb and the kids at the crosswalk. They were too preoccupied keeping the kids from splashing in a giant puddle to strike up conversation and we all just wanted to get out of the rain. I cursed myself for not grabbing an umbrella from the hall closet before we left.
After shaking off the rain, which had soaked through my shirt quite a bit, we followed the hostess as she led us to the table that Jae, his parents, and Baba and Ded were seated at. They stood, greeting us as if we hadn’t just seen each other a few minutes ago at the house and I took the chair at the end of thetable across from Uncle Q, hoping my mom would sit next to me so I didn’t have deal with any awkwardness from someone else.
I wasn’t lucky enough.
Sebastian took the chair next to me, helping Benji into the chair beside him.
