Mom hasmy plate of peach cobbler served up and waiting for me when I return to the kitchen.
“There you are, baby,” she says, sliding a bowl of vanilla ice cream across the table. “I was starting to think you’d fallen asleep on the toilet.”
“Just, um, freshening up.” I force a smile I hope doesn’t look as shaky as it feels.
The pregnancy test is hidden at the bottom of my purse, wrapped in Kleenex tissue like a secret I’m not ready to share.
As I grab the fork and dig into the sweet, fruity, cinnamon dessert, I can’t resist sneaking glances at Jin. My heart stutters in my chest observing how calm and collected he is. He dines on the peach cobbler, completely unaware that our entire lives changed only moments ago.
We’re going to be parents.
I funnel a bite of cobbler and vanilla ice cream to my mouth despite the fact my appetite’s gone.
Normal Monroe would leave only a few crumbs after dessert. She wouldn’t struggle to eat like she did at Tony’s.
“So,” Mom says, leaning against the counter with her ownbowl of ice cream, “I was telling the girls at work all about you two. They couldn’t believe my Moni is engaged to a man from South Korea. Betty—you remember Betty, baby, the one with the bad hip?—she said it was like something out of a K-drama. Her granddaughter isobsessedwith them.”
“Mom...” I groan.
“What? It’s romantic! A whirlwind international love affair,” she sighs softly. “Naturally they all asked what Jin does for a living. I told them he’s a tax collector.”
I nearly choke on the small bite I’ve managed to swallow. “Atax collector?”
“Well what was I supposed to say?” Mom shrugs, entirely unrepentant. “I had to tell them something. Technically, it’s not a lie. He collects money from people who owe it, right?”
The corner of Jin’s mouth lifts. “That is… one way to describe it.”
“See? He agrees with me. I also told them you’re very handsome and very polite and that you treat my daughter like a queen. Betty wants to see pictures.”
“Mom, please don’t show your coworkers pictures of my fiancé.”
“Too late. I already showed them the one from my last visit to Busan. Betty said you two make a beautiful couple and will have some cute Blasian babies. I’m so happy for you, baby. Both of you. After everything you’ve been through... you deserve this. You deserve to be loved.”
The sincerity in her voice makes my throat tighten. Emotion that wells up inside me stronger than usual, probably thanks to the life growing inside me.
Suddenly I’m struck by the urge to confess—tell her and Jin everything right now, on the spot. Luckily I come to my senses a split second later, reminding myself I need to process the news first. Then I need to figure out what I’m going to tellJin.
“Um… thanks, Mom,” I mumble.
“I can’t wait for this wedding. Then you two can get to work on making me a grandbaby.”
It’s the second time within seconds that I’m left almost choking. I sputter in between trying to swallow more peach cobbler, my eyes watering from the effort.
Both Jin and Mom stare with alarm.
“Wrong pipe,” I choke out. “The cobbler’s so good I’m trying to gobble it down all at once.”
“Oh, baby. Let me grab you a cup of water.”
But as Mom bustles to fill up a glass of water, I feel the unblinking gaze of my fiancé. I aim a small, reassuring smile at Jin. His reaction is nuanced, a prolonged and scrutinous stare, but I know him well enough to read it—he’s not convinced in the least.
Heknowssomething’s up.
Which means I can’t keep the news secret for long; I’ll have to come clean sooner than later.
“Sorry about the bedtime,” I apologize a few hours later. I’ve padded into the guest room where me and Jin have been sleeping during our stay and carefully snick shut the door. “My mom can be a little old school. I’m honestly surprised she agreed to let us sleep in the same bed under her roof. I guess she figures the jig is up since I’m thirty and we’re engaged… so obviously we’re,you know.”
Jin half grins, his features slightly sharper than usual. “Your mother is…” he pauses, searching for the right word.
