“Marriage doesn’t have to be like what you have.”
Again, I seek out Charlie and realize he’s found me too. My husband watches me intently. I wave, and he nods back, leaving me to handle this the way I want.
“The years will change that,” my mother says, regaining my attention.
Keeping rash, defensive words from spilling out is a struggle. It’s my natural defense with her. Instead, I let my mind soak in the memories I have of my husband. Of all the mistakes we’ve made, but also the ways we work to fix them.
My dad doesn’t fix things.
My mother doesn’t acknowledge when something is broken.
They never had a chance.
But telling her will only lead further into the darkness, and all I want is to step back into the light.
“We’ll see.” Then I move forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. The gesture is as much as I can give her. There’s no hug in me. “You did right by Leo. This is what Wai Po would have wanted.”
Vivian shrugs away from my palm. “My mother wanted Tsai Mei-ling. A perfect, well-behaved daughter. But that girl never existed.”
I thought my mother’s rejections couldn’t sting me anymore, but I still feel the pinch of her dismissing my touch. Still, I stop myself from snapping back at her.
Wai Po’s memory solidifies in the air between us, the visions we hold of the woman vastly different.
Mine is full of hope and the beginning of acceptance.
My mother’s holds something darker. Another generation of mother-daughter strife. A tradition I hope never to pass on if Charlie and I ever expand our family. My worry of that is small. With a husband like mine, how could a family be anything other than full of love?
“Make sure Leo doesn’t screw this up.” Vivian pushes through the gate and doesn’t look back, strolling out of our lives as easily as she always has.
“You okay?” A familiar, deep voice whispers the question in my ear, and I lean back against Charlie’s chest.
“My mom paid off Leo’s debt.” Best to be blunt.
“Hmm.” A soft kiss drags up my neck. “No need to stay married to me then, huh?”
“Nope.” I tilt my head, giving him better access. Then, in a slow, languid movement, I turn in his arms, reaching to clasp my hands behind his neck. “Charlie Keller, will you stay married to me?”
His heart-melting grin is the only answer I need.
EPILOGUE
LUNA
“You got your passport?”
“Yes, sir.” I pat the pocket on my backpack, where I zipped the stiff little booklet into this morning.
Charlie continues naming off items on my checklist, waiting for me to point out the place I packed each item. All the while, Leo watches us from the couch with a roly-poly pit bull sprawled over his lap.
“You all ever heard of being over-prepared?”
I suppress the urge to flip my brother off. He agreed to dog-sit while Charlie and I travel for two weeks. I can deal with a little snark.
“I’m not about to get stuck in a foreign country without the proper supplies.” My voice comes out with only the smallest bite.
“It’s not like you’re going to the moon. I think they sell underwear and toothpaste in Taiwan,” Leo taunts.
“But not passports.” I turn a glare on him.
