Page 81 of The Cost of Love

He offers me his hand, and I give it a hearty shake. Now that he feels we have talked man to man, he relaxes even more. Our conversation about everything after that becomes easy.

I don’t know what I expected, but I didn’t think I would like them this much. It feels so effortless to be around them and find my place among their formed group. Chanice sees it, too, because she squeezes my hand every time one of them looks up at me with a sparkle in their eye.

By the time we are on the tube heading to their place, a companionable quiet has fallen over us.

It’s not until I am saying goodnight to them does anyone speak.

“I’ll see you later?” Jamal asks.

When I agree, he gives me a quick high five. Gabby gives me a big hug, and Imani, in all her teenaged glory, just offers a thumbs up. They head inside first, leaving me alone with Chanice.

“You know, I thought once you got your new place, I would be allowed to come over.”

She laughs and hooks her fingers through mine. “You will eventually, just let me make it presentable.”

“I don’t care how it looks.” I bring our hands up and kiss her knuckles.

“Now that you have met them, you can come over soon.” She swings our conjoined hands back and forth. “You did well, by the way.”

“Yeah?”

“Jamal isn’t trusting because of the past, but he spent most of the day talking to you. That means something.” Her eyes mist. I cup her cheek just in case any tears fall.

“Christmas is in a few weeks. Why don’t you join us?” she asks. Holding still, her lips part slightly, barely letting out any breath.

I try to hide my surprise, which is equally matched by my excitement. “Can my sister and her wife come?”

“Of course.”

“Then definitely.”

She rocks on her feet, pressing her head into my chest. It barely muffles the giggle that comes through. Laughing as well, I look forward to this future.

“You should meet her before then, and my nephew, too.”

“I would love that.”

I sigh out my elation. In my mind, an entire life builds as this conversation lays the foundation for everything else to come.

With a heavy kiss, she lets me go. I decide to take the tube, letting the walk and time settle all these feelings in my chest. They burrow into the place that used to be empty.

#

A week later, I find myself sitting next to Chanice and across from my sister and her wife at their dining room table. Theo is strapped against Liv’s body in this fabric wrap thing. He’s staring off quietly, his precious tiny fingers clenched. Chanice can’t keep her eyes off him and a smile off her face. No matter where she stands on having her own, she clearly loves kids.

“So Chanice, I hear you’re a great cook,” Liv says.

This gets the attention of Mei, and soon she is talking about her favorite restaurants in the city. I make a mental note of every one that Chanice seems excited about.

The topic seems to put her a little more at ease, enough so that she ventures to start the next conversation.

“So how did you guys fall in love?” She leans forward and places her chin in the palm of her hand.

“Well, I fell first,” Mei says.

“Nope. You just said it first, but I definitely loved you earlier,” Liv says.

Mei laughs and grabs her wife’s hand. “I’m pretty sure I fell the moment I met you. You were so pretty and kind. I had never been a personal assistant to someone who actually treated me like a person. I just wanted to know more about you, and I relished every detail I got to learn through the job. Then, when you remembered my birthday and brought my mom from Namwon. Well, how could I not love you?” Mei wipes a tear that escapes and then kisses Liv’s hand.