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I put the bowl down and took a sip of tea, totally stalling for time. When my head came back up, she was staring at me pointedly.
“Actually, yes, ha-ha, there is someone.”
“A lawyer at the firm?” she prodded.
I cleared my throat and shook my head.
“No, not a lawyer, Brady is a police officer,” I answered, then waited, my breath caught in my throat.
When I was met with silence, I looked at my parents to try and gauge their reactions. Faces blank, they gave away nothing, so I kept talking.
“He has two brothers, and they are all very close. Their parents died when they were all teenagers, and Brady’s eldest brother took over as head of the family. He actually started his own business, and Brady worked with him until last year, when he joined the police force.”
I decided to leave off the fact that they were in a band together, for now … That wouldn’t be impressive to my parents, and I wanted to talk Brady up, not set him up for failure.
When they still didn’t say anything, my nerves came back full force, and I kept right on talking.
“He’s a few years younger than me, but that’s no big deal. Never been married, but he does own his own home. Oh, and you both met his younger brother, Brendan, Bronagh’s husband, at my birthday dinner, remember?”
My father nodded in reply, and I turned my attention to my mother, desperate for her to say something.
“The one with the long hair?”
“Uh, yes, that’s Brendan. Brady doesn’t have long hair; he’s a cop, so it’s kept short. He’s, um, very healthy, kind, and loyal, and he takes his job of protecting the people of this city very seriously.”
God, I am starting to sound desperate, like I’m pleading with them to give a man they’d never met a chance. Which, I guess I am… I just hope they go for it.
Nothing else was said on the matter. We finished our dinner and tea, talking about work, the new garden my mother was planning, and about their annual trip back to Japan. I figured they needed time to process what I’d said, and, hopefully, come to terms with the fact that my vision for my future might, for the first time, differ from theirs.
My father retired to his room, and I told him goodnight, then my mother walked me to the door.
I opened my mouth to speak, when she put her hand on my arm and stopped me.
“I know you have spent your life living up to our expectations, and we are very proud of the woman you are … Now, I think it is time for you to do what makes you happy. I was lucky that your father and I grew to love each other and have had a wonderful life together. We were hard on you, only because we wanted you to reach your potential, and you have. Now, I want to see that light on your face, like I did when you were talking about your policeman at the table. I’ve never seen you look like that, Ming, happy in a way that only a woman can be. Your father will be fine. Your man doesn’t have to be rich in wealth, only rich in life, and if he puts that light on your face, your father will accept him.”
The only reason my jaw wasn’t on the floor was due to years of etiquette training by my mother, but in my mind, it was hanging open like one of those scary ventriloquist dolls.
“Thank you,” I started, but when my eyes filled with tears, my mom tapped me on the forearm and said, “You’ll bring him to dinner.”
I nodded as she opened the door.
“Mata ne,” she said in farewell.
I responded in kind, then walked somewhat dazed down the path to my car.
Chapter Thirty-One ~ Brady
“Where are we going?” Ming asked, practically bouncing in the seat next to me.
“It’s a surprise,” I replied, for the third time since picking her up.
We were finally going on a date outside of one of our houses, and I’d racked my brain trying to come up with something that we would hopefully both enjoy, and would show Ming that I wasn’t always so serious. In fact, my brothers and I were usually anything but serious, and I wanted Ming to see that side of me.
As we drew nearer, I began to worry that she would think we were crossing over into immature, but my fears subsided when she let out a squeal.
“A theme park? I haven’t been to one of these in probably ten years!”
I chuckled at her exuberance as I paid the attendant for parking, then followed the line of cars to our parking spot.
