Page 2 of Reclaimed Roots

It was probably why I knew so little about what her life looked like now. It hurt too much. I didn't bother with social media, and everyone in Sable Point knew better than to bring her up around me. Anytime I saw Marie or Edward Choi in town or at a family dinner, they studiously avoided talking about their only daughter.

Everyone knew that she had moved on, and I hadn't.

And I felt like a fool.

Again.

Chapter Two

NATALIE

I felthis eyes on me.

I was doing my best not to squirm, but something about Jasper Everton's presence was making my skin itch.

"You okay, babe?"

Liam squeezed my shoulder while I tried to ignore the prickle at the back of my neck.

Of course I wasn't fucking okay.

My dad was dead. My mother was a wreck. My life was a mess.

I knew what was expected of me, but this was the first time I'd set foot in Sable Point in seven years, and I couldn't stay.

My parents knew it was hard for me to come back there, so they always came to me. Even after Dad got sick, we'd meet halfway for dinner, just to spend a few hours together before going our separate ways back home. Anything morethan that was too much for him, but they'd never pushed me to visit Sable Point.

"I'm fine," I told Liam, forcing a smile.

We'd been dating for six months, but he'd never had the opportunity to meet my dad. They would have gotten along well enough, but Dad was always a little cold to my boyfriends. At least, sincehim. Dad was loyal, that much was certain.

Suddenly, I felt more eyes on me. They didn't make me break out in hives, but they did tell me it was my turn to speak.

I rose to my feet and climbed the sanctuary steps to the podium. The pastor gave me a small hug before taking his seat.

"My father, Edward Choi, was the most incredible man I've ever known."

My eyes swept over the sea of familiar faces, all turned towards me with expressions of sympathy and shared grief.

"Dad once told me, 'Numbers are easy. It's people who take work. They need your time, your attention, your support.'"

I paused and let the memory settle over me. I was thirteen years old, lying on my stomach on the floor of his office. I'd asked him if he liked his job, and when he'd said yes, I asked what he loved most. His answer wasthe people.

"No one believed in people—in this community—like my father. He loved every single one of you. He shared your dreams and your fears. He poured his heart and soul intohelping you succeed because he was living out his dream here in Sable Point.

"He was eighteen when he came to this country. He left his entire family back in Seoul, determined to make a new life for himself, to chase his dreams.

"And that was when he met my mom. For nearly thirty years, they faced life's joys and challenges hand-in-hand, lifting each other up and supporting one another through thick and thin. Theirs was a love story for the ages, an inspiration to everyone who knew them.

"As for me, well, my dad was my guiding light. He believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. He encouraged me to chase my dreams, to never settle for less than I deserved. And he loved me, unconditionally and fiercely, every single day of my life.

"Losing him is like losing a piece of myself. But I know that he'll always be with me, with all of us. His legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched, the hearts he opened. He was a rare and special man, and I count myself incredibly lucky to have been his daughter."

As I spoke, I locked eyes with Jasper. In that moment, the grieving faces and soft sound of collective sniffles faded away. All that was left was the two of us, connected by a shared love for the man who meant so much to us both.

Fresh tears prickled, and I gripped the podium tighter, willing myself to hold it together. "Thank you all for being here today," I managed, my voice wavering only slightly. "Your love and support mean more to Mom and me than you could possibly know."

With that, I stepped down on shaky legs and made my way back to my seat. As I slid into the pew beside my mother, she reached over and took my hand, squeezing it gently.

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