Page 97 of Wish You Faith

Mei thought for a moment. “He doesn’t like me to tell him what to do. I don’t do that very much. I don’t tell him who to date or who to marry.”

“You came all the way here to check on me,” Rosie said. “He might misunderstand it to say that you don’t approve of his decisions.”

“That’s right. At the moment, I don’t approve of your relationship.” Mei’s voice was cold.

“But you’re curious about me.”

Mei’s eyes met Rosie’s. This was a showdown of sorts. “I have questions.”

“Ask me anything,” Rosie said. “If I don’t know, I’ll find out for you. However, the condition is that I get to ask you some questions in return.”

“Oh?”

Rosie nodded. “I mean, we’re engaged, but not married yet. What if your family dynamics just don’t work out for me? I’d like to know that before the wedding, you know.”

“What do you mean by family dynamics?” Mei asked.

Rosie meant family drama, but she didn’t want to say it. She felt that if Evan had future problems with his parents at the same time as Mom’s cancer returning, Rosie might be stretched too thin trying to be a moral support to Evan while dealing with a mother who had said she would refuse further treatment if her cancer came back.

“Each family has issues,” Rosie said. “Evan’s issues are now mine, but I also have my own family issues. I’d like to know what I’m going to be dealing with. That’s all.”

“What did Evan say about me?” Mei asked point blank.

“That you two are not particularly close.”

Mei thought for a bit. “No, we’re not. I want us to be, but he wouldn’t even hug me.”

“You’re missing his hugs.”

Mei’s eyes moistened. “When he was little, we hugged a lot.”

Perhaps Mei’s love language was also physical touch, like Evan’s.

“Now my baby boy avoids me except in business meetings. I didn’t even know he was engaged until Connor told me.”

Rosie was about to say something when she heard a door chime in the distance. She turned her head to find Mom walking out of the door leading to a lobby where the elevators were. Rosie hadn’t heard Mei earlier because the latter had probably walked through the covered porch from the parking lot.

Rosie waved to Mom. Mom was wearing her favorite plum-colored wool coat that extended to her knees. She usually wore that to church, but lately she had been wearing it on weekdays and everywhere.

Mom approached the tiki hut. “Hello.”

Rosie got out of her chair to walk with Mom. She introduced her to Mei Cavanaugh. “Evan’s mom.”

Mom wanted to shake hands, but Mei did a fist bump. Mom went along with it. She was cool that way, taking everything in stride and didn’t sweat the small stuff.

“I see where Evan got his good looks from,” Mom said. “Evan’s a good man. You raised him well.”

“Thank you,” Mei didn’t leave her chair.

“I would invite y’all upstairs for tea, but I have to go to my mahjong club now.”

“Wait. What club?” Mei’s eyes widened.

“Mahjong. Do you play?”

Mei tilted her head. “Do I play? I’ve won competitions.”

“Wow.” Mom clapped. “Maybe you can come with me and give us pointers? I’m still learning the game. Been at it since December.”

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