Page 11 of Give Me a Reason

“Don’t worry, Appa,” Anne said even though she knew her father wasn’t really worried. He was mildly miffed by the idea that her life might cause him any sort of inconvenience, like having to remember in which country she lived. Her left eyelid fluttered with a subtle, nervous tic. Thank goodness she had her own place to go home to after dinner. “I have a friend who’s a film and TV agent at a major talent agency in LA. She floated the idea that I give Hollywood a go.”

“Oh my gosh,” Bethany squeaked, clapping her hands. “That would be so cool.”

“But shouldn’t you finish your English degree at UC San Diego?” her aunt said at the same time, her eyebrows furrowing.

Auntie Sharon had been the one who convinced Anne to pursue an acting career in Korea ten years ago. The one who convinced her that it would be foolish to throw away an opportunity of a lifetime over a relationship with a nineteen-year-old boy—a relationship that would never last.

Frederick had gotten into San Diego State through a basketball scholarship and hadn’t even decided on a major. As far as her aunt was concerned, he was a dumb jock with no future prospects. She had patiently explained that he wasn’t someone Anne could hope to build a future with.

Besides, she’d said,he’s too young to be serious about you. He’s ateenage boy,for God’s sake.Her aunt had been very convincing, her well-intentioned advice hitting all of Anne’s insecurities and doubts.

Anger and resentment shot through Anne as she stared at her. Auntie Sharon believed she’d done her duty—what her dear late sister would’ve done for her daughter if she’d been alive—but she had always regretted that her favorite niece had to drop out of college to pursue acting.

Frankly, Anne didn’t give a… a flyingfuckabout her unfinished BA. It was the least of her regrets. She’d run into herbiggestregret recently, and he despised her.Thatwas what mattered.

Anne choked on her breath and resisted the urge to dig her palm into her chest. Thinking about the past always made her feel as though her lungs had collapsed, but thinking about Frederick in present terms felt like a knife to her heart. Ithurt.

She lowered her gaze to her hands and breathed in and out through her nose until the unfamiliar haze of anger cleared from her vision. Her aunt wasn’t to blame. Anne was the one who had ultimately made the decision to drop out of college and go to Korea.Shewas the one who had chosen to leave Frederick.

He wouldn’t be a fire captain if she hadn’t left him. His face had lit up as he talked to Bethany’s students about how much he loved his job. He deserved that joy and that sense of accomplishment. She’d made the right choice. She couldn’t regret it. She shouldn’t.

“Maybe I’ll get my degreeandact. Who knows? I’m just toying with some ideas.” Anne spread Camembert on her crusty bread with feigned nonchalance. “I haven’t had time to give it much thought, with the move and all.”

“Moving is a pain in the neck, even when it’s local.” Joe led the conversation to calmer waters. Anne knew she liked him. “I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been to move back to the US from Korea.”

“It wasn’t easy.” Anne kept her tone light, not wanting to sound like she was complaining. But it had been an absolute nightmare. She had accumulated so muchstuffduring her ten years in Korea. Deciding what to bring with her and what to leave behind had taken years off her life. “Speaking of moving, have you two decided where to live after you get married?”

“Culver City,” Coraline blurted, too quick and too loud, and sent her fiancé a sidelong glance.

Vertigo washed over Anne as Bethany’s words rang in her head.He is a fire captain with the Culver City Fire Department.She gripped the edge of the table with both hands.Oh my God.Was Coraline marrying Frederick’s lieutenant?No.There had to be more than one fire station in Culver City. They might not even work together.Then why was Frederick volunteering in Bethany’s classroom of all places?

“Actually, we haven’t decided yet,” Joe said tactfully, even though it was obvious this was a point of contention between him and Coraline. “I think it would be best if we live in Downtown LA near Coraline’s work since she has to commute every day, whereas I only drive to the station every other day for five days, then get four days off.”

“ButIdon’t want Joe to have a long commute after atwenty-four-hourshift.” Coraline narrowed her eyes at him. Her fiancé jutted his chin, holding his ground.

Anne wanted to bury her head in her hands. Were there no safe topics?

Exhaustion washed over her as the couple’s silent staring match stretched on. She couldn’t find the strength to defuse the tension at the table. But she had backup in the form of the Hong family, minus the angry bride-to-be.

“Who’s ready for some boeuf bourguignon?” Uncle Paul boomed with forced cheer, pushing back from the table.

“Let me help you.” Bethany hopped to her feet.

Anne was about to escape to the kitchen with them when Juliette said, “I could never live in the city.”

“Of course not, my dear,” her father agreed. “Cities are much too… coarse for someone as delicate as you.”

“And the smell…” Juliettedelicatelywaved her hand in front of her nose as though just talking about the city smelled foul to her.

Anne’s left eye started to twitch again. Joe’s likely connection to Frederick had jarred her more than enough. She didnotneed her father and her older sister to taint the evening with their nauseating elitism. How had she endured living with them? Whatever thick skin she’d developed had been sloughed away during her ten-year sabbatical from her family. She could not take much more of Juliette and her father.

“Oh yes. And the vagr—” her father began, warming up to the subject.

“Anne,” Coraline practically screamed across the table to stop him from finishing his sentence. “What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”

“Thanksgiving?” Anne was so relieved by her cousin’s intervention that she nearly missed the question. She didn’t know what she would’ve done if her father had shown his true colors in front of Coraline’s fiancé. She cleared her throat, gathering her thoughts. “Gosh, I haven’t celebrated Thanksgiving in so long… I didn’t even realize it was coming up.”

“Yeah, it’s just around the corner.” Coraline smiled brightly, her argument with her fiancé already forgotten—or postponed. “Joe and I would be so happy if you can join us for Thanksgiving dinner. Mom and Dad are going off to Tulum that whole week, so Bethany will be with us, too.”

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