Page 113 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
“That’s all you’re gonna say?” he says after a long moment, an incredulous look on his face.
“What, you wanna know the intimate details—”
He holds up a hand. “Hell no!” He says it so loud that everyone snacking in the kitchen spins around and looks at him.
He clears his throat. “I don’t want to knowthatstuff.”
I roll my eyes and poke my fork at the food on my plate. “It was never going to last. Our lives are too different. He’s back on his team and that means he’ll be gone a lot, traveling and training. We’ll hardly see each other. I don’t want to be left to wait around for a partner who’s always away.”
Recognition flashes in my big brother’s eyes. I bet what I said is reminding him of our parents.
“Best to just end it now before we get in too deep,” I say quickly.
“Look, I know I’m the last person to give anyone advice on relationships, but you two seemed really happy together, Maya. Maybe you should give it a chance.”
I open my mouth to tell him that I don’t need any more of his unsolicited advice, but then I hear a collective gasp in the house. We turn and see our dad standing at the entrance, looking slightly freaked out at everyone staring at him, most of whom are his ex-in-laws.
The aunties and uncles in the house start whispering to each other. I’m just as shocked to see him. It’s been years since he’s been to this house, not since he and Mom got divorced.
I walk over to him and hug him. He smiles at me and gives me a tight squeeze. “Hey, honey. I won’t stay for long, I just wanted to get in a goodbye hug before you leave tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
A bunch of relatives come over to tell him hi. He starts to say that he only wanted to stop by and say goodbye to me, but they won’t hear of it. Soon he’s being walked into the kitchen and handed a plate of food and a can of beer.
Tyler greets him with a laugh. “Welcome back, Dad.”
He offers a flustered chuckle in return, but he’s a good sport and sits at the table with our mom’s family and chats over food and drinks.
An hour later the gathering is still in full swing. Someone says we’re running low on soda in the fridge, so I head to Mom’s garage to grab another case. I step out, shut the door behind me, and flip the light on. And then I see my parents kissing in the corner of the garage.
I yelp in shock. They break apart instantly. For a few seconds, I just stand there and look between them, my mouth agape.
“Oh my god,” I finally say. “What are you doing?”
The two of them stammer and glance at each other between glances at me. Mom fidgets while Dad tugs at the hem of his sweater.
“Honey, well…”
“Anak, we were just…”
I hold up a hand, quieting them both. I take a moment to process just how weird and surreal this moment is. Their youngest child has just busted their secret garage makeout session.
“Your mother and I are working things out. Trying to, at least,” Dad finally says.
Mom nods. I notice she doesn’t look embarrassed anymore. Her expression is sure and she’s standing tall as she looks at me.
When the ick feeling starts to fade at seeing my parents kiss, clarity sets in. They’re getting back together. Maybe I should be happy for them, but I’m not. All I feel is frustration.
“Are you two serious?” I say, looking between them. Then I aim my gaze at my mom. “Areyouserious? After everything Dad’s done to you. You’re gonna take him back?”
Mom purses her lips, like she’s annoyed.
When I look at my dad, guilt hits. He looks like he’s been sucker punched. What I said hurt him, but that doesn’t override what he did in the past.
“Look, Dad. You know I love you, but you’ll have to forgive me for not jumping for joy at seeing you two together. I haven’t forgotten how things were when I was little, how you’d leave Mom on her own with us kids for months on end as you traveled the world building your restaurant empire. And now she’s supposed to just take you back, like you didn’t totally abandon her years ago?”
I let out a laugh that is zero percent joy, just frustration and anger.
