Page 89 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
Oh. Maybe he doesn’t want a third party to butt in when we haven’t had a chance to talk about kids yet. “However many we end up having will turn out fine, especially if they’re anything like you.” I beam at him, trying to cheer him up.
The tension in him grows, even though the smile doesn’t slip. “I should get coffee or something for Yuna’s mom and her people.”
He pulls his arm away and goes to the kitchen.
I stand there, confused, watching him fiddle with the coffeemaker. Does he not want to talk about having children? Does he think I’m asking him to have babies, like, now?
I’m willing to wait until we’ve enjoyed our honeymoon and each other. It’s important we’re both ready. Children are a huge commitment—emotionally and otherwise. But doesn’t he ever think about having them at some point? He said he built his financial empire for me, but surely he wants to leave his legacy to our children.
Julie comes over. “Yuna’s mom’s a…character. And how come she’s Lady Min? I thought Yuna’s family name was Hae.”
“I have no idea.” I’m pretty sure Yuna’s mom isn’t her dad’s mistress or anything. “Anyway, I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t know. Obviously Yuna didn’t either.”
“It’s fine. It’s just…fascinating.” She looks at the mom-daughter argument.
They don’t raise their voices, but neither one is giving an inch. I watch the argument, not understanding a word but utterly spellbound. It’s very different from the way Margot interacted with Tony and Harry. Lady Min is mildly indulgent and fully affectionate as she speaks to her daughter, while Yuna is reacting with a quarter embarrassment and three-quarters bafflement. But it’s obvious even through the argument that they love each other to pieces, and there’s none of the tense awkwardness that I saw with Margot and her sons.
Julie is running her own fingers along her nose and cheeks. “I wonder what she’d say about my fortune.”
It doesn’t surprise me. Julie loves to get her fortune read. She’s never walked past a palm reader without stopping. The only time she couldn’t get her fortune told was when we were in countries where they didn’t speak English.
I lean over and whisper, “I don’t think it’s going to be that accurate. Yuna said her mom thinks all white people look about the same. So she’s going to tell you you’re going to have a wealthy marriage and lots of strong kids.”
“Really? What a shame.”
“I know, right?”
Suddenly, Yuna’s mom breaks off and walks over to me. “You don’t have parents?” she asks.
Uh, what? My jaw slack, I stare, wondering when Korean started to sound so much like English. Except for a slight accent, Yuna’s mom sounds…perfect.
“I don’t mean to touch on a sore point, but Yuna told me you’re on your own for the wedding. Which is why she’s staying here.”
“Uh. Yeah,” I say, unsure what I’m supposed to say exactly. Technically she stayed because I couldn’t bear to let her go like that after our falling out.
“Well then.” Yuna’s mom lays my palm on hers, then pats the back of my hand. “I’ll be your mother for the wedding, and my husband can give you away. No bride should ever walk down the aisle alone. It simply will not do.”
“Oh.” I haven’t thought about who might give me away. Julie, Yuna and I were too preoccupied with the venue, cake and wedding dress.
Yuna’s mom seems to sense my confusion. “You know it isn’t done, don’t you?”
“No, yes, of course not.” As placid and sweet as Yuna’s mom seems, I have a feeling she’s strong-willed and used to getting her way.
“Do you think Dad’s going to be okay? I’m not even married yet,” Yuna points out.
“He’s given up. You’re determined to die an old maid, so what’s to be done about that? Maybe seeing your soul sister get married will spur you to find a man of your own and give me grandchildren. I just want one of each—a grandson, then a granddaughter. Or twins, as long as it’s one of each, a boy first, then a girl. Every girl needs an older brother to watch out for her.”
I can’t decide if she’s talking to me or Yuna…or how she proposes we pick the gender of our babies—boy, then girl, like she wants.
Yuna’s grimace says she thinks everything out of her mother’s mouth is pure horseshit. Poor Yuna. She must be under some pressure to marry. And given how her mom is, I guess she’s under pressure to marry a man with the “wealthy marriage and strong kids” face and then produce the proper sort of grandchildren.
The intercom buzzes again. Tony looks at Yuna, who turns to her mom. “Did you ask Dad to come too?”
“Of course not. You know he’s busy. And not having Mr. Kim around put him further behind. Other secretaries just aren’t as good.”
Since I don’t want Yuna’s mom to throw me a question or try to get me to take sides, I answer the intercom call. “Yes?”
“Miss Smith, a woman is here to visit. Ms. Margot Blackwood. She says she’s Mr. Blackwood’s mother.”
What the… Why is she here?Surely not for a sweet, familial conversation. She couldn’t have made it clearer she hates Tony for what happened to Katherine… Or that I’m making a mistake by being with him.
I’m tempted to turn her away, but that would only delay the inevitable. She’s proven herself persistent. And the last thing I want is for her to wait in the lobby to accost me or Tony later. I want to ask him, then decide there really isn’t a good course of action except letting Margot come up. Yuna’s mom is Asian, and Asians are huge on family and being respectful to your elders. Turning Tony’s mom away isn’t a viable option under the circumstances. Maybe when Margot comes up and sees the other guests, she’ll make her visit short and to the point. Ideally politely, without any poison to ruin the rest of Tony’s and my day.
“Sure,” I say. “Send her up.”
