Chasing Daniel by Arthurs Nia

Author:Arthurs, Nia [Arthurs, Nia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2018-08-27T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

After my meeting with the contractor, I return to Belize City. I wanted to hang with Gwen, but she’s at Britney and Winnie’s apartment. According to Gwen’s text, Winnie is ‘sorting things out’.

Whatever that means.

I called Aiden on my way up to find out what his plans for the day were, but he’s taking Melissa to her first prenatal check-up at the hospital.

Out of options, I drive to my family home.

I hope my parents never find out they’re my third option.

Sweat forms on the back of my neck as I jog past the store and open the side gate. It was nearly impossible for me to find parking downtown. I’m glad the shop is doing well, but walking ten blocks just to visit my parents can get annoying.

My frustration melts the moment I make eye contact with my mother. She welcomes me with sparkling eyes. Mom doesn’t smile often, but I see the corners of her lips perking up.

“To what do we owe the honor?”

“Can’t a boy visit his mother for no reason?”

“Not this boy.” She pats my cheek. “Come in. I was just about to make chow mein.”

“Sounds great.”

I follow her deeper into the living room, past the golden cat and the red banners on the wall. Dad is sleeping in his favorite armchair, but he opens his eyes and sits straighter when Mom announces my entrance.

“How were things in Belmopan?” Dad asks, rubbing his eyes. “I heard there were some problems.”

“Nothing worrisome. We’re working on getting things back on track.”

“You need to stay focused.” Dad lowers his chin. His face is more wrinkled than I remember. It saddens me to see my parents getting old.

“I am. We’ll make the store a success. You can count on it.”

“Here, Daniel.” Mom returns to the living room with a tray of sliced apples. “Would you like some fruit?”

“Thank you.”

I observe both my parents as they reach over to pluck the apples with tiny forks. We chat about my siblings, Richie’s wedding and Jenifer’s piano recital. Mom and Dad speak to me in Chinese, while I answer in English.

It’s been that way since… forever. I can’t imagine anything different.

“Oh Daniel, did you hear about Jin Ong?” Mom sets her fork on the now empty plate.

“Jin Ong? Isn’t he the guy who used to like Emily?”

‘Like’ is an understatement. Jin was so head-over-heels for Emily that his parents visited mine, intending to negotiate the terms of an engagement. Emily put a stop to it at once and insisted she wasn’t ready to get married.

“I heard he ran away from home and eloped with a Spanish girl.”

“A Spanish girl?” Dad gasps, scandalized.

“Can you imagine that?” Mom chuckles. Tendrils of her fluffy black hair cling to her pale neck. “She’s Spanish. He’s Chinese. How will they communicate?”

“In English?”

“It’s too frightening to think about.” Mom shudders, ignoring me. “I’m grateful all my children know better. It’s so easy to be led astray nowadays.”

“Jin wasn’t ‘led astray’. He fell in love with someone who happens to be a different race.

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