Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow

Author:Jennifer J. Chow [Chow, Jennifer J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

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Ma and Dad had loaded the dining table with snacks. I spied bowls of dried squid, roasted broad beans, and, my personal favorite, peanut candy. Those square-shaped treats melted like sugar in my mouth, depositing peanutty goodness on my tongue. Inevitably, the delicate layers of the pastry left crumbs everywhere.

Ma fanned her hand in front of my face. “Your boyfriend is where?”

Um. I’d lost myself in dreams of peanut candy. Why hadn’t he shown up yet?

“Maybe he got caught up at work,” I said, grabbing a few pieces of peanut delight.

Ma traced the outline of a silver rose on her dark blue qipao. I’d noticed she was wearing the traditional figure-hugging dress tonight. She’d even put on makeup and opted for false eyelashes.

Dad pulled at the collar of his shiny polyester dress shirt. No doubt he’d worn it at Ma’s bidding. “What’s your man do again?”

“He’s a lawyer,” I said.

Ma squeezed Dad’s hand. “Wah! Must make good money.”

“A steady income,” Dad added.

Alice popped her head out of the closet and said hello.

“Ooh, my favorite Lee,” Marshmallow said, sprinting her way. Gee, thanks, I thought as he did a figure eight around her legs.

My sister grinned and patted him. Then she turned to me and said, “What kind of games does Josh like?”

“Let me ask him.” When I looked at my phone, though, I realized I’d already missed a text from him. It read, Sorry. Something came up.

I blinked at my cell. Had he bailed on me in four words? Was this like a breakup text? I hadn’t said so, but he must’ve known meeting my family would be a huge milestone. Or was that the real reason he’d failed to show up?

I pulled an Alice and locked myself in the bathroom to get some privacy, just like she had during the egg tart sympathy party we’d thrown her. Pacing around the cramped space, from sink to shower and back again, I dialed Josh’s cell. No answer.

I called his office. Voice mail. Was he avoiding me on purpose? Had I pressured him too much by extending an invitation to meet my family so early in the relationship?

I sat down on the toilet and placed my head between my hands. This dating thing was harder than it looked.

A soft knock sounded at the door. “Mimi?” my sister asked.

I let her in.

Seeing my crestfallen face, Alice gave me a long hug. “What happened?”

“Josh can’t make it, and he told me over text. Now he’s avoiding my calls.”

She placed an arm around my shoulder and led me back to the dining room. “There could be a million reasons why he couldn’t come.”

My parents, seated at the table, looked up at me with puzzled faces.

“Did he run into traffic?” my dad asked.

Alice tossed a sweet smile their way. “Josh is busy tonight, so we’ll meet him during the next family get-together.”

Ma harrumphed.

I sat down as Alice went to search the hall closet to select a game. She picked out a four-player option: Scrabble.

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