The Search for Us by Susan Azim Boyer

Author:Susan Azim Boyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

* * *

Henry pulled up to the valet. Mom led the way into the restaurant; the walls were paneled in knotty pine and dotted with mounted deer heads. They all followed the maître d’—a man about Dad’s age, with the air of a royal butler—to a big round table for five. Henry was determined to keep the peace between Mom and Mama. Especially with Linh there.

“Henry, you and Linh sit there. I’ll sit here,” Mom said, and took the seat next to him. Dad sat next to her. Mama harrumphed and sat next to Linh. The restaurant was lit with the glow of votive candles at each of the tables covered in white linens.

“Here are your menus,” the maître d’ said. “Are we celebrating a special occasion tonight?”

“Oh yes. Our son’s eighteenth birthday,” Mom said, and squeezed Dad’s hand.

Our son. Mama’s eyes flashed with anger.

The server appeared at their table. “Can I get you anything to start? Something to drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of cab, whatever you have open,” Mama said with a tense smile.

Mom pursed her lips and gestured to Dad. “We don’t drink.”

“I’ll have a Diet Coke,” Dad said.

“Me, too,” said Henry.

“Make it three,” Linh chimed in.

The server tapped his iPad. “Very good. Anything to start?”

Mom brushed Henry’s hand. “Now, you order anything you like. You can get an appetizer, both of you.” She scanned the menu. “The ribs or the sliders. Linh, you might like the pork belly or the—”

“They can read, Jeannie,” Mama said. “Linh is a vegetarian. She wouldn’t want the pork.”

Mom glowered at Mama. “Are you, Linh? I didn’t know.”

“Yes, but…” Linh quickly opened her menu. “… I could start with the roasted beets or shishito peppers. The peppers, I’ll have the peppers,” she said like her life depended on it.

“Johnnycake for me,” Henry said, and sat back in his chair, annoyed. Couldn’t Mom and Mama get along for one night, especially with his girlfriend there?

“No starter for me,” Dad said.

“Me, either. Except for that wine,” Mama said.

“Yes, ma’am, coming right up.” The server hightailed it to the bar.

Mom looked around and pasted on a smile. “Isn’t this nice? All of us here together.”

“Yeah, great,” Henry said flatly.

“It is,” Linh echoed.

The air was thick with tension.

A busboy appeared with warm dinner rolls and herbed butter. Dad tossed his roll to Henry. “Think fast. And enjoy the carbs while you can.”

The server reappeared with Mama’s wine. “This is our Caymus Special Selection.” After he had left the table, she swirled and sipped. “It’s good.” She winked at Henry. “Want a sip?”

“Nancy,” Mom whispered harshly. “He’s not twenty-one. The server could get in trouble. We could get kicked out.”

“Oh, calm down,” Mama said dismissively. “It was just a joke.”

“Happy birthday, Henry,” Dad boomed, to defuse the tension.

“Yes, happy birthday.” Mom cast Henry one of her adoring gazes. “You were such a good little boy. He was such a good little boy, Linh.”

“Was he?” Linh grinned.

“Oh, yes. We would take him to the doctor for his shots. He would turn his little head and have this stoic look on his face.

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