29. Chapter 29
twenty-nine
L ina scanned the street as she and Curtis walked to the dim sum restaurant Uncle Ed had texted her to meet the family at. Even though she was confident that the Stilettos were chasing their shadows on the other side of the world—thanks to the fake breadcrumbs Carmen trailed for them—she still couldn’t let her guard down.
“Will you relax?” Curtis threw an arm around her shoulders. “You told me we’re safe here. We look just like anybody on the street.”
Lina glanced up at him—this six-four gorgeous specimen of a man, especially now that he’d shaved off the beard. He’d insisted he needed to look his best when he met her family.
“Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? You stand well above every man on this street. You’re a sore thumb,” she pointed out.
“Nuh-uh. The men are looking at you. I don’t think they see many girls like you. They can tell you can whip them into submission, and I think they’re secretly dreaming about that.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You have this dominatrix look going.” His eyes scanned her from her shoulders to her toes. She was wearing her black leather jacket, zipped up snugly, fitted black jeans, and black boots. It was pretty much what she wore almost every day.
“Plus those ever-alert eyes and the badass expression you always have on,” Curtis said. “Man, you’re giving me a hard-on just talking about it.”
“Well, you better keep it down, because we’re almost there.” She shook her head with a chuckle.
“We need to go shopping,” he said with no segue at all. Sometimes talking to Curtis was like talking to a five-year-old. He jumped subjects without warning, and he’d say the damnedest things.
He could also act like a five-year-old, all pouty when he didn’t get what he wanted, but then he turned around and was insightful and understanding. It was mind-boggling. She’d never felt compelled to unburden herself to anyone the way she did with Curtis. It was odd how she’d cried in front of him twice now. But even at her most vulnerable, he never once looked at her differently.
“We need new outfits for the new year,” Curtis added. “Popo always says it’s for good luck.”
Her mother and grandmothers said the same thing.
“And you need a burst of color,” he added. “Though I dig this look, you know black is a no-no. Maybe we’ll get you a red whip.”
Lina couldn’t help but laugh at his outlandish suggestion.
“Can we go shopping later and be a normal couple for once?” he asked.
A normal couple? Are we a couple?
Lina sighed at the pleading smile Curtis gave on her. “Fine. We’ll check out the new year’s market. Maybe I’ll get you a tangzuang .”
She could picture Curtis in a traditional red silk jacket with the upturned Mandarin collar or even the ankle-length dress Chinese men used to wear in the old days. He’d look good starring in one of those historical kung-fu movies she’d loved growing up.
“Only if you get one of those sexy Chinese dresses,” Curtis said.
He was talking about a cheongsam , the traditional silk dress with a similar high collar like the tangzuang , except it was well fitted to a woman’s figure and had high side-slits.
“I can’t fight in a cheongsam ,” Lina argued.
“You can fight in anything,” Curtis brushed off her argument. “Fair is fair. I’ll wear a tangzuang if you wear a cheongsam . Come on, it’s new year.”
“We’ll see,” she said noncommittally, but she knew she’d end up wearing one.
Lately, she realized she had a hard time resisting Curtis’ requests. And after this morning, where once again, he’d known what she’d needed more than she had, Lina would wear whatever he asked her to wear—whip or no whip.
He’d said to her—albeit during the height of passion—“Be alive with me. Be with me.”
Right then, Lina had realized she wanted that. She didn’t just want him. She wanted to be with him. He made her want to live again.
Maybe we can be a normal couple.
The thought of being normal with Curtis spurred Lina’s steps. But as they arrived at the restaurant, her nerves stopped her from crossing the threshold. She could see her family sitting on one of the big round tables toward the back, and her heart got stuck in her throat.
“What’s wrong?” Curtis asked.
Lina backed away from the door. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Lina, they’re your family. They love you.”
“You don’t even know them.”
“I know enough from what you told me and from what Ed said last night,” he said. “You shouldn’t punish yourself for something that’s beyond your control. It’s time to forgive yourself.”
This was the man who was just talking about getting her a whip not five minutes ago. All the teasing was gone. There was just encouragement in his eyes.
“It’s almost new year,” Curtis whispered. “It’s time to let go of the past and make room for the future.”
“When did you start your gig as a fortune cookie writer?” Lina asked.
“My grandma told me that.” Curtis held out his hand to her with a challenge in his eyes. “Come. You and I are making changes this new year. But today is about you.”
Lina straightened her spine and took his hand.
You faced hostile enemies, Lina. You can face your family.
They walked through the buzzing restaurant full of families and friends enjoying different steamed and fried offerings in small bamboo steam baskets. They dodged a few carts toting those hot baskets being pushed around the tables by the wait staff. The delicious aroma reminded Lina of many special weekends she’d spent with her family eating dim sum back home in San Francisco. They would eat until they couldn’t move from the table.
“Lina.” The sound of her mother’s voice brought Lina’s eyes to the beautifully aging woman walking toward her.
“Mama,” Lina said with a hesitant smile.
“Oh, honey, you came home.” Her mother pulled Lina’s face to her and kissed her cheeks before embracing her in a tight hug.
Lina had forgotten the warmth of her mother’s aura. It was soothing. She closed her eyes as they stung with tears and wrapped her arms tighter around her mother.
She felt a heavy hand rest on her shoulder and squeezed gently. She looked up to find her father smiling at her. He looked older, with more grey than dark hair.
God, I wasted so much time avoiding them.
When her mother let her go, Lina went straight to hug her father. All the longing she’d suppressed broke out, and she couldn’t get enough of her family.
“Black for new year, Sis?” her brother, Daniel, came to her with open arms.
“It’s not new year yet,” Lina retorted as they hugged. “You’re still a smartass.”
“Always.” He smiled. “Been a while, Lin.”
“I know.” Lina looked around and went to hug everyone else: Daniel’s wife, her aunt, and her nieces.
“Oh, man…you girls probably don’t even remember me.” Her nieces were eight- and six years-old now.
“I remember you,” Mei, the older girl, said. “We got all the gifts you sent.”
“And I received your letters.” Lina smiled and hugged the girl again.
Looking at all of her family’s faces, she let out a heavy breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to…”
“We’ll have time for that,” her father gave her an out. “Why don’t we sit down before they kick us out?”
The cart people were giving them stink-eyes for blocking the way. They quickly tried to sit, but Lina heard someone clear their throat. She turned to a smiling Curtis. Actually, everybody turned to Curtis.
Her mother’s face brightened further. “And who is this?”
“Ah…” Lina stumbled. “This is Curtis. He’s…”
Curtis extended his hand to her mother. “I’m the boyfriend. So great to finally meet you.”
“Have some more, Curtis,” Agnes, Lina’s mom, pushed the lazy Susan around so the baskets full of dumplings stopped in front of him.
I don ’ t mind if I do.
Curtis took a shumai pork dumpling, har gow shrimp dumpling, and the char siu bao, or sweet pork steamed bun. He was a happy camper.
“So you’ve been together for four years?” Russel, Lina’s dad, asked, trying to decipher Lina’s vague story of how they’d met.
“No,” Lina said. “We met four years ago. We were not dating.”
“But we’re together now,” Curtis added.
Lina stepped on his foot. He had to bite his lip to stop himself from yowling.
“That hurts, honey pot,” Curtis hissed under his breath.
“Stop getting them excited, honey badger,” she hissed back sarcastically.
“I’m just telling them the truth.” He grabbed her hand under the table.
Smiling back at the family, whose eyes were all trained on them, Curtis said, “Honestly, it’s pretty new. I’m still trying to convince Lina we should be together.”
“What’s holding you back, sweetheart?” Agnes asked Lina. “He’s cute, tall, and absolutely delightful.”
Curtis turned his smile to Lina, who was giving him the stink-eye now. He was enjoying this too much.
“Lina has always had high expectations.” Daniel eyed Curtis with narrowed eyes. “You’re not marriage material, are you, Curtis? You look like a player.”
This time Lina gave him a smirk, challenging Curtis to answer that question.
Curtis appreciated Daniel’s candor. He took no offense. Besides, Lina had warned him about her family.
“It’s the new year, Daniel,” Curtis said calmly. “I feel change is in the air.”
He saw Ed nodding across the table from him. The boisterous uncle had been happily quiet, and only quipped once in a while, letting Lina’s immediate family lead the interrogation.
“Where is your family from, Curtis?” Russel continued with a more appropriate question.
“I grew up outside of Princeton,” Curtis answered. “Though my mom was born in Shanghai. Her family came to the U.S. when she was a little girl.”
The parents nodded approvingly.
“And what do you do?” Agnes asked. “You make a good living, yes?”
“Mama,” Lina chided her mother.
“I just want to know if he can provide for a family,” Agnes defended herself.
“I make a good living,” Lina said. “I don’t need a man to provide for me.”
“Not just for you, but for your children.” Agnes looked at Curtis. “You do want children, don’t you?”
“Oh my god,” Lina threw her hands up in the air as if she gave up.
Curtis was tickled by the questions. Agnes reminded him of Brandon’s mom, who would say things that embarrassed her children. Not purposely, of course. But Curtis found these questions caring. His parents were sticklers for propriety. He wished they’d been more like the Rossis or the Cheungs.
Well, I found them in a very inappropriate situation. So maybe they ’ ve changed, too.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it,” Curtis said to Agnes. “But I really enjoy playing with my niece. So who knows?”
The questions kept coming as the food kept filling the table. Curtis was loving every bit of everything. Even when Daniel had challenged him to try some chicken feet in bean sauce, he’d fought his gag reflex and had one. It wasn’t bad, taste-wise, just odd.
“Your family’s fun,” Curtis whispered to Lina after he successfully fielded another question.
Lina scoffed. “I think I know what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing?” Curtis frowned.
“You’re taking the shots for me, so I don’t have to explain about my absence.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” He grinned. “Huh. I should’ve thought about that.”
“Thank you.” Lina squeezed his hand.
“I’d take any shot for you, Lina.” Curtis kissed her hand.
Before Lina could respond, Ed suddenly called out to Curtis, “You said you needed a new outfit for the new year? I know a guy who can fix you right up.”
Curtis laughed. “I bet you do, Ed.”