Chapter 34
thirty-four
The person who turns up at our door isn’t Cynnie’s father, or brother, or grandmother.
It’s her stepmother.
We’ve had a short respite. A day and a half without any contact from Cynnie’s family beyond a brief call from her father to check in. A day and a half of bliss.
Even those first three days we were together don’t compare to this.
Waking up with my bumble in my arms and knowing she won’t be leaving me today.
Breaking in our new dining chairs after they’re delivered.
Watching Cynnie’s anime series in her hive, surrounded by buzzies.
Eating up all her royal jelly afterwards.
Taking a stroll through Union Square Park, both of us bundled up in my sweaters against the fall breeze, Cynnie wearing a pair of my running pants that are baggy on her but still taunt me with flashes of that round bottom, without the worry of having unfriendly eyes on us.
Picking up hard pretzels and crunchy apples to eat on the walk back.
Eating fresh, steamed fish and veggies from the market on my landing with the flowers in my planter waving in the evening breeze, serenaded by the gentle hum of insects, while we plan the rooftop pollinator garden.
Bliss. Bliss. Bliss.
Harmony showing up on my doorstep doesn’t burst that bubble.
I know we’re going to have to deal with Cynnie’s family.
I know the idea that she’s a burden will weigh heavier and heavier on Cynnie until it ruptures our bubble completely.
But I have some ideas about that which don’t involve her returning to her family or her family business.
As long as Jun’s running things, he’s going to make her miserable.
My bumble deserves better.
Harmony buzzes the building’s intercom as we’re clearing up brunch.
Cynnie’s made me the traditional breakfast her grandmother used to demand.
I’ve never had salmon for breakfast before except smoked on a bagel; but I’m already a convert.
I’d also happily eat the custardy tamagoyaki she serves with it every day.
Holding some of the dirty dishes, Cynnie peers around my shoulder as I answer the door buzzer. When she sees Harmony, Cynnie’s dark eyes rise to me. She shrugs and nods in response to my silent question.
I let Harmony up and meet her at my front door.
She’s wearing a brown and white pants suit.
It’s probably designer, but it doesn’t suit her as well as the dress Cynnie picked out for her.
The padded jacket shoulders and wide legs of the pants give her a blocky shape.
Not nearly as elegant as she looked the other night.
Maybe that’s what makes me feel confident, even though I’m just in pajama pants and a T-shirt.
Or maybe it’s that new Daddyness filling my chest. But there’s no awkwardness when I shake her hand and invite her to sit on the couch.
I sit on the reassembled futon across from her. Cynnie joins me, tucking against my side and pulling her legs up beside her. I stretch my arm around her shoulders.
“How are you doing, Cynnie?” Harmony asks.
“I’m okay,” Cynnie says cautiously. “Did Papa send you?”
Harmony shakes her dark head. “I began asking questions. The more answers I got, the less I liked them. I came to apologize to you and make sure you knew you had options.”
“Apologize to me? Why?”
Harmony sits forward, clasping her hands between her knees.
“I know I’m not a real stepmother to you.
You were already grown up when I married Ken and I didn’t think to question your place in the family.
I made assumptions about what you wanted, about your future.
I should have been your ally, Cynnie. And I wasn’t because I just accepted the situation.
I never asked if you wanted to marry Kade.
I never even asked if you were paid a salary for all the work you do. I should have asked years ago.”
Cynnie glances at me and I can tell she has no idea how to respond. I unknot her hands and twine her fingers with mine.
“That’s very nice of you, Harmony,” Cynnie says finally. “Thank you.”
“You shouldn’t be thanking me. You should be yelling at me.
I’m ashamed of myself. I’m more ashamed of my husband and your brother, but I’m ashamed of myself.
I should have asked. I should have let you know you could confide in me.
I’m not asking you to think of me as your mother.
I’m not trying to replace her. But I should have been a better friend to you, Chinnichan.
And I’m very sorry I wasn’t. If you give me another chance, I’ll do better in the future. ”
Cynnie glances at me again. I give her an encouraging nod.
“I don’t blame you for anything,” Cynnie says. “And maybe I’m a little to blame, too. I should have made more effort to get to know you and be your friend.” She falls silent, then clears her throat and continues, “I just thought you might judge me the way Jun and Baachan do.”
Harmony fingers her amber and gold necklace, making the beads clack together.
“I married your dad because I love him. But I’m not deaf.
I know what people say about a secretary marrying a millionaire.
A man almost twice her age. If there’s anyone who should worry about being judged, it’s me.
You’ve always been kind. I thought you kept to yourself because no one in the family shared your .
. . interests. It never occurred to me that it’s because Ken and Jun had you working so hard.
Jun’s wife said they’ll have to hire three people to do your job if they can’t get you to come back.
I’m disgusted, honey. Absolutely disgusted. And so angry at them.”
Cynnie squeezes my fingers. Her cheeks flush that adorable golden rose color. “Thank you.”
“I promise, I’m not here to try to convince you to come home. And it’s very nice to meet you, Max, but I want to make sure that if you want to come home, you know you have someone in your corner. You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to.”
Cynnie smiles and rests her head on my shoulder. “Max asked me to move in with him before the party. I wouldn’t have done it so fast, but now that I’m here, I’m happy. I’d like my clothes, if I could come and get them.”
That seems like a prime opportunity for Jun or her grandmother or both to ambush her.
“How about I get them?” I offer.
Cynnie beams up at me. “Yes, if Max could get them.”
“Don’t be silly.” Harmony waves a manicured hand. “I’ll have everything boxed up and delivered here. I’m sorry I didn’t think of bringing a bag with me today. Do you have any clothes? Any money?”
Cynnie, who’s wearing one of my Navy sweatshirts and another pair of my running pants, shakes her head.
“I’ll take care of it,” Harmony says. “I’m so sorry, honey. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, I’m good.”
Harmony sighs. “Will you keep in touch with me? We could have lunch later this week?”
Cynnie nods. “I’d like that. If you send my laptop with my clothes, I’ll finish the projects for Orionex. They’re the ones with the closest deadlines. That will give Jun time to hire people.”
I drop a kiss on the top of Cynnie’s head.
That’s my bumble, generous, giving. I don’t want her sucked back into her family business, but making sure their customers aren’t left in the lurch is more than good business.
It’s kind. I want my girl to have opportunities to spread her joy. “Proud of you, baby,” I whisper.
She squeezes my fingers.
“Does that mean there’s a chance of you coming back?” Harmony asks, grimacing. “I don’t even want to raise the possibility if it’s completely out of the question, but I know it’s the first thing Ken will ask me. Well, maybe the second. Hopefully, he’ll ask me how you are first.”
“I’d hope so,” I grumble.
Harmony nods tightly.
I’m not sure any of us believe it will be the second thing Cynnie’s dad asks.
“Could you let Papa know I’m safe and happy but I’m not coming back? And I won’t be working for the company anymore.” Cynnie takes a deep breath and squeezes my fingers. “It’s time for me to figure out what I want to do.”
Harmony fingers her necklace again. “He’ll be disappointed.
And your brother will be furious. But I think you’re making the right choice.
And honestly? Don’t be surprised if you get an email in a few weeks asking you to do contract work.
I may have been just a secretary, but I’ve been in business long enough to know when someone’s really indispensable.
Give them a few weeks to stew without you, and I suspect you’ll be able to set your own terms, honey. ”
“Thank you, Harmony,” I say.
She rises and holds her hand out to me. I pull Cynnie up with me and shake her stepmother’s hand. When Harmony opens her arms, Cynnie steps forward and gives her a warm hug.
I show Harmony out, holding the door for her. “Goodbye.”
She waves to both of us as she starts down the stairs.
I close the door and take my bumble in my arms. “All good?”
“All good, Oppa. You said goodbye to her?”
“I did. If you want to repair your relationships with your family, and it’s entirely up to you if you do, then I want them to like me. You noticed?”
“That you’z never say goodbye? ‘Course I noticed. You’z tell me why not?”
I kiss her forehead. “It’s not a happy story, baby. Are you sure you want to hear it?”
She tips her face up, looks at me with those deep, dark eyes that hold nothing but love and acceptance.
And for the first time, I know that I can share with someone what I did, and what it cost me.
Someone who will listen, and try to understand.
Someone who will give me her joy, so I can find my own.
“I want to hear anything you want to tell me, Oppa. But if it’s a sad story, then you’z come up to my hive and tell me in there. That’s our safe place. Nothing bad can happen in there.”
“Baby, I made it to be your safe place.”
“I know, Oppa. But the best part about being the queen buzzy is I get to invite who I want into my hive. And I’z inviting you.”
I kiss the tip of her nose, her pointed chin, her soft lips. “Thank you, my bumble. I’m very, very honored to be part of your hive.”
She giggles, and grabs my hand, and drags me upstairs.
The End … for now.