Chapter 8
German Candy
Emily
Normally I’d wake up without an alarm, but today it was almost noon when my eyes fluttered open. I stretched and yawned, feeling more rested than I had in weeks. I reached for my phone to find a message from Jon. I let out a chuckle when I realized I still had him saved as Arschloch—asshole in German.
Arschloch: Morning, Little German. Can’t wait to see you later
I grinned, cuddled up in the warmth of my bed, and texted him back. If only he was here with me now...
A bit later, I shuffled to the living room in my comfy blue daisy-print pajamas. The soft noon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a yellow glow over the coffee table and parquet floor. Henry and Gena chatted on the couch, their smiles as welcoming as the warmth that enveloped the room. The air carried a faint scent of fresh coffee, adding a last piece of perfection to the morning. I couldn’t help but wish it could be like this forever. “Morning!” I waved, and they leaped up.
“Finally, you’re awake!” they exclaimed in unison. Gena said to Henry, “I’ll get her a coffee; you explain.”
Shaking my head, I asked, “What’s going on?”
Henry motioned to a huge box from the table, his eyes twinkling with excitement. “A package from your mom arrived. Is this what I think it is?”
Just when I thought the morning couldn’t get any better... “I think it is!”
I sat down on the couch with the box. Gena returned with scissors and a giant mug of coffee, the one with all the kittens on. I took a long sip to clear the morning fog from my brain. Black, no sugar, extra strong, exactly how I liked it.
It was in the little things Paul’s parents did: remembering my likes and dislikes, not complaining if I slept in or didn’t get an A on a test, laughing together... I loved my mother to death, but her taste in men never allowed me to experience this kind of easygoing atmosphere at home.
“Let’s do this then!” I made a careful cut with the scissors and opened the box. A familiar sweet scent wafted up, and I buried my nose in it.
Henry chuckled. “What are you doing?”
“It smells like German candy!” I gushed. Henry and Gena imitated me, making impressed faces.
“Sugary?” Gena guessed, and we all laughed. They couldn’t get it—how different German candy tasted compared to American candy. Even the same brand of chocolate bar had an entirely different flavor.
Weirdly, it wasn’t like that just with candy. I felt like a completely different person here—a person I liked more than my German self.
I reached into the box and found a handwritten note from Mama.
Für meine sü?e Zuckermaus. Lasst es euch schmecken! Wir vermissen dich!
Holding something she had touched—it made me realize how much I missed her physical contact. Talking on the phone just wasn’t the same. I wished I could hug her again, just once.
“What does it say?” Gena asked, scrutinizing the note. “Is Zucker sugar?”
“Yes! She wrote, For my sweet sugar mouse, um... enjoy the candy. And that they miss me.”
“Aww.”
I picked up the first product. “This is Milka chocolate!”
“We’ve got that too,” Henry said proudly.
“Right... but these taste better!”
“What else do we have?” Gena asked, and we all leaned over the box.
“Haribo, they’re the best gummy bears!” I held up the golden package.
Gena reached for the package, turning it around and squinting at the ingredients. “Why am I trying to read the back?” she asked, and we all burst out laughing again.
“Marzipan!” I held up small pieces of candy covered in dark chocolate.
“What’s that?” Henry asked, acting like it was the most exciting thing he’d seen in months.
“Um.” I scanned my brain. “I think it’s like ground almonds with lots of sugar. People either love it or hate it.” I picked up a packet of Ahoj-Brause. “This you normally put in water to make lemonade, but I just like to put it on my tongue because it bubbles.” Followed by—“Kinder Schokolade, ü-Eier, Knoppers. It looks like Mama got everything.”
Zack sprinted up out of nowhere. “I want that bubbly stuff!” In no time he’d ripped it open, spilling half of it on the table.
“Zack,” Gena chided, but he leaned down and licked it off the tabletop while we all made ewww sounds.
We spent the next hour tasting and trying everything. Even Henry, leaning back and rubbing his belly like he’d just finished a five-course meal, agreed that German Milka tasted different. Then I excused myself to get dressed and call Mama. The phone rang but no answer. Disappointed, I tried reaching my brother, but Kelly—his girlfriend—picked up instead.
“Oh, Emily! Wie geht’s dir?” How you doing?
We spent a few minutes talking before I asked her to pass the phone to my brother. I liked her a lot, but right now I wanted to talk to him so badly, I could barely hide my impatience.
“Emi, ist alles in Ordnung?” Is everything okay?
“Yeah, I just got a package with German candy from Mom,” I said, switching to English. Talking in German had become almost exhausting by now.
“Oh, she told me she sent it. The Ahoj-Brause was my idea. Ah, Kelly, stop!” He burst into laughter, and I could tell he wasn’t truly with me. He was so happy with Kelly, whenever she was around, he literally forgot everything else. Kind of like how I felt when I was with Jon.
“How’s Mama actually doing?” I asked, cutting to the chase.
He went quiet, and a second later I heard a door closing. “Why do you ask?” he said, more serious now.
“It’s just...” I inhaled deeply. “I feel really comfortable here.”
He took a long breath of his own. “I understand.” I was glad I didn’t have to elaborate further. “Well, things have been easier since I moved out. From what Mama told me and the way she acts, he seems to be treating her better.”
I closed my eyes, absorbing his words. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off my heart. She was better off without me. Because if I wasn’t there, Richard wasn’t jealous of the time she spent with me without him. It would be best for everyone if I stayed away. Mama could improve her relationship with Richard, and Lucas had Kelly anyway.
After we hung up, I went back into the living room, the sugar high lending me the confidence I needed. Henry was still on the couch, cheeks glowing from laughter and candy. Gena had gathered up all the empty candy wrappers and was taking them to the kitchen.
“Where’s Paul?” I asked. He was the only one missing in this family gathering.
“He went to the library to study,” Henry said proudly. I nodded. Was that the truth or was he avoiding me?
“I wanted to ask you something,” I told them.
“What is it, honey?” Gena asked.
“If there was a way for me to stay in America... could I keep living with you?”
The candy wrappers floated to the floor. Henry broke into a grin, then threw his wife a look: she was the decision-maker in this house. Gena walked back to the couch, ignoring the wrappers scattered over the parquet. “You want to stay in America?”
“I know this must come as a surprise seeing as I’ve been a bit closed off lately, but I love you guys.” I looked down at my hands, rubbing them together. “I feel safe here and happy, like I can be my true self.” And Jon is here... my happy ending.
“What about your family, honey?” Gena asked.
“I miss them, but I feel like staying here would be the best for everyone.” Something stung in my heart to say it. I was picking a different path than Mama and Lucas. It didn’t mean they weren’t my home. But sometimes you had to make sacrifices for your ultimate happiness, just like my mother did back in the day.
“I mean...” Gena looked at Henry, who nodded, beaming. “You’re already like a daughter to us. We would love to have you.”
I ran into their arms, squealing, “Thank you!” and they pressed me tight against them.
Eventually we let go. “We need to research how you can get a permanent visa,” Gena said, stabbing her index in the air.
Henry jumped up and hurried out of the living room, returning moments later with his laptop. “Could you apply for another school visa?” he asked, but I shook my head.
“Unfortunately there’s a rule that it’s limited to a year. I could get another school visa in college, but that’s too far away since I’m still just a junior.”
Henry nodded, and Gena peered at the screen. “It says we could adopt you for a visa,” she said hesitantly, darting a glance at me.
I shook my head. “I couldn’t do that to Mama,” I said, and they nodded their understanding. It would already be difficult for her if I stayed in America. I could never cut all the strings.
The doorbell rang. I had a suspicion about who it could be! I jumped up, not caring that I hadn’t even brushed my hair yet, and rushed to open the door.
“Hi, Little German.” Jon gave a nervous little smile.
I fell into his arms, ready to announce that Gena and Henry were trying to find a way for me to stay in Boonville, but something made me hold my tongue.
We still had to find a solution—if there even was one. And it was all so fresh and new with Jon. Maybe I was going too fast? Did he even want me to stay?
I didn’t want to scare him away. So I kept it to myself. For now.