know that’s not true. I love my job, I love dating, I love my life. I’m happy except for when I have to deal with her.”
It hit me. “You told her about Janet, you dumb broad.”
She giggled. “That was stupid, huh?”
“No,” I soothed. “You were happy for your friend, so you shared the news with your mother. You didn’t think it was going to boomerang back and hit you in the face.”
I got a real laugh then. “No, I certainly didn’t.”
“Think before you speak, Min,” I teased. “You’re a lawyer, after all. I shouldn’t have to tell you these things.”
That was it; she dissolved as I did a really good impression of her mother, Soon-Bok Kwon, who had never warmed up to me or Catherine but loved Aruna and Janet dearly.
“Your mother hates me,” I said for the eight billionth time.
She didn’t argue.
“You suck.”
“Not on the first date,” she corrected.
“Oh God,” I groaned. All my friends were disgusting, men and women both.
“Are you sleeping?”
I hustled her off the phone after that, and she said we’d talk about it next time. And while I didn’t want to talk about how much rest I wasn’t getting, it was nice that I talked to her and Janet and Catherine at least once a week, if not more, even after so many years out of college. I was always so thankful that, when they’d left Chicago, I hadn’t lost them.
I was still thinking about her and the others, about friendship and the family I’d made, as I drove to the airport that evening. But by the time I got there, the girls were out of my head and I was back to worrying. The thing was, I’d thought of something earlier, and as I stood outside the security point, leaning against a wall close to the benches in the waiting area, I realized my stomach had gone from gentle butterfly-wing fluttering to full gale-force wind tornado. What kept running through my brain was that sometimes Ian said things in the heat of the moment that he regretted once the ache of need passed. I hoped he still wanted me there when he emerged with the rest of his unit into the terminal from the concourse.
“You don’t think this is a bit like an ambush?” a woman behind me said.
“What’re you talking about?” another replied.
“He’s coming home from a mission that took four months longer than it was supposed to, and as soon as he gets here, the wife of one of his buddies springs a blind date on him?”
“You could’ve skipped it, if that’s how you really feel.”
“And I probably would have, but then you had to go and show me his picture.”
An amused chuckle followed. “I told you Ian Doyle was gorgeous.”
It felt like someone punched me in the gut.
“And you’re sure there’s no one special?”
“Not that I’ve ever seen when I come pick up Paul.”
“Yeah, but Paulie’s brand new to the unit. This is only his second time out with these guys, and the last time he came home at like six in the morning, didn’t he? Was there even anyone else here but you?”
“No,” the second woman snapped. Clearly it was a sore subject. “All the other guys actually think about their wives and girlfriends and don’t make them pick them up before dawn.”
“Well, then Ian could be married and how would you even know?”
“It’s true, Paul doesn’t know either. He said Ian’s not a real talkie guy, but I understand he’s not only a reservist but also a US marshal. How hot is that?”
“Hot,” the first woman purred. “Really hot.”
“Yeah, so that’s why we’re here, dressed better than usual for the airport—to catch you a man.” She giggled.
I had to know what she was wearing to snag the love of my life, so I did a pivot, pretending to look behind me, and caught four-inch heels, black tights, a long cream-colored angora sweater with a chunky cowl, and beige cashmere overcoat. Not slutty, not skanky, elegant, with immaculate makeup and jewelry. She was lovely.
Her friend, Paul’s wife, was just as
It hit me. “You told her about Janet, you dumb broad.”
She giggled. “That was stupid, huh?”
“No,” I soothed. “You were happy for your friend, so you shared the news with your mother. You didn’t think it was going to boomerang back and hit you in the face.”
I got a real laugh then. “No, I certainly didn’t.”
“Think before you speak, Min,” I teased. “You’re a lawyer, after all. I shouldn’t have to tell you these things.”
That was it; she dissolved as I did a really good impression of her mother, Soon-Bok Kwon, who had never warmed up to me or Catherine but loved Aruna and Janet dearly.
“Your mother hates me,” I said for the eight billionth time.
She didn’t argue.
“You suck.”
“Not on the first date,” she corrected.
“Oh God,” I groaned. All my friends were disgusting, men and women both.
“Are you sleeping?”
I hustled her off the phone after that, and she said we’d talk about it next time. And while I didn’t want to talk about how much rest I wasn’t getting, it was nice that I talked to her and Janet and Catherine at least once a week, if not more, even after so many years out of college. I was always so thankful that, when they’d left Chicago, I hadn’t lost them.
I was still thinking about her and the others, about friendship and the family I’d made, as I drove to the airport that evening. But by the time I got there, the girls were out of my head and I was back to worrying. The thing was, I’d thought of something earlier, and as I stood outside the security point, leaning against a wall close to the benches in the waiting area, I realized my stomach had gone from gentle butterfly-wing fluttering to full gale-force wind tornado. What kept running through my brain was that sometimes Ian said things in the heat of the moment that he regretted once the ache of need passed. I hoped he still wanted me there when he emerged with the rest of his unit into the terminal from the concourse.
“You don’t think this is a bit like an ambush?” a woman behind me said.
“What’re you talking about?” another replied.
“He’s coming home from a mission that took four months longer than it was supposed to, and as soon as he gets here, the wife of one of his buddies springs a blind date on him?”
“You could’ve skipped it, if that’s how you really feel.”
“And I probably would have, but then you had to go and show me his picture.”
An amused chuckle followed. “I told you Ian Doyle was gorgeous.”
It felt like someone punched me in the gut.
“And you’re sure there’s no one special?”
“Not that I’ve ever seen when I come pick up Paul.”
“Yeah, but Paulie’s brand new to the unit. This is only his second time out with these guys, and the last time he came home at like six in the morning, didn’t he? Was there even anyone else here but you?”
“No,” the second woman snapped. Clearly it was a sore subject. “All the other guys actually think about their wives and girlfriends and don’t make them pick them up before dawn.”
“Well, then Ian could be married and how would you even know?”
“It’s true, Paul doesn’t know either. He said Ian’s not a real talkie guy, but I understand he’s not only a reservist but also a US marshal. How hot is that?”
“Hot,” the first woman purred. “Really hot.”
“Yeah, so that’s why we’re here, dressed better than usual for the airport—to catch you a man.” She giggled.
I had to know what she was wearing to snag the love of my life, so I did a pivot, pretending to look behind me, and caught four-inch heels, black tights, a long cream-colored angora sweater with a chunky cowl, and beige cashmere overcoat. Not slutty, not skanky, elegant, with immaculate makeup and jewelry. She was lovely.
Her friend, Paul’s wife, was just as
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