Page 126 of Now and Forever

Oh my God! What an embarrassing situation. In the end, Eric crouches down and looks my niece in the eye.

“Darling, Flyn was born in Germany, and he’s German. His dad was Korean, and his mom is German like me, and—”

“But if he’s German, why isn’t he blond like you?” the little treasure continues.

“He just told you, Luz,” I interrupt. “His dad was Korean.”

“Are Koreans Chinese?”

“No, Luz,” I answer while I look at her, trying to get her to shut up.

But no. She’s nosy as ever. “Then why are his eyes like that?”

I’m frozen. Then my father and sister walk into the room in their finest clothes.

My father sees the look on my face screaming “Help!” and quickly figures out that something is going on with my niece. He picks her up and encourages her to look out the window as a distraction, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Flyn hisses in German, “I don’t like that girl.”

Eric and I swap glances, quietly agreeing to try not to make a big deal out of it. Ten minutes later, we’re all in Eric’s Mitsubishi, driving to Sonia’s house.

When we get there, the house is all lit up, and several cars are parked by the side of the road. My father is surprised by the grandeur of the estate.

“These folks sure know how to throw a party!” he says to me.

That makes me smile, but the smile is cut off when I see the look on Flyn’s face. He’s still very uncomfortable.

Once we’re in the house, Sonia and Marta lovingly greet my family, and they both tell me how great I look in my dress. Flyn walks away, and I see my niece walking off behind him. Ten minutes later, I’m feeling like the happiest woman on the planet, surrounded by the people who love me and matter most to me in the world.

I know the man Sonia is going out with. How about that Trevor! He’s not handsome. Not even attractive. But after five minutes with him, I can feel his magnetism. Even my sister is smiling at him like a fool. Eric, on the other hand, just watches him and draws his own conclusions. He’s obviously not crazy about his mother having a new boyfriend, but he respects the situation.

Frida talks to my sister. They remember each other from when they met at the motocross race. They’re both mothers, and they talk about their kids. I listen to them for a while, and then my sister walks away.

“Soon there’ll be a private party at the Nacht,” Frida whispers in my ear.

“Oh, how interesting!”

“Very ... very interesting,” Frida jokes, amused.

I smile while the blood rises to my cheeks.

During the party, I can’t stop laughing with my sister. She’s a tireless critic, and her evaluations of certain things are worth hearing. Sonia, delighted to organize this party for me, takes me aside.

“Judith, I’m so glad to be able to celebrate this birthday party in my house with your family.”

“Thank you, Sonia. You’ve been so kind to have us all.”

She smiles and points at Flyn. “Did you like your gift?”

I touch my neck and show her.

“It’s beautiful.”

“I want you to know that the other day, when my grandson called to ask me to take him to a mall and help him buy you a birthday present, I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited he called and asked me for help. It’s the first time he’s done that. And, on the way, he talked to me like he never has before. He even asked me about his mother and if I wanted him to call me ‘Grandma.’”

She’s emotional, and after shaking her head as if to say “I don’t wanna cry!” she goes on. “He also told me how happy he is you’re living with him.”

“Really?”

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