Page 60 of Rules for Rule Breaking
Winter wrung her hands. “MIT and GW aren’t Ivy Leagues.”
Simone’s naturally red lips turned up into a humorless smile. “Right. Why are you even here?”
Winter wasn’t sure if she meant in the country, in this town, or inher house. It wouldn’t have been the first time she’d been asked any of those questions. She went the safe route and assumed she meant in Princeton.
“We were going to do a short visit at Princeton on the way to Boston when we had some car trouble,” Winter replied.
“I meant why are youhere? In my father’s house. In his life again.”
She’d chosen wrong.
“Eugene is Bobby’s uncle.” She didn’t believe any further explanation was needed.
Simone gave Winter a moment’s reprieve as she washed her selection of vegetables. She then handed them to Winter along with a knife and heavily marred cutting board. All the ingredients were so vibrant and colorful, as though a rainbow had thrown up in the sieve. They must have been from the farmer’s market. She’d never marveled at how gorgeous a carrot could be before. Emmy suddenly came to mind. If Uncle Eugene could live in this big house, surrounded by these stunning carrots, with a stepdaughter who was clearly ready to skin her along with the sweet potatoes for him, then maybe Emmy could make her own way too.
“Is Robert Jr. your boyfriend?” Simone asked, her expression still vacant.
Winter wasn’t sure if this was a trick question and whether she should tell the truth or thetruthtruth.
“He prefers Bobby.”
“Help me understand,” Simone said, putting the peeler down for a moment. “Eugene told me so many times that his brother hated him and that he moved away so we couldn’t corrupt their perfect son, Bobby. But somehow here you both are. What could you possibly want from us?”
“We don’t want anything. Bobby missed his uncle. He doesn’t have a lot of family.”
Simone threw the cubed sweet potatoes into a black Dutch oven and leaned her back against the counter. She scanned Winter up and down with her bright green eyes. “Did you come here to gloat? To see how poorly he was doing? Because the store is doing really well. Eugene is even paying for me to go to nursing school. And I’ve taken good care of him since my mom died.”
Winter bristled. “No... he does seem to be doing fine.”
Simone’s voice dropped into a flat, mocking tone. “No thanks to you all,” she said, and Winter’s spine went cold. “Eugene bought back the market after Robert Sr. sold it. He wouldn’t let that stupid store go because he had something to prove to his brother, even though Robert probably doesn’t know he owns it. It’s like he’s obsessed or something. I don’t get it. Is it, like, a cultural thing?”
A cultural thing. That was Winter’s answer every time someone asked her something about her culture that she didn’t feel like explaining. Why do Koreans make noises when they eat?It’s a cultural thing.Why do Koreans care so much about age?It’s a cultural thing.Why do Koreans sit on the floor?It’s a cultural thing.She didn’t like hearing how Simone said it, as though culture could be blamed for every little confusing thing Eugene did. What if Winter said that how Eugene acted was cultural? Would that satisfy Simone, or would her answer only go against something she’d already decided long ago? That everything she didn’t understand about her stepfather was because of the country he came from?
Winter stood up straighter. “I’m sorry if our being here is bringing up old feelings, but I promise you, we really had the best of intentions.”
“He’s the only dad I’ve ever known, but sometimes I just don’tknow what he’s thinking—whether it’s a cultural thing or a Eugene thing.”
“I can’t really speak to the culture,” Winter said. “I was born here, and my family is nothing like Bobby’s. I’m sorry.”
Simone closed the lid on the pot. “Forget it,” she said. “Let’s just have a nice evening.”
Feeling like she should have the last word, Winter said, “I know this means absolutely nothing to you, but you kind of remind me of my best friend.”
The hardness in Simone’s eyes diminished somewhat.
Winter settled in next to Bobby at the dining room table. Wiggling her eyebrows as if to ask,Is everything okay?she waited for his signal as to how he wanted to proceed. She was fine with leaving and sleeping on a park bench somewhere or calling her parents and admitting what happened. Whatever he decided, she was willing to do. However, Bobby gave an “I can’t complain” shrug and then nodded slightly as if to ask,How about you?The way Uncle Eugene was gazing adoringly at his estranged nephew made it obvious that they were having a good time together. She smiled, and Bobby smiled back. It appeared they would be staying.
Simone leaned down and placed the Dutch oven on top of the trivet in the center of the table. The hearty stew bubbled within. She’d made some kind of vegetarian dish with lentils. Winter felt healthier just looking at it.
“My Simone makes sure I eat right when she’s home,” Uncle Eugene said, rubbing his tummy and tucking a napkin into his shirt collar. “This old heart isn’t what it used to be.”
“We had to cook healthy meals for Mom. Low sugar, low dairy, and no processed foods. I guess we just never broke the habit.”
“I guess I had more than one reason to buy the market back.”
Bobby attempted to avoid bringing up his father again by commenting on the feast in front of him. “Well, this looks amazing,” he said. “Your mother was fortunate to have someone to take such good care of her, and I’m glad you have someone to look after you too, Uncle Eugene.”
“It seems that you have someone too,” Uncle Eugene replied with a chuckle. “I hope my nephew isn’t too much of a handful, Miss Winter.”
