What's Next?

Chapter 15 Secrets

David had information about Se-ri. It was easy for him, he spoke and read the language and it was not hard to search for her. He found many articles on Se-ri's Choice, she started the company without help from her father, she was very successful, there were dating scandals some time back, but nothing new. He also found that she was the Patroness for the Queen's and Se-ri's Choice Music Scholarship which she attended every year. That year there were two winners, a violinist from North Korea and a pianist from South Korea and there were photos of the event. He printed the photos and articles to give to his mother and aunt. In all the photos, she resembled his aunt. There was no mention of her being in California. So, for all intent and purposes she was still in Korea. Reading the articles, David saw that she had a good management team who controlled the press releases and wondered if it was not Se-ri who was the one behind what was being said in the press releases.

He remembered that she asked him to keep what she told him in confidence, she did not want the Korean press to find out where she was. The family meeting was going to be the following day and he wanted info to share with his mother and aunt, but he would not share it with the rest of the family.

David arrived at his aunt's house and his mother was there. He pulled out the printed articles and photos of Se-ri. Both women were amazed about what they saw.

They looked at each other and Kate said, "Annette, she looks like you at that age."

"David, who is her father?" his aunt asked

"Yoon Jeung pyeong."

The sisters looked at each other, his aunt reached for his mother's hand. He knew what it meant. It was very probable that Se-ri was his aunt's daughter.

"She asked not to say anything about her, she does not want the Korean press to know she is here. We cannot divulge this information without telling her first. Aunt Annette, I think you should tell them that you had a baby before you left Korea and the father's family took her from you and that was when your parents decided to migrate to America. They thought the move would help you. They will have questions, the least amount of information you tell them, the better. You should also say that you have been wanting to tell them that they had a sister and a cousin and that you wanted the secret to come out. You can say something to the effect that a single woman with a child has a difficult time in Korea and your parents did not want you to go through that. They loved both of you so much that they left their homeland to make a life in a new country. I will take all this with me, I won't leave it here."

His aunt looked at him. "Thank you, David. I now know that she is doing well. You spent time with her. What is she like?"

"She is beautiful. She has your eye smile, that was the first thing I noticed. When she smiles, it seems the whole world is a little brighter. We drove to Big Sur, we went to Monterey and Carmel and she was so appreciative. It seems that she has a lot of stress and I think that is the reason for her coming here for a year. I think there is a story there. Aunt Anette, you would love this. She is the Patroness of a Music Scholarship that is held once a year in Switzerland. She is doing good work with her money. The rest of the family will be here soon, I will put these away. Remember Aunt Anette, give them the least amount of information."

Annette and Kate looked at David. "Why a Music Scholarship?" Asked Annette.

"I don't know. But I know that dad and Uncle Ben would be impressed."

David was putting away the file when he heard the front door open and his sister came in.

"David, are you home for a while?"

"Yes, for another week. But still working from home."

"That's my overachiever and work alcoholic brother."

"Sara, that's like the pot calling the kettle black. How's the law?"

"Right now, interesting. I have some very interesting cases. Is everyone here?

"No, we are waiting for  Dad, Uncle Ben, Dominic and Rachael. They should be here soon."

"Do you know what this is about? Is someone sick?"

"I don't know what it's about. We will find out."

Just then David's uncle and cousins Dominic and Rachael walked in.

"Are we all here?" asked Uncle Ben."

David looked around, the whole family was assembled, except for his aunt and his mother.

"I will get Aunt Annette and Mom."

At that moment, his aunt and his mother walked into the room. Everyone was seated, pleasantries exchanged. Aunt Annette raised her hand,

"Thank you all for coming. I know this is unusual for the family to get together like this, but I have something I would like to share with you." They quietened down and she began her story.

"As you know, our parents migrated to this country when we were young. I was twenty three and Kate was twenty two. We told you the reason our parents migrated was for a better life for us. The real reason we migrated was because I had a baby. The baby's father took her, in Korea the father can do that." She looked at the family and their expressions were one of shock.

"Our parents thought that it would be better for us to migrate to America because being a single mother in Korea is very difficult. I don't know what happened to the child or where she is. I wanted to tell you that you do have a sister and cousin out there. I am sorry I kept this from you all these years, I thought it was best that no one knew. Only Aunt Kate and your fathers knew."

The room was silent. No one spoke, they were all looking at Annette and then to Kate.

It was Rachael who was the first to speak. "Mom, how did you cope when the father took the baby? I know in Korea the father has more rights when it comes to the children."

"It was hard, but I had Kate and our parents. They pulled me through."

"Are you going to look for her? Did you ever forget about her?"

"I never forgot about her and neither did your aunt. I will not look for her."

"Why"

"Because I don't want to disrupt her life. I know you have a lot to absorb and it is a shock. Stay for dinner. The fathers are going to BBQ."

Annette and Kate went to the kitchen. Kate went to Annette and gave her a hug.

"I am so proud of you. You did good."

David got home that evening with so many thoughts swirling around in his head. He thought of Se-ri, did she ever want to know where biological mother was? Did she want to meet her? What was her young life like? Did she have a difficult time? Did she feel less than?

He went to bed that night with more questions than answers.