What's Next?

Chapter 20 Christmas Preparations

She did not know what to expect for Christmas. She had asked David what they were doing for Christmas but they had not made any plans. Thanksgiving was so busy that she was looking forward to a quiet Christmas. Her phone rang and she saw it was Lisa.

"Lisa, I was just about to call you. How are you?

"I am fine, what are you doing for Christmas? It is usually low key, especially after Thanksgiving. Come for lunch and maybe we can go for a walk on the beach."

"Lunch it is and a walk on the beach, that sounds like heaven."

"Have you heard from David on the DNA test? I have been thinking about you, are you okay?

"We are doing the test next week, Annette will be coming and David will take us to get it done. It will be good when it is over and we get the answers. I have to go to Korea in January for two weeks, I don't know if we will get the results before or after I leave. If the results are positive, I will tell my parents. I don't think that is something I should do over the phone. I have to do it in person. If the results come in before I go I will tell them, if the results don't come in I will wait for my next trip which will be in March."

"See what happens and how you feel. You will know what to do. I need to go to the Farmers Market today. Want to come?"

"Yes, I would love to."

She loved the Farmers Market. Every town had one and some twice a week. She loved sampling the fruit and vegetables that were in season. Lisa would tell her how to cook the vegetables, so simple and so delicious. She never knew such humble vegetables could taste so good. Her cooking was getting better, it was not great, just better. Lisa was coaching her and she surprised herself when she cooked something that tasted good. She thought Jeong hyeok would be proud of her and that thought would made her smile and want to learn how to cook other things.

She was standing at her favourite spot looking at the ocean. So much had happened in just a few months. Would she have come if she knew all that had happened? She thought yes, she always wanted to know what happened to her biological mother and she knew the DNA test would confirm if she had found her. Was she hoping that the test would be positive? Or negative? Both outcomes would have consequences. She did not want to think about that now. There would be ample time to come to terms with the results.

She got a small Christmas Tree and invited Lisa and the ladies for a tree decorating party. She ordered appetizers and served Champagne. She never had a party at her home with friends and certainly not a Christmas Tree decorating party, she was surprised at how much fun it was. She was experiencing so many things that she wanted to continue when she returned to Korea.

Lisa called her the following Friday.

"Se-ri, are you busy this evening?"

"No, why?"

"The Christmas Parade is this evening. It is not a fancy parade. It's your typical hometown parade. The Honor Guard will open the Parade followed by the High School Marching Band. The kids are good, they always win competitions. The elementary schools, The Boys Scouts, The Girls Scouts, kids on unicycles with their parents, you will see different things. The Parade will end with Santa and Mrs. Clause riding in a red convertible. It's cute. I will bring folding chairs, dress warmly and bring a blanket. It gets cold. I like to go a little early because there is a Noodle Shop that sells the best boa. And I take a thermos of hot chocolate. I know, a strange combination, boa and hot chocolate, but it is so good. And tomorrow, we will go downtown to take pictures with Santa."

"You take a picture with Santa?"

"Yes, I do it every year."

"Why?"

"Because of my inner child. You know when you were little and there is a special memory that you hold dear to you? The visit to Santa and the photo is mine. It reminds me of my mom."

"Oh, yes, I will go with you. Can I have my picture with you and Santa?" But Se-ri had no special memories with her mom. If anything, the memories were painful and not worth remembering.

"Of course, it will be my special year."

It was as Lisa said. The boa was excellent, it was cold and the hot chocolate delicious in warming her insides and the Parade was a home town Parade, nothing fancy and it was fun. She looked at all the families around her and the families in the parade. It was then a sadness came over her. She envied these people who had families and although she had a family, it was nothing like what she was experiencing. She realised that her whole trip here was all about family and friends.

Lisa sensed that something was bothering Se-ri, she but her arm around her shoulder and gave her a side hug. Se-ri put her head on her shoulder and cried. The two women sat like that till the parade ended. In the drive back to Se-ri's house, Lisa asked Se-ri,

"Are you ok?"

"I surprised myself. It hit me, that my time here has revolved around family and friends. I don't have that in Korea. My friends are my employees. My relationship with my mother has improved but it is nothing like what David has with his family. I don't have friends like you and David. I would say I have acquaintances. What surprised me the most was that I was not expecting the friendships. I thought I would come here for a year and have a very quiet year, but so far it has not been."

"Are you disappointed that it has not been quite?"

"No, it makes me happy that I can be around family and friends and I want that when I return."

"Se-ri, you can make it happen. You are a creative person, you can create the life you want."

She was silent. Lisa was right, she can create the life she wants.