What's Next?

Chapter 26 The Conversation

"Annette? It's Se-ri."

"Se-ri, it's good to hear from you. How are you? David said you went bowling. How was it?"

"It was fun, but my bowling was terrible. We laughed a lot, David and Lisa are good bowlers, I am a gutter bowler. It was funny. I tried so hard, but most of the balls ended up in the gutter. Did you get the results?"

"Yes and you?"

"Yes, I read it. Did you read yours?"

"Yes. Are you okay with the results?"

"I am conflicted. I have always wanted to meet my biological mother and why I was given to my father. But what is most important to me now is how your family will take the news. I worry about what it would do to your relationship with them. Do they know?"

"They know that I had a baby before I came here, but they don't know about you.

"Will you tell them?"

"Yes, I don't think that is something I can keep from them. You are a wonderful person Se-ri, David thinks highly of you. I don't want to rob them of having a relationship with you, their sister and cousin."

"How do you feel about having them as your siblings and cousins?"

"I would be happy to have them as my siblings and cousins, I would like to get to know them better. Can you come and spend some time here so we can get to know each other? I would really like that. And you can tell me the story of how I came about and ended up with my father."

"Yes, I will come. We will need time to talk without any interruptions."

"Can you come next weekend? Will your family mind you coming here?"

"I will come next weekend and it will alright with the family."

She was finally going to get the answers she had always yearned for. She thought of the events that had brought her to California. Meeting Jeong hyeok in Switzerland with a fiancée, the return home to Korea and deciding to come here as she needed to put some distance between her and Korea. Life with its many twists and turns had brought her here. And it is here she met her biological mother.

"Annette, come in, I am looking forward to you being here and telling me our story. Are you nervous?"

"No, I just hope you won't hate me when you do hear the story."

"Would you like some tea or coffee?"

"Tea, it would be good for us to start the story with tea."

They sat side by side on the couch looking at the ocean. Annette took Se-ri's hand and looked at her.

"Yoon Jeung pyeong and I met in university. We were each other's confident and best friends. We grew closer and by the time we graduated we were talking about getting married. One day Jeung pyeong told me that there was an arranged marriage and that his family was rushing the wedding. He said that he told them that he was not going to marry Han Jeong yeon but they told him he had no choice, so they were married. I never saw him after they were married, I made sure to stay away from where he would be. He had two sons and I thought I was doing well. One day we ran into each other and it was as if time stood still. It seemed as if the last few years had never happened. We spent the night together and I did not see him after that. He called, but I would not answer. Then I found out that I was pregnant and it scared me. Kate knew, but not my parents. I finally told them and they insisted that I tell Jeung pyeong. I knew that he would take you and I did not want that, I wanted to keep you. I told him and that my parents wanted to have a meeting with him. We met, he wanted you and he offered my parents money to migrate and never return. My parents thought that was a good way out. If we had stayed in Korea you would have been discriminated against because I was a single mother. When you were born, I was only allowed to hold you for five minutes then they came and took you away. I never saw you again. I never knew how you were doing. Were you happy, were you thriving? When they took you, it left a hole in my heart that never healed."

"Did you have a hard time assimilating in this country?"

"It was hard at first. Kate and I were lucky, we spoke English so it was easier for us than our parents. We got good jobs as court appointed translators because I am fluent in Korean, English and Japanese and Kate is fluent in English, Korean and Chinese"

"Is that what you studied at university?"

"Yes, I did English and Japanese and Kate did English and Chinese."

"How was your life Se-ri?"

She thought before answering. If she told Annette everything, it could cause her much guilt and remorse.

"Sometimes it was difficult. But it got better over time."

Annette felt there was more to what Se-ri told her, but she did not want to press her. She felt that she would learn more. Now she knew who Yoon Se-ri was, it would be easy for her to get more information.

"Annette, I have to go to Switzerland in August for two weeks. I would like you to come with me., can you come?"

"Yes, I would love to."

"I will make all the arrangements."

The two women sat there in silence, each in their own thoughts.

Annette saw the sketch pad on the table.

"Se-ri, do you mind if I take a look?"

"No, let me know what you think."

She looked at the sketches and she could not believe what she saw. She came to the sketch, a long dress with bight orange poppies, they were not too small nor too big. And the next was a white dress with purple lupins.

"Se-ri, these are beautiful, where did you get the idea?"

"Lisa and I went to Carrizo National Monument and I fell in love with the flowers and the colors. It was absolutely beautiful. I have to create the dresses"