Hana gestured to Drake, introducing him to the woman by his name. She then did the same to his mother, stating she was known as Mi Hi.
Drake approached her immediately, towering over the small woman who looked so much like him. “Annyeonghaseyo,” he greeted, bowing.
The tears rolled down her cheeks, her own greeting muffled because of them. Her little body shook, then suddenly, she had her son in her arms. He had to bend just to get to her level. She held him tight, whimpering as she stroked her fingers through his hair.
The room filled with tears. His mother, Su-Min, and mine. I pushed my fingers underneath my eyes, trying to keep the camera steady in my hand with the other. I couldn’t believe I was given the honor to be a part of this. That I got be a part of something so special for two people.
They held each other for a short millennia, Mi Hi whispering words of Korean in Drake’s ear.
Hana translated. “She keeps saying she’s sorry. Sorry she wasn’t braver. Sorry she wasn’t strong enough to keep you. To meet you.”
Drake pulled back, releasing a small smile he had to purse his lips to hold.
Mi Hi touched his cheeks. She kept pushing her hands through his hair. Over and over. Never ending. She couldn’t stop touching him, as if making sure he was real. As if making sure he wouldn’t disappear. She spoke more words, which again Hana translated. “She’s saying she felt shamed. She was scared you would refuse her because of her decision for adoption.”
I knew there had to be a reason she refused the initial meeting. She feared he would deny her. She couldn’t have been more wrong.
Drake shook his head. His nostrils flared once as he swallowed before speaking. “Tell her I could never refuse her and that I accept her completely. And tell her thank you for the gift she gave me. I have a good family. I had a very fortunate life growing up. Tell her that.”
And so Hana did, and the woman broke down once again, running her hands up and down Drake’s arms.
In that moment, we noticed two other people in the room. One was an older gentlemen, a little bit shorter than Drake.
“This is Yong Sook. Her husband,” Hana translated when Mi Hi introduced him. “The two met when she moved to Busan.”
The man before Drake bowed, then the boy next to him came forward. The boy I knew to be Drake’s brother. He’d break a lot of hearts that one. He was just as handsome as Drake.
“Hyo,” Mi Hi struggled out as she introduced him, her eyes red. “Your brother.”
Hyo approached Drake, grinning. “They said you looked like me.” He titled his head from side to side. “I guess I can see it.”
The room chuckled. My God the kid even had Drake’s sense of humor.
Drake gave a short laugh. “I believe it’s me you look like, kid. I am older.”
Hyo shrugged. “Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.”
The brothers hugged. One of those one-armed numbers accompanied by a handshake. Mi Hi’s eyes couldn’t have glistened more at the sight.
When they pulled back, Hyo said, “The Internet told me that’s how American friends greet. Did I do it right?” His dark eyes were hopeful at the words.
I snorted behind my hand. He was such a cutie.
Drake patted his back. “Perfect. You’d fit right in. You’ll have to try it out sometime and visit me in America.”
Hyo’s face lit up. He backed away when Mi Hi slid her hand into Drake’s. She held up an invitation that was very familiar, speaking to Drake while she did. Drake’s eyes narrowed a bit, no doubt wondering where she got it.
Hana touched Mi Hi’s shoulder. “She wants to meet her. The woman you’re in love with. The woman who made her brave enough to see you with this.” She gestured to the invitation.
Drake’s eyes flashed from the invitation to me, his lips tipped up.
I dipped my head. “I figured you’d want her to come.”
He brought me to him by my hand, and the camera lowered. I supposed someone else would have to capture the moment I was introduced to his birth mom. It was one of many moments that the camera didn’t see. That the camera had long been forgotten about due to the love and emotion in the room. The camera missed the long hour of Drake and Mi Hi sitting on the couch. The one they spoke exchanging phrases of both Korean and English. It missed her hand clasped in his while she sat snuggled up on his side to make him hers forever. It missed Drake telling her about his life in America, his goals, and how he truly was okay. It also failed to see Mi Hi’s story of her pregnancy. One, though full of anxiety and fear for the future of her unborn child, was also filled with hope. Hope for the day she would finally get to meet him and hear of the wonderful life she prayed he would have. Despite the fact the camera didn’t see those moments, it was okay. Because, sometimes, the best memories are the ones you can only hold in your heart.
Epilogue
Nearly three years later…
I hopped up from my chair, hooting and hollering with the rest of Drake’s family as he accepted his diplomas amongst his peers. He was able to finish his joint degrees for political science and Asian American studies in two and half years instead of four, and I couldn’t be more proud. I was also happy I could get more time with him. Getting his degrees was damn time consuming, and I missed my husband. He’d be interning for Senator Cho in the fall along with doing the charity work he did. He remained quite active in the adoptee community programs alongside his friend, Natalia, so his time would still be limited. But with his degrees done now, I would at least get to see him more. The latest show I was in wrapped up as well, so we’d get even more time.
The loudest clappers were definitely his moms. I say moms because Mi Hi was able to come for his graduation along with Drake’s brother, Hyo. This was the second time the two were in America. The first time being our summer wedding. It was quite a day, and I cried throughout most of it. Even more so when I saw Drake’s eyes glass when he met me at the end of the aisle. His brother and Derrick stood by his side that day. Both given the honor of being Best Man. So I guess they would have been considered Best Men. I, of course, had Margot and Adele on my side. We had a melting pot up there. Colorful and wonderful. Our differences were what made us such a unique family. We were connected, bonded, despite how different we were from one another. Color never defined or classified us, and it had never been black or white for Drake or myself. Drake was a man of many races. He had various cultures in his life, and I was the same. A woman of many worlds. My father handed me over to him, and I joined yet another. Another culture. Another world. That was the way it should be.
Drake retook his seat on stage after receiving his diplomas. The students with honors got to sit up there. He made eye contact with me from his chair, a silent exchange of love between us. Placing my hand on my stomach, I smiled up at the man on stage. In just under nine months, another combination of love would come into the world.
And he’d know tonight.
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About the Author
Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her MacBook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.
In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of sci
ence fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes. She’s also co-founder of NA Alley, a group fiction blog dedicated toward the spread of the ‘new adult’ fiction category.
Links:
Blog: http://twentysomethingfictionwriter.blogspot.com/
Group Blog: http://naalley.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaHSmith
Twitter: VictoriaSmith76
Email: [email protected]
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Books by Victoria H. Smith
New Adult Multicultural Romances:
The Space Between
Available Now
The Dividing Line (The Space Between 2)
Available Now
Heart & Seoul: A Novella (The Space Between 2.5)
Available Now
Roxie & Griffin
Spring 2014
New Adult Contemporary Romance:
Holiday Fling (Christmas Novelette)
Available Now
New Adult Science Fiction Romances:
The Crimson Hunt (Eldaen Light Chronicles 1)
Available Now
The Bringer’s Quest (Eldaen Light Chronicles 2)
Available Now
Incandescence (Eldaen Light Chronicles 2.5)
Available Now
Battle for Elda (Eldaen Light Chronicles 3)
Coming 2014
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Acknowledgements
I’m so sad that Drake and Lacey’s story has come to a close, but I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Their journey really has been close to my heart, and I thank all my readers for sticking with these two crazy kids. Thank you to the people behind the work, my cover artist, editor, and beta readers. You know who you are and I heart you all. Thanks to my husband for putting so much work into another project, and readers, thanks for a great year with Lacey and Drake! Stay tuned for future reads, and thanks for all your continued support!
Heart & Seoul Page 7