Ice Cream Lover

by Jackie Lau

  Well, this is unexpected. “Why are you here?”

  “I haven’t seen you in six weeks. Can’t I see my son?”

  Hmm. I have a bad feeling about this.

  Mom and Dad come up a few minutes later, accompanied by Adrienne and Michelle. Mom gives me a hug and shouts in my ear, “You have a girlfriend and you didn’t tell me?”

  It turns out that something can get me down after all: my family discussing my love life.

  Yeah, this is going to be great. Just great.

  “Where did you hear that?” I ask.

  “Michelle told me you had a date last night,” Adrienne says.

  Okay, that’s the last time I bribe Michelle. I glare at my niece, then my sister.

  “Yes, I had a date, though I don’t know why you had to tell Mom and Dad. It was our first date. She’s not my girlfriend.”

  The thought of actually being someone’s boyfriend still makes me a bit uncomfortable. When I think of what happened with Lisa...

  I shake my head to clear it of those thoughts. “How was Hong Kong?”

  My parents got back yesterday. Surely they should be at home, recovering from jetlag, rather than interfering in my life.

  “Don’t change the topic,” Mom says. “I hear this woman owns an ice cream shop?”

  “She does.”

  “Ice cream sounds lovely,” Dad says. “It’s a hot day. Just what I need.”

  Oh, God. No. He wants to meet Chloe today?

  Mom sniffs. “I can’t say I approve. Why couldn’t you find a doctor or an engineer? Did she go to university?”

  “Yes, but she didn’t graduate.”

  Mom’s mouth drops open in horror.

  “Her mother died while she was in university, and she took some time off. Then she decided she didn’t want to go back and would rather do something else with her life.”

  “I can’t believe you, of all people,” Adrienne says, “are dating someone who sells ice cream for a living.”

  “Yeah, well...”

  “And I’m the one who made this happen. I told you to take Michelle to Ginger Scoops. I should become a matchmaker!”

  “She’s so pretty, Po Po,” Michelle says to my mother.

  “Aiyah! The last one was pretty, too, and look what happened. We wasted so much money.”

  My parents had insisted on paying for half of the wedding. I told them it was unnecessary, but they refused to listen. I think it was partly because they didn’t want Lisa’s parents—who are quite well off and could easily have paid for the whole thing—to think they were cheap, then use it as an excuse to say all Chinese people are cheap. Or something like that. I believe it was pride more than anything.

  In the unlikely event that I get engaged again, I won’t let my parents, or the woman’s parents, pay for anything.

  Weird that I now see marriage as an unlikely possibility, rather than completely impossible.

  “She looks like me!” Michelle grabs my mother’s hand.

  “Like you?”

  “She’s mixed race,” I say. “Chinese mother, white father. Like Michelle.”

  “Does she speak Cantonese?” Mom asks hopefully.

  “No. Her mother was born here, like Dad, and her family’s from Toisan.”

  “You said her mother was dead?”

  I nod.

  “Poor girl.”

  We’re all quiet for a moment.

  “Well, let’s go meet her,” Dad says with a mischievous smile. “I could really use some ice cream. Which flavors are good there, Drew?”

  “I still haven’t tried any,” I mutter.

  “Surely she has something with chocolate.”

  Like me, my father is a bit of a chocoholic.

  “She has so many great flavors,” Michelle says to my dad. “There’s chocolate-raspberry, matcha cheesecake, passionfruit, Vietnamese coffee, strawberry-lychee, green tea, Hong Kong milk tea...”

  “So it’s an Asian ice cream shop?” Mom says.

  “Yes,” I say.

  “Hmm.”

  “What are we waiting for?” Dad asks. “Let’s go. I can’t wait to meet this woman.”

  “I can’t wait for you to meet her, either,” I say sarcastically.

  “Don’t worry,” Mom says. “We won’t scare her off.”

  Yeah, right. “Why don’t we just stay here and talk about your trip?”

  “You know what Hong Kong is like. You’ve been there before. But I’ve never met your new girlfriend.”

  As my family parades out the door, I send a quick text to Chloe, warning her that this meet-the-parents business is happening much, much sooner than expected.

  Outside, Michelle skips ahead with my parents, and I hang back with Adrienne.

  “I can’t believe you told Mom and Dad,” I say. “You knew this would happen.”

  My sister shrugs innocently. “I can’t believe you bribed my daughter with ice cream. Two ice creams in one day! What were you thinking? You deserve this.”

  “But Chloe doesn’t,” I say.

  “I really want to meet her.”

  “We’ve been on one date. One! And there probably won’t be a second date, after she meets all of you.”

  “If she really likes you, this shouldn’t matter.”

  Does Chloe really like me? What do I want with her?

  I don’t know exactly, but I’d been hoping to figure it out without any family interference.

  Alas...

  Chapter 15

  Chloe

  I’m handing a bubble waffle with taro and ginger ice cream to a teenage couple when Drew walks into Ginger Scoops.

  I can’t help smiling. I just saw him a few hours ago, but I’m so happy to see him again, and when I remember how he kissed his way down my body this morning, I can’t help a sharp intake of breath.

  Drew is closely followed by an older East Asian couple and a woman in her thirties who’s holding Michelle’s hand. The older man bears a striking resemblance to Drew.

  Wait a second. These must be his parents and sister.

  He brought his family to see me? After one date?

  What kind of man does that?

  The sort of man who gets vilified in a book about ice cream sandwiches, apparently. I’d thought Lisa Mathieson’s comments about “Marvin Wong” being completely out of touch with other people’s feelings were an exaggeration, but a guy who brings his family to meet a woman after a first date seems pretty out of touch. I haven’t had a proper relationship in ages, and I’m not even sure what I want right now...and he’s springing a meet-the-parents situation on me?

  Ugh.

  I frown as he approaches the counter. I should try to be upbeat for his family, but I can’t manage it.

  “I’m sorry,” he says. “My parents insisted on coming to meet you after Michelle told them about our date, and I couldn’t talk them out of it. Did you get my text?”

  “No, I’ve been too busy to check my phone.”

  He looks uncomfortable and apologetic.

  Okay. I believe him.

  After all, this doesn’t seem like the sort of thing Drew would do.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” his mom asks.

  He sighs. “Mom and Dad, this is Chloe. Chloe, these are my parents, Lawrence and Carol, and my sister, Adrienne.”

  “Uh. Hi. Nice to meet you,” I stammer.

  “She looks young,” Carol says to Drew, then turns back to me. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-five?”

  I don’t know why it comes out as a question. But I’m rather intimidated by his mother. She looks me over with assessing eyes, as though trying to decide whether I’m good enough for her precious son.

  “See, Po Po?” Michelle says. “I told you she was really pretty.”

  “Yes.” Carols sniffs. “And good hips for having children.”

  My eyes bug out of my head.

  This is too much, too soon.

  “Actually, it’s the shape
of the pelvis that matters,” Adrienne says, “and can you please not scare her?”

  “I’m not scared?” I say, but it doesn’t sound convincing. At all.

  “I will have a black coffee, as usual,” Drew says, as though trying to get the conversation back on track.

  “Oh, come on,” Lawrence slaps him on the back. “Live a little. Try some ice cream.” He looks at me with a kind twinkle in his eye.

  He must have been quite the charmer back in the day. He and Drew definitely look alike, but unlike Drew, Lawrence seems like the sort who smiles easily.

  “Just the coffee,” Drew says.

  “I’ll have a bubble waffle with ginger and passionfruit!” Michelle says.

  “No, you will not,” Adrienne says. “Did you think you’d get that one past me? Those waffles are huge. You can get the kiddie size. I hope that’s what Drew has been getting you when he brings you here.”

  “It is,” he says.

  “Really, I shouldn’t let you have any ice cream,” Adrienne says to her daughter, “since you had it twice yesterday. But I don’t see how I can say no now that we’re here. No other treats during the week, okay?”

  “Does chocolate count as a treat?” Michelle asks.

  “Chocolate most certainly does count as a treat.”

  “What about dark chocolate? Not much sugar!”

  “We’ll discuss this later.” Adrienne turns to me. “I will have a cone with passionfruit ice cream and strawberry-lychee sorbet.”

  “Can I have mine in a cone, Mommy?”

  “Sure, but it has to be a kiddie-sized serving.”

  “I will have a cone with passionfruit and ginger,” Michelle says. “Make it as big as possible, please.”

  “Michelle!”

  “It was a joke. Chloe knew it was a joke, didn’t you, Chloe?”

  I can’t manage to get any words out. Seeing Drew with his family is terrifying, but it also fills me with a sense of longing, especially when I see Michelle with her mother.

  Once upon a time, I had that, too.

  Now, I feel like I’m on the outside looking in, and I will always be on the outside.

  There’s an odd pressure in my chest, and I glance at the photo on the wall, even though I’m too far away to see it clearly.

  “I will have a waffle with Vietnamese coffee and chocolate-raspberry,” Lawrence says.

  “Can I try some of yours?” Michelle asks.

  “Of course, sweetie.”

  “Don’t let her try any of the coffee ice cream,” Adrienne says. “Knowing my daughter, she’ll love the taste of coffee, and she’ll be addicted to it before her seventh birthday.”

  “I just want some of Gung Gung’s chocolate-raspberry,” Michelle says. “I tried the coffee ice cream last weekend. It was yucky.”

  “Thank God,” Adrienne mutters.

  “I’m going to start making the waffle, since it takes a few minutes.” I head to the waffle iron and pour in the batter and try to compose myself. When I return to the counter, I ask Carol for her order.

  “Surprise me,” she says.

  Oh, no. I feel like this is some kind of test as to whether I’m good enough for Drew. I look at him, hoping for some help, although what he could provide, I don’t know. He gives me a closed-lip smile.

  “Um, okay,” I say. “Would you like it in a cone or cup or bubble waffle?”

  “Cone, I guess.”

  I’m scooping out Michelle’s ice cream when Valerie emerges from the back room.

  “Can I help anyone who hasn’t ordered yet?” she asks. “Oh, hi, Drew.”

  “Hello,” he says.

  “How was last night? And this morning? Chloe hasn’t told me much yet. Must have been a good night if you’re here again so soon.”

  My cheeks flame. “Valerie,” I hiss.

  “You spent the night together after your first date?” Carol turns to her son. “That’s no way to treat a nice girl.”

  So I’m a nice girl? Or does his mother secretly think I’m a slut?

  “Have you forgotten our first date?” Lawrence pulls Carol toward him.

  “Lawrence!” But she can’t help smiling at the memory.

  God, I miss seeing my parents tease each other. Not about things like this, not in front of me, but it was always easy to believe my parents were in love.

  Now, I’m used to seeing my father all alone.

  “Are these your parents, Drew?” Valerie asks.

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “Oops.”

  I hand Michelle her cone, then grab another cone for Drew’s mother. I decide on the ginger plus strawberry-lychee sorbet.

  Ginger ice cream was my mother’s absolute favorite, hence the name of the shop.

  Valerie takes out the bubble waffle and folds it into a cone shape, and I scoop ice cream into it. Chocolate-raspberry and Vietnamese coffee. I hope I got that right. My hands are shaking as I hand it over to Lawrence.

  “We’re really not that frightening,” he says.

  I attempt a smile, but inside, I’m full of complicated feelings. Perhaps I’m not ready for dating after all.

  I ring up their order, then wonder if they’ll expect to get their ice cream for free.

  “I’ll pay for it.” Drew slaps some bills on the counter.

  “No, I’ve got it.” Lawrence shoves some cash at me before I can say anything. “Lovely to meet you, Chloe. Please join us if you have a spare moment so we can interrogate you.”

  Drew gives him a dark look. “There will not be any interrogating.”

  “Clearly we didn’t do a good enough job with the last one,” Carol says. “Apparently I need to ask any prospective brides—”

  “Mom—”

  “—whether they intend to write a book about my son.” She turns to me. “Do you have any intention of writing a book about Drew?”

  “No.”

  “What about a song, or a movie, or—”

  “Maybe I’ll name an ice cream flavor after him,” I say.

  Everyone—except Drew—bursts into laughter, and I feel a little better.

  Michelle’s eyes light up. “I have so many ideas for ice cream flavors. Could I tell you about them?”

  “Another time,” Adrienne says. “We need to sit down so you can eat your ice cream before it melts.” She leads everyone to a table far from the counter.

  Drew stays back, and as he leans closer to me, the air seems to change, and I catch a hint of his scent. Just a few hours ago, we were pressed skin-against-skin in twisted sheets.

  “I’m sorry,” he says. “They arrived at my condo unannounced, wanting to meet you. Hopefully their curiosity has been satisfied and this will not happen again.”

  Does that mean he never wants me to see his parents again, because he doesn’t want anything serious?

  I’m so confused about what’s happening, and so confused about what I want. And caught off-guard by the feelings his family inspired in me.

  “Are you okay, Chloe?” He brushes my cheek with his hand.

  “I’m fine.” I give him a smile that I hope is reassuring.

  “We’re still on for tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  “How about I make you something for dinner?”

  “Sure. That would be nice, yes.” I can’t help a genuine smile now. It’s been a long time since someone I’ve dated has cooked dinner for me. “Are you a good cook?”

  “You’ll just have to wait and see.” He winks at me before joining his family.

  I take a deep breath, then turn to help the next group in line.

  * * *

  Sarah walks into Ginger Scoops just after six o’clock.

  “The strawberry-rhubarb pie wasn’t very popular today.” She lifts up the pie in her hand. “Anyone want some?”

  “Oh my God, thank you. That’s just what I need.” I grab a plate and serve myself a large piece of pie with a scoop of ginger ice cream, then start shoveling it into my mouth as Valerie
and Sarah look on. “I’ve had A Day.”

  “She met her new boyfriend’s parents,” Valerie explains to Sarah.

  “Wow, you move fast. I thought Josh and I moved fast, but you have us beat. Will you be engaged by the end of the week? Married by July?”

  I almost spit strawberry-rhubarb pie onto the table.

  “No, seriously. How was the date?” Sarah asks. “When are you seeing him next? And why on earth have you already met his parents?”

  “Yes,” Valerie says. “You’ve been holding out on me. I need details.”

  My friends sit at the table with me and help themselves to pie.

  “We went to that new place off College,” I say. “S-slash-E.”

  “Such a dumb name,” Valerie says around a mouthful of pie.

  “It was good,” I say. “Good food, good drinks.”

  “And good company?”

  “Well, I went home with him. So...you know.”

  Valerie motions for me to continue. “How does he look without a shirt? How was he in bed? ”

  I try to suppress my smile, but I can’t. “It was really amazing.”

  “So amazing that he brought his family to meet you today?” Sarah asks.

  “They, um, heard he went on a date and showed up at his condo and demanded to meet me? I’m not sure. Wasn’t his idea.”

  Emotion clogs my throat as I remember seeing his niece and her mother together. His niece calling her grandparents “Po Po” and “Gung Gung,” like I used to call my maternal grandparents. The way they affectionately bickered.

  The way it made me feel incredibly lonely.

  Even now, surrounded my friends, I feel a little alone.

  I swallow the words I want to say. Though I did say some of them to Drew last weekend. When he’s around, especially when he’s holding me, that feeling starts to dissipate.

  I need to see him. Now.

  I polish off my pie and jump up. “I’ll clean up, and then I’ll be out of here.”

  “Wow, the sex must really be amazing,” Valerie says.

  Normally, I would think of a retort, but my mind is already somewhere else.

  Specifically, Drew’s bed.

  Chapter 16

  Drew

  I’m pretty sure I blew Chloe’s mind last night, but after the unicorn nightmare fiasco this morning and the unexpected meet-the-parents incident this afternoon, I consider myself lucky that she’s coming over again tonight.