“I’m so proud of you, Hwan,” she said, “both for what you’ve accomplished and for how you conduct your life. Given the odds we gave you, you are astonishing, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Adam’s dad nodded in agreement. “Whether you marry Marc or not, during our lifetime or not, makes no difference. As long as you are happy, we will be. We may not be very good at expressing our feelings, and we’ll never be like all those other families here in America, gushing with emotions. It’s just not who we are. We try, we work on ourselves, but we want you to know that we are sincere and that we’ll work hard to prove it to you in the time we have left.”
“Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom. This is a lot to process. Let me just say this: I’ve long ago forgiven you. When the Jackson foundation picked me up off the streets, and placed me in care, I got counseling, and I recall that this was one of the first things I was told, that I needed to forgive you. It’s the credo of the Jackson foundation: ‘forgiveness, love eternal,’ and it has to do with the founders, one of them being Marc’s late husband, Jonathan. Apparently, he, too, had been abandoned by his parents, and like me, he survived thanks to meeting the great love of his life, Daniel Jackson. They’re quite a family. You’ll meet them in time…” His mother gave him a puzzled look.
“Well, you see, Mom, since Marc was married to Jonathan, he used to live in the Jackson mansion. When Jonathan passed away, his grandsons inherited the house, and Marc stayed there. And to cut a long story short, we were meant to move in there together. Then the house burned to the ground, which was the reason why all three of us got stuck in my studio.
“We’re currently rebuilding the house, and Marc, Josh, and I will have the east wing to ourselves. But anyway, let’s just say that the Jacksons are a close-knit family. They spend a lot of time with each other, and if we are to have a relationship, there just is no way around them.” The thought of his strict, emotionally handicapped Korean parents meeting the “in your face” loving Jacksons made Adam laugh. “I’m sorry, but it’s funny. You’ll see. Just a few weeks ago, Parker invited all of us to go on a big family cruise. We’d be like fifteen people, and the thought of that is horrifying, even to me, and I’ve known them for a while. Luckily, we managed to wriggle our way out of that commitment, but I think we’re doomed for Christmas.”
“Christmas?”
“Yeah, big family Christmas trip to Florida. It’ll be a horror, but fun. Maybe you’ll be able to join us.”
His mother began to cry at the mention of Christmas, and Adam realized what he’d said. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Don’t worry, son,” his dad said. “I don’t know how many months I have, but Christmas is going to be a stretch goal, and even if I’m still around then, I doubt I’ll be able to fly to Florida.”
Adam was devastated. Just a couple of weeks ago, he casually dismissed a vacation with Parker and Cody because of things they had to do, meaningless things, like work, applying for licenses, finding an apartment, while the really valuable things, like family, were put on the back burner. His callous feelings toward life were typical of youth, when life is still considered eternal, and any thought of mortality seems too intangible to be taken seriously. And there he sat, next to his own father, with the expiry date on that relationship clearly marked best before Christmas.
“Wow,” he said, tears beginning to flow down his cheeks. “This really puts things in perspective.”
“Don’t worry about it. Instead, let’s enjoy the time we have together and make the most of it. Okay?”
Adam merely nodded. They got up and took a slow and casual walk through Millennium Park before settling for a late lunch at a nearby restaurant. The mood was sullen but not unhappy. They talked about life in general, and Adam filled them in on more details on Marc, his short marriage to Jonathan, the Jacksons, his involvement with the foundation, the kids, and how that all had led to finding Josh.
Toward the end of the meal, Adam inquired if the apartment next door to theirs was still available, and his dad promised to look into it.
“We really can’t stay in my studio. We have a visit from social services next month. They’ll grant us formal fostering rights, and Marc and I want to be able to show them that we can provide Josh with a stable and suitable environment. My studio just won’t cut it.”
* * * * *
Chapter 18 - A New Beginning
Less than a month after their meeting in the park, the lease on the apartment was signed, and Adam, Marc and Josh moved into their temporary home next to Adam’s parents. There had been a few conversations on vid-phones, but they hadn’t seen each other in person since. There had been too many things to do, getting the lease and preparing for the move.
Marc had spent most of the days at the studio, packing their belongings. They’d decided they would sell the studio after their move, as they wouldn’t return once the house was ready anyway, and they could use the money to buy furniture and—a first decision as a couple—to help finance Marc’s new spa.
He hadn’t found a good location yet, but he was sure he would, in time. He’d finally gotten his license as a massage therapist in the state of Illinois and had begun to scout for locations. He also wanted to bring in additional therapists, both to be able to cater to enough customers and also to broaden his services, making sure he could cover a clientele that preferred female therapists.
Not everybody felt comfortable at the hands of a male therapist, men and women alike—he knew that from experience—just as not all men or women felt comfortable with female therapists. To offer choice was a given for Marc. To find good people would be more difficult, but he thought if the locale was inspiring enough, and the services were of high quality, he’d be sure to attract the right staff. He’d also met a couple of interesting people at his licensing, people he’d tossed ideas around with, and they had seemed interested and enthusiastic about his plans.
But first we have to move. The thought of moving north of town, into an apartment so close to Adam’s parents, was intimidating and more than a little scary. After the lunch, Adam had told him everything about the encounter and the apologies. Adam had been quite emotional after that day, and it had taken Marc more than an hour to rub the tension out of Adam’s body.
Luckily, Josh had spent the evening with Kyle and the Jacksons at Jeanette’s house. They had planned for that, as Marc had an idea that no matter how the meeting went, they’d need some privacy to talk things through. Josh had understood and volunteered to go see Kyle. They called Jeanette at nine p.m., to ask if it would be okay for Josh to spend the night as they still had things to iron out. Jeanette had quickly agreed, and the boys had enjoyed bunking together for the night.
It was the day of the move, and Josh was home from school to help. The movers had come early in the morning and hauled box after box to the truck. Adam wasn’t home, as he had important patient appointments, but he was joining them at the new place after lunch. Their temporary home was a three-bedroom apartment, not quite as old-fashioned as that of Adam’s parents but not much better. They didn’t mind, as they knew they’d only stay there for a few months.
When Marc parked the car outside the building, in a designated parking spot for residents, it only took minutes before Adam’s father appeared on the sidewalk.
“Hello, Marc. Hey, Josh! Welcome to the neighborhood. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Thanks, Mr. Kim, uh, I mean Dad, but I think we’re good. The movers are right behind us. They should be here in a few minutes. Do you have the keys?”
“I sure do.” Mr. Kim handed them over. “Would you boys like to come in for a cup of tea later?”
“I don’t know. We’re waiting for Adam to show up, and I’m not sure how long it’ll take us to unpack everything. We want to get settled as quickly as we can. I’m also waiting for a delivery—Josh’s new bedroom furniture. I’d hate to miss it. Why don’t you bring the tea to us later, and we can inaugurate the new ap
artment?”
Adam’s father beamed at the suggestion. Marc felt that the older man was embarrassed by the events of their first encounter and was trying to bridge the gap. They hadn’t seen each other or spoken since, and he could feel that he was trying, genuinely, to be helpful.
“Does five o’clock work for you?”
“We look forward to it. Thanks! See you then.”
Marc and Josh left Mr. Kim standing on the sidewalk and walked to the front door of the apartment building, opening the door and securing it so that the movers could more easily maneuver the boxes and furniture, and then climbed the stairs to the third floor where their apartment was located, opening that door wide as well.
“So, Josh, you get to pick your bedroom first. We have an extra one, so you choose.”
“Can I have the one with the en-suite bathroom?” Josh laughed.
“Good one. I meant of the two smaller bedrooms. I think Adam would have an issue with you being in the master bedroom on your own while we camp out in the smaller one.”
“Just teasing you. I’ll take the one further from the door. I sleep very lightly, and I wake up easily. The further away from the staircase I am, the better.”
“Fine with me. We’ll use the other room as a guest room and study, if we ever get to buy furniture for it. We’ll just put Adam’s desk in there for now.”
“How are things going at the construction site? Have you been there recently? Jeanette was saying it was mayhem out there.”
“No, I haven’t. We probably should. Wanna tag along? Maybe we can drive out there next Friday, after the visit from the social worker.”
“Sure. That would be cool. Do I get to choose my room in the new house?”
Marc smiled. “I thought you already had. You wanted the one in the attic, with the high ceiling, with your own en-suite bathroom. Wasn’t that the agreement?”
“Right! I’d forgotten about that.” Josh laughed.
“I’m sure you had.” Marc tousled the boy’s hair. “Okay, where are those movers?”
***
Three days later, it was time for the visit from the social worker to evaluate Josh’s situation at the new apartment. Adam had kept the department appraised, explaining that this was a temporary solution until the house was rebuilt.
Mrs. Baker was on time. Marc and Adam had been nervous all day, and had cleaned the apartment again—for the second time since they’d moved in—and had inspected every single corner of the place for stains or dust. Adam’s parents had come over for moral support, and the entire family was sitting in the living room on Adam’s large black leather couch when the doorbell rang.
Josh virtually flew to the door to answer it. Adam and Marc had met Mrs. Baker downtown before, but Josh had not. He had his own social workers, and they were glad to finally have him placed, given the trouble he’d been in the past with all the running away and soliciting on the streets.
Evaluating a home was handled by a different section of social services. Mrs. Baker was a nice enough lady, strict, with a severe look on her face, but when Josh led her into the living room, Marc noticed that she was smiling.
“Welcome to our new, albeit temporary, home,” Adam said. He’d been the one having most of the discussions with social services. Formally it had been him requesting that Josh be placed in his custody, since the studio had been his, and given that their relationship hadn’t been formalized at the time. “Please, have a seat. Can we get you something to drink?”
“Thank you. Would you mind terribly if I have a quick look around before I sit down? It’s really just a formality. I seriously doubt I’ll see anything reproachable, but department rules must still be followed.”
“No, not at all,” Marc responded, stretching out his hand in greeting. “It’s good to see you again. Would you like the grand tour, or would you rather just have a look on your own?”
He noticed her look over at Adam’s parents and quickly made introductions. “This is Mr. and Mrs. Kim—Adam’s mom and dad. Folks, this is our social worker, Mrs. Baker.”
“How do you do?” she said, and everybody shook hands. “If it’s all right with you, I’ll just have a quick peek. It’ll only take a minute. Josh, why don’t you be my tour guide?” She took the boy by the shoulders and gently guided him out of the living room back into the hallway.
They returned after a few minutes, during which Marc heard Josh opening doors, explaining briefly whose room it was, and so forth. Mrs. Baker was still smiling when they returned, and Marc figured that was a good sign.
“You’ve done wonders in such a short time. I applaud you on your dedication. Now, as you might understand, the questions I have to ask you are merely formalities. We have already received all of your paperwork, and it is in perfect order. But my department prides itself in following procedure, so here we go…” She laughed and sat down.
“Some coffee? Or some of my mother’s Korean tea, maybe?” Adam offered.
“Korean tea? What might that be?” Mrs. Baker asked, intrigued.
Adam’s mom responded. “We call it Saenggang Cha in Korea. It is made from ginger roots and honey. It’s very good if you have a cold or if you have digestive problems.”
Mrs. Baker laughed out loud. “I hope I’m not the cause of these problems. I’d love to have a cup of your tea.”
Adam’s mom poured her a cup from a traditional teapot and placed it in front of the social worker, explaining, “It is already lightly sweetened from the honey used. But if you’d like some more, please let me know.”
Mrs. Baker picked up the cup and took a small sip. “It’s delicious and perfectly sweetened. Thank you very much. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m sure you’re looking forward to seeing my backside leave through the front door…” She laughed some more at her own joke. “I’ve noticed on the application that only you, Adam, stand as guardian. Would you mind terribly if I added Marc to it, or is there something I’m missing here?” Adam and Marc looked at each other, confounded.
“We, uh, figured that since the previous apartment was Adam’s, it made sense to not include me on the application.”
“But you are on the lease here, right? Together?” Marc nodded. “And you do live together, in a committed relationship?” Both Marc and Adam nodded this time.
Adam was concerned. “Is there a problem?”
Mrs. Baker laughed again. “No, Adam, nothing like that. While we would most definitely let you foster Josh as a single father, having a second parent is always preferable. You could fall ill, you could be incapacitated or—God forbid—pass away. Having a backup simply makes more sense.”
“But we, uh, aren’t married.”
Again, Mrs. Baker laughed, and Marc got the distinct impression she was thoroughly enjoying this. “What are you two? Living in the twentieth century? Less than half of all couples today get married. We have very modern cohabitation laws in the state of Illinois, particularly when children are involved. And the state has no place in telling people how to live their lives as long as they follow the law and common decency rules. Whether a couple chooses to marry or not most certainly isn’t any of our business. Would we welcome it?” She made a face and continued. “I guess. It’s always nice if a couple chooses to solidify their relationship, and personally, I’ve always been a sucker for a romantic wedding. Ask my husband.” She laughed so hard at her last comment that she began to cough. Marc was silently chuckling. This woman was not how he had envisioned a social worker, not at all.
“So, would you mind if I add you to the petition?” She looked at Marc, and he shook his head.
“Good. Now, the last time I spoke to Adam, he mentioned that you are about to start a business of your own?”
Marc nodded. “Yes, I recently got my license to practice as a massage therapist in the state of Illinois, and I’m currently looking for a good location for a day spa. I haven’t made much progress because of the move, but next week, I will certainly put my mind to it again.”
/> Mrs. Baker nodded and took some notes. “Adam, you will continue to work at the hospital?”
He nodded. “Yes, and I’ll also keep my own practice. We haven’t made any decisions long term yet. I’m also volunteering with the Jackson Foundation. As you may know, I’ve been looking after the kids of our landlords, Parker and Cody. They were placed there by your department a few months ago, and they’ve all got troubled pasts. It’s fulfilling work, and it allows me to pay back the help I received when I was growing up.” Adam blushed, as he hadn’t really ever talked about the foundation with his parents, nor what had happened when they’d thrown him out. With his parents sitting there, suddenly the topic was laid open, and his ears were burning with shame.
“Yes, right,” Mrs. Baker said, immediately picking up on the changed atmosphere in the room. “You did tell me about your past. I’m intrigued to see you here, Mr. and Mrs. Kim. May I interpret that as a sign that you are working on rebuilding your relationship to your son?”
Adam’s mom looked to the floor, and her husband’s voice cracked when he answered. “We have done our son a great injustice, Mrs. Baker, and it has taken us far too many years to realize our wrongdoing. But you’re right. We are trying to see what we can salvage, and we’re very proud of what Adam has achieved, and we’re thrilled to see that he has found love in Marc. As for Josh? He is such an amazing child, and we are convinced Adam and Marc are perfect parents.” He lowered his gaze after finishing his response.
Marc felt how deeply ashamed Adam’s parents were for their past behavior. His heart went out to them, and he felt a strong urge to hug them. Instead, he placed his hand on Adam’s father’s shoulder and gently squeezed while Adam said, “Thank you, Dad. That was very nice of you to say.”
Mrs. Baker had turned serious at Mr. Kim’s words and added, “That was very kind of you, Mr. Kim, and as far as I and the department of social services are concerned, we agree with your assessment. Your son and Marc will indeed make fine parents.
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