Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(14)
“Ha ha . . . very funny,” Maggie tries to shrug off my lightheartedness while still trying to be offended when Jared snickers.
“What did you bring to put on?” I question to ease her nerves.
“I know it will be cool, yet warmer than usual, so I brought a cute new red dress. Amy helped me pick it out.” Maggie’s excitement is returning. “What are you wearing?”
“I’ve got a red, silk, long sleeve, fitted blouse and jeans that I was going to wear with those red velvet flats I bought when we went to the outlets a few weeks ago,” I reply.
“Are you going to wear those new ruby studs you got too?” Jared questions.
“Yep. That’s why I got them,” I answer.
“When did you get ruby studs?” Maggie asks.
“When Jared was here last week going over the Naturally Me schedule. We did a little shopping afterward to celebrate the pet division,” I explain.
“That’s right. I remember you telling me,” she recollects.
“How about you, Jared?” Maggie inquires. “What are you wearing?”
“I’m keeping it simple this year. Just a new red long sleeve henley shirt with jeans and my brown slip-on dress shoes. I felt like going relaxed this year,” Jared responds.
Red is a symbolic color in the Chinese tradition. It’s a color of luck which is why each one of us is wearing it in one form or another for the day.
“Well, one of you needs to get into the shower,” I interject after checking the time.
“Yes, Mom,” they say simultaneously.
They help me put away any food we didn’t eat and rinse the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher.
Jared lets Maggie shower first since his hair doesn’t take as long to dry. I bounce back and forth from my bedroom to the bathroom getting dressed and fixing my hair and make-up while Maggie showers. Jared sits on my bed updating me on the latest news of his fans reactions from the past week. Once Maggie is done in the shower, she leaves the water running so Jared can hop in. We feel completely comfortable being naked around each other. Jared’s gay, so there’s no weirdness there. He admires the female body, but has never been turned on by it. Women like Maggie and me have no challenge being naked in front of each other for a variety of reasons.
Once we’re done getting ready, I grab Sadie’s dog bag that is full of some of her basics; dog bowls, biodegradable relief bags, snacks and some toys. M?qīn has plenty of food in the kitchen, so I don’t need to pack Sadie anything. We head down to the train platform that is in the middle of my apartment complex and jump on the next train heading South. A few stops later we’re in Chinatown.
Before leaving with Maggie to meet up with Henry, the three of us gather with Maggie’s family; Nǎinai, M?qīn, F?qīn, Maggie’s dad, F?qīn’s brother and Amy’s parents Jie and Jiao, Amy, Jet and Eric, Eric’s parents P’eng and Xiu, Eric’s older sister Kim, Kim’s husband Peter and their two children Jade and Rey.
The children are given their Lai See first. Lai See, which means Good Luck, is a Chinese tradition which involves giving money in red envelopes from the senior members of the family to the junior members. Pretty much, married couples give Lai See to unmarried relatives, friends and colleagues. All three children, Jet, Rey and Jade receive Lai See. This is one of my favorite traditions, not for receiving any money, but because I can give the children a substantial amount of money each year for their future. The whole family says I always go a little overboard, but the Li family has given me so much, more than money can buy.
Nǎinai says several prayers welcoming in the new year, followed by specific and special blessings for each of us. When Nǎinai gets to Jared she bestows upon him happiness and love, but specifies love for Jared in the same sex realm of things. M?qīn and F?qīn shake their heads disapprovingly at Nǎinai’s little show, but don’t say a word. The whole family knows Jared is gay. They don’t judge him and have considered him a son because of the friendship he has with Maggie and the rest of the family. I think Nǎinai was just making sure that everyone was paying attention to her. Then, Nǎinai turns to Maggie and bestows her with happiness, love and marriage and outwardly states that the family would be grateful if it is with Henry. M?qīn mutters under her breath. F?qīn chooses to just ignore her. Then, Nǎinai gets to me. She wishes for me to find full happiness and love, not just with the family that sits around me, but with my own family — a loving husband and children. She emphasizes the words husband and children. My eyes are as wide as they can get as I’m mortified and distressed at her proclamation. She’s blessed me to be happy and to find love, but she’s never specifically uttered the words husband or children before. She gives me a kiss on the top of my head as her hands hold me on either side over my ears.
“Looks like love is coming your way too, Emma,” nudges Jared.
We know that Nǎinai is never wrong with her blessings.
“Not funny, Jared,” I mutter under my breath while looking down at the floor.
“Maybe Henry has a cute friend. Wouldn’t that be funny!” Jared announces, getting louder for the whole family to hear.
“Oh, that would be so much fun! We could date together! There were a few times he came into the restaurant with a friend or colleague,” Maggie shouts with excitement.
Nǎinai smiles at me, pleased with herself. All I can do is purse my lips to stifle any kind of a reaction or response. Jet, who was playing on the ground with Sadie, suddenly decides to try to pull himself up using my pant leg. He is a much-welcomed distraction and aids in easing me out of the embarrassment I feel.