AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 3 -- Chapter 30

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

Sun-Mi slowly rocks in the nursery armchair, Jae-Young nestled against her chest. The room is quiet except for the soft rhythm of his nursing. Around them, a zoo of cartoon animals, painted in cheerful colors, prance around the walls.

 

When Jae-Young unlatches, she adjusts her nursing bra and buttons her dress. She moves him, gently, to his crib.

 

"Sweet dreams," she whispers.

 

The nine-month-old yawns and closes his eyes. In the crib next to his, Mae-Young is already asleep, her tiny belly steadily rising and falling. Both babies, full and content, lie in peaceful silence.

 

Sun-Mi tiptoes out and gently closes the door of the twin's bedroom.

 

In the hallway, the gentle notes of Gruber's 'Silent Night',  played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, come from the living room. She quietly sings along -- "mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace..." -- as she pads to the kitchen in her slippers.

 

She pours a cup of coffee and tears off a chunk of Panettone from the loaf on the counter. As it warms for a few seconds in the microwave, she inhales the scent of citrus and vanilla, and then settles into a chair at the table.

 

The Christmas tree in the corner of the reception room glows with blinking multicolored lights. Shiny ornaments glitter among the branches. Crowning the tip is a porcelain angel, part of the Nativity scene at the base. The manger is empty -- awaiting Baby Jesus on Christmas Day. Several brightly wrapped gifts are beside it. A row of Christmas cards lines the bookshelf, some from church friends, others from their new neighbors. Mounted above it on the wall is a wood-framed plaque with the words 'God Bless This Home --Joshua 24:15'.

 

She smiles with gratitude -- her children's first Christmas is one of true joy and peace.

 

A string of colored lights festoons the window frame beside the table. Outside, the sky is overcast with wintery clouds, threatening a snow flurry. The courtyard trees below twinkle with soft white bulbs.

 

Sun-Mi flips through the latest issue of Korean Weekly, scanning the headlines while she sips dark Columbian with milk and sugar. The sweet and buttery richness of the Panettone -- fresh from the bakery the day before -- melts in her mouth. The taste reminds her -- their new bakery on Kensington High Street opens today, timed for peak holiday shopping crowds. She picks up her Samsung mobile, keys in a text -- '화이팅(Hwaiting!)' -- and hits send.

 

Finished eating, she puts her cup and plate in the sink, adding to the pile of breakfast dishes. Next to the bathroom door, a full basket sits ready for the laundry, and another needs folding. Dust bunnies gather in the corners, reminding her of the vacuum in the hall closet.

 

She sighs. So much to do. And in a few hours, the babies will be awake and hungry again.

 

"I need to do something, just for me," she murmurs, "or I'll go bonkers."

 

Her eyes perk up. She heads straight for the master bedroom.

 

Their wedding portrait catches her eye as she breezes across the room. It had watched over their bed through good times and bad times, and now, the good times again.

 

She flings open the wardrobe doors and pulls down a box from the top shelf. Setting it on the new queen-size bed, she eagerly removes the lid. Inside, her old dance costumes from the lounge are neatly packed away.

 

Sun-Mi lifts out a red sequined bodysuit. She holds it up admiringly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

 

"Wonder if this still fits?"

 

She slips out of her floral shift and pulls on the bodysuit. It stretches snugly over her curves, and she just manages to close the zipper. Then she steps into her glittering eight-inch platform heels and fastens the straps tightly around her ankles.

 

It takes a few wobbly steps before she finds her balance again. Stilettos clicking sharply on the hardwood floor, she trots to the living room and flips the TV channel to XFM. Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' blasts through the speakers.

 

Sun-Mi closes her eyes. The lounge comes alive -- flashing strobes, the haze of smoke, pulsating music -- the gauntlet of the stage stretching out in front of her. She starts to sway with the rhythm, her body slowly remembering the practiced motions. Then the beat drops. Something clicks inside. And she is off...

 

Her legs move instinctively. She struts, arches, dips, and spins, commanding an invisible stage -- dancing like nothing is holding her back. She is someone bold, someone free -- she is Nicole again.

 

 

When the song ends, Sun-Mi is breathless and flushed.

 

"Definitely out of shape," she laughs, hands on her hips, heart pounding.

 

She turns off the TV and steps over to the bookshelf. There, she grabs a book, removes the bookmark, and takes it to the kitchen table. Picking up her mobile, she makes a call from the number on the bookmark.

 

"Hello?" Cielo's voice is sleepy.

 

"Hi, it's Nicole. Remember me?"

 

"Nicole?"

 

"It's been a long time. How are you?"

 

"Funny you called. I was just thinking about you," Cielo says.

 

"Are you free to meet up?"

 

"Where?"

 

"How about The Corner Bakery, in Soho," Sun-Mi replies. "They have a new coffee shop I've been wanting to try."

 

"I've heard it has a new owner and is pretty popular," Cielo says, "and expensive."

 

"It's my treat. Say, three o'clock?"

 

"I'll be there."

 

 

Sun-Mi immediately makes another call.

 

"Yes?" Auntie Lin's cheerful voice comes over the line.

 

"It's Jin Sun-Mi. I know it's short notice, but can you come over to sit the kids for a few hours? I just put them down for a nap."

 

"I'd be happy to. I can be there in ten minutes..."

 

 

Sun-Mi rings off. She returns to the bedroom and searches through her wardrobe to assemble an appropriate outfit to go out. She has ten minutes to put 'Nicole' back into the box and become her normal self again.

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

The crisp December air stings Sun-Mi's face as she briskly walks the fifteen minutes from her Fitzrovia flat to The Corner Bakery. Light flakes drift down, changing the drab gray of London's streets to a white Christmas fantasyland. To keep out the chill, she pulls her knitted scarf more tightly around the collar of her Zara tweed coat. Her knee-high DKNY boots leave a trail of exclamation points in the fresh layer of snow.

 

Arriving at the shop, Sun-Mi pauses at the window to peer inside. Her reflection -- cheeks flushed bright pink and dark hair dusted with a veil of white -- looks back.

 

A sign is taped to the glass...

 

'HELP WANTED -- EXPERIENCED BARISTAS NEEDED -- EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS'

 

 

Inside, the aroma of fresh bakery and brewing coffee permeates the air. She walks up to the bakery counter, eyeing the tempting pastries on display.

 

The sales assistant, a young woman wearing all white, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, greets Sun-Mi with a smile. "May I help you?"

 

"Is Manager Yoon in?"

 

"He's still at the Kensington shop," the assistant answers. "Supposed to be back soon. Do you want to wait, or leave a message?"

 

"I'll wait."

 

 

Sun-Mi turns from the counter and steps through an archway between the bakery and the adjoining coffee shop. The dozen small tables and booths lining the far wall are mostly filled. The buzz of conversations brings an energy to the cozy space.

 

She is just approaching the barista when Cielo walks in. Usually a fashion plate, she is wearing last season's coat, and her brown boots are scuffed. Her normally perky face is drawn and sallow.

 

They order -- latte for Sun-Mi, flat white for Cielo.

 

"Just a few minutes," the barista, a young man in all black, with two rings in his ear and an orange punk cut under his cap, tells them. "Please have a seat."

 

They take a table by the window. Slip off their winter coats and settle into the bentwood chairs, facing each other.

 

 

"It's been what -- a year and a half?" Cielo asks, switching to Korean for privacy in the crowded shop.

 

"Yes. Hard to believe," Sun-Mi answers.

 

"You look amazing, Nicole! Like... glowing."

 

"Thanks."

 

"Something's different about you now. Last time you said that things were changing. What gives?"

 

 

Sun-Mi shifts in her seat. "Well... I..."

 

Cielo looks down at Sun-Mi's hand on the table. Sees the ring on her finger. "You got married? Is that why you said you were going to quit dancing?"

 

"No." Sun-Mi shakes her head. "I already was married. But I didn't want anyone to know. I'm sorry..."

 

"That's how it is," Cielo replies, her tone cynical.

 

"Actually, I was pregnant -- with twins."

 

Cielo's eyes widen. "You never said a word. Why didn't you tell me?"

 

"I'd just found out. Hadn't told him yet. Everything felt so uncertain." Sun-Mi exhales a breath. "I'd even made an appointment to terminate it -- so I could keep dancing. I was in debt to Manager Chin, and afraid what might happen if I didn't pay up."

 

"What changed your mind?"

 

"I decided to stop being afraid. To put my babies before money. I prayed to God  for help -- and we were blessed. Things got better."

 

Cielo smiles faintly. "Good for you! At least one of us won the lottery."

 

"It wasn't easy," Sun-Mi says. "I had to learn how to trust my husband again. Swallow my pride..."

 

 

They pause as the barista delivers their drinks.

 

 

"Anyway, enough about me. What about you? Where are you working now?"

 

"Here and there," Cielo replies with a shrug. "Nothing that lasted long. Turns out most Brits aren't interested in thirty-something Asian women, no matter how big their knockers."

 

She stares into her cup. "Honestly? It's been rough. The dives are awful. The punters expect a lot, but pay a pittance. I haven't had a decent gig in months."

 

"I'm sorry to hear that," Sun-Mi interjects. "How are you making out?"

 

Cielo looks up, her eyes misting. "Actually, I'm not even covering rent. I got my eviction notice yesterday. I don't know what I'm going to do."

 

Sun-Mi reaches across the table and gently squeezes her hand. "I know. I've been there. Don't give up. There's always another door."

 

Cielo sniffs back her tears. "But all I know is hostessing."

 

"Why not try something new? They're hiring here."

 

"Yeah, but it says 'experienced only'. I don't know the first thing about making coffee."

 

"There's more than one kind of experience," Sun-Mi states. "Anyone can learn how to make coffee. But being good with people? That's much harder. You're amazing at that."

 

"I'm not sure, Nicole. Why would they hire someone like me? What if one of those punters recognized me? That could get ugly."

 

"Talk to the owner, Yoon Hyung-Chul. He'll give you a chance."

 

"How can you be so sure?"

 

Sun-Mi smiles. "He believes in giving second chances. 'The Corner Bakery' isn't just about food, but helping people turn a corner in their lives, to start over and take a new direction. I know that personally. Tell him Jin Sun-Mi referred you."

 

"Who?"

 

"That's my real name. He's my husband."

 

"What?!" Cielo pulls her hand free of Sun-Mi's grasp. "I... I don't want your pity!"

 

"It's not pity. I came to the lounge because I was desperate. We were broke, and owed a lot of money," Sun-Mi explains. "My first day, I was scared. Intimidated. I'd never done anything like that. But you befriended me. Encouraged me. Helped me when you didn't have to."

 

She sips her latte.

 

"I'm just returning the favor. You can do what you want with it."

 

 

Sun-Mi stands and reaches for her coat.

 

"I have to go now. My babies will be waking shortly, and hungry. I wish you good luck, and God's blessing, Cielo."

 

Cielo hesitates, then rises and extends her hand. "It's not Cielo. My name is Bae Shin-Hee."

 

Taking her hand, Sun-Mi smiles. "Shin-Hee. That's s pretty name -- like you."

 

"Can we meet again?" Shin-Hee asks.

 

"I'd like that," Sun-Mi answers. "Soon."