She should’ve known better than to expect that.
“Is there some kind of block party happening tonight?” Dan asked, peering down the crowded street.
The rapid-fire explosion of firecrackers answered him.
Shit!
The closer they got to her parents’ place, the more congested the street became. Every light was on in the house—something her skinflint mother normally didn’t allow—and red lanterns hung from the eaves. Shadows moved in front of the windows, and Vietnamese music blared into the neighborhood when a group of kids with sparklers ran out the front door to set off another brick of firecrackers.
Jenny closed her eyes and massaged her temples. “Welcome to Chinese New Year.”
Dan chuckled and drove past her parents’ home. They ended up having to go the next block over to find a parking spot. The cold February air whipped around her ankles when she got out, and an icy mist formed in front of her mouth with every breath she exhaled. The weather forecast called for possible snow tomorrow, but tonight, the air was crisp and dry. A red firework bloomed in the starry sky overhead, followed a chorus of shouts from the excited children gathered in her parents’ front yard.
However, as soon as she and Dan entered the yard, the children swarmed around them and threatened to knock the potted orchids from her arms. “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới,” they cried over and over again.
Embarrassment flamed her cheeks as she heard the Tết greeting. Traditionally, elders gave envelopes with money to children as part of the New Year celebrations, but her mother hadn’t told her that there would be guests over tonight.
She opened her mouth to apologize, but stopped when Dan pulled a stack of red envelopes out of his coat pocket.
“Happy New Year,” he said as he gave each child his or her gift.
“How did you know?” she whispered, grateful he’d spared her the shame of showing up empty handed.
Dan grinned as the last child ran off. “Jason called me this morning and gave me a heads up.”
“I didn’t know he had your number.” Over the past couple of months, they’d met up with Jason and Mike for dinner, but she’d never suspected they interacted without her.
“Of course he does. I’ve even played basketball a few times with him and Mike.”
“Hiding any more secrets from me?”
“Maybe.” He opened the door, ignoring the blast of music that greeted them, and waited for her to enter.
The house was packed with her parents’ friends and family, all chatting with each other in Vietnamese. Dozens of voices tried to talk over each other, but the moment Dan closed the door, they all grew silent and turned toward them.
Dan ran his finger along his collar and wore a forced smile.
Jenny tried not to laugh. It must’ve been hard for him to be the only white person with a crowd of Vietnamese looking up at him.
Jason made his way through the crowd and gave her a hug. “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới, little sis.”
“An khang thịnh vượng,” she replied, wishing her brother security, good health, and prosperity.
“It’s already going to be a good year.” He laid his hand on her stomach, receiving a kick from the baby, before moving on to shake Dan’s hand. “Happy New Year.”
“The same to you.” His voice sounded tense, strained, as though he was nervous. Normally, he and Jason got along with ease.
Gooseflesh prickled her arms. Something was up, and she suspected the two men had plotted a way to win over her mother.
“Come on in and meet our parents,” Jason said, leading them toward the great room where the family altar was set up.
Her parents stood proudly in front of the table covered with offerings to the ancestors and household gods. Chrysanthemums and peach blossoms flanked the sides, and a large tray with mangos, coconuts, and other fruits sat in the center. Red scrolls adorned with black and gold calligraphy adorned the walls, proclaiming “Happy Spring” and “A Prosperous New Year.” Everything seemed normal for Tết.
Too normal, considering the circumstances.
Jenny forced a smile on her face. “Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Dan. Dan, this is my father, Binh, and my mother, Phuong.”
Dan, for his part, seemed to have been well schooled by Jason. He bowed his head politely to her mother, who remained silent, and extended his hand to her father.
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you,” her father said in his quiet, balanced way. “I have heard many good things about you from my son and daughter.”
Her mother remained silent, a sure sign that she was not particularly happy with her daughter bringing a non-Vietnamese man home for such an important occasion. She visually dissected her guest, and the tense lines around her mouth reminded Jenny about their last meeting, when Dan came out of her bedroom half naked.
Jenny’s hands started to tremble. She held up the orchids. “I’ve brought a gift to honor our ancestors.”
Some of the disapproval faded from her mother’s eyes. “You may place it at the altar.”
They stepped aside to let her approach the table. She placed the pot on the table and knelt before it, praying to her ancestors that her parents would learn to love Dan as much as she did.
***
Dan stood behind Jenny as she sat on the floor with some of the children and tossed the three dice. She’d explained that Bầu cua cá cọp was a traditional game played on Chinese New Year, and after watching it for a while, he realized it was a simple version of craps. Each die had an animal on the side that corresponded to the animals on the board. The players would all place bets on what animals they thought would show up on the next roll. The more times the animal showed up, the more they won.
Jenny was the only adult playing, but it didn’t seem to matter to her. She seemed far more at ease with the children than the other adults. Her laughter was infectious, and her smile lit up the room. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and kiss her every time she looked up at him, but he’d been warned by Jason that public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex were considered taboo.
He reached into his pocket instead, no longer missing his lucky die since giving it to her months ago. Tonight, however, his fingers wrapped around the small velvet box he’d brought with him. Jason had explained that Vietnamese engagements were complicated affairs, but he could start by asking her parents tonight to see if they would be agreeable to letting him marry Jenny.
It was near midnight when her father approached him and said quietly, “Please, Dan, I would be honored if you would step outside with me for a few minutes.”
It was the first time one of her parents had spoken to him since they’d arrived. Jenny was far too wrapped up in the game to notice, so he nodded and followed Binh outside to the backyard.
A chilly fog had rolled in from the sound and blanketed the outside world in misty silence. They moved to where the glow of the lights from the windows and sounds of the party inside faded. Dan’s heart pounded. This was his chance to ask for Jenny’s hand, but his mouth seemed too dry to form coherent words.
“My son mentioned you wished to speak to me about my daughter,” Binh started.
“I do, but I have no idea where to start. I wish to respect your customs, but I also know I am a stranger to them.”
Binh nodded, and the corners of his mouth twitched. “We both know my daughter does not adhere to traditional customs very well, so speak from yours.”
He reached into his pocket and squeezed the ring box. “I’d like to marry her.”
“Even though she is pregnant with another man’s child?”
He nodded. “If anything, it makes me love her all the more for what she offered to do.”
“So you love her?”
His tongue loosened. “Very much so.”
“And you will provide for her and do all that you can to keep her safe and happy?”
“I would.”
“Then I do not object to your match.
” Binh nodded to the party inside. “But now comes the difficult part. Convincing her mother you are a worthy match.”
“Would this be the part where saying I’m a doctor helps?”
Binh chuckled and checked his watch. “Perhaps, but I have a better idea. Let’s go back inside.”
The clock was striking midnight as they opened the door. Binh stood back and let Dan enter first. The crowd stilled as all turned in his direction.
For the second time that evening, Dan’s collar choked him. He’d always hated being the center of attention.
Jenny’s mother made her way through the crowd and bowed her head. “We welcome you into our home as the first visitor of the new year.”
A murmur swept through their guests, but unfortunately, he didn’t understand a word of it.
Jason appeared at his side. “Well played.”
Dan turned to him and whispered, “I don’t understand.”
“You’re the xông đất. According to tradition, the first guest a family receives after Tết determines the family’s fortune for the entire year. With you being a successful doctor who’s obviously smitten with my fruitful sister, it’s a very good thing.”
Phuong waved him into the living room with an open palm. “Please come in and have some Mứt.”
He turned to Jason for guidance. “Is this a good thing, too?”
“Any time my mother isn’t shrieking at you is a good sign.” Jason patted him on the back and pushed him forward. “She’s offering you food.”
He came into the living room to find Jenny standing beside her father, her dark eyes dancing with amusement as she offered him a bowl with candied fruits in it. “Try them. It’s the only time of the year they’re served.”
He took a handful and chewed on the sweetened dried mangos while he looked to Binh for a clue to when he could pop the question.
Her father nodded and turned to address his guests. “We are honored to have Dr. Daniel Kelly as our guest tonight for many reasons, the foremost being that he has requested my daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Jenny drew in a sharp breath. Her hand fell to her stomach. “You did?”
“I even bought you a ring.” He began to pull it out of his pocket when Phuong rushed between them to stop him.
“No, this is not the way it’s done.” She turned to him. “If you wish to marry my daughter, then we will do it the Vietnamese way.”
Confusion swirled with desperation inside his chest. He’d done the proper thing and asked her father. All he wanted to do now was give Jenny her ring, take her home, and start planning the rest of their lives together. But Phuong had to step in and steal his moment.
Jenny’s brow creased. “Mom, that’s not necessary for me.”
“It is for our family. I will consult with the fortune-teller to find a date for the engagement ceremony.” She turned and made her way through the crowd to a gray-haired woman.
“I knew Mom wouldn’t make this easy,” Jenny muttered under her breath.
His palms itched to touch her, to hold her close and kiss her in front of everyone. “But you are worth it.”
The worry vanished from her face, and she moved closer to him. “And you assumed I’d say yes,” she teased.
And just like that, he knew she would. His rattled nerves eased. She was everything he’d dreamed of and more, a Buttercup to his Westley. Whatever she asked of him, he’d reply, “As you wish.”
He took her hand in his, defying what was consider proper behavior. “You can always say no. I’ve been holding on to the ring for a few weeks already, just waiting for a chance to ask your father’s permission.”
“He’s not the one you have to win over.” She nodded toward her mother, who was in the midst of a furious discussion in Vietnamese with the fortune-teller.
“They say Vegas is really nice this time of year,” he murmured. “We could always elope.”
“It’s tempting. Too bad they closed the Star Trek exhibit there. We could’ve gotten married on the deck of the Enterprise.”
He grinned. If there was ever a doubt how well they fit together, she erased it by suggesting a wedding venue fit for a true geek.
Phuong nodded a few more times before returning to them. “It would be a very lucky day for you two if we had the engagement ceremony in two weeks and two days.”
“Think you can get your mom and brothers out here that quickly?” Jenny’s voice rose with a hint of panic.
“Of course,” he replied, even though he was still baffled why he’d need them. “Unless you’d like to wait until after the baby’s born.”
“No,” Phuong declared. “It would be unlucky to wait. Two weeks and two days will be very lucky.”
“You wanted to be part of this insanity.” Jenny raised one brow. “I would’ve been happy with sneaking off to Vegas.”
“Too late now.” He bowed to her parents. “I will arrange to have my family here on that day for the engagement ceremony.”
“Then let us move forward with the planning.” Binh took Jenny’s hand and placed it in Dan’s. “I would like to welcome you to our family.”
The guests lined up to offer their congratulations, sometimes in English, sometimes in Vietnamese where Jenny would translate for them. An hour later, he was ready to leave when Jenny suggested it. His face ached from smiling, and he couldn’t wait to get her alone. But on the way out, he finally caught an approving smile from Phuong.
Mission accomplished.
When they got to his car, he pulled Jenny to him and kissed her like he’d been wanting to do all night. “I can’t wait to get you home and celebrate tonight properly.”
“There’s only one problem.” She pressed her palm against his chest and pushed him away. “You still haven’t officially asked me if I want to marry you.”
He waved his arm out into the swirling fog. “Now?”
She lifted her chin and nodded.
“Here?”
“The sooner you do it, the sooner we can properly celebrate.”
Dan got down on one knee, ignoring the icy chill that bled through his dress slacks, and pulled out the ring he’d been waiting to give her. “Jenny, would you marry me?”
Tears formed along the crinkles of her eyes. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He stood and kissed her again, this time receiving what he hoped was a swift kick of approval from the baby. When he finally pulled away, he opened the car door for her. “So explain this Vietnamese engagement ceremony to me.”
“It starts with you being sucker enough to agree to it.”
He winced. “That bad?”
“Let’s just say you’re going to owe your brothers big time.”
Chapter Sixteen
The dress was too tight.
Jenny gritted her teeth and tried to calm her breathing, but no matter what she did, the red áo dài squeezed around her stomach like a corset. The sensation came in rhythmic waves before loosening up again. She’d just about convinced herself it was all due to nerves when the next wave would hit.
Dì Tam waltzed into the bedroom and gave her a once-over. “You look pretty enough to be a bride.”
“Too bad I feel like a whale in this thing.” She tugged on the dress again, wondering what her aunt would do if she accidentally ripped the silk fabric that strained over her bump.
“That is what you get for being pregnant with another man’s child. You are very lucky that a doctor wants to marry you.”
She rolled her eyes and waddled over to the chair her aunt held out for her. The ceremony would be starting in less than thirty minutes, and she still needed to do her hair and makeup for the pictures. While her aunt fussed over her hair and arranged the traditional combs, she rubbed her stomach. The baby had been unusually still today, and worry gnawed at her gut.
Her mother joined them and cast one glance at Jenny’s feet. “You painted your nails.”
Like I could reach my toes in my condition. Luckily, Maureen had arrive
d yesterday and treated her to a pre-engagement ceremony spa day. The relaxing massage and pedicure soothed her jitters and made today more bearable.
“Did his family arrive?” her mother asked before grabbing the eyeliner.
“Yes, they did.” Last night, she and Dan had dinner with his family in a private room of a local restaurant. Five of his brothers had made it. Ben had to miss the ceremony due to a game, but Hailey had come down, proudly displaying her own bump to the family. The meal was full of teasing and laughter, but by the time it ended, she felt like she was already part of the Kelly family.
It would be a very different scene today when the boisterous and laid-back Kellys met the straight-laced Vietnamese traditions of the Nguyen family. She only hoped that once the formalities were over, the reception would be just as fun as last night’s dinner had been.
Her stomach tightened again, forcing the air from her lungs. The baby wasn’t due for another month, but according to the birthing class instructor, the contractions could start at any time now.
Her mother paused and sent her a worried look. “Do you need some water?”
She shook her head. What she wouldn’t give to be wearing the loose-fitting dress she wore last night. “The baby’s just misbehaving.”
“The baby is your child.” Her mother went back to applying her makeup.
No, the baby is Mike and Jason’s, not mine.
Jenny closed her eyes and focused on taking deep breaths. Her ultrasound two days ago looked reassuring, according to her OB. With the exception of the exposed bowel, the baby was doing fine. This was all due to nerves.
Jason popped his head in. “The guests are starting to arrive.”
Her mother added one swipe of lip gloss. “Only family inside. The rest will have to wait until the groom’s family enters.”
“Ten-four, Má.” Jason gave them a playful salute and went back into the living room to divert traffic.
Anxiety formed at the base of Jenny’s spine, stretching around her belly and squeezing. For the hundredth time today, she wished Dan hadn’t agreed to this ceremony. Yes, it was a peace offering to get on her mother’s good side, but she would be dreading it until it was over.
The Heart's Game (The Kelly Brothers, Book 4) Page 14
