Next on the tape recorder was Marcel saying a few words to his dad in Vietnamese. I’m glad you’re here and now you can come to my baseball games, he said.

Duc said, “Baseball?” He dropped three sugar cubes into his cup and then stirred cream into his tea.

Kim pointed to a photo displayed on the wall. “There he is in uniform with his team. He’s obsessed. He thinks he’ll go professional. You’ve got to remind him to stick with his books.”

Duc said, “He looks like me.” He said it smiling. And it was true. Kim could see it in the expanse between their eyes and mouth, the high cheekbones, the almost pretty feminine ears.

Marcel proceeded to do a beat-box thing with his mouth into the tape recorder. It sounded like warbled spitting, accompanied by tongue clicking, and heavy slobbering. He tried to imitate his new favorite band, a rap group called Run DMC that his cousins from San Jose had introduced him to. Kim didn’t mind the musical influence although she hadn’t liked the rest that she saw. The last time they visited, her nephews Frank and Dean were dressed like little thugs with oversized jeans and fake gold jewelry. She even noticed three burn marks in the shape of a triangle on Frank’s upper forearm. She had grabbed his arm and asked, “Does your Dad know about this?”

Frank said, “How do you know he didn’t do it himself,” and pulled down his sleeve. He was only fifteen and she already saw him hunting for trouble. She feared Marcel taking such a turn and was grateful Duc had arrived just in time for the onset of those tough teen years.

Duc asked, “Is the boy burping in there?”

Kim laughed, “No, he just wanted to have a talent for you.”

Noonday sunlight filled the room and warmth fell into their laps. Kim planned on taking Duc shopping later, new clothes, a new start. She walked to the window and leaned against the ledge. From her third floor vantage point she could see the vibrant green blades of grass beckoning from Delores Park and thought perhaps they could have a picnic later. She imagined delectable treats spread out on a blanket beneath the shade of the jacaranda tree. Her head would rest on his lap, he would stroke her hair like he used to, and the bloom of courtship would envelope them again.

She said, “The kids are excited to meet you. Especially Marcel, he missed you bad. He wants you to see what a man he’s become.” She returned to sit beside him on the couch. Duc nodded. Kim hesitated to say it because it wasn’t customary for a woman to talk so boldly. But after ten years, she had to say it. “I’ve missed you too Duc. I’ve dreamed about this day.” In her excitement she grabbed for his hand. He startled and pulled back. A neighbor slammed a door. The framed photos hanging on the wall vibrated momentarily and shifted in place. Duc flinched and blinked. Several minutes passed before he looked at her again.