“Hopefully to a girl,” their mom said, clasping her hands together and shaking them at the sky. A prayer or a threat to her God? Victor wasn’t sure. “You know your dad and I didn’t find out he also likes men until he was named to that New Jersey Gay Police Committee!”

“Hopefully to anyone who makes him happy long-term,” Dawn edited. “And he would’ve told you before he was named to the New Jersey Police Officer LGBTQ+ Liaison Committee if he wasn’t afraid of how you would react.”

“That tall policeman son of mine is scared of his little parents?” Gyeong sucked her teeth and waved a dismissive hand at Dawn. “You always did indulge him too much. Always worrying about him. Like you are his mother, not his sister.”

Dawn laughed and admitted, “True, true…”

However, Victor inwardly jolted. Had Dawn also not been acting when she told him she was worried about her brother back when they were in high school? Had that truly not been a trick?

“How do you like our version of hot pot, Dawn’s husband?” Gyeong asked, interrupting his thoughts.

Again he told the truth. “It is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.”

A delighted smile spread across Gyeong’s face, and she clapped her hands together. “Good, good! It’s the least I could do to thank you for bringing my daughter home to me.”

Gyeong’s eyes became a little damp. “I did not realize how much I needed someone here with me until she showed up with you. It feels as if God has ‘come through’ as black ladies at my gardening club say.”

“Aw, Mom,” Dawn said, leaning over to give her small mother a side hug. Her eyes then found Victor’s across the table. “But seriously, thanks. You don’t know how much this means to my mom…and me.”

Their affection, Gyeong’s thank you, the dinner they’d made special with him in mind….a new emotion pierced his chest. One he hadn’t felt in a very, very long time.

Not since Dawn came to his apartment and signed that she liked him too.

Unworthy. He felt unworthy of their soft gazes filled with gratitude. It was too much.

He abruptly rose from the table. “We should check into the hotel.”

“Okay,” Dawn said carefully, standing up as well. “Mom, we’ll be back first thing tomorrow to take you to the—”

That was as far as she got before her mother exploded. “You think you will be staying at a hotel? I already got the guest room ready for you this afternoon!”

Dawn looked helplessly toward Victor as if they were a real husband and wife, and she needed his backup.

“I’ve already made the reservation,” he began to sign to her mother.

“No hotel is as good as my guest room,” Gyeong insisted.

“Actually, it’s the Four Seasons…” he started to answer.