Read Online The Family You Choose by Deborah Nam-Krane - Free Book Online
Authors: Deborah Nam-Krane
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make up for my mistakes. I’m
trying right now."
"Then your nobility should be rewarded. I
think I can make myself scarce for a few weeks."
"It’s going to have to be a longer than
that."
"A month? I think that’s pushing it."
"Longer. And if I understood Miranda
correctly, the police aren’t the only thing you’ll have to worry
about if you stay in Boston."
Michael laughed loudly. "He caught a lucky
break. Don’t worry, I can take care of myself next time."
"I’m not so sure." Alex had ice in his voice.
"I think it would be best for everyone if you were scarce for a few
months."
"Fine." He had no intention of staying away
that long. "But it’s going to cost you."
"What do you want?"
"Of course I’ll need an apartment—in
Seoul."
"I could get you better accommodations in
Bangkok-"
"No, Seoul."
"Fine."
"But while I’m there, I don’t think it’s fair
to keep me locked up in such a small country."
"You’ll get a traveling allowance."
"And you know, I’ve been picking up this job
so quickly that they’ve been really shoveling new tasks on me. I’m
practically managing my little team."
"It’s a two-person team."
"Exactly. And he has the title, and I have
all the responsibility. Does that seem fair? I mean, I can see why
I can’t have the title, but there’s got to be something we do about
the salary."
"I’ll fix the salary if you put the increase
into your savings account."
"Half of it."
"Seventy-five percent."
"Sixty."
"Fine. Then the tickets will be waiting for
you at the airport in two hours."
Michael wiped his face with his napkin. "Just
one more thing, though, before I can agree. I want the house."
Alex froze. "I’m not sure that’s a good idea
just yet."
"When is it going to be a better idea?"
"When I don’t have to constantly worry about
getting you out of trouble."
"I am coming back eventually, right? So where
am I going to stay? I don’t have too many opportunities to stay
with Richard when Jessie isn’t there or Aunt Lucy doesn’t make a
cameo appearance, and I’m pretty sure your precious Miranda will
want me around even less than before. So unless you’re going to get
me an entirely new place all my own, doesn’t it make sense to give
me the house now, since it is mine?"
Alex looked as if he was trying to form the
words, but couldn’t do it. "It’s still my house, isn’t it?" Michael
blurted out.
"What? Of course; it’s still your house."
Alex said, but didn’t look at Michael. "And yes, I’ll have the
house ready for you. In October."
Michael genuinely smiled for the first time
in years. "Then I’ll see you in October."
Alex didn’t know that Michael had missed the
flight he was scheduled for. It was alright, he hadn’t needed to
get another ticket because he had turned on the charm for the
ticket agent. He’d missed his flight because he’d wanted to visit
Richard before he had to leave. He let himself in with the key
Richard couldn’t bear to take away from him. But Richard wasn’t
there. Michael let himself into the kitchen to grab a snack, and
with the exception of some slightly stale bread, found it empty. He
closed the refrigerator and thought hard. Finals, he remembered at
last. Richard was finally going to graduate, so maybe he couldn’t
cook. He must have gone out to get a bite to eat.
Michael felt lonely thinking about Richard
eating dinner right now, most probably with his very nice, very
pretty new girlfriend. Richard made Michael feel lonely most of the
time. Even Michael couldn’t help but appreciate how much Richard
had to bear, and Michael knew he was most of it. It hadn’t always
been that way though. He’d had parents once, and though it was a
memory that grew less reliable with every passing day, he knew that
they had loved him. His mother had been snappy and nervous maybe,
but she was always happy to have him with her. And his father...he
remembered the smell of his father’s hand on his head or his breath
when he
trying right now."
"Then your nobility should be rewarded. I
think I can make myself scarce for a few weeks."
"It’s going to have to be a longer than
that."
"A month? I think that’s pushing it."
"Longer. And if I understood Miranda
correctly, the police aren’t the only thing you’ll have to worry
about if you stay in Boston."
Michael laughed loudly. "He caught a lucky
break. Don’t worry, I can take care of myself next time."
"I’m not so sure." Alex had ice in his voice.
"I think it would be best for everyone if you were scarce for a few
months."
"Fine." He had no intention of staying away
that long. "But it’s going to cost you."
"What do you want?"
"Of course I’ll need an apartment—in
Seoul."
"I could get you better accommodations in
Bangkok-"
"No, Seoul."
"Fine."
"But while I’m there, I don’t think it’s fair
to keep me locked up in such a small country."
"You’ll get a traveling allowance."
"And you know, I’ve been picking up this job
so quickly that they’ve been really shoveling new tasks on me. I’m
practically managing my little team."
"It’s a two-person team."
"Exactly. And he has the title, and I have
all the responsibility. Does that seem fair? I mean, I can see why
I can’t have the title, but there’s got to be something we do about
the salary."
"I’ll fix the salary if you put the increase
into your savings account."
"Half of it."
"Seventy-five percent."
"Sixty."
"Fine. Then the tickets will be waiting for
you at the airport in two hours."
Michael wiped his face with his napkin. "Just
one more thing, though, before I can agree. I want the house."
Alex froze. "I’m not sure that’s a good idea
just yet."
"When is it going to be a better idea?"
"When I don’t have to constantly worry about
getting you out of trouble."
"I am coming back eventually, right? So where
am I going to stay? I don’t have too many opportunities to stay
with Richard when Jessie isn’t there or Aunt Lucy doesn’t make a
cameo appearance, and I’m pretty sure your precious Miranda will
want me around even less than before. So unless you’re going to get
me an entirely new place all my own, doesn’t it make sense to give
me the house now, since it is mine?"
Alex looked as if he was trying to form the
words, but couldn’t do it. "It’s still my house, isn’t it?" Michael
blurted out.
"What? Of course; it’s still your house."
Alex said, but didn’t look at Michael. "And yes, I’ll have the
house ready for you. In October."
Michael genuinely smiled for the first time
in years. "Then I’ll see you in October."
Alex didn’t know that Michael had missed the
flight he was scheduled for. It was alright, he hadn’t needed to
get another ticket because he had turned on the charm for the
ticket agent. He’d missed his flight because he’d wanted to visit
Richard before he had to leave. He let himself in with the key
Richard couldn’t bear to take away from him. But Richard wasn’t
there. Michael let himself into the kitchen to grab a snack, and
with the exception of some slightly stale bread, found it empty. He
closed the refrigerator and thought hard. Finals, he remembered at
last. Richard was finally going to graduate, so maybe he couldn’t
cook. He must have gone out to get a bite to eat.
Michael felt lonely thinking about Richard
eating dinner right now, most probably with his very nice, very
pretty new girlfriend. Richard made Michael feel lonely most of the
time. Even Michael couldn’t help but appreciate how much Richard
had to bear, and Michael knew he was most of it. It hadn’t always
been that way though. He’d had parents once, and though it was a
memory that grew less reliable with every passing day, he knew that
they had loved him. His mother had been snappy and nervous maybe,
but she was always happy to have him with her. And his father...he
remembered the smell of his father’s hand on his head or his breath
when he
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