"I can't, Hoonie. Eomma is sorry," Cha Mi-jo said. "I still have to check the new items we bought for the clinic. But Teacher Kim is helping us out so maybe the work will be faster."
"Okay, Eomma! See you at home!" Hoon said. "Appa! Let's look at the stars now. Bye Eomma!"
Dae-sik turned to Cha Mi-jo apologetically. "I should go before our son runs off. My Love, are you sure you're okay there?"
"Yes," Cha Mi-jo answered. Just before she dropped the call, she said, "Thanks for the peonies delivered today."
Dae-sik stopped. "I, uh... I left you food but... I didn't send peonies."
Cha Mi-jo gasped. She did not check the card when the delivery arrived, assuming they were from Dae-sik. "Oh... I'll check. It may have been a mistake. I just thought they were from you!"
Dae-sik was uncomfortable but picking a fight did not resolve anything so he decided to drop the topic for now. "It's okay. It reminds me I have to treat my beautiful girlfriend better."
"You treat me well," Cha Mi-jo assured. "You're really so good to Hoon and me."
"Appa Dae-sik! Look! Come on!" Hoon called out.
Dae-sik chuckled. "I should go before Hoon starts calling me by my full name."
"Good night, Honey. I'll see you tomorrow. Hug our baby tightly for me," Cha Mi-jo reminded quietly.
"I will. We miss you, Mi-jo."
*
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"Oh god! Oh god!"
Cha Mi-jo rushed home when she received the call from school. It was mid-week and it was her turn to pick up Hoon but she had forgotten and she took it out on Dae-sik.
"You should have taken today! You know how busy I am," Mi-jo complained over the phone, as she drove.
"I would have if you informed me," Dae-sik replied calmly, detecting that Mi-jo was already frantic and not wanting to add to her agitation.
"I shouldn't have scheduled golf. It's taken so much time and now I'm forgetting things! I forgot my son!" Cha Mi-jo cried.
"You should be free to do what you like, Mi-jo," Dae-sik reminded her. "Golf makes you happy."
"Why didn't you remind me? If Kim Seon-woo didn't ask about Hoon, I wouldn't have remembered," Mi-jo continued.
Dae-sik was quiet. "We're almost home. I think it's about time we talked about Kim Seon-woo, don't you think?"
Cha Mi-jo stilled at his tone. She owed him an explanation, she knew that. Kim Seon-woo had deferred his return to the United States and has been constantly in Cha Mi-jo's presence. He scheduled his golf practices around hers and it had gotten to the point where he constantly escorted her and held her hand.
