Page 111 of Strictly Against Policy

As we walked out into the parking lot and split ways to go to our respective cars, Lina’s hand shifted from the crook of my elbow to my hand. She gave me a quick squeeze. I looked down at her to find her already smiling wide.

“See? I told you they like you,” she said.

I laughed. “Yeah.”

“So . . . What did you and Eric talk about?”

“That’s between the two of us, Lina.” I shook my head at her.

“You’ll tell me when we get home, right?” Her fingers slipped out of my hold and trailed up a vein on the back of my hand.

An amused chuckle rumbled out of me as we finally approached the car. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before opening the door to the passenger’s seat. The smile I wore earlier now tittered into a smirk.

“I’ll think about it.”

Lina scoffed playfully, already knowing I’d reveal a thing or two about my discussion with Eric. She took her seat in my car as I took her hand in mine. I placed a kiss over her knuckles.

“Ready for some ice cream?” I asked.

She laughed, narrowing her eyes at me. “It’s just ice cream, Jonathan.”

I shrugged. “Just making sure you’re ready for anything with me, Darling.”

“With you, I’m always ready.”

We both shared the same grin—bright, warm, and simply happy.

“Good,” I chuckled.

I closed the passenger door and bolted to the driver’s side. Lina was in a fit of laughter by the time I opened the door. I started the car so we’d be on our way to the creamery in a timely manner. The whole time I intertwined our hands together, as I would for this next stop and the next. Then, the one after that.

CHAPTER 45

Jonathan

TWO MONTHS LATER

I grinned, kneeling down to brush away whatever dirt was on my dad’s tombstone as I came eye to eye with his picture on the headstone. Julie used to say all the time that his photo didn’t capture his true personality at all. He looked too stern and serious. But there, at the corner of his lips where they tipped up, was where our dad’s true nature lay.

Everyone who knew him knew he loved to smile and laugh. Unfortunately, I no longer remembered much about him. He passed away when I was too young to have enough memories with him, but still old enough to understand that people didn’t come back from death.

I knew my dad through the memories of the people around me—from my mom to Julie and even from the Hughes twins, who were old enough to create core memories with him. I got to know him best through old VHS tapes of our birthdays, camping and fishing trips, and random visits to the Hughes household. Uncle Gary and Auntie Gao had recorded them on their camcorder.

They were able to capture my dad, who was now frozen in time at thirty years old. Never changing, never growing older. In about two years, I would be the same age he was when he passed away. I smiled at my dad, knowing he’d be proud of how much had changed, and how much we’d all grown over the twenty-two years since he’d been gone.

“Hey, Dad. It’s Jonathan,” I said softly, stepping back to where Lina stood. “I wanted to introduce you to someone special to me. Her name is Lina. She and I made the spicy fish soup you love, and this boiled chicken we brought today.”

In Hmong culture, it was customary to bring food for deceased loved ones. We believed the soul was split into three after death. A part of the soul was reincarnated while another part stayed in the person’s resting place. The third part of our soul wandered the world.

Against his headstone were food that we prepped together in small disposable containers. I made sure to pack one of the containers to the brim with freshly steamed jasmine rice so he could fully enjoy his meal in spirit.

I held Lina’s hand as she held onto mine. “Julie will be giving birth to your first grandchild any day now. Everyone’s excited, but no one is as excited and happy as Andy. They also signed the papers for their new home this past month,” I updated him. “It’ll be close to Mom, Auntie Gao, and Uncle Gary. Shoua and Anthony also recently moved out of their duplex and will be getting married in a month. Aside from these things, not much has happened since we came here in March. But I thought you should know.”

The last time I was here, it was his death anniversary. With everything happening one after another, I wanted to come and update my dad on our busy lives. I also wanted to introduce him to the one I loved.

I squeezed Lina’s hand as I continued speaking as if he were there in front of me. “I want you to know that we’re doing well. Mom’s great. Julie’s happy. And me? I’m doing my best, too. I’m going to move out soon. Mom and me agreed it’s time. I don’t have to worry too much about her anymore,” I said quietly.

I paused for a moment, allowing silence and a warm breeze to pass us by.