"Happy Birthday," Nuala screamed, busting into Charlbi's bedroom with a cinnamon raisin bagel, honey pecan cream cheese, and a lit candle. "Mother told me you're leaving."
Charlbi sits up laughing. "Thank you, I'm going to miss this." She blows the candle out.
Nuala looks at the suitcases. "You could have told me so that I could have been preparing myself. I can't believe you're leaving, Gareth."
"That's a different story. Gareth's leaving tomorrow anyway. I'll come to visit, and maybe Father will allow you to visit me. I need you to do me a favor." Charlbi picked the bagel up.
Her sister looks at her and frowns. "What is it?"
"Go easy on our parents and meet them eighty to ninety percent. I would prefer ninety-five. But I know that's asking too much. Could you do this for me? Also, your so-called boyfriend. I still believe you're too young. At least introduce him to father." She takes her sister's hands.
Nuala nods.” I'll try. But the boyfriend situation is uncertain. But I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough.” She looked at her sister. “Call me if you ever need me. I’ll be here.”
“Okay,” Nuala walks out of the room.
“That girl just lied to me. She’s not going to call me.” Charlbi is reading a text. It’s Jasmine letting her know she’s downstairs.
Jasmine will be taking Charlbi to the airport in the morning. So, she’s loading her luggage in her car today. Charlbi wanted to make sure Gareth wasn’t at home when Jasmine arrived. He had told her he had a business meeting. She doesn’t want him to find out like this that she’s leaving.
Jee is looking at her two daughters, and Jasmine is putting suitcases in the trunk of her car. She and Charlbi hadn't spoken since that day. They had that disagreement, and Charlbi left with Gareth.
When Charlbi and Nuala returned to the house, their mother walked into the kitchen. Charlbi starts to go in there to talk with her mother. "No, not this time ." She walks back outside.
Nuala can't believe her sister isn't trying to smooth things out with their mother. She's wondering what that woman said to Charlbi this time. Their mother is always speaking negatively to her sister.
*****
After Gareth's meeting, he drove to Los Angeles to visit his parents. He hadn't seen them in over a month. He couldn't get the call from Andrea off his mind. He doesn't know what Andrea expected him to do. He's glad he nipped that situation in the bud with that asshole Hamza. That is one night he wants to forget about.
Cassandra notices her son seems to be a little quieter than usual. When she asked him what was on his mind, she almost fell out of her chair when he told her he had been in love with a beautiful young lady since she was sixteen. "My beautiful Charlbi's eighteenth birthday is today." He looked at his mother holding her chest. “Mother, are you okay?”
“Please tell me you haven’t touched her.” his mother shakes her head.
“No, I wouldn’t go that far. Now she’s eighteen and has her whole life ahead of her. Mother, you, and Father would love Charlbi. Even Randi would." Gareth frowns. “As much as I want to marry her today, I can’t keep her from succeeding in what she wants to do in life. It has been torture not being able to express my feelings to her. Maybe one day she and I will be together.”
His mother hugs him. “Son, I have never heard you say you love anyone. I understand what you're saying. What if she finds someone else? Are you willing to take that chance?”
“Not really. But I only want her to be happy.” He takes his phone out and shows her a picture of Charlbi. “My Asian doll is gorgeous, intelligent, and very talented. Any man would be crazy not to fall in love with her. I pray the love we have for one another is strong enough to bring us back together.”
“I'll also be praying,” Cassandra says, looking at him, concerned.
Gareth is still looking at the picture and thinks, “Kido, I hope I’m not your puppy love.”
****
An hour before the party, Bae and Charlbi are sitting on the patio. They have been sitting there in silence for almost three hours now. He looks at Gareth's house. “It’s good that you’re following your dream. When will you leave?”
“In the morning. But I’m saying my goodbyes tonight. I won’t be here in the morning when you all wake up.” She’s also looking at Gareth’s house.
He nods. “Be careful, my daughter. Remember, you can always come home, and if you need anything, I'm here. I take it you have thought everything out. I’m not only talking about your plan. I’m also talking about our neighbor."
“Gareth and I love each other. I’m sure of that. Even if we have never said the words to one another, I see it in his eyes. He still has things in his life to fulfill, and my journey is just beginning. I made myself a promise the first day I saw him that one day I’d be his wife. Now isn’t the right time for that.” Charlbi sees her mother walking toward them.
“I hope all your dreams come true. Especially marrying that man. Gareth Cartier is the only son-in-law I’ll accept.” He hugs her. “I believe you and your mother need a few minutes alone.”
Charlbi took his hand. “Yes. But I’m not apologizing for anything I said or did. I love you, Father."
“Fair enough. Be nice.” He kisses her forehead. "I love you, too."
Jee sits beside her daughter. “Good luck. Don’t give up. Call me anytime.”
“I will. I love you.” Charlbi hugs her.
“Me too.” Jee kisses the side of Charlbi’s head.
Lah Ann and Hoang walk around the back. Charlbi frowns, “I dislike that jerk.”
Her mother looks at the couple, "We all do."
Lah Ann has decided not to attend college. She’s getting a job and marrying Hoang in August. Tung isn't thrilled about his daughter not going to college or marrying Hoang since Uma’s death. He started drinking more and now drinks every day. His daughter doesn’t listen to him anymore.
She’s looking for Gareth when she sees Jasmine and her boyfriend, Cy.
The couple has been dating since they were sixteen and are living together now. Cy will be attending college in the fall. He’s the heir to his grandfather’s construction company in Los Angeles. He wants to take some business classes before taking the position of CEO.
Jasmine looks at Charlbi up and down. "Looking good."
Charlbi is wearing a tan sleeveless crop top and a tight-fitting skirt that stops past her knees.
“He's not late. The party doesn’t start for about forty minutes," Jasmine whispers, looking at a worried Charlbi.
She’s about to say something when she sees Gareth walking out of the house. “Damn, he's handsome,” Charlbi mumbles, walking away from her friends.
All of them are looking at her with their mouths open because she said damn.
Nuala looks at her sister and nudges her arm. "Go get your man."
Charlbi meets Garth and reaches for his free hand. “I'm glad you're here. I told you not to bring me a gift. There is a special present I want from you.” She looks at the pink and white-wrapped present.
“Okay, when are you going to tell me what you want?” He looks at the hand she’s still holding.
"Come with me.” She leads him through the center of her family and friends until they reach a secluded area.
Everyone except for Jasmine is wondering where they're going and why they need privacy.
“I’m leaving in the morning.” She turns to look at him.
Gareth felt his heart drop. It’s hard to hear that she’s leaving. Even if he had a feeling that it was her plan. Charlbi goes on to tell him her plan. He takes a deep breath. “I'm happy about you doing what you always wanted to do. Sad as hell that you're leaving. I'll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too. Besides, you’re leaving tomorrow, too. Now for my special gift.” She wraps her arms around him. “In case I don’t get a chance to say this again. I love you, Gareth Cartier.”
Gareth wraps his arms around her. “I love you, too, Charlbi Phan.” He leans closer to her face and stops.
“Don’t stop. Kiss me." She lifts her head and leans closer to him.
He leans closer and captures her lips. When he releases her lips, her eyes are still closed. "It's better than I imagined." Charlbi opens her eyes. "Now, to my special present. Tonight I want you to make love to me."
Gareth is about to say something when she lays her finger on his lips. "I'm not asking you to marry me or commit to me. In the morning, we'll both go our separate ways."
"Committing to you isn't the problem. I don't want you to do something you'll regret." His arms are still around her.
"I would never regret giving my virginity to the man that I fell in love with the first time I saw him." She gives him a peck on his lips.
Gareth looks back at the party and thinks, "Her father will kill me if I touch her."