Zhang Hua smiled down at Han. "Yes, I am your father." When they hugged, I knew that Xander and Zane had made the right call. Even though I was nervous, even though I was unsure how to proceed, I knew that Han would remember this and be thankful that I let Zhang into our lives.
I sat across from Zhang awkwardly. It was too early to use the excuse of being tired but Han was already in bed. "My brother and his son are coming by tomorrow for breakfast, I hope that is okay with you." Zhang nodded. He seemed just as nervous as me. "How old is Han?" I supplied. "Eight." Zhang looked surprised. "Was it really that long ago?" He smiled sheepishly. "He is a good son?" I nodded. After another hour of light chatting I showed him to the guest room and then excused myself for the night.
Grayson dug into his pancakes. "Dad, we should eat here every day, Aunt Sydnee doesn't burn everything like mom." Xander started to laugh but switched to coughing. "That's not very polite. Mom tries her best."
After Xander and Grayson left, I cleaned up the kitchen and turned to grab the dishes. Zhang caught me and kissed me firmly on the lips. I was shocked by the gesture. First, because it was forward and secondly I liked it! I felt my lips tingle and had to pull away. "You should go find Han. You said you only have a few days...he's the one that needs your time." I ducked out of the room before he could say anything.
Zhang spent the week playing chess with Han and teaching him chinese songs and culture. He told him about his ancestors and mythical dragons. Han loved the attention and as the week drew to a close I realized how badly I wanted Zhang to stay. It was obsured really. He barely spoke English and my Mandarin was limited to three sentences. How could we work as a couple?
After Han was tucked into bed Zhang's last night here, I couldn't help wanting to kiss again. We sat on the bed only to kiss and found ourselves back in China all over again.
The next day I couldn't help being happy. Why shouldn't I be? I had solved two problems. Han needed a father. I needed a husband. We could make it work. I could learn Mandarin, he could learn English. We could even travel from the United States to China, I made enough money we could go back and forth. Zhang pulled me into the office and smiled sadly. "I have to go back to China." I shook my head. "You don't have to. We could go back and forth." Zhang interrupted me. "Please don't say that. I have a wife and I have a daughter. They need me!"
I wish I could say I handled this well like a true legacy holder. But I didn't I was FURIOUS! Zhang made me have feelings for him, spend the night with him (again) and then told me he had a wife?! And daughter?! We argue loudly pacing the house. Han didn't know what to think of the situation.
He ran into the computer room and dialed the phone. "Uncle Zane? You better come over...mommy and daddy are fighting really loudly." We didn't hear the doorbell we were yelling so loudly. Han let in Zane. I felt my face redden and I couldn't look him in the eye. Silence reigned. "I should go." Zhang quipped. He hugged Han, walked to the door and said to me, "I am truly sorry, Sydnee." The door shut with an audible thud.
I hugged my son. "Thank you, Han." He nodded, ever serious. He didn't exactly understand it, but he knew he did the right thing calling Zane. Zane hugged me. "I'm sorry, sis. Me and Xander shouldn't have pushed so hard to have him come out." I shook my head. "No, it was good...good for Han to see his father." I paused. "I'll call you later?" He nodded and after hugging Han, left. It could have ended worse, I thought as I went to bed that night.
A few weeks later I was running to the toilet puking. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, oh forget it.
End of Part 3
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