40 Days and 40 nights, waiting for a guy like you

 

Oh, Poppy thought she might explode with happiness. Christmas was so beautiful in Seoul. She ate so many foods she'd never think of. And the coffee..oh the coffee. There was nothing else like it.

Joon's parents were great. Although, it was just his mom and Bom's father. Still, it was so cozy and such a warm feeling, especially on the cold days there. But she found out from her dad how cold it had been back home. He called everyday. She wondered if it was about something else. Of course, they weren't searching for her mother. Where did he get an idea like that? He spoke of her mother being so real. Yet, it had been a dead end everywhere they'd searched. Was she a spy? Was that it? Was that why he couldn't tell her anything about this woman?

Oh, she kept telling herself she was over it. Besides, Joon had asked her to marry him and she was wearing the engagement ring. But she hadn't mentioned that to her dad. She knew he would think it was too soon. Maybe she even thought it was too soon. They decided they'd revisit the idea of a wedding by end of summer. They weren't really rushing into anything. Although, she felt she knew him much better than she ever knew Alfie. But Joon was upfront and honest with her. He didn't keep anything back. And she was honest with him too. Sometimes, she wondered if they told each other all these truths hoping the other would turn away and leave.

But it didn't feel like they were turning back. No, they kept going forward and it felt so certain. She wanted to be here with Joon and of course, Niah.

Oh, Niah was a traveler. And she was right there for every moment. Although, occasionally she stayed with Joon's parents while they were out. She told them all about Bom, her Auntie Bom whom she loved so dearly. And she talked of Keanu and River. They face-timed through the holidays. Yes, Niah was possibly the best ongoing Christmas gift they could give them. She made them want to visit everyone in the states.

Finally, just as they were getting ready to leave, Joon showed her a message he'd gotten in an e-mail.

"This person says she knows your mother," he said.

"Do we have to go to Shanghai?" She wasn't sure she could do any more international traveling.

"No," he smiled. "She lives in our hometown."

Poppy almost fell over in shock, but Joon caught her just in time.