Heart & Seoul (9 page)

“
We also acquired a little
more information about Mi Hi’s reason for adoption. I know you were
very concerned about that last time you were here. Would you like
to hear what we discovered?”

Drawing in a breath, he nodded.

“
Mi Hi
was actually urged to abort the pregnancy by Mi Hi and
Su-Min’s father following the circumstances of the conception. We
were told he felt the family was shamed by it. Mi Hi was also unwed
and aborting seemed the suitable option to him. The agency inquired
about their father. It seems his adamancy about aborting the
pregnancy drove a wedge between the family years ago. The women are
no longer in contact with him. Su-Min told us Mi Hi actually wanted
to keep the baby but couldn’t because of their father.

Together, the two women
decided to hide the pregnancy from him, claiming Mi Hi had it
aborted. When the baby came close to full term, Su-Min suggested
adoption. She knew of a few unwed mothers who sought that
option.”

I leaned my chin on his
shoulder, drawing in even closer after the words. How close he’d
been to not being here. God bless his aunt. She aided his mother in
keeping him safe. I couldn’t be more grateful. His mother did such
a brave thing. She went against everything to make sure he was not
only protected, but had a good home. She gave him the ultimate
gift. Did something completely selfless.

Drake let out a breath,
his face wiped free of any remnants of worry. Relief flooded me by
his side. The days here had been so stressful, but now a strong
hope arrived in bounds.

Drake closed his eyes just
briefly, and when he opened them he was smiling.

“So what’s next?” he asked
Hana.

“Now, we do a paternity
test. Mi Hi was out of town for the last few days. Visiting a sick
relative. Su-Min informed us she’d be back this evening. We will
present the test to her. If all is a go, and both parties are
willing, we will set up a meeting.”

A meeting. Wow. This was
really happening.

Hana folded her fingers on
her desk. “Are you willing to continue the process,
Drake?”

He said only two words: “I
am.”

Chapter Twelve

It was very much a waiting game after that.
Waiting for the results of the paternity test to come through, then
waiting for the confirmation of the meeting. We only had a few more
days before we were scheduled to come home, but after hearing the
situation, Drake’s mom said she could get the dates on our tickets
changed. Hopefully it wouldn’t have to come to that, but if it did,
we had a back up plan.

Drake was going through his adoption records
once again on the couch while I read a book in his lap when the
number of the agency appeared on his phone. A pin drop could be
heard in the room as we stared at the lit screen. We unwrapped from
around each other, and Drake placed the phone face up on coffee
table. I once again got the camera ready.

“Hello, Drake,” came Hana’s voice through
the phone.

I couldn’t tell if her voice was happy or
not. Her voice was only calm, content.

After Drake and I greeted her, she spoke
again.

“We successfully completely the paternity
test, and I wanted to let you know right away what the results
were...”

Our hands in each other’s tightened. This
time, I knew it was because of him.

“You are the biological son of Kang Mi Hi
with a ninety-nine point three percent accuracy.”

He closed his eyes, and I rubbed his back,
whispering in her ear. “You found her, Drake. You found her.”

He turned to me. “In a way, I guess she
found me.”

“Unfortunately, Drake, I have some not so
pleasant news.”

He faced the screen.

“It seems that Mi Hi has declined a meeting
at this time. I’m very sorry.”

Chapter Thirteen

Drake was so restless that night, tossing
and turning during his sleep. Even if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t have
been able to sleep myself. Instead of resting, I decided to use my
night to soothe him. I stroked his hair, kissing him occasionally.
Doing so allowed him longer periods of sleep. He wasn’t as restless
and would sleep in increments of at least an hour instead of a few
minutes.

I couldn’t be more confused by what happened
today. When I learned that Drake’s mother wanted to keep him,
fought so hard to make sure he lived and got a better life because
she knew she couldn’t, I assumed she’d want to meet him. That she’d
want to see how he was. Discover the man he turned out to be. But
for some reason she didn’t want to see him. Why bother going
through the paternity test at all? Why make sure she was his only
to deny him? I could only gather the situation wasn’t as simple as
it seemed. There had to be something more.

♥ ♥ ♥

Drake was at the gym, once again working off
restless energy, when I called Han the next day. I needed his
services one more time before we left and wouldn’t have much time.
Drake decided today would be our last full day in Seoul.

♥ ♥ ♥

It wasn’t hard to get a few hours away from
Drake. I just told him I wanted to use the hotel’s spa once before
we left. He didn’t offer to come like I knew he wouldn’t. He told
me he’d pack us both up and be up in the room when I returned.

My few hours of escape allowed me to go back
to Lotte World. I was taking a chance by assuming Su-Min would be
there working, but I took it. I had to. Han came with me inside the
park. I would need him to translate for me once I found her.

We paid our admission and ventured to the
food court. Relief flooded me when I saw Su-Min sweeping. She was
working today.

She gazed up and didn’t look put off by my
presence. She actually smiled, gazing around me like she was
seeking someone out. In fact, I think she was, but he just wasn’t
here with me today.

She bowed, greeting me in Korean.

“Hi, Su-Min. This is Han.” I gestured to
him. “He’ll be translating for me.”

Han repeated what I said to her, and she
nodded in understanding.

Now that I was here, I didn’t know what to
say. I just knew I wanted his mother to know she had a son that
wanted her to be a part of his life. Even after what happened
yesterday, I knew he did. Though Mi Hi wasn’t here, I felt I had
the next best thing. Her sister had been there for her that long
time ago. Perhaps she’d help again today.

Her eyes followed my hands when I reached
into my satchel. I pulled out the stock card with the art deco
elements and elegant calligraphy. Drake and my wedding
invitation.

I presented it to her. “Drake and I are
getting married soon. Can you please make sure Mi Hi receives this?
I think he’d want his mother there. He would want all of his family
to be there.”

My words were translated by Han. As she
understood his words, her face flashed in awareness. Her eyes
flickered my way, a small smile on her face. She rubbed off her
hands on her uniform apron. Reaching out, she accepted the
invitation like it was the most special treasure.

“
Gamsahabnida
,” she said, bowing.
“
Gamsahabnida
.
Thank you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Early the next morning, I was awoken with a
light kiss on my shoulder and short whisper in my ear.

“Shower with me,” Drake said.

I was surprised by the request, but very
much delighted. Drake had spent the last couple of mornings working
out, and I missed him. I missed his voice in the morning and even
more so his touch.

He guided me into the bathroom by the small
of my back, making up for that lost time already. He helped me
undress, lingering his hands over my body as he did. I would have
undressed him as well, but he was bare from sleeping the night
before. Despite that, I still found reasons to touch him. I moved
my fingers over his toned abs while he got the shower water running
with one hand. His body was so perfect, and I couldn’t stop
touching him.

His lips lifted into a small smile, and he
moved his hand onto mine. Lacing our fingers together, he guided me
into the shower.

I didn’t think this shower held the same
purpose as our bath. It wasn’t about being clean. It was about
being near each other, enjoying each other completely.

The warm water pulled through Drake’s hair,
flatling the style onto his brow. He pushed it back, exposing the
subtle lines of his eyes and putting the focus on his broad cheek
boards and full lips. The water cascaded down his tight body,
moving over his wonderfully smooth honey-glowed skin in a
never-ending current, and I couldn’t keep away from him for
long.

Neither could he. His hands went to my
cheeks, and he kissed me under the flowing water. I got lost in the
environment. His smell, his taste, and his hard body against
mine.

The first time he made love to me it was
slow, calculated. He moved himself in and out of me with purpose,
passion. I didn’t have long to recover until we did it again. He
had me against the wall, wrapped around his waist. He kissed me
everywhere. My neck, my lips, my breasts.

The final time he took me he was between my
legs. I grabbed his hair, coming harder than I had the other times
previous. His tongue laved my folds as I shuddered, my legs
shaking. He held me up, my thigh over his shoulder, until I rode
out the entire wave.

When I was done, he wiped his glistening
lips with the back of his hand. I went to wrap my hand around him,
to make him come, but he wouldn’t let me. He simply brought me into
his arms, holding me close.

“Thank you for being here for me,” he spoke
into my hair, kissing my temple.

♥ ♥ ♥

I was checking the sitting area of the suite
one last time for anything we might have forgotten to pack when the
hotel phone rang. I figured it was Han, verifying our departure
time from the hotel to the airport, but it wasn’t. It was Hana.

“Hi, Lacey. How are you?”

I smiled. She always sounded so nice. “I’m
fine. I’m actually just getting everything packed up. Drake and I
have an evening flight home.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that. I thought you still
had a couple more days here.”

The change was so late minute we hadn’t
mentioned it. I wondered why she was calling. I didn’t think we had
any more appointments at the agency.

“Do you think I can speak to Drake? Is he
busy?” she asked.

I called him to the phone. He looked just as
confused as I was that she was calling. I didn’t want to impose, so
I left him to his call. I decided to make the bed. I knew that
housekeeping changed the sheets, but cleanliness was simply habit
for me.