Chapter 10 — Before Closing Time, I Changed Grooms

Only then did I realize that what he was really afraid of was following in Bui Tu Xuyen's footsteps.

“To Ky Bach, you don't always have to choose me.”

He silently listened.

"I need you to tell me what happened, then adjust the plan with me. Today the customer has urgent business, you should go. Next time, if only one friend calls you to pick up beads..."

“I will report it to the police, let the police pick it up.”

I was made fun of by you.

“Go ahead. The tasting has been moved to Sunday.”

He walked two steps then turned around and gave me a hug.

“I will turn off the phone on Sunday.”

"No need. Just leave the phone on, I'll keep the phone."

This argument ended very quickly. We all said everything we needed to say. The tasting session was changed to Sunday. Dinner was left in the pot for him.

12

On the day of the wedding, Trinh Man brought a red agate bracelet. I looked at her. She laughed so much that she couldn't stand up straight.

"Don't worry, there's no recorder. I tied the wire in a dead knot and can't untie it."

I put the bracelet on my arm.

“Pretty nice.”

To Ky Bach walked in and bowed his head to look once.

“Are you paying attention?” I asked.

“Notice what?”

“Some people say it's unlucky.”

“Feudal superstition.”

He helped me pull out the hidden zipper in the sleeve.

“If it breaks, buy a new one.”

The ceremony is very short. My father spoke exactly six sentences, three of which reminded To Ky Bach to drink less with his lawyer friends. My mother was more direct. She told us that if we have something to say, we should talk about it the same day, don't let the food cool overnight and the anger go away together overnight. When it was time to exchange the rings, the host asked To Ky Bach if there was anything he wanted to say to me. He held the ring and thought for a long time.

"Tang Kien Vi, maybe in the future I will still mistake sugar for salt."

Everyone below burst out laughing.

"When I go on a business trip, I may forget to bring a charger. When I'm busy with litigation, I may miss dinner. You remind me once, I'll fix it. You remind me twice, I'll remember it. If it's still the third time, you can punish me to sleep in the office."

“This is your wedding vow?”

“Still there.”

He put the ring on my finger.

"Your matter will always be on the list of things I need to deal with. If it can't be ranked first, I will let you know in advance, so you can choose."

Very To Ky Bach. It's my turn. I put a ring on you.

“The milk tea cup is owed for ten years, it will be paid after the wedding.”

“What about something else?”

“Go home and talk.”

A year later, our daughter was born. Pregnancy is a decision that both partners discuss together. The day the pregnancy test showed two red lines, I sat dumbfounded on the toilet lid in the bathroom. To Ky Bach asked from outside a few times before daring to push the door and step in. Seeing the pregnancy test in my hand, his first sentence was:

“What do you want to eat now?”

“Do I look hungry?”

“I don't know what to say.”

He squatted in front of me, reached out to hug me, but stopped before touching my shoulder.

“Are you happy?”

I nodded. At that time, he rested his forehead on my knee and was silent for a long time. During my pregnancy, he didn't treat me like an untouchable glass cup. Whenever I can go to a prenatal checkup, I will go. If he was scheduled to go to court, he would notify me in advance and let my mother or Trinh Man go with him. Anti-slip mat in the house he bought. In the middle of the night I wanted to eat small wontons, he also got up to cook. Even though it was cooked until the shell fell apart, it was still brought to me. Before going into the delivery room, he was even more nervous than me. He looked at the confirmation several times, but the signature was still written incorrectly. I laughed at him, the nurse also laughed. He emphatically admitted:

“Now my hands don't listen.”

When hugging his daughter, To Ky Bach's arms were as stiff as two pieces of wood. The nurse told him to relax. His mouth replied "yes", but his shoulders lifted higher. I lay on the bed and laughed at him. To Ky Bach hugged his daughter and moved closer to the bed.

“I look like you.”

“Like what?”

“When you lose patience, your eyebrows will move slightly.”

The girl seemed to understand and immediately burst into tears. He immediately panicked.

"Are you hungry? Or am I uncomfortable holding you? Do I need to call a nurse?"

I patted the spot next to me.

“Sit down. I just want to remind you that you talk too much.”

He sat down and put his daughter on my lap. Outside the window, it was just dawn. Outside the hospital hallway, there was the sound of thermos bottles hitting each other. My mother carried breakfast and pushed the door open. Seeing To Ky Bach's posture holding his child, she immediately laughed at him. To Ky Bach did not argue and let her guide him. His hand supported the back of his daughter's head, slowly adjusting little by little. The little girl was tired of crying, her mouth still pursed in self-pity, and she quickly fell asleep in my arms. To Ky Bach bent down and looked for a long time, then reached out and touched his child's hand with his index finger, which was immediately grabbed tightly.

“Really strong arm strength.” He said in a low voice.

“Like me.”

“Yes, it's best to be just like me.”

My mother placed the porridge box firmly on the head of the bed.

“Stop saying good things, let Kien Vi eat first.”

At that moment, To Ky Bach stood up straight and frantically tore open the spoon bag. The plastic packaging took forever to tear, so he bowed his head and searched for scissors. Looking at that struggling appearance, I remembered the severed wire in front of the Civil Affairs Department's door, and suddenly felt that it had passed a long time ago. The red agate bracelet on my wrist hit the bed, the string was a little loose. To Ky Bach bowed his head to help me fix it.

“It almost broke.”

“If it breaks, replace it with a new one.”

“Yes.”

He gave me warm water.

“No need to wait this time.”

END OF STORY.