Page 119 of Perfect Happiness

“Aha, Mr.Park—” Stepfather said, cutting off the man.“I didn’t recognize the number at first.”

Mother reached over and turned off the radio.But the man on the line wasn’t responding.Stepfather glanced up at the rearview mirror as he spoke:

“I don’t think that’ll work.I’m going somewhere with my wife and daughter right now.”

The man on the phone said something, but his voice was too quiet for Jiyoo to understand.

“Yes.I’ll call you back later.”

Stepfather hung up the phone.They passed under a sign that read “Wirye-dong, Hanam City” and entered the highway.

“Mr.Park?You mean the lawyer?”Mother asked.“What did he say?”

“He wanted to meet me at his office early tomorrow morning.”

“What about our promise?”

Stepfather’s eyes turned to the rearview mirror again.

“Did you hear me?I told him I couldn’t make it.”

“No, I was asking about the fact that you said you’d call him back later.”Before Stepfather could answer this, Mother continued.“Can’t you put your phone down for just one day?”Mother held up her cellphone.“I’ve turned mine off.The only thing I want to focus on is us.”

Stepfather took the hint faster than Father had.Mother didn’t have to ask him twice about turning it off.Mother extended her hand toward the back seat.

“Give it to me.”

Stepfather stared at Mother’s hand with a flustered look on his face.

“Why?I’ve turned it off.”

“Have you already forgotten?The promise we made this morning?”Mother paused before raising her voice slightly.“It’s just one day.This will be the last time.”

Stepfather eventually handed over his phone.Mother turned the radio back on.After that, no one said anything.Everyone simply ate their lunch in silence.

This situation wasn’t unfamiliar to Jiyoo.Everything was the same as when they picked up Father.The only difference was that Jiyoo had no idea where they were going right now.There were signs on the highway, but all of them were places she had never heard of before.

It had been snowing since yesterday.At first it was just a light dusting of snow, but then at some point, it turned into a blizzard.They turned onto a two-lane road that barely had any cars.Mother then took a sharp right after a bus stop.Then like magic, a familiar sight appeared before them.Although everything was covered in snow, Jiyoo knew where they were.Mother wasn’t taking Jiyoo to the orphanage.They were going to the cabin in the countryside.

Jiyoo thought about why she hadn’t recognized anything up to this point.Perhaps it was because they had come from Cheongyeon.The day they picked up her father, they had come from Incheon.Whatever the reason, Jiyoo felt both relieved and excited.It seemed like Mother was going to forgive her.

The abandoned house that they always drove past on their way to the cabin appeared in the distance.The blizzard had blown away the plastic covering to the greenhouse, leaving nothing but its metal frame.Behind it was a parked car.As far as Jiyoo could remember, there had never been a car parked at the abandoned house.But because the car was buried in a foot of snow, Jiyoo could only make out the silhouette of the vehicle.It looked both like a small truck or a jeep, like the kind Auntie drove.

Once they rounded the corner, the roof of the cabin appeared.Mother parked the car outside the front gate.

“We’re here.”

“Where are we?”Stepfather asked as he unbuckled his seat belt.

“My grandmother’s house.I’ve told you about it before.I inherited it after she passed away.”

After getting out of the car, Mother opened the gate with a key from her bag.As she did this, Stepfather took out the things from the trunk.There was a shopping bag, the travel bag, and Jiyoo’s suitcase.Jiyoo also got out of the car last.

It looked like it had been snowing all day.As soon as she stepped onto the road, she was up to her ankles in snow.The pine forest, the wetlands, the cabin roof, the vines on the wall, the front yard—everything was caked in white.Mother walked ahead toward the front door.Jiyoo dragged her suitcase through the snow as she chased after Mother.Stepfather came in last, carrying the shopping bag and travel bag.All the while, he was glancing around with a doubtful look on his face.

When Mother opened the door, a smell greeted them like an eager puppy.Jiyoo was used to this smell.It was the smell of duck feed.

“What’s that smell?”he asked as he stood at the doorway and glanced around.