Mai Legacy
1.20 - A Moonlit Skyscraper
A few months passed, and before Susan and James knew it, they were celebrating Leah and Seth’s transition to adulthood. The party was small, featuring only immediate family. It wasn’t the way anyone wanted it, but Susan and James didn’t want to deal with drama over Maverick and Jocelyn. They didn’t invite their friends to make it seem fair.
Susan’s gift was born out of a complaint from both of her children about the garden she’d been maintaining in front of the house. For the longest time, practically since moving in, Susan had taken over tending to the small garden James had originally planted to make ends meet after first moving to Windenburg. Over time, it'd become quite overgrown, to the point that every day after returning home from school, both Leah and Seth complained that it was ugly.
So, she built an enclosed area on the side of the house and relocated each of her plants to new planter boxes within it.
“Seriously, mom? You’re telling us this is your only gift to us?” Leah said when Susan presented it.
“No, no! Of course not! This is a big birthday for you both, we’re going to make it as extravagant as possible!” Susan replied.
“Extravagant as in a small family affair, sure,” Leah muttered.
“You two need to stop complaining about this,” Susan sighed. “Your father and I just want this to be a little pleasant thing,”
“That’s it, isn’t it? The whole Maverick drama,” Seth said quietly.
“And Jocelyn too, Seth,” Susan responded. “You can’t just drop a bombshell on us about you two dating!”
Leah and Seth shared a very special look, and Leah shook her head slowly.
Susan and James still didn’t know that Leah and Maverick were dating. Leah had worked out that Seth wouldn’t tell about her relationship if she didn’t tell them that he hadn’t been dating Jocelyn since before that dinner party. The plan had worked so far.
As James and Susan watched Leah and Seth eat cake and chat at their birthday, the two smiled at each other.
“Despite everything with the Le Chiens and Maverick, this is still nice,” James whispered to her.
“We really have raised the perfect children, James,” Susan whispered back. “What a way to continue this legacy.”
A week after their birthday, Seth invited Jocelyn to a dinner at the very classy restaurant known as Summer’s.
“This is so nice, Seth!” Jocelyn gushed as the two were seated. “I’ve always wanted to go here, but it isn’t really in my family’s budget.”
Seth smiled. “Last time I was here was when I was very little, right after my parents won the court case against the Le Chiens.”
Jocelyn shook her head slowly. “That is incredible Seth. It’s been such a long time for you!”
When the food came out, Jocelyn gushed over that too. “Oh my! All the critics are right. Summer’s really is the best!”
After a while, Seth coughed awkwardly. “So, Jocelyn. I know that we’ve been dating for a couple of months now-“
“Dating, Seth, really? Come on. We both know I’m just your beard,” Jocelyn laughed. “It’s okay, I don’t mind. This meal is definitely evidence of the benefits I’m reaping from this relationship.”
“No, Jocelyn-“
“I don’t blame you, Maverick is hella fine! Especially with that beard he’s started rocking! And either way, I made my dumb little brother, Ivan, jealous enough that he’s started pursuing Ulrike. She is ancient compared to him!”
“Jocelyn, listen to me,” Seth said loudly. “I would like you to marry me.”
Jocelyn dropped her wine glass. “Seth!”
“I know, I know, literally everyone thinks I’m gay. But you know what these last few months have shown me? No matter how much I was into Maverick, I like you so much more. Not stressing over wether or not I like boys has been such a relief, and that’s only because when I was with you, I didn’t have to worry about that! Akira and Salim would absolutely hate me for this, but in all honesty Jocelyn, nothing would make me happier than being your husband.”
“Oh, Seth,” Jocelyn smiled, tears in her eyes. “You’ve made this little orphan girl so happy.”
Within a month, the wedding occurred. Sara and Rene, who were strict traditionalists, required that all immediate family wear the same outfits. Jocelyn, who’d always admired the city, asked for a rooftop wedding in San Myshuno.
“This is so ironic to me,” Susan said to James. “This is the same place Akira and Jacques got married at such a long time ago. They recreated their first kiss and everything. I never imagined I’d be here for, well, not a gay wedding.”
“It’s Seth, none of us expected anything but a gay wedding,” James responded jokingly.
“To Maverick?”
“Oh no. Some other dude, we both know Leah has him hooked. What’s funny is that they honestly think we have no idea!”
“Knowing Leah, it wouldn’t surprise me if she got her wedding with Maverick done, like tomorrow. She doesn't take well to coming after Seth,” Susan said thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, near the arch, Seth was trying to defend himself to Akira and Salim.
“Seth, come on,” Salim said, shaking his head. “You don’t just ask two guys who’d just gotten married for help with your own sexuality if you’re not going to act on it. That’s just… unheard of.”
“I never said I was going to marry Maverick, calm down,” Seth laughed nervously.
“It was always my dream to take a young questioning boy under my wing and show him the way, but you know Seth? Unlike stick-in-the-mud Salim here, I support you,” Akira smiled. “Both of us have dated guys and girls, and we ended up married to a guy, or, married to a guy twice in my case. In your case, it’s the opposite. And there is nothing wrong with that.”
Seth rushed forward to hug Akira. “Thank you so much, that means so much to me,” he said quickly into his shoulder.
“You’ve always got to make me look the villain, don’t you Akira?” Salim said, rolling his eyes.
Akira laughed loudly.
Within a half hour, Seth and Jocelyn were standing in front of each other at the arch.
“You two!” Penny exclaimed, hurrying towards them, clutching a camera.
Ironically, they were in the middle of a selfie. Penny laughed when she saw it. “I think you two have got the photo covered. Could you send it to me for an article?”
Jocelyn nodded.
Seth stopped Penny as she tried to walk away. “Actually… could I write the article? I’ve been interested in journalism for the longest time…”
Penny gave him a surprised look. “Of course, Seth! However, if you're going to talk to someone about journalism, you should really be talking to Salim. It's only my own words when I'm on the radio or TV. Believe me, I know better than to try to write. I get other people to do that for me,” She flashed him a grin. “Although, I’m very excited to read Seth Mai’s journalism debut!”
In her excitement, Penny spilled the drink she was holding in her hand all over Seth.
“Shit!” she gasped. “I am so sorry! I’m going to see what I can do to find a replacement, hang in there Seth!”
Penny hurried away and Seth and Jocelyn turned back to each other, and laughed.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Jocelyn whispered.
“Me either,” Seth whispered back.
After Penny found a replacement suit for Seth, their families walked up and stood next to them on either side.
“So much for him being your beard,” Ivan muttered bitterly to Jocelyn.
“Hey!” Jocelyn replied, swatting him. “I don’t control his feelings!”
Leah turned to Seth and gave him a genuine smile.
“Honestly, Seth? Congratulations on this. Congrats for all of this. I never imagined I’d attend your wedding before my own, and here I am! And I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Wow, Leah. Thank you,” Seth said, genuinely shocked.
“But don’t think any of that means I’m going to stop trying to win,” Leah added quickly.
Seth rolled his eyes. Trust Leah to throw that in just before he got married.
Just before they kissed, Jocelyn pulled back. “You sure you’re not gay?” she asked jokingly.
“Yes, Jocelyn, I’m sure.”