Curt, a college professor, lives with his lover of several years, a pediatrician of Chinese descent named Lee. Eager to write, he receives a grant to take the summer off and work on a novel. Then Lee's mother calls -- she wants to visit. Curt is eager to meet her but Lee isn't so sure ... she's of a different generation, a different culture even, and doesn’t speak much English. Still, Curt insists.<br><br>But when Mrs. Gui arrives, Curt finds himself struggling with writer’s block. He feels like an outsider in his own home when Lee and his mother converse in Cantonese, leaving him out of the conversation, and even his sex life suffers with her in the bedroom next to theirs. Can Curt and Mrs. Gui move past their cultural differences to see that they both love Lee and have his best interests at heart?

Just What the Doctor Ordered

“Lee.” When he didn’t answer, I announced, “I’m going to bed.”


Now he noticed me. His hand tightened on my leg as I stood in an attempt to keep me seated. “Curtis, wait—”


“Night,” I said brusquely, leaning down for a kiss. So much for some time to ourselves. I wondered if he even knew he used my full name but it didn’t matter. Maybe I was being selfish but I was starting to doze and in another hour or two—or three, however long it took for his mother to mosey off to bed—I’d be no good. My earlier enthusiasm had worn off like the shine from a new penny. Forcing a smile at my lover’s worried frown, I told him, “See you in the morning.”


When I kissed his cheek, he murmured, “I’ll be up in a minute, babe. I promise.”


Somehow I didn’t believe him. “No rush. Visit with your momma, I’ll be here when you’re done.” To Mrs. Gui I said, “Goodnight.”


Chapter 22