by Meris Lee
“This is one of the Po Nagar Cham Towers. I was lying on my back on the ground to take this. The sun was right on top of it. I was blind for an hour after that,” said Ana jokingly.
“What about these fishermen? How did you get them to look at the camera?” said Vo, studying a spread of three fishermen crouching on the sand by a round bamboo basket boat.
“They were taking a break, so I approached them with cigarettes. I like the lines on their faces. They are hardworking people,” said Ana, “not like me. I loiter about taking pictures.”
“You should value your work. These are exceptional photos,” said Vo, marveling at the photographs, with his arm almost touching Ana’s.
“Thank you. You are kind.” Ana studied Vo’s face as he perused the rest of the album.
“Next time we go to the Pearl Island, you should bring your camera,” said Vo.
“The Pearl Island?”
“You will go again with me, won’t you?” Vo turned to look at Ana. He seemed surprised to see Ana’s face so close to his. Their eyes locked for a second, and then he leaned toward her.
Ana didn’t resist. The kiss was timid and uncertain at first, but soon became passionate as Vo drew Ana into his chest and pressed her hard against his body. Ana felt as if she had always belonged in Vo’s arms since time began, that this was meant to be. Ana and Vo were caught ablaze as the ember of desire quickly escalated into flames. They let it burn for a long time, neither of them eager to put out the fire. They only separated when Vo tasted something cold and salty; Ana’s tears were flowing down her face.
“Ana. Oh, Ana. I am sorry. I have upset you,” said Vo, still holding Ana. He let her chin rest on his shoulder.
“No, you didn’t upset me. I’m just a little overwhelmed,” said Ana. She started to wipe away her tears with her hand.
Vo gave Ana a soft squeeze.
“You know,” said Ana, trembling, “I left the restaurant the other night because I was a little heartbroken.”
“I know,” said Vo, tenderly.
“A little jealous, too.”
“Just a little?”
“Actually, a lot,” said Ana, still sniffling.
“I’m happy to hear that,” said Vo.
Ana pushed Vo away and said solemnly, “I’m not a good person. I’m terrible in fact.”
“That makes two of us.”
“I have hurt so many people. My kids don’t talk to me. I haven’t held down a job for longer than six months ever. I am pushing forty and I still haven’t settled down.”
“Good, I am glad you haven’t settled down. If you had we wouldn’t be here right now,” said Vo.
“You don’t know the whole story. I have had a very complicated life. You won’t like me so much when I tell you all about it,” said Ana, starting to tear up again.
“Hold it there. You can tell me later. Right now, at this moment, your life is very simple. You and I are in love, and that’s that,” said Vo resolutely.
Ana was comforted by those words, and she stopped trembling.
“I just have to make sure. McKenzie was never in the picture, right?” said Vo.
“McKenzie? What makes you think he could possibly ever be in the picture?”
“He’s good-looking, charming, and humorous.”
“Funny, I never thought of him that way. Perhaps I should take a closer look,” said Ana.
“Don’t you dare!” said Vo, and then he kissed her again.
Chapter 26
This was not the first time Ana fell in love, but the rush that she was experiencing now was stronger than ever. The tropical seaside atmosphere made everything more enchanting. She and Vo would meet each other on the beach promenade every morning before the sun came up. They would sit on Vo’s motorcycle and whispered sweet nothings into each other’s ear, stealing a kiss here and there, like all the other couples Ana had observed when she first arrived in Nha Trang. Then they would walk down the beach, barefoot and in each other’s arms, stopping only when the first ray of sunrise lit up their cheeks. They would stand and face the horizon, inhale the salty mist over the sea and soak in the warm, golden glory of the new day. Afterward they would walk across Tran Phu Boulevard to visit the various vendors on the sidewalk, sitting on the low stools and slurping down bowls of steaming phở, looking into each other’s eyes, smiling foolishly.
After breakfast, they would get back on Vo’s motorcycle and ride to other fishing villages and resort towns. Ana would wrap her arms around Vo’s waist, and squeeze him gently as he zoomed along the coast. When the sun became blazing hot, Ana would cover her head with the hood of her fleece jacket, and then put on her helmet, blending in with the other women as that was the standard motorcycle fashion in Vietnam. Sometimes, Ana would close her eyes and take in Vo’s scent, carried in the headwind. All her pores opened as a powerful sense of excitement infused her skin.
In the afternoons they would go out on the sea in Vo’s fishing boat, and cruise around the islands of Nha Trang Bay. When they visited the Pearl Island, they would spend hours exploring its coral reefs and trekking all over its forested hills. Afterward, Vo would gather a couple of coconuts that had fallen to the sand, and whack them open with a knife. They would sit in the shade of the coconut grove and drink the cool, refreshing juice as if it were some kind of love potion.
Ana managed to report to her job at Quan Bien Dong every evening, and when her shift was over, she would come out to find Vo standing by his motorcycle, waiting for her. They would go to the night market and sample all the delicious finger foods, and then comment on the clothes and household items being peddled by vendors who were yelling the prices into megaphones. Vo would only send Ana home when the night market shut down around midnight. The parting at the door of Ana’s apartment building every night was extremely painful, and it was only with great self-control that they were able to leave each other’s arms, knowing that they would see each other again in just a few hours’ time.
The sun had barely come up one day when Vo and Ana went north across the River Cai to visit the Po Nagar Cham temples. They climbed up the winding steps of the Cu Lao Hill to the upper terrace where the main towers stood. The view over the river, which was dotted with red and blue fishing boats and a variety of waterfowls, was at once calming and exhilarating for Ana. She tried to imagine what the river was like over a thousand years ago, when snowy egrets would roam wild in the lush green beds of reed over the blue river before it poured into sea.
After they admired the estuary in the soft light of the morning sun, they went to pray. They entered each of the ancient temples quietly, leaving their shoes outside as it was the custom in Vietnam. Inside each temple, they offered the deity incense and worshiped silently. Ana was thankful for her new beginnings in Nha Trang, and prayed that she would have the wisdom and the iron will to conquer all the difficulties in her life. They took their time especially inside the temple dedicated to Yang Ino Po Nagar, the patron goddess of Nha Trang. Ana paced back and forth within the small, dark temple, reaching to touch the cold, black stone walls. She paused to listen to the subtle hum resonating in the tall, mostly hollow temple, and thought that she had heard the prayers of all the worshippers that had come before her since the temple was erected over a millennium ago.
“Look, a bride,” said Ana when she and Vo exited the Po Nagar temple.
Ana admired the woman who was in an elegant wedding gown, posing with a man Ana assumed to be the groom. A photographer was capturing their happiness with the help of an assistant, who was holding a reflector. Ana couldn’t help but imagine herself as the bride, posing with Vo.
“Come with me,” said Vo. He took her hand and started walking toward the back of the temple complex.
They arrived at a hidden garden on the reverse slope of the Cu Lao Hill. There were pink desert rose bushes and fragrant plumeria plants growing alongside the rocks. Vo led Ana to a bench and they sat down. Ana was delighted to be alone in a secret cove. Vo remov
ed a velvet pouch from his pocket, and put it in Ana’s hand.
Inside the pouch, Ana was surprised to find a sterling silver necklace with a single pearl as its pendant. She inspected the pearl, and realized that it was the one she had found inside an oyster during her first trip to the Pearl Island.
“So this is what you did with it,” said Ana. “I almost forgot about it. You said you were going to identify it.” She felt the pits of the pearl with her finger and adored the beauty of the simple necklace.
“I had to make an excuse so you would let me keep the pearl for a while until I could get it made into a necklace for you,” said Vo.
Ana was happy to hear it. Vo was already in love with her when they went to the Pearl Island the first time. She was not having a one-sided love affair after all.
Vo put the necklace on Ana, and studied its effect. He grinned and said, “Now you are really mine.”
“What, this is not a noose, is it?”
“I kind of want it to be,” said Vo.
Ana made a fist and pounded on Vo’s chest lightly in protest. Vo caught her hand, and pulled her into his arms.
When they came back up to the upper terrace, an old man with white hair, sitting on a low stool, was reciting a verse.
“Love strikes,
Two become one.
Life strikes,
One becomes two.
When it begins,
It’s already ending.
The laws of nature
Allow no bending.
Hear your future be foretold,
If you dare, before you are old.”
Ana realized that the man was a fortune teller, but he was an unusual one because he was speaking in English. His eyes were closed, and Ana assumed that he was blind. Her first instinct was to ignore the fortune teller and went on her way with Vo, but a mysterious force was pushing her toward the man. Before she knew it, she had sat down in front of him.
“Are you serious?” said Vo. He stood behind Ana.
The blind man grabbed Ana’s right hand and said, “You have journeyed far.”
Ana sat in silence, listening intently.
“All the tourists here have journeyed far,” said Vo.
The blind man felt the lines on the palm of Ana’s hand, and nodded before he said, “A very tough life. Many tragedies. Parents died when you were very young. Not lucky in marriage at all. But you have two kids. Wait.”
He pressed a little harder into Ana’s hand, and after much consideration, he said, “New love, this gentleman next to you.”
Ana still didn’t say anything. She was transfixed.
“You have sought me out, so I will tell you what you want to know,” said the blind man. “There are dangers ahead. The love you lack will appear. The love you have will vanish. Take great care.” He let go of Ana’s hand.
“That’s it?” said Vo.
Ana thanked the blind man, and tossed some money into the jar next to his stool.
“It was a bunch of nonsense,” said Vo as they walked back toward his motorcycle.
“I guess I just had to listen to what he had to say, nonsense or otherwise. They all speak in riddles, the fortune tellers,” said Ana.
“We make our own fortunes,” said Vo, “not the blind old man or some unseen superpower. We dictate our future. Whatever we can’t control, there’s no use worrying about it. Come on, I hate to see your smile ruined by some demented gibberish. He probably used the same lines on everyone. There are dangers ahead. Take great care.” Vo tried to mimic the solemn tone of the blind man’s voice.
Ana laughed as she put on her helmet and got behind Vo on the motorcycle. Vo started the engine and said, “Let’s go to Lac Canh and have some barbeque with a cold beer. That will make anyone feel better.”
“Okay,” said Ana. She could hardly wait.
Chapter 27
“Where have you been all day?” said Lan as Vo walked into his apartment while whistling a cheery tune. She was sitting on the couch in the living room, holding a cell phone.
“I went for a walk,” said Vo. He grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, and sat down opposite his mother.
“That was a long walk. I called the Sailing Club and the Institute of Oceanography. They both said you are taking a few days off. So what have you been up to, just walking every day from morning to midnight?”
“I have to think over some things. Clear my mind,” said Vo, drinking his water.
“Clear your mind?” said Lan. “I just talked to Kim’s mother. Kim is still going to work in the ER every day, taking care of sick people, working twelve-hour shifts. She should be the one taking off from work; you really broke her heart. But no, you are celebrating instead.”
“Kim is entitled to do whatever she wants. She seems to be holding up fine,” said Vo, leaning back to relax.
“She is working hard so she won’t be thinking about you. You have brought shame to both our families.”
Vo didn’t say anything. The door of the apartment opened again, and Vidal walked in this time, looking sprightly.
“Vidal, I am glad you are back,” said Lan. “Talk some sense into Vo. You are best friends. There is still hope. Kim’s parents are still willing to accept the marriage proposal if Vo will apologize and get back with Kim.”
“I will apologize,” said Vo, “but I am not getting back with Kim. We were never together anyway, not the way you want us to.”
“How dare you talk back to me!” said Lan, raising her voice. “Don’t use your lousy American manners with me. You are Vietnamese and you do not talk back to your elders.’
“I’m trying to tell you how I feel. Does that not matter to you?” said Vo.
“No, how you feel doesn’t matter to me. What matters to me is the fact that you are the only man in this family and you have not given me a grandson. Who is going to carry on our bloodline?”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Did you forget your daughters, my sisters? They all have kids now,” said Vo. “Anyway, there is an overpopulation crisis in the world. I don’t need to contribute to that.” He stood up from his chair, frustrated.
“Your sisters’ kids don’t count,” said Lan. “They belong to your sisters’ husbands’ families.”
“Vo,” said Vidal, “just sit down. Your mom needs some time to process. It’s all too sudden and too unexpected for her to accept.”
“Who asked for your opinion?” said Vo. “This is our family problem, between my mom and me. We don’t need your help.”
Lan stood up, too. “Vo, you don’t need to take it out on Vidal. I asked him to come to Vietnam and keep tabs on you because you wouldn’t call or write, and I was worried. He’s like a brother to you, and like a son to me, so I want him here to help me get you back.”
“Get me back where? I’m fine here,” said Vo. “He’s like a son to you? Well, get him to marry Kim, and make you those grandsons that you want.”
“Vo, be reasonable,” said Vidal.
“I am being reasonable. Did you hear her?” said Vo. “She doesn’t think her daughters’ kids count? My sisters will cry when they hear this.”
“She didn’t mean it,” said Vidal.
“All the same,” said Vo. “I was doing fine here by myself, and now you are both getting on my nerves.”
“I know. I have overstayed my welcome a long time ago,” said Vidal.
“Yes you have. Need help packing?” said Vo.
“Vo, that’s too much. I won’t stand it. You can’t treat your best friend like that,” said Lan.
“I don’t know if we are still best friends,” said Vo.
“Okay. You two don’t need to fight over me. I’ll leave now,” said Vidal. He went into the bedroom where he’s been sleeping in and closed the door.
Lan and Vo stood in silence and couldn’t speak because of anger. Vidal came back out of the bedroom with a suitcase.
“Well, Mrs. Nguyen, thank you for everything. I will see you back in the St
ates soon, I hope,” said Vidal. He turned to Vo and said, “Vo, thanks for letting me crash here. I won’t bother you no more.” Vidal left the apartment.
“Vo, you need to make up with Vidal,” said Lan. “You’ve been like brothers growing up. Don’t forget he stuck out for you when the kids were making fun of you in school, calling you and your sisters ‘boat people’ and other ugly names. You nearly got your skull cracked open if it weren’t for Vidal who took the blow for you.”
Vo didn’t say anything. His hands, which had been held in tight fists, began to loosen.
“Are you mad at him because of Colette? It wasn’t his fault. We all tried to get you to marry Colette for years and years, but it just wasn’t meant to be,” said Lan.
“I’m not blaming him for what happened to Colette and me. It’s just that, since Colette died, something inside me changed. I am just angry at the whole world. Why does Vidal have to come and stand in the line of fire?” Vo sat down, rubbing his head with one hand.
Lan took a deep breath, and sat down, too.
Vo continued to say, “I was trying to get away from everyone. Vidal should’ve gotten the signal and stayed away.”
“He got the signal all right,” said Lan. “I asked him to come. Actually I begged him to come. It’s true I was selfish, and I needed him to get through to you, because I couldn’t. There is this huge gap between you and me, and I can’t cross it, no matter how hard I try. I thought everything would be easy compared to the war. What can be more painful than being forced to leave your homeland? I know now, it’s seeing your child suffer, and there is nothing you can do to help. It’s being rejected by your own son, being told by him that you are not wanted.”
“Mom,” said Vo, with a little remorse in his voice.
“I’m not finished,” said Lan. “I asked Vidal to come for another reason. He needed you. His law firm laid him off.”
“What? He never mentioned it.” Vo’s anger toward Vidal was somewhat mitigated by this new piece of information.