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“Give him a break, Thomas. You’ve never been in love.” Connors gives me a wink; he has my back.
We reach our destination and, in the street, trying to communicate with someone selling noodles, is her.
“Phoebe!” I shout and rush past others to see her.
“Hey, Enzo.” She acts strangely, like she isn’t sure if it is okay to hug me or not. She steps away when the guys come.
“Guys, this is Phoebe. Phoebe, you know Connors from the wedding.” I introduce my crew.
“Hey, Pheebs. My mom tells you that you made the wedding even more special than the day I was born.” Connors gives her a joking smile.
“High compliment.” Phoebe laughs along with him.
“This is Thomas.” Thomas steps forward and grabs Phoebe’s hand and kisses it.
“I was deployed, or I would have been the best man at the wedding.” Thomas winks at Phoebe as Connors shakes his head.
“Nice to meet you.” Phoebe wipes the back of her hand on her shorts. “Let’s go. I’ll show you where we are staying.” She thumbs up the road.
“Where is Rachelle?” I don’t see her on the street.
“She didn’t come; her daughter had a dance recital.” Phoebe tells my friends about the rice paddy fields on the mountain's side.
“You came alone?”
“Why does that surprise you? I’ve always traveled alone.” Phoebe stops at a nice hotel.
“Not when I was with you.” I look up at the hotel, and it isn’t the usual bottom of the choices we used to have to do.
“Well, you only traveled with me for four years. I’ve been doing it longer than that, Enzo.” Phoebe gives me a wink, telling me she can take care of herself.
“Why are we staying here? I promised the guys a real-life expedition in Vietnam.” I rope an arm around Thomas and Connors.
“The place is cheap; most of the luxury hotels here are. So why not stay somewhere nice for a change? Plus, it’s like twenty bucks a night.” Phoebe gives us our room keys. “Rachelle set you guys up in the suites. I hear the pools are relaxing. Why don’t you rest up? I’ll come to get you for dinner in a couple hours. I am sure the flight over made you tired.”
The guys thank her and head to their rooms, but I wait for answers.
“You aren’t staying here with us?” I didn’t see a key in her hand.
“No, I booked a small room in a local’s house up the hill, outside the city.” She says it like she is sorry there is a distance between us.
“Well, where are you headed? I’m too wired to sleep. Can I come with you?” Anywhere, I promise.
“I am headed up Mua Mountain; it’s a steep hike, lots of stairs. But my hosts said there is a cave up there that brings in many people. It will rain soon, so I will try and get there before the rains start.” Phoebe has always been intelligent, the way she can use the information to protect herself.
“Care if I tag along?”
“You sure?” She looks to the hotel and then back at me.
“I came to see you; you came to see Ninh Binh Province. So I guess we are going up the mountain. Glad I wore my catheter today, so we don’t have to make any bathroom breaks.” I give her a thumbs up, and she finally cracks a smile and rolls her eyes.
“Let’s go grab my pack and head up there.” I walk next to her; I hold her hand even though she probably is uncomfortable with it. I tell her funny stories from California. I remind her how silly she was in the desert.
The tiny bungalow she rents sits at the base of the most beautiful mountains. It’s green, lush, and has the appearance of wet paint.
We are going up an insane amount of steps. The rocky formations are beautiful, yet everything looks deadly.
“How many steps did you say?” I am winded; I guess I need to take up running again.
