Passports and Plum Blossoms

by Barbara Oliverio

  “It’s not funny, Father!” I turned toward the window as he attempted to hide his grin.

  “Really? You don’t see the humor in it?”

  I turned toward him.

  “But ... then ... I tried to apologize and ...”

  Father John was having none of it. He just shook his head.

  “I think you are focusing on how you feel. Did you think about how he felt? Maybe he’s shy and didn’t want the focus on him. Maybe he was trying to apologize to you and was confused that you were not accepting it.”

  Darn it. He reminded me so much of my own great uncle Sal—Father Sal.

  “Is everyone on this trip so wise?”

  “Yes. It was a requirement.” He nodded soberly.

  I laughed.

  Peeking over the seat, I could see that Eli had removed his headphones and was in an animated conversation with Yan Mei.

  Oh. That’s how it was. Why else would he be on this random bus trip with so many senior citizens? He and our tour director were together. I got it. He was visiting with her on her job.

  Well, why not? Look at how beautiful she was. Her skin was flawless, and her jet-black hair fell like a column down her back. And she was petite and slim. She was so tiny, you could put her in your pocket! Not like me. You couldn’t use the adjective petite for me. Short, yes, but definitely not slim. In the Renaissance, I would have been ideal—voluptuous and full of curves. In today’s times, I’m bordering on shopping in the “big girls” section.

  Oh well. We’re all attracted to different types. Some women prefer men who are blond with facial hair. Some prefer tall, some short. Personally, I’ve always liked dark hair and eyes.

  Dark hair and eyes. Dark eyes under brooding brows staring back from the front of the bus. Oops. Any minute, they would catch mine. Duck down, Annalise!

  “Now what, child?” asked Father John.

  “I think he saw me!”

  “And?”

  “And ... so he’ll know I’m here.”

  “I hate to state the obvious, Annalise, but if we’re all together on this tour, he’ll figure that out quickly enough. What were you planning to do, wear sunglasses and a low-brimmed hat?”

  I must have hesitated a moment too long.

  “Annalise!” Father John shook his head.

  “Of course not. Besides, he’ll see Aunt Lil and know that I’m here.”

  At that exact moment, he had stood and was indeed leaning over the seat where she was and conversing with her. We soon pulled into a parking lot, and he straightened up to return to his own seat. Yan Mei’s voice came over the loudspeaker to make announcements. Would he have continued up the aisle to talk with me if he hadn’t been interrupted?

  I leaned back and managed to let out the breath I had been holding. Of course he wouldn’t have made an effort to come talk to me. He was being polite to Auntie Lil but went back to sit with his girlfriend.

  Why did I even care?

  “Annalise, you are deep in thought,” observed Father John.

  “Just trying to concentrate on the announcement.” I managed to cover my feelings, I thought.

  “Mm-hmm,” said Father John, unconvinced, but apparently willing to avoid pushing me into further discussion.

  We came to a stop, and our group began exiting, with the plan to meet in the courtyard of the small factory that manufactured replicas of the terra-cotta warriors we would be seeing soon. This particular stop was to be a mix of history lesson and an opportunity to purchase some replicas.

  Father John and I hopped from the bus, and Auntie Lil greeted me with a hug. Genio was not in sight.

  “Where’s your buddy?” I asked.

  “He’s nearby. I told him I needed to visit with you.”

  Father John gave us a nod and moved on to join the others.

  Silly me. I should have known my aunt hadn’t thrown me over for a glorious head of hair and handsome mustache. I hugged her tightly.

  “What’s this? Did you think I had abandoned you?” she laughed and gently pushed my bangs from my eyes.

  “No, but you saw our new bus companion, didn’t you?”

  “I see that Eli joined us. Delightful young man, Annalise. You’ll need to say hello to him.”

  “What! We haven’t exactly had a history of pleasant encounters, Auntie Lil.”

  And I’m sure his girlfriend would think I was just making a move on him.

  “Nonsense. You can’t ignore a person.” She shook her head.

  I suspect Auntie Lil had stars in her eyes from her recent conquest and wasn’t able to see life as it was. I decided to give her a pass.

  “Okay, okay. When I get the opportunity. But we better catch up to the group, don’t you think?”

  We met up with them as the factory tour guide was explaining the differences in the warriors we would be viewing at the site. It was fascinating to note that the hairstyle, facial hair, and even the front tilt of the shoe determined the rank of each warrior. Being able to get so close to these detailed replicas would make our trip to the excavation site more well rounded.

  We moved into the factory showroom where we could purchase a replica from four inches to six feet in size, and Genio joined us.

  “Are you purchasing anything?” he asked.

  “Something small and desk-sized for my brother, Annalise’s father,” Auntie Lil said.

  “Pop will love that,” I nodded. “Probably a general, don’t you think?”

  “There are nice ones on that table.” Genio led Auntie Lil one aisle over, and I remained, examining the horsemen.

  “Did you see the life-size ones that you could order where you could have a replica of your own head on the top?” came a voice over my shoulder.

  I nearly dropped the statue I had in my hands as I turned and looked up into the depths of Eli Chamberlain’s ebony eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Whoah!” he caught the statue.

  “That could have been expensive,” I said but couldn’t meet his eyes for some reason.

  “It seems that when we meet, we always nearly just avoid a disaster.” His face spread into a smile, and I was reminded not only of the flying chili crab but also the crashing book table display at the Denver airport.

  “I guess so,” I said.

  “So, I spoke to your aunt earlier. Imagine my surprise to find that you ladies are part of this group. Particularly you.”

  “Why particularly me?”

  “Well, you don’t exactly fit the demographic of the bus,” he gestured toward the rest of our tour companions.

  “Technically, I’m here as my aunt’s ‘companion’.” Goodness. How did that make me sound? I turned to pick up another sculpture and became engrossed in it.

  “That’s sweet,” he said.

  “Sweet?”

  “Yes, sweet. Not many people would take time out of their busy lives to accompany an elderly relative on a vacation.”

  Ha! If only he knew that were it not for this trip, the busiest part of my life would consist of helping my mother clean the attic. I looked up at him but saw a distant look on his face. Probably worried about the opening of the stock market or something.

  “So what brings YOU on this bus, Eli?”

  He cleared his throat and paused.

  “Um. I just never had the opportunity to see the sights before, and Yan Mei said she was happy to let me tag along.”

  Oh. Right. Yan Mei.

  “She seems ... great.” I hoped I sounded polite.

  “She is. Do you know she speaks five languages?”

  Of course she did.

  “She’s the most requested guide at the tour company.”

  Well, sure.

  I was not in the mood to hear more accolades about the thin-as-a-model, picture-perfect, speaks-every-language, beloved-by-all Yan Mei.

  “Um, I need to find Auntie Lil. I’ll catch up and chat with you in a bit.” My tone was sharp as I moved outside the shop.

&n
bsp; There was what I needed: a tiny bench under a tree. I plopped down, pulled my tablet from my bag, and started banging on my keyboard.

  I was lost in my writing and finally looked up when the chatter around me got louder. We were due to gather at the small restaurant near the entrance of the factory so that we could eat together. With a sigh, I closed my tablet and looked for Auntie Lil to join her. She was standing nearby, looking around, no doubt seeking me as well. When she spied me, she waved vigorously and a smile lit up her face. How could I feel down with this cheeky lady as my travelmate?

  “Did you pick out something nice for Pop?” I asked as I crossed over toward her.

  “Definitely. I found a very serious-looking general, just the size for the corner of his desk.”

  “That will work,” I nodded. “Ready for lunch?”

  “Genio is saving us seats.”

  The ground crunched under our feet as we took the last steps toward the small cafe.

  “You’re quiet, dear. Are you all right with lunching with Genio?” Auntie Lil asked.

  “What? Oh. That’s fine. I was just thinking about my next blog entry and was distracted.” I didn’t want her to worry about me.

  Our group took up the entire cafe, and servers bustled around bringing the same dishes to all the tables while taking individual orders for drinks.

  “This all looks good, doesn’t it ladies?” Genio rose as we approached the seats he’d saved for us. His sister and brother-in-law were also seated at our round table.

  “You bet! What are we having?” I rubbed my hands together.

  Apparently the cafe catered to American tourists’ tastes, so family-style bowls graced the center of each table and contained a chicken dish that resembled sweet and sour along with beef and broccoli and a vegetable stir-fry. We each had a spring roll and a cup of soup.

  It was very tasty, but I couldn’t deny that I was disappointed. I really wanted to eat more like the locals. Auntie Lil caught my eye and read my mind. Without a word, we both shrugged in unison, and I knew she agreed that we would try to find more authentic food for another meal. Our unspoken agreement brought amused looks to both our faces.

  “Now what are you two giggling about?” asked Georgiann.

  “Just thinking about how my father is going to react to his warrior figure,” I said. I didn’t want to insult anyone who didn’t share our desire to be more adventurous in dining.

  “I see,” nodded Georgiann. She leaned over and whispered, “I thought perhaps you were talking about our new bus companion.”

  “Georgie!” said her exasperated husband.

  “What? I saw Annalise talking to him. They are the youngest people on the trip.” I could see where the dots were connecting in her head. Luckily, her brother stepped in to change the subject.

  “Georgie, don’t you think this beef and broccoli is better than the kind we get at the Lucky Panda back home?”

  “Well of course it is, Genio. We’re in China for Pete’s sake!” With that she was off and running on the topic of food. I shot Genio a look of thanks.

  While Georgiann was holding forth on the virtues of broccolini versus broccoli, I casually peered over my shoulder to the table near the entrance where Eli was eating with Yan Mei. I couldn’t hear them, but I was pretty sure they were speaking in Mandarin. Well, I thought, they could be speaking in any of the five languages that were in her area of expertise.

  Why was I so concerned anyway? It’s not like I was attracted to him. Who cared about how nice he looked in his casual touring clothes with that scarf draped so jauntily around his neck? And who cared about how he flipped that forelock of hair out of his eyes with a quick shrug of his head just like the lead singer of a boy band? And who liked smiles that went all the way from someone’s mouth to their eyes?

  Me, I concluded mournfully.

  I WAS attracted. And in the worst possible situation. Stuck with him, his girlfriend, and a busload of senior citizens in a country halfway around the world.

  Welcome to the worst romance movie ever, I thought.

  I picked at my delicious lunch, barely listening to the conversation around me, until I heard my name. It was Genio, on my right, asking me a question.

  “I’m sorry, Genio, I must have drifted off for a moment. What did you say?”

  “I was just asking what you do back home in Denver.”

  “Hmm. That’s a complicated question. I’m sort of between jobs right now.” I went on to explain my layoff and lengthy job hunt.

  “It must be frustrating.”

  I appreciated the fact that he didn’t immediately launch into well-worn platitudes like, “Oh I’m sure it will all work out” or “Keep your chin up.” He just acknowledged my frustration.

  “It is. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not at the end of my rope or anything, but can I tell you something?”

  “If you want to.”

  “I’m not even sure I want to get the same sort of job.”

  “I understand that,” he nodded.

  “You do?”

  “Sure. That’s what you trained for, but you’ve found parts of it that you like better than others. You probably would like to find a job that concentrates on them.”

  “Exactly!” How did he get that?

  “There’s nothing wrong with carving out your career to suit your strengths, Annalise.”

  “Doesn’t that seem, oh, I don’t know, selfish?” I knew my face scrunched up.

  “Of course not. You chose a major in college when you were only about 17 years old. The fact that you completed a college degree is proof that you can commit to and complete a task, that’s all. What you do with that collection of learning is up to you. You’ve gained more experience in, what about five years?”

  I nodded.

  “So now you’re probably ready to commit to what your talents and gifts really equip you to do.”

  I thought about that for a moment.

  “But I look at Auntie Lil who committed to her career for her whole life when she was younger than me. Or, my friend Rory—”

  “But have you talked with them? Asked them about where they feel their gifts and talents are and when they discerned them? Everyone is different.”

  I thought about that for a moment. He was right. Rory had always wanted to do what she did. And Auntie Lil had never complained about her job because she genuinely loved it.

  “What do you do, Genio?” I suddenly remembered that as the only representative of our family here, I should be quizzing him and his motives with Auntie Lil rather than concentrating on my own selfish problems.

  “I’m retired. But before that I was an architect.”

  “Would I know any of your buildings in Chicago?” He must live in the same city as his sister.

  “Actually, my work was more international.”

  Hmm. What’s this ... international playboy? Just the type to break Auntie Lil’s heart?

  “Genio, I hear you over there downplaying your accomplishments,” his sister broke in. “Annalise, you are sitting next to Retired Lieutenant Colonel Eugenio Cusamano of the Air Force. He was one of the major names in architecture and civil engineering in the Air Force in the 20th century.”

  I looked over at him, and he winked. I suddenly liked this humble man who preferred to be known as just Genio.

  “No wonder you are such a good problem solver.”

  “Well, my sister likes to brag on me, but now that you know, let’s just keep it to ourselves, okay?”

  “Yes, sir.” I looked across him to my aunt. Here I had been wondering whether he was good enough for her. I suspect his family should have been vetting us for him.

  Changing subjects, I pulled out my guide and reviewed the information about the tombs of the terra-cotta soldiers, the next stop on the trip.

  “It’s hard to believe that this whole site was discovered because two farmers were digging a well,” I said.

  “They must have been pretty wise to realize that t
he random pieces they dug up were more than just pottery,” agreed Auntie Lil.

  We finished our lunch and returned to the bus. She joined me in our original seat for the short drive to the excavation site, and I managed to keep the conversation strictly about the scenery outside the windows. I couldn’t wait to see the site, and was both pleased and a little sad when we were the last ones off the bus, sparing me the necessity of encountering Eli and Yan Mei.

  The site certainly didn’t disappoint! Dating back to the third century B.C., the thousands of warriors and hundreds of chariots and horses were constructed to protect the then emperor in the afterlife. Once the initial discovery was made in 1974, archaeologists and historians embarked on painstakingly reconstructing the thousands of terra-cotta figures while continuing to discover more of them in giant pits. Each of the separate pits we saw contained hundreds of the figures, and we walked around the site surrounded by a huge rail fence.

  Auntie Lil and Genio moved a bit further down one section of the railing while I stopped, leaning over with my iPad to attempt to snag a photo. Then Eli Chamberlain moved next to me.

  “Here,” he said. “Let me take one with you in the foreground.”

  My heart beat a bit faster as I turned and leaned on the rail, facing him, and handed him my tablet.

  “Hold on a second,” he moved toward me and brushed my bangs from my face.

  “There,” he said. “We want to be able to see your eyes.”

  Was it my imagination, or did he linger just a bit when his fingers were on my forehead?

  “Thanks,” I stuttered.

  He moved back to take the picture but paused with the tablet held to his side as he locked eyes with me. The moment was broken when a voice near us snapped us back to reality.

  “There! I know—the young man can take a picture of all of us!” It was the distinctive, organizing voice of our group leader, Colette.

  He quickly snapped the photo of me and handed me my iPad, turning to Colette and clearing his throat.

  “I’d be honored, ma’am.”

  I pulled my iPad up to my face so that I could hide behind it while I pretended to take a picture. I could still smell the woodsy scent of his cologne where he had touched it. Oh no, that was too much.