Passports and Plum Blossoms

by Barbara Oliverio

  “What incomplete information?” Genio asked.

  I looked from one to the other. If I said anything more, was I really going to muck this up? I had to take the chance.

  “If you are just passing time with her, then she’s not going to take a chance ...” I couldn’t complete the sentence.

  Genio took her hands in his.

  “Lilliana, if you think I’m ‘just passing time,’ then you are mistaken. Can’t you tell? I’ve never met anyone like you, and the thought of letting you go after this trip ... well, I don’t think that I can bear it.”

  My aunt looked up into his eyes. “I ... I ... was hoping that I wasn’t wrong about what I, what we, were feeling, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I’ve only had one love in my life, and that was so many years ago. It was hard to believe that love could come again.”

  He took her into his arms and they kissed.

  I deduced correctly that it was time for my exit, so I backed away. Unfortunately, I backed into one of the cafe chairs, and it made a loud scraping noise. They moved apart but just slightly.

  “Don’t mind me,” I smiled sheepishly. “I’ll be going back in for dessert now.”

  “Annalise, wait. Don’t you want to know what I was going to talk to you about?” Genio asked, keeping his arms around my aunt.

  Rats. I couldn’t imagine what he would have to say. The only thing I could think of was that he was going to grill me on Eli, since we had come out here right after Katherine Flynn made her comments.

  “No rush. We can talk later. Dessert’s calling.” I tried to leave.

  He reached out for my hand and clasped it.

  “Coincidentally, I was going to ask you if you thought your aunt might be interested in getting serious. That’s why you shocked me with your ‘intentions’ question,” he said.

  “What!”

  I burst out laughing. I was worried that he was about to cast her aside, and he was worried that she was about to cast him aside.

  “Hey,” I stopped laughing. “Do you realize that if I hadn’t said anything, you two might have dragged on, not expressing your feelings?”

  “Yes, yes, you can take all the credit,” drawled my aunt.

  “You realize what this means, though, don’t you?” I said.

  “That I’m the luckiest man alive,” Genio hugged my aunt and kissed her cheek.

  “No. That you two have to tell Pop. Now if you want to hear the ‘intentions’ talk, there’s the scary one.”

  “Don’t be silly, Annalise. I’m a grown woman and years older than your father. He doesn’t frighten me, and he shouldn’t frighten you, Genio.” Auntie Lil tossed her head back.

  “We’ll see,” I shrugged.

  Genio winked at me and said, “We’ll use you as our advocate, Annalise. I’m sure you can explain it all to your father with as much delicacy as you did here tonight.”

  “Hey!” I looked at him prepared to fight, but could see that he was kidding. Hmm. He would fit into the family just fine.

  We returned to the dining room to find that many of the desserts were gone, but Georgiann had thoughtfully set aside at least one of each type for the three of us. We devoured the stacks of nian gao, aiwowo, wan dou wuong, tanghulu, and lovely cream cakes.

  “So, my friends, shall we attempt the walk back to the hotel, or should we find someone to roll us back there?” asked Father John, patting his stomach.

  “Even if we could find such a ‘roller,’ I think we need the walk, don’t you?” I said, leaning back on my chair.

  Chairs scraped as we stood to make our way out the door for a leisurely stroll back. Our day was to begin early, so we all said our goodnights at the elevator and parted company.

  When we reached our room, I gave Auntie Lil a sidewise glance as she prattled on about what sweaters to layer in the morning for the best warmth.

  “That’s what you’re concerned about? Sweater layers?”

  “What do you mean, Annalise?”

  “Auntie Lil! A man just professed his love for you! You didn’t even kiss goodnight! You just went to your separate rooms as if ... as if ...”

  At that moment, there was a slight rap on our door.

  I looked at Auntie Lil and leapt over my bed to beat her to answer it. I peeked through the security hole and then slid the door open only slightly.

  “Why hello, Genio,” I grinned through the slight opening before I was shoved aside by my aunt.

  “You are incorrigible, Annalise! I’m so sure that he’s out there!”

  She shook her head just before his arm reached through to pull her to the hallway. I pressed my eye to the peephole in time to see them entwined in an embrace, but then they quickly moved out of sight into what I knew was the dim alcove at the end of the hall.

  “Hubba hubba!” I whispered to myself.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “So?” I grinned at my aunt the next morning.

  “So what?” she answered innocently.

  “I think you know what.”

  It wasn’t as if she had been out all night. Her moral code would have preempted that. But she looked like a woman who had been well-kissed when she tapped on our door for me to let her in after her rendezvous! I resisted the urge to grill her after opening the door and allowed her to prepare for bed. But now, I wasted no time in questioning her.

  “Have you seen my olive-green scarf?” she asked, digging through her large suitcase.

  “Have you seen your face in the mirror?” I pushed.

  She sat down and sighed.

  “You’re not going to be civilized about this, are you?”

  “Of course not! Would you?”

  I knelt in front of her, taking her hands into mine.

  “Are you happy, Auntie?” I searched her face.

  “I believe so, sweetheart,” she said. Her answer dropped decades from her countenance.

  “Oh, Auntie, then I’m happy for you.” I leaned my head on her knee, and we stayed like that without speaking for several moments.

  “What will this mean?” I whispered as her hand patted my head lovingly, as she had done so often in my life.

  “We both have lives that are established, dear.”

  I held my breath. Surely she and Genio hadn’t had a “this could never be” type of discussion in the hallway last night?

  “But, on the other hand, we’re not getting any younger.”

  Yes, yes, get to the point.

  I held my breath and looked up at her.

  “How do you feel about being maid of honor at a very small wedding?”

  I jumped up and squealed!

  “Auntie! I would be delighted!” I danced around the room humming “Here Comes the Bride” while she laughed merrily. Eventually I fell into her lap, making both of us fall backward onto the bed.

  “Annalise! Please don’t cause me to break a hip! I don’t want to stand before the priest on crutches.”

  I rolled over and sat beside her, keeping her hand clutched in mine.

  “You are pretty sneaky, you know?” I said. “How did you not burst into the room last night with that little bit of information?”

  “I wanted you to get a good night’s sleep before we traveled today,” she said.

  “Why yes, that was so much more important.” I nudged her foot with mine and then shot straight up.

  She reacted in a predictable way.

  “Annalise, I need you to keep this to yourself. Genio and I don’t need anyone else to know about this just yet.”

  “But Auntie! This group! How will you keep this information from them?”

  “We just will, that’s all. I’m only telling you because I know you can keep it to yourself.”

  “Seriously? You two are not going to tell Georgiann? She’ll be crushed.” I shook my head.

  “Genio knows his sister. He’ll tell her in his own time. Meanwhile, zip your lip, okay?” She stood to continue preparing for the day of sightseeing.

&nb
sp; “Okay,” I reluctantly stood to finish packing my day bag. This was huge! I wanted to tell someone!

  “What about—” I started.

  “We will tell your father when we get home.” She took my shoulders anticipating my question.

  “WHEN WE GET HOME! THAT’S DAYS FROM NOW!”

  “Such drama, child. Where do you get it?”

  “Uh ... from my father—and from you, I might add. Remember, you’re my godmother?” Family lore was that babies took on the characteristics of whoever held them when the priest baptized them.

  Auntie Lil just crossed her arms and shook her head.

  “Fine. But you realize what a burden you place on me.” I twisted my mouth grimly and went back to my preparations.

  “Yes, yes, this is all about you, after all.” She smiled as she tossed me my neon green cap and donned her own.

  I arranged my hat in the mirror and felt a pang. Was it just yesterday that I had a playful day with Eli as we wore these silly green hats? Better yet, did it even happen at all? Staid, stoic Eli Chamberlain of the tense eyebrows? Was that him with me in the pedicab, his jet eyes flashing and dark hair flopping boyishly? And what was that enchanting scent that I would forever associate with him?

  I sighed.

  “Annalise, are you okay?” Auntie Lil turned from applying her signature lip color.

  “Just wonderful, bride-to-be!” I pulled myself together. I didn’t want Auntie Lil to have to worry about my silly crush.

  We knew the weather on the Great Wall would be damp, so we added rain gear to our bags and descended to the breakfast buffet room. My fears of overdressing were set aside when I saw some of our colleagues and noted their decidedly more puffy state.

  “Are you girls going to be warm enough?” asked Colette when she saw us. Our intrepid tour organizer’s dubious tone indicated that she clearly did not think we would be.

  “Thin layers, Colette. That’s what we’re going for. And we’re carbo-loading right now. Don’t you know that’s the way to go?” Auntie Lil said and steered us away, leaving Colette with a curious look.

  We deposited our belongings at a table.

  “Carbo-loading? What are we, getting ready to run a marathon?” I shook my head as we moved to the buffet.

  “Colette is delightful,” said Auntie Lil, “but sometimes it’s fun to give her something to think about.”

  “Right, right.”

  We wove our way back to our seats at the precise moment that Genio and the Perinis were depositing their gear at our table.

  “Good morning Georgiann and Tom. Genio.” Auntie Lil was overly polite.

  “Oh my gosh!” Georgiann exclaimed. “When will the wedding be?”

  Auntie Lil and I gaped at her. How ...?

  “Georgie, what are you talking about?” Genio whispered and looked around the room.

  “You can’t fool me, Eugenio. You’ve proposed to this lovely woman.” She grabbed him in a bear hug.

  “Georgie—” her brother began to caution her.

  “Genio, you know better than to try to disagree with your sister,” Tom shook his head in amusement. “She’s the Engagement Whisperer. She can smell a proposal a mile away.”

  “At the moment, do you think you can convince her to lower her voice to an actual whisper?” Genio asked, then laughed when he realized what he said. His sister was not capable of that volume. He hugged her and kissed her cheek.

  “Yes, Georgie, I’ve asked Lilliana to marry me.”

  Georgiann clapped and squealed, then stopped abruptly.

  “And you said yes?” she addressed Auntie Lil.

  “Yes, I said yes,” Auntie Lil acknowledged.

  “I knew it, I knew it!” Georgiann squeezed her, then turned to me.

  “Welcome to the family, dear girl!”

  “Thank you.” I could barely breathe in her clasp.

  Others in our group had noticed the commotion and gathered around us.

  “What’s this?” Father John asked.

  “These two are engaged!” Georgiann exclaimed.

  “Well, that explains your late-night stroll for a refreshing beverage last night! Seems you found something a bit more refreshing,” Father John winked at Genio.

  “Here, here, what is going on?”

  Oh no. The deflating tones of Katherine Flynn. If she brought the mood down, why I would—

  “An engagement, that’s what. Lil and Genio,” Father John said.

  “Well, what took you so long? Anyone could see you’d be a fool to let her slip out of your hands.” We watched in amazement as Katherine gave Genio a handshake and Auntie Lil a perfunctory hug.

  Vivienne followed her sister’s lead but with much broader hugs and kisses.

  “Oh, Kat, isn’t it grand?” she breathed.

  “Yes, yes. It’s delightful. But engagement or no, we need to eat and get on that bus to stay on schedule.” There was the Katherine we knew. However, as she walked back to her table, I spied a whisper of a smile on her face.

  We continued to chatter and buzz about the big news, but also managed to enjoy our breakfasts and make it to the bus waiting in front of the hotel on time. Green caps perched jauntily on heads, we began our day.

  “Good morning!” Lee smiled as we boarded. “Today you will see the amazing Great Wall of China, and I have some other exciting views for you.”

  We had grown accustomed to Lee and his use of superlatives, his favorites being amazing and exciting. Our day had barely begun, and I was already exhausted just from his descriptions! To give him credit, though, he did come through with extraordinary sights and information on the hour-long journey to the Great Wall.

  At our destination, we retrieved tickets to ride the popular cable car to the middle section of the wall, which was constructed in 1504. Although it is possible to walk along massive lengths of the wall, we were going to concentrate on that small area.

  As we exited the cable car and climbed the rocky steps to the wall itself, I had to pinch myself inwardly. Here I was! Standing on the Great Wall of China!

  “Wow” was all I could say.

  “Wow is right.” Auntie Lil put her arms around me, and we stood that way for several minutes, taking in the beauty and awe. Lee had given us the history and background on the way over, so we were free to walk on our own before meeting back as a group.

  I felt like a fifth wheel with Auntie Lil and Genio, so I headed out on my own. The wall is a treacherous walk, sometimes reaching 45 percent in tilt, so I moved slowly, glad for my sturdy hiking boots. Occasionally I stopped to take a photo across the valley, or what I could see of the valley through the haze.

  “Whew! Can you imagine building this, brick by brick, mile by mile?” I commented as Auntie Lil and Genio caught up with me. I just shook my head. I started to move again, but Auntie Lil caught my arm.

  “Walk with us, dear,” she said, her green scarf wrapped tightly around her face and neck. Since we were about 3,400 feet above sea level, the whipping wind made us both glad that we had layered tightly.

  “I don’t want to be in the way,” I said.

  “In the way? Don’t be silly!” Then she caught the look on my face. “Oh, Annalise, you will never be in the way anytime in my life.”

  “Of course not,” agreed Genio, his own face ruddy from the wind.

  “Besides, you are officially my companion until I say you are relieved of your duties,” she laughed.

  We took off together, and I was glad to walk with Genio, whose knowledge of architecture added to the experience. His sister and brother-in-law joined us, as well as the Willems and Father John, and our usual subset of the tour group was complete.

  “Omigosh, do you see those girls walking in high heels?” I pointed.

  “I would have two sprained ankles in an instant! This is a desperately uneven surface,” Auntie Lil noted.

  “Ma would be proud of us—form over fashion,” I laughed.

  After an hour at the wall, we al
l descended at various times via the cable car to meet at the bus.

  “Wasn’t that amazing?” Lee grinned.

  Indeed.

  We warmed up quickly on the bus ride back to the city, laughing and chatting about our experiences.

  The remainder of the day consisted of a visit to the grounds of the Summer Palace, with a walk around the man-made lake, then back to the city, and finishing with a visit to the Quing Hao market—five stories of vendors selling everything from knockoff handbags and electronics to spices and teas. We returned to the hotel after dinner, tired, and dispersed to our various rooms for a good night’s sleep. I could hardly believe that our journey was nearing the end. Only one day more!

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “Did you know that giant pandas are actually flesh-eaters?”

  “Good morning to you, too, Ma.” Did I actually spit out my toothpaste, rinse like a madwoman, and dash out of the bathroom to answer my phone and get this dubious fact?

  “I’m just saying,” she continued, “most people think they only eat bamboo, but they really prefer to eat flesh.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” I rolled my eyes, glad that she could not see me through the phone.

  “Aren’t you going to the zoo to see them this morning?”

  “Yes. But I’m not climbing into their cage or pit or wherever they stay, so I think I’m safe from them chomping on me. Besides, where did you get this fact?”

  “I was just watching a special on the National Geographic channel and thought you might want to know.”

  I took a deep breath.

  “Ma, I appreciate your concern, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be safe from the danger.” I smiled, thinking of the chubby black-and-white pandas we would encounter from behind a screen at the zoo.

  “Did you also know—” she began.

  “No. But I think I’d rather let the guide surprise me.” I stopped her.

  “Suit yourself,” she chided, then switched to another topic.

  “How is your aunt?”

  “Why?” I felt suspicious.

  “What do you mean ‘why’? We sent you to keep her company. I would think that it’s not out of the question to ask how she’s doing. You’re very touchy, Annalise.”