Page 29 of Justice for JoElla

“There ya go. No chance for reconciliation?”

“Nope. None.”

“Well, then, guess we’re not breaking any laws.”

Brandon shook his head. “No, we are not.”

“Vietnamese?”

“What?”Do I look Vietnamese?Brandon wondered, and then he realized what she was talking about. “Oh. Right. Vietnamese.”

As she stopped at the door, she turned to look at him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Good question.I’d like to know the answer, he thought, and then it hit him in a blinding flash. “I’m completely out of my element in every way. Housing, car, work, family. I have no idea what’s going on.” He hadn’t meant for it to sound like he was whining, and he didn’t think it did, but he wasn’t really sure. “So I’m pretty sure that’s what’s wrong with me.”

“Come on. I’m hungry.” She stood by the door and waited until he reached it, then motioned for him to go on out and locked it behind them.There’s nothing in there that anybody would want, Brandon thought with an internal snicker.

The restaurant wasn’t far, and he noticed she was making no attempt to get into a detailed conversation in the car, which was fine with him. They just chatted about stupid things, like how big the moon looked even before sunset, and what kind of mustard was good on turkey and rye. How that happened… No clue.

The restaurant was cute. He hadn’t known what to expect, but it seemed the owner really was Vietnamese, and everything was decorated traditionally. Only two other tables were taken, and that didn’t surprise Brandon a bit. Vietnamese food in Taylorsville was a new thing. He’d eaten it quite a bit in college, but not since, and everything smelled wonderful. They took a few minutes to look at the menu. JoElla looked at it for a bit, then folded it closed and placed it on the table. “I have no idea what any of this is.”

“Shall I order for you?”

Based on the way her eyebrows shot up, Brandon was pretty sure men never ordered for her. “Um, okay.”

“What do you like?”

“Most anything.”

“Bok choy?”

“Yeah, and daikon too.”

Well, she’s obviously been eating somewhere other than just the local McDonald’s. “Okay, which would you prefer?chicken or beef?”

“I like beef.”

“Got it. So…”

“Ready to order?” a young Asian woman asked.

“Yes. So the lady will haveph? bac, followed bybánh xèo. And… I think I’ll have theph? bacas well, followed bycha ca.”

“And beverage, sir?”

“Do you by any chance have that Balinese gingerade?”

“Yes, sir, actually, we do! I think you’re the first person who’s asked for it, but we recommend it with all our dishes.”

“Very good. We’ll have that.”

“Anything else, sir?”

“Oh, and the spring rolls?”

“Yes, sir. Very fresh. Anything else, sir?”

“I think that covers it. Thank you.” They handed back the menus, and Brandon turned to JoElla. “So, what kind of day did you have?”

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