Page 102 of Cry Havoc
“I do not. I had a serious boyfriend in Paris. He was older.”
“How old are you?”
“I don’t think you are supposed to ask that of a lady.”
“Sorry.”
She laughed.
“I’m twenty-four. And you?”
“Twenty-five.”
“Ah, an elder.”
She laughed again.
“Maybe had I stayed in France it would have been different, but my father needed me here. Familial responsibilities are everything, Tom. Now, the work is my life. My father is old and my mother is no longer with us.”
“I’m sorry. What happened?”
Ella ignored the question.
“And you?” she asked.
“And me what?”
“Are you married? Do you have a girl waiting on you at home?”
“No.”
“Would you tell me if you did?”
Tom paused.
“I can’t answer that, since I’m not in that position. I’d like to think so.”
“Honesty. That’s attractive.”
Her eyes bore into his, and for a moment he did not know what to say.
He was saved by an interruption from a waiter asking if they would like more coffee or tea. Ella answered for them.
“We were just leaving.”
“L’addition, s’il vous plait,” Tom said without taking his eyes off Ella’s.
The check arrived, and Tom signed it to his room.
“Where are we going?”
“You asked about my mother.”
CHAPTER 33
THEY TOOK A BICYCLErickshaw, heading west away from the Saigon River. The ride was just over ten minutes. Tom’s left side pressed against Ella’s right. She didn’t pull away or seem uneasy about their close proximity in the back of the covered rickshaw.
As their driver pedaled, Ella pointed out the sights of her city, the hotels, cafés, restaurants, Catholic churches, and Buddhist temples. Twice she tapped his leg to point out certain landmarks, sending an electric shock through his system.
