Free Calls Across the Pacific by Zoë S. Roy Page B

you love him?” Seeing her nod, he sighed. “How strange! When I love a woman I make love to her.” His hands fondled her breasts.
    â€œHave you made love to more than one girl?” she asked in a timid voice, trying to understand his way of loving.
    â€œYes, to all of my girlfriends. They enjoyed it, too.” He noticed a wry smile on her face and felt her withdrawing from him. “Don’t get me wrong. I mean at different times. Now, I will only make love to you. I don’t have any other women.”
    â€œUnderstood,” Nina said, holding his face to look into his eyes, which appeared dark blue in the faint light. “I’m not sure if I agree completely, but I’m learning to enjoy this moment with you.”
    â€œThat’s my girl. Life’s short. Don’t think too much. Otherwise, your head will explode.” He pulled her hair playfully.
    â€œRemember, I’m going to university in September.”
    â€œSure I do. It’s the University of Southern Maine, right?”
    Nina nodded. “You’re okay with that?” She chose a university in a small city knowing that Bob disliked big cities.
    â€œ Esta es la vida ,” he said. “This is life.” As he held Nina close, the sweet voice of Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s singing “Moon River” echoed in his mind.
    â€œWherever you’re going, I’m going your way .” Nina listened to Bob whistle the melody in the early morning after that unexpected rainstorm.

8.
THE FENIAN CYCLE
    O NE SATURDAY AFTERNOON at the end of August 1972, Nina cooked Chinese food for her host family to show her gratitude. Amazed by the different foods displayed on the table, Bruce said he loved the steamed Chinese-style ravioli stuffed with minced beef and celery. Eileen enjoyed the stir-fried sweet-and-sour cabbage. Although the egg and tomato soup was foreign, the couple also ate it with interest. Since Nina couldn’t find certain ingredients, such as star anise and ginger, she felt sorry that her dishes were not authentically Chinese.
    The following day, Bob came over to pick Nina up and take her and her belongings to Portland. About an hour later, they arrived at the University of Southern Maine. The energetic young faces on campus made Nina regret her youth spent in the chaos of the Cultural Revolution. Some student volunteers helped move Nina’s luggage to her two-bedroom suite, which she shared with another freshman named Mabel. After helping unpack Nina’s suitcases and boxes, Bob stayed for the evening.
    The dormitory visiting hours were over at eleven-thirty p.m., so Nina kissed him goodbye. “Drive carefully. Watch for deer along the road. It’s almost the season.”
    â€œYes, Mother,” Bob smirked. When he looked at his watch, he sighed. “Time goes too fast when we’re together.”
    Nina saw Bob off to the door. When she turned back, Mabel made a face at her in the living room. “If he were my boyfriend, I would have asked him to stay another day.”
    â€œI don’t have as much time as you do,” answered Nina. “I have a lot of catching up to do! You’re still young and I’m jealous of your age.”
    Sweetly, Mabel grinned. “I bet you are.”
    Nina participated in student orientation but didn’t join in on the other activities. Instead, she spent most of the week reading in the library.
    Her first class, American History, began on a Monday evening. A binder in hand, Nina left the dorm hastily and went straight to the next building. On the second floor, she hurried past the first door on the left and noticed the number was 201. A crowd of students entered the third door on the left. She was sure that was 203. After stepping inside, she found an available seat, and sat down quietly. A young professor spoke enthusiastically, his hand occasionally moving in the air. Instead of using the chair, he