When Itta left the hospital, she went directly to the Amari Orchid Hotel. True to his word, Mike was there. She wasn't sure what she would say to him. Their earlier conversation flashed through her: Anan and his lies, and Math and her love. Unlike Anan, she had told Mike the truth. She had had no reason to lie. She wondered if he also had no reasons to lie, especially about her sister Nuang. She doubted it. It didn't matter anyway; Nuang had denied everything.
"I'm glad you waited for me," she said, sliding onto the barstool beside his. Her tone was nonchalant. "We were talking about my sister, Math. Is that correct?"
Mike turned and stared at her. Ten minutes ago he had almost died and now this woman pretended like it never happened. For a moment he wondered if it had all been a dream. "Yes," he answered. He had no reason to say no.
For the next hour they exchanged personal stories about Math, and about themselves, too. Itta was intrigued by his understanding of her sister. Mike reveled in her stories about Math.
Many beers later their conversation drifted entirely from Math and focused on themselves and their own pasts. Much was revealed, but even more stayed hidden. Mike was entranced with her stories, her smile, and her charm. As they talked, he felt a desire he hadn't felt since Susan and Math had died. It embarrassed him.
Itta was surprised at how easy she opened up to him. She wasn't sure why. She had had her fill of farangs, but somehow this man was different. He was polite, he was funny, and he was not so bad looking. She felt unexpected warmth toward him.
They were both lost souls. One had lost loves while the other had lost dreams. At times it was hard to distinguish one loss from another. In a while they reached a quiet spot in their conversation. Itta broke the silence. "What will you do when your job here is finished?"
"I don't know. I suppose I'll go home. I have no reasons to stay here."
"Does that mean you have a reason to go home?"
Mike considered her question for a minute. "No," he finally admitted. "I have no reason to go home either. What about you?"
She hadn't seriously considered what she would do with her life. She had been playing with the notion of coming to Pattaya, even before Anan had called. Her search for Nuang had given her a perfect excuse to come here without upsetting her mother. She knew she could find work in Pattaya, but probably not the kind she could brag about to her family. Her mother knew it, too. "I've been thinking about opening my own business," she finally said. "I don't know what, though. Maybe a laundry service or a small restaurant. Whatever I do will have to be cheap; I don't have much money."
Mike nodded his head, "I understand. Everything becomes harder without money. Some things become impossible." He gazed thoughtfully at the bars lining Second Road. "Maybe you should open a bar. I've thought about that myself. A good bar makes a killing during the high season."
"If I had a half million baht, I would do that."
"That seems a little expensive for a beer bar."
"I wouldn't open a beer bar. If I ever go into the business, it will be a go-go bar. If I succeed, it will be money well spent. If I fail, well, at least I'll go out in style."
Mike smiled at her. "Somehow, I think you would be a roaring success." He considered his next words very carefully before speaking. "I have some money I would be willing to invest in the right opportunity. Let me know if you need a partner."
Itta's eyes widened with excitement. "Are you serious?"
"I never joke about money."
"Me, too," Itta smiled.
"Let's move to a table where we can talk in private." He motioned to the barmaid and then escorted Itta to a seat away from the main bar. An old Righteous Brother's song drifted from the bar stereo.
"I'm sorry to ask you this," Itta said once they were seated, "but something has been bothering me all night. What will you do about Anan?"
Mike hadn't expected her question. He felt his good mood fading. She was going to ruin the rest of the evening. "There is nothing to do. You already told me Anan was a liar."
"What if I am wrong? What if my sister really did write those bad things? What if Anan brings Math's diary tomorrow? Would you hate the whole Bongkot family because of it?"
He wanted to say yes, but he knew that would be a lie. "Maybe, but only for a while. I am not capable of hating anyone for very long." He paused for a moment and then added, "I'm not going to worry about Anan until the day he brings me a diary. I'm finished talking about that. Let's talk about our new business. I know the perfect location. I'll show you tomorrow. I think we should call it the Suaee Dee Lady. What do you think?"
Itta was caught completely off guard. "I thought you were joking with me earlier." Her expression was priceless.
"Hey," he said, laughing aloud. "I told you before that I never joke about money. If you're serious about opening a bar, then so am I. If I'm going to have a Thai partner, I want it to be you. What do you say?"
"Yes," she almost screamed from excitement. She felt giddy. "I want to be your partner."
"High season is starting soon, we don't have much time. We'll need dancers, and waitresses, and bartenders, and everything. I don't know about all of the legal things. This could take us a long time."
"I can have us open in three weeks. It may cost a little more but I can do it. I still know a few people in this town. I'm sure they will help us."
Mike motioned a waitress to their table and whispered in her ear. She returned a minute later carrying a silver ice bucket, two long-stemmed glasses, and a bottle wrapped in a towel. With great flourish she popped the cork and poured each of them a glass of champagne. She put the bottle on ice and left them alone.
"To the Suaee Dee Lady," Mike held his glass in salute.
Itta lifted her glass and tapped his gently. "To our success."
By the time the bottle was empty they had made their plans—and they were drunk. Mike impolitely asked Itta to spend the night with him and she refused, just as impolitely. He paid the tab and stumbled along beside her to the hotel exit.
A drop of rain put a dark spot on the sidewalk outside. A second fell close beside the first. Then another and another in rapid succession. The wind shifted and a bolt of lightning split the night sky. A heavy rumble followed. Within seconds it was pouring.
"I have two beds in my room," Mike said, very quietly. "I can only sleep in one at a time."
Itta stared at him for a very long moment. He was the man her sister had loved. Math had told her everything about him, even intimate things. Suddenly she realized why Math had loved this man. It wasn't for his money or because he was a farang, it was because he had a good heart. She knew she should go back to the hospital, but at the same time she wanted to stay here. Besides, she couldn't go in the middle of a storm. It would be best if she waited until the rain stopped.
"I can only sleep in one bed at a time, too." She took his hand and pulled him from the rain's over-mist. "But I won't fall in love with you."
Together, hand in hand, they walked to his room. They left their pasts behind them in the lobby of the Amari Orchid Hotel.
***
More Books By J.F. Gump
From Bangkok Book House
Even Thai Girls Cry
Pages: 300
The Farang Affair
Pages: 332
One High Season
Pages: 346