Journey 15
All sexual activity described or implied is between persons over eighteen years of age. This is a long romantic story between siblings who did not grow up together but were sent on a quest by a caring Grandfather. What his motivations are is yet to be revealed. Apart from getting a Brother and Sister, separated in very early childhood, back together.
Journey to Love. Pt. 15
Now the damsel has been secured, a journey and quest always requires the hero to navigate the journey back home. In the mean time they take more time to indulge in their flights of fantasy.
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Jack
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We spent most of the next day swimming, punctuated by lovemaking. I had added three checks to my scorepad by mid-afternoon. I noticed I was lasting longer. Our sessions had stretched out to over thirty minutes. It was keeping me fit and I noticed my abs were getting more defined.
"Are we still on for Thai tonight, Sophie?"
"Definitely, I'm keen to at least see Canowindra. Not that I mind being shacked up with you."
"God I wished we were together for COVID isolation, but then we would have been too young to actually do anything."
"True, I was a bratty teenager through that. I gave Mum hell. So better you didn't know me then." Sophie confessed.
"One thing it taught us all is the need to get out and enjoy life, and enjoy the moment when we can. That's what I like about this trip. It's so full of amazing moments."
"Definitely, but I need a physical break from some of those moments. At least I don't want to spoil the fun by making our lovemaking just sex, morning to night.
"Are you saying the honeymoon is over?" I was a bit worried I might have overdone it.
"Got to be married first Big Brother."
"True."
"Just remember, that you are entering your sexual prime right now, so yes, you are a fucking machine. But then my prime will come when I'm thirty-five. I don't want to break you before then, or I may just start swinging."
"Shit I need to be careful. Fuck, just thinking of fifteen years at this pace. Maybe we will need to slow down. Umm, maybe next year."
Sophie giggled that cute giggle of hers.
"So back to tonight. Let's dress up a bit." I said.
"Good idea, but I don't have much."
"Point, I have some dressier jeans and a button-up shirt. But I don't know if my baby-making tackle will enjoy being squished into clothes again."
"Well, you can go commando."
"Ok, but don't turn me on."
"Challenge accepted."
"Minx."
It was daylight saving time, so we decided to get there by six, which meant we may have a chance of being home before dark, which was close to nine pm. The day was still very hot.
Driving in Daisy was wonderful. Well comparatively. So much cooler and you didn't feel so public.
"Jack, are you going to drive home as well?"
"Are you making me the designated driver?"
"Yep," she giggled, "besides it could be dark."
"I'll take that."
Canowindra was a cute old-fashioned town, it looked like it was from a western, but definitely pioneer Australian flavoured. The entry had plenty of billboards advertising it as the hot air ballooning capital of Australia. So luckily we didn't come through to town that first day. In a way, it's a pity we hadn't explored it when the shops were open.
We found the restaurant easily and parked out front. We were greeted by a middle-aged man. I guessed it was the son. We were taken to a quiet table for two. We were the only ones there. It was early for eating but I doubted there would be many customers in tonight.
The place was typical rural Australian in setup. Formica tables with tablecloths and scant decoration to make it look Thai. But we knew the food was wonderful.
Our waiter came back with menus, and as he started asking about drinks, we heard a squeal of delight from behind the bamboo curtain. Followed by a spiel of what I assumed was Vietnamese. The waiter looked at us.
"You know my mum?" His English was broad Australian.
"Yes, she delivered our food earlier in the week."
"I don't know what happened. But she was been very spritely since she came back."
"I think we reminded her of something," Sophie said.
By now she was nearly at our table. She dismissed her Son.
"I serve this wonderful couple." Her wave shooed him on his way.
"You come here. Thank you."
"The food was fantastic and we loved talking with you," Sophie said. She stood and gave the old lady a hug.
"Tonight, you have special food. I cook you Vietnamese style."
"Well, we will have whatever you think is the best. But," I changed my tone, "we will pay full price for it. We can afford it."
I could see her brain ticking. But eventually, she nodded.
"Do you like spicy?"
"Yes please," we both said.
"Very?"
"Well, maybe not Vietnamese very spicy." Sophie realised in time.
"Ok then, hot for you but not for me. I will do."
As the food came out we had snippets of conversation with her.
When she brought out the first dish, Sophie asked. "We don't know your name? This is my brother Jack and I am Sophie."
"Call me Toën." She giggled. "My son and daughter don't call me that. But my Brother did. His name is Hüng. "
She went wistful again. She giggled, "he well hung, as you say, my Hüng. All week I think of him, more than normal. My daughter thinks I have boyfriend."
As the meal progressed to dessert I invited her to pull up a chair and join us. Her son was sticking close, listening when possible.
"I say husband, but you know." She whispered. "Big ears son."
We nodded. She told us some of the story.
"My Husband worked with Australians during war. When we lost he had to hide. Our village, we don't know whose side folk on. Lot of fear.
"Husband hide in old Vietcong tunnel near our home. Dangerous, very dangerous. Booby traps in tunnels. I go take food to him in night. Dangerous, dark. We just have one candle at time.
"We get close, we get very close. In dark hold each other. He fall in love with me. I love him much longer, from before, but he was away too much.
"But there in dark, we make love. Many time. Rabbit in burrow. Soon I become pregnant. Now more dangerous. I tell village I was raped. War rape common. I get sympathy, but now more dangerous. Eventually have son. But realise we must escape by boat. Many people try. Many boats, but dangerous. It take time to find boat.
"We keep make love, I pregnant again but cannot use same excuse. We decide to make escape. Husband go to other village where not known. I join him later. With son, he meet for first time. He love him much. Sometime later at water, ocean, we find boat but crowd get on. Too many. We leave but Soldier discover us and shoot. Hüng shelter us with his body but shot. He die in my arms. We need to put him in ocean."
There were tears in all our eyes. Even her son's, who was now close.
"Last I see him, he float then sink."
Sophie stood and hugged her.
"That is so sad, but you have your two children to your husband."
Her daughter had also joined sometime during the last part of her story.
"Yes, this my special son, Craig, and my daughter Rose."
"Forgive me an old lady, but this Jack and Sophie. They reminded me of my Hüng, this week."
"So that's it!" Rose said. "She was thinking about our father all this week. Mum, you have not told us all this before. You must share more of our father. He must have been a very brave man."
"So where was Rose born?" I asked.
"Well, I was on boat very sea sick and pregnant sick. Not good. Boat trip too long and dangerous. We even got bordered by pirates once. I have nothing to give. We from poor family. They took watch from me that Hüng given by Australian soldier. Soldier name was Craig. That all I had of Hüng's apart from my precious children."
Rose was now in tears. Craig put his arm around her and she wept into his shoulder. Toën continued her story.
"We got picked up by merchant ship and transferred to Australian Navy ship. I gave birth to Rose on way to Australia on that ship. They look after me well. Rose come a bit early but not too bad. Australian Navy and Government very kind to us. Not like they are now.
"We taken to Villawood in Sydney where we spent six months, before being free to live. We Iive in Cabramatta with other Vietnamese families. Until kids grow up. I work in Vietnamese restaurants until I could start my own. I also did street food. Not allowed now.
"Eventually we come here as Cabramatta became dangerous place. Too many brat children of Vietnamese parents. Run wild in street and drug problems. I bring our kids out of there. We moved a lot but now being here twenty years. Kids do most of work now. But not married."
She looked at them wistfully. "I wish they find love like I loved my Hüng. Maybe too late for grandchildren now."
She stood as if to say enough. I stood and Sophie followed, we hugged her together. Tears were now running down her eyes.
I whispered in her ear. "I think soon you should tell your children the whole story." then in a louder voice, "Thank you for sharing your story and your love. We will never forget this night."
Sophie added, "I hope we will come back again one day, this has been very special."
Toën turned and shuffled off, suddenly she was an old woman again. I paid for the meal and included a tip, a good one. What Toën gave us tonight was a priceless gift.
Rose and Craig saw us out. We were the only customers that night.
"I don't know what it was," Rose said, "but our mother has never opened up her heart like that. It has made me think. Maybe the truth is more important to be known than secreted in the heart."
"Yes," Craig added, he looked fondly at his Sister. "Mum has always carried the pain but not shared the love. Tonight she shared her love. We will be ever grateful that you have come into her life. This week we have seen her love."
"Maybe, hopefully," Sophie said bravely, "your family will now share the stories of love. I think we have learnt a lot tonight also. Hopefully, our family will be brave like Toën, to share our family stories too."
"We will come again. I think we might come back to do more Ballooning, maybe next year." I added.
"That's for sure. We fly again in the morning, we need to get home."
It was now dark and after ten o'clock. I had to drive home in the dark. Fortunately, it was not far and there were no trucks on the road.
At home, we were quiet and contemplative. We snuggled in bed. Facing each other in our baby position.
"Maybe we need to be honest with Grandpa when we get back. If we are to be honest with ourselves." Sophie suggested.
"I think you are right. Maybe even before we find out about our inheritance. So that does not be the reason to be secretive about our love."
"I can't believe Toën has locked that up for nearly fifty years. Do you think Rose and Craig will come clean?"
" I think they will if Toën shares that their dad was their father."
