Her Missing Part
Hongqiao International Airport
"Ge." She called the tall man in his late thirties, wearing an immaculate white long sleeve polo with three buttons opened showing a firm broad chest, over black pants and Amadeo Testoni antiqued leather oxfords on his feet, standing with a laid back attitude near the entrance of the immigration area.
He smiled widely to Ellise when he spotted her approaching. Then casually gathered her in his arms and gave her a kiss on her right temple.
"That's all your luggage?" he asked pertaining to her backpack.
"Yes," she answered timidly. "You don't have one?"
"I already dropped my luggage for check-in, here's your ticket. Let's get inside and get something to eat. Have you eaten breakfast?" he asked her tenderly and with enough adoration to make people watching them squirmed with second-hand embarrassment.
"I had breakfast, the woman who is responsible for taking care of us in the club forced me to have some," she told him, scrunching her nose in complaint.
He laughed jubilantly, ruffled her hair, then took her backpack and carried it on his back while casually draping his arms on her shoulder as they walked.
"Maybe we should just get something to drink instead, since our flight will just be around two hours, and when we arrive at our destination is almost time for lunch."
"Yeah, we shouldn't eat anymore because Ting sent me a photo of the table of food that is waiting for us," she said, showing him her phone to see the photo. "He said they are still cooking! I mean, look at the amount of food they are preparing, it looks like they are going to feed the whole village!" she said with a laugh.
"They are just so excited to see you." grinning he said.
Ellise gave him a satisfied smile, but laughed nervously, "Do you think they'll like me?"
He stopped walking, titled her face left and right playfully and said, "Where is not to like?"
----
After two days in Xiamen, they are back in Shanghai. And the black sedan that Ting is driving is currently cruising in a neighborhood in Tianzifang where streets are lined with beautiful Sycamore. She's watching the ray of sunlight piercing the canopy of trees resulting in soft curtains of light rays. She can't help but smiles with the scenery unfolding outside the car window.
"Are you really okay going meeting her alone?" he asked her, voice laced with concern.
"I'll be fine," she answered with a smile, as the car stopped in a curb of an apartment villa with brick walls. It reminds her of some old buildings in Paris.
"Call me anytime, okay? I'll be at work but don't hesitate to give me a call."
She answered with a nod, before jumping out of the car.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" he asked Ting as they watched her enter the alleyway.
"She'll be fine. Ellise is a tough young lady. I have watched her, since she first stepped on the motherland soil when she was fifteen years old." Ting said in notable pride.
Ting words gave him the assurance he needed, so he decided to let his worries go and call the people back home that have been sending him messages inquiring about everything that happened in two days.
---
Ellise slowly entered the back alley that opened to a courtyard that looked like it came out of an English castle, with its gorgeous rose garden. She was standing there admiring the said garden in awe, when she heard a pleasant voice.
"Do you like roses, my dear?"
She turned around and caught sight of a beautiful English woman in a white summer dress beaming nervously at her.
"Not really, but those coral roses are magnificent.", she said staring back at the roses blooming around the courtyard fountain.
"You must have someone you desire to know," she said with her lips curved upward in an engaging smile.
All of her apprehension for this meeting simply vanished, the woman has a very friendly yet magnetic presence.
"Would you care to join me for tea, my dear?"
Ellise finds herself nodding in answer. She can help but be drawn by the woman's charisma.