Page 93 of Happy Endings

“When did Reina and Josie leave?”

“An hour before you woke up,” Zoe replied. “I think you have a solid business plan. Might need some editing since we wrote it drunk.”

“How are you not hungover?” Trixie’s head pounded.

“I think you and Reina drank most of the wine. Hungry?” Zoe pointed at the breakfast bar.

On it were two plates with eggs, sausage, and toast. Next to them were mugs of Vietnamese-style coffee. The phin—single serving tin filters—on top of the mugs were still dripping the dark roast into the sweetened condensed milk at the bottom. She preferred the hot version this early in the morning. No dá—ice.

“Cà phê s?a!” Trixie hugged Zoe. “This reminds me of home. Thank you.”

“After the late night, I think both of us need the extra caffeine.”

Trixie grabbed the Sriracha hot sauce from the fridge before sitting down. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten last night. She scarfed down her breakfast.

“Wow, that hit the spot.” Trixie leaned back and rubbed her stomach. She removed the phin from the mug, setting it onto the upturned lid. The deep chocolate fragrance hit her nose as she stirred her coffee. “I can’t remember the last time I had a cà phê s?a at home.”

“Me neither. I had to google how to use the filters!” Zoe laughed. “My mom always said that no Vietnamese person in the States brews coffee this way anymore. They only do it in restaurants for the white people.”

Zoe’s parents would know. Ph?-Ever 75 in Falls Church had madeWashingtonianmagazine’s best cheap eats three years running. The restaurant was very popular with both Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese diners alike.

“I don’t care how it’s made. It’s delicious.” Trixie chuckled. “Do you hear that sound?”

“I think it’s your phone. Let me find it.”

“If it’s Andre, let it go to voicemail. I’m not talking to him ever again.”

“It’s your mom.” Zoe handed Trixie the phone.

“Má, sorry I haven’t called,” she said after putting her on speaker.

“Your dad had another heart attack. A big one this time.”

Zoe gasped.

“Ba! When?”

“This morning. I called an ambulance, and they took him to the hospital. Lucy is driving me there to meet him now.”

The panic in her mom’s voice scared Trixie.

“Má, I’m coming. I’m coming home.” She didn’t care if her dad wanted her there. Trixie was going to New Orleans. “Oh my God, Ba.”

“Don’t pay for parking at the airport. It’s too expensive.” How could she think about frugality at a time like this?

“Zoe will take me to the airport, and I’ll book the next flight.”

Zoe nodded.

“I’ll have Lucy text you when we get to the hospital. We’re almost there. I’ll talk to you when you get here.” Her mom hung up without their customary good-byes.

“I—I should go pack.” Trixie shook as she picked up her phone.

“No, you sit. I’ll pack for you.” Zoe hugged her. “Go sit on the couch.”

Trixie zombie-walked back to the couch she’d woken up on not long ago. When she’d left New Orleans, he was strong and healthy. Now he was in an ambulance, and she had no idea of his condition.

Her embarrassment and pride had kept her away from her parents for too long. Her mom always insisted that Trixie not spend money on a flight. But her mom would never ask her outright to come home. Deep down Trixie knew this. If she knocked on their door, her parents wouldn’t have turned her away. Not even her dad. They loved her. Trixie didn’t want to lose any more time with them. It was time to go home and mend their relationship.

---