The author discovers a revealing photograph of her grandmother and a mysterious woman, prompting questions about her grandmother's past relationships. This leads to conversations with her mother about unspoken love stories, particularly one involving a young architect who fled during the Vietnam War. Despite initial resistance, the mother gradually opens up about her youth and her love for romance novels. This exploration of family history not only deepens the author's understanding of her grandmother but also bridges a gap between her and her mother by uncovering shared emotions and experiences.
I asked my mother about this woman, wondering if she was one of my grandmother's lost friends. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, many of them had fled the country in refugee boats but had not survived the journey.
If I could not know my grandmother better, I decided that at least I wanted to know more about my mother and her life.
At 19, she fell head over heels for a tall, handsome architect, but they lost touch when he fled the Vietnam war.
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