Uneven Exchange (24 page)

“I know You are a gracious God, and I’m asking for Your mercy. First and foremost, please bring Alexandra home safely. I’m asking this even if it means we can never be together. Then, if it is Your Will, dear Lord, please, please allow us to finally become a couple.

“I thank You, Lord God, and I pray this all in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.”

Jake remained motionless as his heart spoke to God more than his words could express. Finally, he heard his telephone ringing.

“Jake Taylor,” he answered.

“Jake, it’s Kevin O’Neil. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No, I was just deep in thought. What’s up? Is there any news?”

“Not yet. Hey, listen, buddy. We’re having a belated Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. I know it’s late notice, but we would love to have you as our guest this evening.”

“Oh, thank you, Kevin. What a kind invitation. I really will have to beg off, though. I don’t think I’d be very good company.”

“That’s okay. My kids will do all the talking anyway.”

“Thank you very much, but maybe another time.”

“I understand. See you Sunday?”

“I’m counting the hours.”

***

Kevin

“Were you able to reach him?” Casey asked.

“Yes,” Kevin answered. “Poor guy. I can hear the worry in his voice.”

“Is he coming over?”

“No, he was very grateful but wants to be alone right now.”

“Well, you can’t blame him.”

“I know.” Kevin slumped into a dining room chair.

“You can’t blame yourself either,” Casey said while walking toward him. She stopped to sit in his lap. “It’s not your fault.”

When her husband grunted an inaudible response, Casey wrapped her arms tightly around his broad shoulders. She nuzzled his neck and whispered, “I love you, Kevin Patrick O’Neil.”

“I love you too,” he spoke quietly, moving his mouth to meet hers. After kissing her tenderly, Kevin asked, “What would I do without you?”

She brushed a soft hand across his forehead. “Who knows?” Casey smiled. “I am never going to give you the chance to find out.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

BUS RIDE FROM HELL

The Baja California Peninsula

Alexandra

Midnight. As their bus ride continued, Alexandra felt as though she was trapped in a bizarre waking nightmare. At one point, mid-trip, Rico turned to her and remarked, “Now I know what it’s like to be in hell.” He seemed to have rapidly forgotten the rejuvenating slumber of their ferry ride from Mazatlan.

In the dimly lit bus, Alexandra observed one of the other passengers, a drunken student, stumble toward the bathroom. However, before he reached it, his guts lurched into a steady gush of vomit. Instantly, she yanked her feet up off the floor to avoid the splashing particles.

“I think this is worse than hell,” Alexandra muttered.

The young male proceeded to relieve himself while holding the bathroom door open for support. He then staggered to the nearest empty seat and plopped down.

“Memories,” Rico mumbled.

“Don’t tell me you too?” Alexandra asked.

“I’ve been pretty drunk before, but not like that. Usually I just pass out before it hits.”

“Well, it looks like he’s out for good.”

Nodding, Rico chuckled. “Should I go ask him to clean up his mess?”

“Sure thing,” Alexandra quipped before closing her eyes. She inhaled the stench and tried to breathe slowly and evenly, hoping to draw the sleep she knew would help to advance time. But the constant bouncing wakened and reawakened her and Rico.

At dawn, Alexandra finally surrendered to the fact that sleep was only a dream. She stood and tried to stretch her stiff back while holding the bus wall for support. Frustrated that she could not fully stand, she flopped back down into their bench seat and stared out the window at the sparse landscape. By this time, the wound on her head was throbbing.

Rico opened one eye and then closed it. He also seemed unable to sleep. “Can you see the ocean yet?” he asked.

“Not yet.”

“What time is it?”

She checked her watch. “It’s almost six thirty.”

“Wake me when we get to Ensenada.”

Annoyed, she asked, “How can you sleep with all of this bouncing?”

“I can’t.”

The ocean finally came into view, and Alexandra’s spirits were lifted as the bus began to roll smoothly along the toll road. “Rico,” she whispered while pushing at his shoulder. “Ensenada.”

“At last,” he moaned, stretching in the seat. “My back is killing me.”

“Tell me about it! Plus, my head feels like it’s split wide open.”

“We should be making a quick stop. Maybe we can find some
Mejorales
,” he offered, using the Spanish name for aspirin.

“It will feel great to finally stretch out our legs a minute,” she agreed.

“Are you hungry?”

She looked down at the dried vomit before answering, “Not really. A few aspirins, a sip of water, and some fresh air will do the trick. Plus, just think, Rico. We’re almost home!”

***

Jake

Kevin steered their car into the Tijuana bus station parking lot and promptly switched off the engine. He was driving a typical, dark-colored, unmarked model, belonging to the Administration.

“Let’s wait here,” he said.

Jake looked around at the intersection. “From which direction will they be coming?”

“It’s hard to say. If the main drag is loaded with tourist traffic, the bus driver might decide to circle and hit town via the side streets. We’ll have to wait and see.”

“Wait? I feel like that’s all I’ve been doing.”

“I hear you,” Kevin said. “But at least we’re finally in the home stretch.”

“Are you positive they made the bus?”

“Yes, I’m positive. Rico checked in around ten last night.”

“Were they making good time?”

“It was too soon to tell. Best case, the bus could pull around the corner right about now. Worst case, it’ll take until two or three.”

“What is your best guess?” Jake prompted.

Kevin shrugged. “I’d say about noon.”

***

Alexandra

The bus driver stopped in Ensenada for the time it took to load up on fish tacos at a street-front vendor. When he announced the short break, Rico and Alexandra raced to the nearest pharmacy for a jumbo box of
Mejorales
. They purchased four cards of twenty-five each for only five dollars. Then at a small market next door to the pharmacy, they also bought a couple of quart-size water bottles.

After boarding the bus, Alexandra rapidly popped three aspirins out of one of the cards before offering those remaining to Rico. “Do you want the rest?” she asked, suddenly becoming giddy. She bit her lip to stifle the erupting laughter.

“Maybe I better save them for you,” he suggested, looking at her sideways. “It’s a good thing we’re almost home, because I think you’ve finally lost it!”

She laughed. “Home? Where’s home? Do you think we can make it?”

Alexandra’s constant laughter seemed to infect him. With a soft chuckle, he responded, “I don’t know. What time is it now?”

She glanced quizzically at her watch. “It’s almost noon. Why?”

“Well, let’s see.” His rumbling hilarity grew. “We’ve spent over twenty-six hours in this hellhole. Do you think we can last just one more hour?”

By now, they both roared uncontrollably with laughter. Everything seemed funny, even the dried vomit on the floor. Then the fact the other passengers, who were either passed out drunk, or just passed out, were oblivious to their backseat antics caused her to laugh even harder.

Alexandra held on to her side. “Stop it,” she pleaded. “I can’t take any more!”

“Okay, okay,” he said, still laughing. “Well, at least we’re wide awake.”

“That we are, and at this point I wonder if I will ever sleep again.”

“Ah, you will. Before you know it, you’ll be back in a regular routine with only vague memories of this enchanting journey.”

“I doubt that. Somehow, it seems my life will never be quite the same.” The tone of Alexandra’s comment expressed a mere statement of fact rather than a feeling of remorse.

Sounding serious, Rico asked, “What about Jake? Do you think you’ll ever let him know how you really feel about him?”

Alexandra shrugged. “I don’t know, Rico. I guess I need to see how he responds to me. What I do know is that things are definitely not going to remain the same. If it doesn’t look like we have a chance together, then I’m going to move on.”

“Move on in what way?”

“In all ways, including our business. I love the guy too much to continue working alongside him. It’s unbelievably hard.” For the first time, Alexandra allowed herself to visualize Jake. While gazing out the window at the azure ocean, she envisioned him holding her in his strong and comforting arms before sensing Rico’s constant stare. Alexandra turned to face him. “What are you thinking?”

“How much you
don’t
look like Daniela.”

His comment shocked her. “How can you say that? Everyone thinks we look exactly alike. I still even wonder if she’s my twin.”

“Then stop wondering, because she definitely is not. Don’t get me wrong, you both look a lot alike, but nobody knows Daniela’s face like I know Daniela’s face. I know every square inch, and to me there are more differences than similarities.”

“Then how did we fool Daniela’s own brother?”

“People tend to see what they expect to see, and Miguel Santiago’s arrogance allows him to see only himself. He had no reason to suspect you were anyone but Daniela.”

“Wow, it sounds so odd to hear you say that after all we’ve been through.”

“Please don’t take it wrong,” Rico said while placing his hand gently on top of Alexandra’s. “I thought you would take comfort in knowing about your differences.”

“I do. Thank you, Rico. In fact, when I was watching all the video recordings, my focus was on mannerisms and speech rather than every little detail of her face. What I meant to say was that the entire mission was based upon me looking just like Daniela. It now sounds so odd to hear you tell me I really don’t.”

“But the mission was a success, and that’s a good thing.”

“Yes, it is.” Without saying another word, Alexandra unfastened Daniela’s watch from her wrist and handed it to Rico.

He accepted it and examined the familiar bracelet. Each link was formed with alternating white and yellow fourteen karat gold. His eyes misted as he asked, “Why are you giving this to me?”

“So you’ll return it to Daniela personally.”

“How do you know I’ll see her?”

“I just know.”

“How do you know she’ll see me?” he asked with hopeful anticipation.

“That I don’t know, but whether she does or she doesn’t, you will never know unless you try.”

Rico looked lost in thought. She waited a few moments before asking, “Where is she now?”

“I’m not sure, but on some boat, I think.”

“She’s been on a boat all this time?”

“I think so. Just off the coast of Cancun.”

“When do they plan to let her go?”

“Probably when you’re home safe and sound, but we’ll have to confirm that with Kevin.”

“My goodness,” Alexandra said while shaking her head in disbelief. “By now she’s probably livid! I’m glad I don’t have to see her.”

“Well, thanks a lot! First you tell me to go and see her, and now you say you’re glad you don’t have to go.”

“Yes, but I’m not the one she’s in love with.”

“Well obviously I’m not the one either. Are you forgetting we broke up?”

“Are
you
forgetting? We had this conversation. Daniela broke up with Rico Aleman, the tough guy who went to work for her brother. But she’s still in love with you, Rico Hernandez, the tender, compassionate man we both know.”

“How can you say that?”

“I can say it because it’s true. Rico, I heard Daniela talking about you with her brother. I also heard her on the phone when she specifically told him not to allow you to pick her up at the airport.”

“So what’s the big deal? She obviously didn’t want to see me. How can that possibly prove she’s still in love with me?”

“Men. You never get it, do you?”

“I guess not, because I have no idea where you’re coming from.”

Alexandra took his hand and said, “Listen to me. If Daniela didn’t still have feelings for you, then it wouldn’t have mattered to her whether you were the one to pick her up. But you see, it means she does have feelings. She still loves you, and for that reason, she knew it would be difficult to be alone with you in the car.”

“Maybe she didn’t want to get into any type of argument.”

“No, you’re wrong. I saw her expression when she was on the phone. Daniela was hurting, just like I know you are hurting now.”

“I don’t know, Alex.”

“Well, like I said, you’ll never know until you try. Do you plan to go down without a fight?”

“No, but what do I have for ammunition?”

“You have love—and the truth.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is simple. You need to go and see her as soon as you can. Get to her and tell her the truth before she hears part of the story from someone else. Then hold her, Rico. Hold her like you’ve never held her before. Learn to open up your heart, and let her inside. Let Daniela see and feel all the love you have for her.”

Through the windows of his eyes, Alexandra pictured the gears spinning within Rico’s mind. Gently, she released his hand and faced forward, allowing him time to be alone with his thoughts. After a while, he slowly turned his face toward Alexandra. “Maybe you should listen to your own advice.”

“It’s different between Jake and me because we’ve never been a couple. Do you realize how hard it would be for me to blurt out how I feel about him?”

“Yes, I do, but I also remember what you told me. Didn’t you get the feeling Jake was coming on to you right before you left?”

“I did, but that also could have been wishful thinking.”

When their bus left the smooth surface of the toll road to rumble along the backstreets of Tijuana, one by one, the other passengers slowly came to life. Even the passed-out student was jerked awake by the erratic bouncing and loud traffic noise. Although he had previously graced the floor with his stomach contents, Alexandra empathized with him as she watched the youth struggle to focus. His blond hair was matted with vomit and stood comically askew. By the pale, almost deathly appearance of his complexion, she imagined he probably felt much worse than he looked.