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“Is that…?” Paz rose up on his toes, searching the crowd for blonde hair.

“No.” They’d taken the week off from school, from work, from life. Every day, every flight from America, Paz insisted they come to the airport, to wait for her. Eduardo hadn’t argued because he too believed. She called as she said she would. They talked into the wee hours of the night. She had broken it off with the almost fiancé the second day, the same day she informed the private school she wouldn’t be teaching there. She wouldn’t have done all that if she wasn’t coming back, if she hadn’t chosen them.

But it had been seven days and she hadn’t returned. She promised. A week or less. And this was the last flight. The crowd thinned until there were only airport employees milling about. “Paz…,”

“Miss Stacy said she was coming back,” the boy shot back defiantly. “I have her earring. One earring is silly, Miss Stacy says. She is coming back.”

“Paz.” They should go.

“No,” he insisted, his baby face stubborn. “She is coming back. I wait for her.”

They could believe for a little while longer. It wouldn’t hurt them more. “Then we wait.” He spread his feet, crossed his arms. Paz did the same, leaning back into Eduardo’s body. They were two unmovable objects facing off against disappointment.

“I’m sure he’ll like you, mom. Eduardo likes everyone.” He heard her voice before he saw her.
“And they have taxis, dad. I want to surprise him.”

“Miss Stacy!” Paz shrieked, darting forward. The security guard, a friend of Eduardo’s, lunged, trying to stop him, with no success. The boy was too quick.

“Paz!” Stacy scooped him into her arms, laughing, or crying, or a mixture of both. She smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. “How did you know I was coming in? It was supposed to be a surprise.”

“We wait for you, Miss Stacy.”

“Have you been waiting for me?” Stacy kissed his scarred cheek, touching the pearl earring attached to his collar. “How long?”

“All our lives,” Eduardo answered. She was back. She came back. To him. To them.

“Eduardo.” Stacy stared at him and in those gray eyes, he saw everything he ever wanted. She walked toward him, Paz balanced on her hip, her tote forgotten. The woman behind her, an older version of herself, picked it up. She said something to the man pushing a cart piled high with boxes and suitcases. The security guard waved them through.

All Eduardo cared about was Stacy, and the boy chattering into her ear. She was so beautiful. Cheerful and loving and everything a woman should be. “Little dove.” Eduardo kissed her, quickly, not the way he wanted to, mindful of her parents. “We missed you.”

“I missed you too.” She cuddled Paz. “Eduardo, Paz, I’d like you to meet my mom and dad. They wanted to see Belize.”

“Not only to see Belize.” Stacy’s mom laughed nervously. “To meet our new family,” she said in the same stilted Spanish Stacy used. “The two men Stacy loves so much.”

“Family,” Paz repeated that magical word. “Eduardo?” He wiggled. Stacy released him.

“Yes, Paz?” He brought his face down to the boy’s level.

“Miss Stacy came back, Eduardo,” he said with wonder.

“She did.” Eduardo grinned at Stacy.

“Does that mean she chose us?” It was the boy’s not-so-secret dream.

As it was Eduardo’s. “I don’t know.” He hoped. “Let’s ask her.” Her parents were here. Their house was ready. She was an honorable woman. And he loved her more than anything in the world. There was no reason to wait. Eduardo sank to his knee, bringing out the ring box, opening it, the three diamonds symbolizing the three of them, Stacy, Paz, and Eduardo. His family. “Stacy, little dove, will you choose us forever?”

“Both of us.” Paz sank to his knee beside him, his little hands on the ring box, his body trembling. The boy was as scared as he was. “Me and Eduardo. Will you choose us forever, Miss Stacy? I got perfect on my math test,” he added in case that influenced her decision.

Stacy perched on Eduardo’s knee, gathering Paz to her. “Perfect?” The boy nodded. “I’m very, very proud of you, Paz. We should have another special celebration.” She hugged him close. “But I didn’t choose you because you’re good in math, you know. I chose you because I love you.” Paz touched her mouth as though he had to feel the words to believe them. “I chose Eduardo because I love him.”

“Little dove.” Eduardo couldn’t say more. It was too much.

“When we first met, Eduardo told me I wasn’t in Belize to find myself. Eduardo is a very smart man because he was right.” She rested her head against his neck. “I came to Belize to find you.”

“But I wasn’t lost, Miss Stacy.” Paz frowned. “I was waiting right here.”

“Yes, yes, you were.” Stacy laughed.

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“I’ll phone you every day.” Stacy stood in front of airport security, her dusty tote in her hand. She looked beautiful. She was smiling. She was leaving forever. “Paz…,”

The boy wouldn’t look at her. He gripped Eduardo’s hand tightly. His other hand covered his scar. Eduardo told Paz Stacy was going home to visit her mamá and papá. He didn’t make false promises. He didn’t say she was coming back.

She crouched down. “Paz, I’ll only be away for a little while.” Paz twisted his body away from her. “Eduardo…,” She looked to him for help.

How could he explain? That they’d been left too many times. That the men and women coming to the orphanage would leave with polite lies, promises of a return. They thought it was kinder, giving hope, not knowing how the children would wait, and wait, and wait for someone they’d never see again.

“We’ll be okay,” he lied. They wouldn’t be okay. Not even close.

“I’m coming back.”

Paz ignored her. Eduardo couldn’t say anything. It was all he could do to hold it together. He had to hold it together. Paz counted on him.

“You believe me, don’t you, Eduardo?” Her fingers squeezed his.

Her skin was so soft. He wanted to hold onto her and never let her go.

“Don’t you?”

He stared at their hands. If he looked at her, she’d see. It was easier this way, if she didn’t know. It was easier for everyone.

“You don’t.” She sighed, searching in her tote, for what, he didn’t know. Her flight was called. It was boarding. She’d be leaving soon, taking his heart with her, and he’d never see either of them again.

She removed a pearl earring, one half of the pair she always wore. She bent over. “This is very special to me. It was my grandmother’s, the only thing I have of hers.” She fastened the earring to Paz’s collar. “I have one.” She touched her earlobe. “But I want you to have the other.” She touched his collar. “Take good care of it.” Paz’s face turned toward her. She kissed the tip of his nose. He blinked. “Because when I come back, I’ll need it. I have two ears. It is silly to only have one earring.”

Paz looked up at Eduardo, a question in his eyes. Was she coming back? Eduardo didn’t know. She thought she was but then, all the parents thought they were, and they never did.

“It would be silly,” Eduardo replied for Paz. “We’ll take good care of it. We won’t lose it.” They’d cherish it forever, a memento of the time they were a family, the three of them.

Her flight was called again. “I should go. I’ll miss you.” She pressed her lips to Paz’s forehead. “I’ll call you.” She leaned against Eduardo, nibbling on his mouth. “Less than a week, Eduardo, I promise.”

Eduardo stroked her cheek with his free hand. He wanted to believe in her. With all his heart, he wanted to believe. “I’ll wait for you, little dove.” He kissed her passionately, storing her taste, her touch in his memory. “Forever.”

“Not forever. One week,” she repeated, breaking away.

They watched her go through security, waving to them and smiling one last time before she disappeared from view. Long after she was gone, they stood there, in silence.

“Do you think she’s coming back, Eduardo?” Paz played with the pearl earring.

“I hope so.” He didn’t know.

“I hope so too.”

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Read Part 16 October 20th

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Stacy woke up stretched out on top of Eduardo, the curve of her rear cradled by a big hand. His other arm was around Paz, the little boy warm against their side. They were fully dressed. After Paz fell asleep last night, they hadn’t done anything other than kiss and cuddle, Eduardo respecting her connection to Daniel. Yet Stacy felt guilty, because she wanted to do more. She wanted to touch him, to slide her bare skin over his, to welcome him into her body, her heart, her soul. She pulled her chain, looking down at the ring. But she couldn’t. Not yet.

“He doesn’t love you like I do, little dove.”

He loved her? Stacy looked up. He did. Love reflected in Eduardo’s broad face. She’d never seen love shine in Daniel’s eyes. Not like that. “I have to go back, Eduardo.” She switched to English, not wanting Paz to hear.

“No.” Eduardo spread his fingers, gripping more of her body. “You will not go back. I love you. Paz loves you. The children love you. You have the school, a good job, friends, a big house. Anything you want, I’ll get for you, anything. Tell me and I’ll get it.”

“I want to be free to love you,” she explained. “And that freedom I have to get for myself. I have to give this back.” She dangled the ring.

His body relaxed under hers. “Mail it.” He flicked the diamond with his finger. “Phone your almost fiancé. Or send him a text. No need to leave.”

To end this commitment that way was tempting but it wouldn’t be right. “I owe it to Daniel to tell him my answer in person. It is the honorable thing to do.”

Eduardo’s expelled breath warmed her skin. “Then I go with you.” He caressed her back. “We go to America together.”

She could introduce Eduardo to her parents, her college friends, show him her childhood home, all the places she loved. He’d-

A whimper scattered those plans. Paz pressed further into them, his sleeping face twisted in fear. He was having another bad dream. She held onto him as he remembered horrors no little boy should have to experience. And Stacy knew she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t take Eduardo away from Paz, even for one day. “Paz needs you here.”

“He needs you too.” Eduardo kissed her. “I need you.” He positioned her over the physical proof of his need.

She needed him but they couldn’t act on that need, not here, not now. She softened against him, concealing his condition from Pax, and Eduardo groaned. She swallowed that groan, stroking the roof of his mouth with her tongue. She could kiss him for hours. They had kissed for hours, lost in each other, never wanting to be found.

“It’ll be a week tops,” she promised minutes later. “You won’t know I’m gone.”

“I’ll know.” He placed her hand on his chest. “My heart will know. My body will know.” He pushed upward. “I will miss you every second of every day. I love you, little dove.”

“I…”

“Is it time to go to school, Miss Stacy?” Paz’s baby face appeared in front of Eduardo’s.

To explain to him… Stacy kissed the boy’s forehead, meeting Eduardo’s gaze over Paz’s dark head. He shook his head. Not now. “Almost time.” She propped herself up on Eduardo’s chest. “We need to bathe, dress, and eat breakfast first.” They were tasks a mother would do. Tasks she wanted to do for Paz.

He burrowed into the gap between them. “A big breakfast.” Paz had an appetite rivaling Eduardo’s. “And I need to study.”

“Study?” Eduardo rumbled. Paz never volunteered to do school work.

“Yes, study.” The little boy nodded. “I will do very well on all my tests. Then we will have many special celebrations.” He sighed contentedly. “And we will camp here forever.”

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Read Part 15 October 13th

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Eduardo leaned against the gate, waiting. He waited for them there at the end of every school day. A joyful rhythm beat in his heart but he didn’t add the lyrics. Instead, he listened to Stacy’s gentle voice mix with the excited chatter of children.

His smile spread as the children spilled into the yard, waving and calling out to him. Stacy was one of the last to leave. Paz, her constant shadow, had, yet again, insisted on carrying her tote, his baby face screwed up in determination, the canvas dragging in the dirt.

“Little dove.” Eduardo kissed Stacy. “Paz.” He ruffled the boy’s hair, taking the bag. “How was school?” They walked, Paz between them, like they were a family.

“Good. Paz did very well on his math test, only one answer wrong.” Stacy beamed.

Eduardo was just as proud. He knew the child was intelligent. “Is that right?” Paz nodded solemnly. “Then tonight we celebrate. But how?” Eduardo frowned in mock deliberation. “I don’t know. Stacy, do you have any ideas?”

“Not a one.” She played along. “It was a difficult test. It should be a special celebration.”

“Paz, what should we do? Go for ices? Watch a movie?” Eduardo mentioned two of Paz’s favorite activities.

“It is a special celebration.” The boy watched his feet as he walked. “Very special celebrations take a long time.”

“You could eat dinner with us.” Eduardo would call the orphanage Paz lived at, letting them know.

“It might take longer than dinner. It could…,” Serious brown eyes peeked up at him. “take all night. I might have to stay with you.”

Eduardo’s heart clenched. Soon, very soon, if all went well and Stacy chose him, they’d have their own home; the clapboard house she gushed over. Paz would then live with them permanently. But for now, Eduardo shared a room in the Boss’ compound with Javier. “Paz, where I live…,”

“It is a special celebration, Paz,” Stacy broke in, her fingers on Eduardo’s arm. “Sleeping in the house isn’t special. But if we camped outside, you and me and Eduardo, that would be special. You could teach me all about Belize.”

“Could we?” Paz asked Eduardo, his normally grave face hopeful.

Could they? Camp with Stacy? Spend all night with her and Paz? “We could, Paz. We could indeed.” Happiness pushed up and up until it bubbled out of Eduardo’s mouth. He expressed that joy with a silly counting song about elephants and spider webs, one he’d often sung with Paz. The boy joined in, his voice high and untrained. After a couple of verses, Stacy’s contralto filled the air, hesitant at first, then gaining confidence, until the three of them sang in harmony.

Villagers turned to watch and listen. Eduardo saw the envy on their faces, the wistfulness, the wanting. ‘How lucky Eduardo was,’ they must be thinking, ‘to belong to such a family, to be so loved.’ Eduardo, knowing those thoughts only too well, appreciated how very lucky he was. He would do anything to make that luck last, to convince Stacy to stay.

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Read Part 14 October 6th

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“Eduardo!” A little boy shrieked as they entered the school yard. He dropped the soccer ball he held and ran full tilt at them.

Eduardo released her hand, set down her tote, and crouched, widening his arms. “Paz.” He rocked as the boy hurled himself into them, and then straightened, swinging the child around, murmuring low and deep words only they could hear.

“Who is she?” Dark eyes peered over Eduardo’s shoulder.

“She is the friend I told you about. Remember what you promised to do?”

“Yes.” The boy leaned back to gaze gravely into Eduardo’s eyes. Stacy swallowed her gasp. A long, thick scar marred his baby cheeks. “I remember, Eduardo.”

The big man slid the child to the ground, paused, and then released him. They turned to face her, Eduardo’s hand cupping the top of Paz’ head. “Stacy, I would like you to meet Paz.” Eduardo held himself stiffly as though bracing for bad news. The little boy fidgeted. “Paz, this is Miss Stacy, your new teacher.”

Temporary teacher, Stacy should have corrected. “Hello Paz.” The boy looked down at his feet, a hand over his scar. “Do you play soccer?” She used the English word, not knowing the Spanish equivalent.

A crease formed between the boy’s eyes. He looked up to Eduardo.

“Football. Where Miss Stacy comes from, America, they call football soccer,” he clarified. Stacy inwardly groaned at her mistake. She knew that.

Paz’s hand dropped, the scar forgotten. “Why would they do that?”

Eduardo shrugged.

“Because we already have a game called football,” Stacy explained. “We changed the name so we didn’t get all mixed up.”

The child’s dark head tilted as he pondered that. “I would do the same, change my name.” He nodded. “If Eduardo already had a boy called Paz. So he didn’t get all mixed up.”

As though he would. Stacy met Eduardo’s gaze. The boy was adorable. The school bell rang, the children rushing for the entrance. “I should go in.” Charlie was already in the classroom, she had insisted Stacy sleep in this first day. Her first day. A different school. A different country. Stacy let out a long breath. She could do this.

“You’ll be okay?” Eduardo took her hands.

“I’ll be okay.” She lifted her chin.

He gave her what she needed, to bolster her courage, a solid connection, lip to lip. “Paz will see you in, won’t you, Paz?”

“Yes, Eduardo.” Another nod from the boy. “Are you scared, Miss Stacy?” Little fingers curled in her hand.

“Why would I be scared?” Stacy walked with him, looking back over her shoulder at Eduardo. He watched them, an intense yearning on his face.

“Eduardo says it is okay to be scared on your first day of school but you mustn’t show it. He says you have to be strong and not cry. You won’t cry, will you?” Brown eyes peered up at her with trepidation.

She smiled. “Not if you’re by my side.” Eduardo was clearly the boy’s idol.

“I am to take care of you, Eduardo says. Like Eduardo took care of me. So you won’t be scared. It is scary being all alone. Are you an orphan too, Miss Stacy? Is that why you’re alone?” He finally took a breath.

“My parents are in America. That is far away.”

“My parents are in heaven. That is far away too.” He stared up at the sky, his expression pensive. “I am an orphan, just like Eduardo is. Many boys have dead mamás and papás. That is nothing to be ashamed of, Eduardo says. I’m not ashamed, Miss Stacy. I’m proud because Eduardo chose me. Of all the kids, he chose me.”

“That’s wonderful.” How could he have not chosen Paz?

“It is wonderful, very, very wonderful.”

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Read Part 13 September 29th

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Charlie checked her phone.

“Is that Eduardo?” He’d texted Charlie that he was on his way but he wasn’t here yet. Had something happened?

“No, honey, someone else.” Charlie handed her dainty china plates. “You sure you only met Eduardo a day ago?”

Stacy’s cheeks heated as she set the plates on the table. “It was a long day.” The school teacher pursed her lips and she rushed to clarify, “We are good friends.” As she hoped she was fast becoming with Charlie.

She got a sure-you-are glance. Pancakes were flipped. Silverware was passed. “Eduardo is a good man. The children love him.”

“Children?” Who were these children of his heart?

“He helps with the school. An administrator of sorts. He is our go-between with Mr. Santos. He handles enrollment and other administrative tasks. Currently he’s looking for another teacher so we can split the class into two.”

It would be a challenge, an exciting challenge, to teach children of all ages. “You are looking for a primary school teacher?” Stacy fingered the elaborate leaf design on one knife. If they needed a primary school teacher she’d help, but the children needed more than music and languages.

“We would settle for teacher. Period.” Charlie laughed. “Though I had no formal education in teaching before I started so even that is negotiable. All I need is someone friendly and hard working. If she has those attributes, I can train her.” She passed the drinking glasses.
They were hand painted in bright colors, at odds with the rest of the table setting. Daniel would call them tacky. Stacy thought them charming.

“I could help with the classes.” Eduardo had plans to show her Belize, plans he had shared with her last night, but to be able to teach in another country where kids truly, desperately needed her skills, that would be such an opportunity. “For the two weeks I’m here, until you find someone.”

“It’s hard work, honey.” Charlie handed Stacy the pancakes. She carried the eggs and bacon herself.

Stacy set the platter on the table. “I’m not afraid of hard work.” She was trained to handle a classroom full of rowdy kids. She hadn’t been trained for getting shot at and trekking through the jungle, yet she had managed. “I’d like to help.”

“That would be terrific.” Charlie beamed. “We’ll mention it to Eduardo. See what he says.”

“Mention what to Eduardo?” The man himself wrapped an arm around her. “Stacy.” He kissed her on the lips. “Charlie.” The older woman got a wink. “Yummm… Pancakes.” The Windsor chair creaked as he sat down.

He looked tired. But then she must look tired also. They hadn’t slept long last night, talking and laughing for hours.

“How did the meeting with your boss go?” What Charlie had told Stacy of Eduardo’s boss, this Tavos Santos, hadn’t eased any worries. He protected the village yet he was, what Eduardo would call, a bad man.

“Okay.” He stuck his fork into the pancake stack. Stacy had thought there was enough food on the table to feed the village. Or, she watched as Eduardo transferred four more pancakes to his plate, one very large man. “What did you want to mention to me?”

“Charlie was telling me how she needs help with the village school.”

“Was she?” Eduardo’s fork froze midair.

“I told her it is very hard work, but so rewarding,” Charlie jumped into the conversation. “It is interesting that I badly need help with the school and here Stacy is, another teacher.”

“It is hard work.” His head bowed over the pancakes. “And Stacy is on vacation, Charlie. We can’t ask her to give that up.”

She was needed. Stacy slid forward in her chair. “You don’t have to ask. I’d love to help. I could shadow Charlie for a few days and then we could split the classroom into two and I could take the younger children.” Charlie had suggested that.

“She’s staying with me. I live close to the school.” Her new friend added. “When the school day is over, you can show her Belize.”

“And on weekends. I’ll need her weekends free.” Eduardo considered her. “Are you sure, Stacy?”

“I’m sure.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed.

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Read Part 12 September 22nd

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“You made trouble with fuckin’ Gomez?” The Boss was in a fury, pacing in front of him, juggling his knife between hands. “Got yourself caught in the middle of a fuckin’ gang war, almost getting yourself fuckin’ killed? Are you a complete jackass?”

“I would not let him hurt Stacy, Boss.” Eduardo straightened his shoulders.

“And who is this Stacy? Do you even fuckin’ know?” The Boss was very careful about who he let into the village.

“Her name is Stacy Walker, Boss. She is a teacher.” And everything he had ever dreamed of in a woman.

“A teacher?” The Boss picked up speed. “Fuck. Is that what this is all about? A teacher? You found out she was a fuckin’ teacher and took her?”

This wasn’t about her being a teacher. He would have taken her even if she had been a prostitute. But she wasn’t a prostitute. She was a woman of honor, particular about whom she kissed. Eduardo liked that. She would now only kiss him, not the half man, not anyone else.

“When I said you could hire another fuckin’ teacher, I said hire, not kidnap. Fuck.” The Boss continued with his rant.

Eduardo opened his mouth to tell him she wasn’t the new teacher and then shut it again. Why couldn’t she be the new teacher? She would choose him, she would be the new teacher, they would marry, fill their home with many, many children.

“What a fuck up.” The Boss raked his fingers through his hair. “You get her fuckin’ details to Jack so we can see how big a fuck up this is.” Jack would do the background check. Eduardo wasn’t worried. She would pass it, Stacy was as innocent as a child. “Where is she now?”

“With Charlie, Boss.”

“In the village? Fuck. At least you knew not to bring her here, putting my entire fuckin’ family at risk. But next time, you fuckin’ tell me if you’re bringing a stranger to the village. I am responsible for those fuckin’ lives also.”

As was Eduardo. “I need two weeks off, Boss. Until I’m sure, I don’t want her alone.” Until he was sure she was so deeply in love with him, he’d be her only choice.

“Fuck.” The Boss stopped pacing. Dead eyes examined him. “Are you fuckin’ the new teacher?”

Eduardo glowered. “I am not.”

“Fuck. But you want to.” Nothing got past the Boss. “You get two fuckin’ weeks to sell her on staying in Belize. Don’t fuck up. I don’t want to lose another fuckin’ bodyguard.” The Boss strode off, the interview done.

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Read Part 11 September 15th

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“Charlie.” A smile spread wide on Eduardo’s lips as he strode toward the older woman.

Lips Stacy had tasted. Once. And she wanted to taste again. It was wrong, so wrong. How can she be about to commit herself to one man and crave the taste, the touch, the proximity of another?

Eduardo and Javier exchanged greetings with Charlie. They laughed at some inside joke Stacy didn’t understand.

“Charlie, this is Stacy Walker. She is a teacher from America. Charlie is a teacher also and a dear friend.”

“Stacy.” The woman leaned forward. Stacy did too. There was an awkward kissing of cheeks.
It was a very Central American thing, the kissing, the touching. There was no dishonor in kissing, Eduardo said. It was expected. Some of the tension eased from Stacy’s shoulders. She was not a bad person.

“You are a teacher, honey?” Charlie said in English softened by a rolling Southern accent. “Are you on sabbatical?”

Something like that. “Summer break. I go back in September.”

“Stacy will be staying in the village.” Eduardo’s arm circled her waist. “Do you know of someone wishing a boarder?”

The woman’s eyes lit up. “You could stay with me.” Stacy’s hand was covered. “I’ll cook for you. We could have pizza and burgers and…,” Charlie’s face softened as though she hadn’t had those foods in a while. “That is, if you want, honey.”

Stacy glanced up at Eduardo. He nodded, looking pleased. “I’d love that,” she murmured.

“We’ll move you in right…,”

“We have to go. The Boss, he waits for you, Eduardo.” Javier interrupted, his expression anxious. “Very bad mood. He threatens to,” He made a slicing movement with his hand across his throat. “everyone.”

A chill fell over Stacy. Had she put Eduardo at risk with his boss, this crime boss they were both so loyal to? “Eduardo…”

“I will see him. Explain,” Eduardo reassured her. “He would never hurt you. Don’t worry.” He hugged her.

He misunderstood. “It is not me I’m worried about. It is you.”

Their bodies touching, Stacy felt him tremble. “You worry… about me?” he asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

Had no one ever worried about him before? “Of course.”

“Of course, you worry… about me,” he repeated, his normally strong voice weak.

“I got you into trouble.” That was why she was worried, because she was responsible, and because Eduardo was a nice person and… that was it.

He stepped away, shaking himself. “No, no trouble.” Javier’s raised eyebrow said the opposite. “The Boss will not hurt me. I promise. You stay here. I will be back in an hour or two for our big breakfast.”

“You haven’t eaten?” Charlie chirped happily. “I could make bacon and eggs and pancakes.”

It was not exactly the Belizean meal Stacy had been anticipating. “That would be nice,” Eduardo agreed to it anyway. “I will text you, Charlie, when I am done.”

“Eduardo, the Boss.” Javier shifted impatiently.

Eduardo didn’t acknowledge him. “You will be okay? Here with Charlie?” He looked concerned, about her.

She was concerned about him. “I’ll be okay. Will you…,”

He squeezed her waist. “I’ll be okay. You don’t worry… about me.”

“Eduardo,” Javier cautioned.

“You go.” Charlie shooed him away.

“Yes, yes, I go.” Eduardo raised his hands. He paused. Then he surged forward. His big hand on her hip, the heat of his palm felt through her clothes, he kissed her on the lips quickly.

By the time, Stacy recovered from the contact, he was gone. Charlie eyed her, a slight smile illuminating her face. “Your man will be hours, Stacy. I’ll make us a snack.”

He was not her man. She should correct Charlie. She didn’t. She followed the woman into the house.

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Read Part 10 September 8th

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Eduardo searched through her backpack the next morning, his stomach growling. Nothing. No food. “We will eat a big breakfast once we get to the village,” he promised.

“What will we have?” She winced as she combed through her snarled hair.

“Here, let me.” He took the comb from her, sitting behind her, gathering her hair up in his hands. It was the color of raw honey. Pearl earrings glistened in her ears. “We will have fryjack, lots of fryjack.” He carefully separated the strands with his fingers as he had often seen mothers do with their little girls.

“Hhhmmm… is that like a pancake?” She was no little girl. Her eyes closed, her head lulled back. He wanted to kiss that exposed neck. “I like pancakes.”

“Better than pancake.” She’d changed her clothes, this blouse bright and frilly and feminine. It suited her. “And we will have black bean and egg.”

“That sounds yummy.”

She sounded yummy. He combed, singing softly, happy to care for her. Javier would come for them soon, the shooting long done. Until then it was him and her and a beautiful Belizean morning. “Stacy”

“Eduardo.” Her eyes opened. She turned her head slightly.

He kissed her, a light, harmless brush against that full mouth. Her lips parted with the contact so he kissed her again. Harder. Longer. Not a kiss a lover would give but not a kiss of a friend either.

Although he wanted more, he didn’t risk rushing her. He reluctantly drew back, returning to combing her hair, trying to act like nothing happened, like a missing piece of his heart hadn’t been found. She stared straight ahead, the emotions flying across her face easy to read. Passion, bemusement, realization, guilt.

“About…, that is…, I mean…,” A pause. “Daniel asked me to marry him,” she blurted out.

Had she been thinking of that half man while kissing him? “Do you see him here? No. I don’t. This has nothing to do with your almost fiancé.”

“It does. I’m an honorable woman, Eduardo.”

“And I dishonored you?” He drew himself up, offended at the implication. “I would never dishonor you.” She was a treasure.

“We…,” She waved her hand.

Could she not even say the words? He set down the comb not trusting himself to be gentle.
“We kissed. That is all. There is no dishonor in kissing.”

“It shouldn’t happen again.”

Eduardo didn’t agree because it would happen again, many, many times.

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Read Part 9 September 1st