Angel finished the story and handed the book back to Pedro. “Gracias, Pedro.”
“De nada.”
Pedro took his book and climbed down from Kevin’s lap to join his sister and some of the other children on the floor.
Sister Mary Francis stood, and all the children turned to look at her. “Say goodnight, children,” she said in Spanish.
All the children said good night, some of them stopping to hug Angel and the others as they filed out of the room. “I’ll be right back,” said the sister, following them out.
“That was a cute story you read,” Brandi said to Angel.
“You understand Spanish?”
Brandi smiled. “Si.”
“Well, how about that. The book belongs to Pedro. It’s the only possession he had with him when his grandmother dropped him and his sister off here a few months ago.”
“Why would she do that?” asked Kevin.
“She had no choice.” Angel stood and walked to look out of the window, staring into the dark. “Their parents died in a car accident right after Lucia was born. Their grandmother is the only family they have, and she’s very sick. She couldn’t take care of them any longer. What else could she do? She had to bring them here and put them up for adoption. The sad thing is it’ll probably never happen for Pedro. Most people want babies or toddlers.”
“How old is he?” asked Kevin.
Angel gave him a curious look. “He turned eleven last month. Why?”
He shook his head. “He looks younger than Faith.”
“Yeah, I know. Poverty will do that to you. He’s actually healthier now than when he came here.”
“Thank God they were brought here when they were. Now they’re well taken care of.” Brandi spoke up.
Angel nodded. “Yeah, and with any luck, Pedro’s sister will be adopted in the next few months.” She laid her head against the glass and sighed. “He’s really gonna miss her though.”
Kevin was still trying to swallow the lump in his throat when Sister Mary Francis came back into the parlor.
“I’m so glad you came,” Sister Mary Francis said, hugging Brandi.
Brandi returned the hug wholeheartedly. “So am I.”
The nun smiled radiantly as she touched Brandi on the cheek. “You’re welcome here anytime.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, Sister, we’d better go,” said Angel. “Kevin and I have got a long trip ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Goodbye, Angel, and God bless you.”
Angel smiled warmly as she put her arms around the nun’s small, sturdy shoulders and hugged her tightly. “He already has, Sister.”
When Angel stepped back, the sister squeezed her hand affectionately. Then she turned to Kevin and grinned. “There’s hope for you yet, young man. Thank you, and I do hope you’ll come again.”
Kevin nodded to the fiery nun. “You’re welcome, Sister. It’s been…interesting.
Angel shared a look with the nun that spoke volumes as she bid her farewell. “Goodnight, Sister.”
No one spoke as the three went outside into the dark night and climbed into the pickup truck. Kevin paused for a moment, thinking about the day and all he had seen and done, then took a deep breath and started the engine.
Part of him desperately wanted to take Pedro with him, but what would he do with an eleven-year-old boy? And what about his sister? Could he really live with himself if he let the two be adopted separately? I’m a confirmed bachelor. I can’t even consider adopting on my own. He turned on the headlights and headed the truck towards the dark trail and back to the main road.
Brandi turned to look back at the old white house. “It’s hard to leave them behind, isn’t it?”
Angel gave her an understanding smile. “Miguel will be happy to bring you anytime you want to come back.”
“Good. I’d like that.”
7
It was ten thirty in the morning when Kevin and Angel collected their bags and got off the ferry. The trip across the Gulf of California to Los Mochis had been pleasant and uneventful, especially since Kevin had spent the majority of the trip tucked away in a corner talking on his cell phone and writing in a small notebook he kept in his back pocket. Angel’s instincts told her something big was taking place, but he’d been so secretive she’d been afraid to ask any questions.
They wheeled their bags out front to the walkway, handing them over to a cab driver who loaded them into his trunk while they climbed into the back of the taxi. Angel sat her backpack on the floor next to her, gave the cab driver the address, and he pulled into the heavy traffic.
Kevin eyed the backpack curiously.
“Necessities,” she answered.
He scratched his head. “Okay, so where are we headed exactly?”
“Right now, we’re headed across town to Felipe’s. It’s a small mom-and-pop grocery store on the outskirts of town.”
“Okay, what are we going to do there?”
“We’re going to load supplies into a van and head for the village.”
“Load supplies?” He groaned and slid down in his seat.
Angel couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry, Kevin. You’ll have better help this time.”
Twenty minutes later, the cab turned onto a side street and pulled up in front of the quaint little business. Angel paid the cab driver while Kevin collected their bags, and the two of them walked toward the store together.
“Hola,” Angel shouted as they walked into the building.
A gentle-looking older man in the back of the store looked up from his paperwork and came around the counter to greet them. “Hola, Angel. It’s so good to see you again.”
Angel hugged him affectionately. “You too, Felipe. How is Esmeralda?”
“Very well, thank you. She should be here soon.”
“Wonderful. I’d love to see her again. Felipe, this is our new cameraman, Kevin. Kevin, Felipe.”
“What happened to Jonathon?”
“He’s sick with the flu. We found out this morning.”
“It must be pretty serious.”
“Well, you know Jonathon; it takes a lot to slow him down. His sister says he’s slowly improving.”
Felipe shook Kevin’s hand. “Hola, Kevin. Nice to meet you. I’m sure Angel is delighted to have your help. Everything is ready for you, Angel. Emilio filled the van with gasoline this morning, and he is loading your supplies as we speak.”
“Great! Great,” Kevin exclaimed, looking very relieved.
Angel tried not to laugh.
“Come on, I will take you back.” Felipe led them to a shed behind the store that held a battered old Dodge van almost full of boxes. Emilio, a well-built, handsome young man had all but a few of the boxes loaded.
He smiled at Angel. “See Papa,” Emilio shouted after his father’s retreating back. “She is more beautiful every time I see her.” He put the box he held into the van. “Hola, Angel.”
Angel hugged the young man, kissing both cheeks. “Hola, and gracias.”
“De nada. I have almost finished loading your supplies.”
“Awesome! Thank you. You know we couldn’t do these missions without the help of you and your family.”
Emilio blushed. “Gracias, but I know you. You would find a way.” He glanced over her shoulder at Kevin. “Who is this? A new recruit for your mission work?”
Angel nodded. “Emilio, this is Kevin. I pick good people. Si?”
Emilio sized Kevin up as he reached out to shake his hand. “I can’t argue that. Hola, Kevin.”
Kevin shook the young man’s hand and wondered if he was being sincere. He had the feeling that if this young man had been that little bit older, he might have been in for some serious competition. He felt an overwhelming need to appear more masculine. “Nice to meet you, Emilio. Let me help you.” He indicated the boxes still waiting on the floor.
The two men finished loading the boxes, and Kevin was putting their bags and her backpack
into the back of the van when Angel glanced at her watch. “Oh my gosh. It’s getting late. We’d better get started.”
Emilio called for his father, and Felipe and his wife Esmeralda came into the shed to say goodbye.
Angel smiled warmly at her. “Hi, I’m so glad you made it before we had to leave. I wanted to thank you for the homemade quilts that you sent to me and the girls. They are so beautiful. The girls and I love them.”
“You are more than welcome. We wouldn’t be in business now if it weren’t for Angel’s Foundation.”
“We were glad to help.”
Esmeralda hugged Angel and handed her a paper bag. “Some food for your trip.”
Angel hugged her again. “Gracias, Esmeralda.”
“Have a good trip.”
“I will.” She embraced both men and she and Kevin climbed up into the van. “I’ll see you in about two weeks,” she said. “Adiós.”
Kevin backed out of the shed and pulled around the building to the road.
Angel looked out of the front window. “You can stop puffing your chest out now.”
Kevin tried to appear shocked by her comment. He was going to deny her accusation, but the look on her face said she wasn’t going to buy it. So instead, he shook his head and tried to change the subject. He took a moment to look around at the condition of the old beat-up van. “Please tell me you don’t pay a lot to rent this thing.”
“Nope.”
“Good.”
“I own it.”
“Oh.”
Angel smiled.
* * *
An hour later, Angel pointed to a small dirt road on their right and asked Kevin to take it. Five minutes later, she asked him to make another turn to the left. He looked around at the vast and lonely countryside. “Angel, are you sure you want to turn here? This road isn’t even on the map.”
“Yep, I’m sure. It’s time for a pit stop.”
He started to turn and then quickly stepped on the brakes again, jerking Angel slightly forward in her seat. “Wait a minute. We’re not headed to another orphanage, are we?”
She looked slightly bewildered. “No. Why would you think that?”
“Just checking.”
“Okay.” Then she smiled secretively. “I think you’ll like this a little more.”
Kevin was suspicious but turned the van obediently and drove on over the winding, hilly dirt road until they came around a bend and into an open meadow. There, on the right, was a beautiful clear blue pond about twenty yards out with a small waterfall on the far side of it. Most of the land surrounding it was covered in wildflowers, and several clusters of full, leafy green trees were scattered around the edges of the water. The view was breathtaking.
“Wow.”
Angel’s smile broadened. “Yeah, I know.”
Without another word, she grabbed the paper bag from the dash, jumped out of the van, and went around to the back door. Kevin followed her, wondering what she could be up to now. She opened the door and rummaged around in her backpack. After pulling out two towels, she headed for the pond.
“You brought a swimsuit, right?” she called, running the rest of the way to the water’s edge.
Kevin’s eyebrows shot up. This he had to see! He jogged toward the pond, where Angel put the paper bag on the ground and hung the towels over a low branch of a nearby tree. She stood peacefully for a moment, looking over the surrounding landscape. “I never do get enough of this place.”
She slipped out of her sandals and peeled her aqua-blue print sundress off over her head, to stand there in her matching aqua bra and bikini panties. “What?” she asked with a tad of attitude. “This covers more than most of the swimsuits in that Sports Illustrated magazine. You comin’?”
“No…I…uh…yeah.”
Angel laughed.
Without another word, she walked into the water. Kevin noticed a beautiful seductive butterfly tattoo across her lower back and couldn’t wipe the silly grin off his face. He swiftly stripped down to his boxer briefs. Angel swam gracefully over to the waterfall. When she reached it, she stood directly under the light spray, letting the cool water trickle over her body.
Slowly Kevin entered the water and swam up next to her. He didn’t know how he knew it, but he knew that rushing this woman would be a mistake. He stood a couple of feet away from her, waist-deep in the water under the fine mist, and gave her an inquisitive look. “How did you find this place? It’s in the middle of nowhere.”
She smiled mysteriously. “Let’s just say I know the owner.”
“Oh.” He thought carefully for a moment before he voiced his next question. “Did you ever bring Jonathon here with you?”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Of course, silly. We travel together every time we do missions.”
His curiosity got the better of him. “Did you ever swim in your underwear with Jonathon?”
“Do I hear admiration in your voice or is that jealousy rearing its ugly head?”
“Maybe a little of both,” he admitted, stepping closer. “Angel, aren’t you a little apprehensive about bringing a man you barely know to such an isolated spot? Not to mention swimming in your underwear?”
She looked into his eyes and shook her head. “Nope.”
He took one more tentative step and put his arm around her waist, pulling her to him, his face inches from hers.
She smiled fearlessly. “I’m not worried at all.”
He followed her gaze over his shoulder to the grove of trees behind him. There, at the edge of the trees, stood two men with rifles. Kevin turned back to her, unconsciously tightening his grip on her. “Oh, damn. What do we do now?”
“Don’t worry,” Angel said. “I’ll protect you.” She waved to the two men. “I’ll be right there,” she said in perfect Spanish, turning back to wink at Kevin. “Are you comin’?”
She pulled out of his reach and dived under the water, swimming back to the other side of the pond. She was already out of the water and had a towel wrapped around her waist when he caught up with her. She hugged both men and asked about their families, offering them some of what was in the paper sack as they spoke of their wives and children,
Kevin dried off his face and hair before slinging his towel over his shoulder. Angel walked over to the van, retrieved a small cooler from behind her seat, and gave it to the taller man. “Here’s grandfather’s medicine. How is he?”
“Thank you, Angelina. He’s doing much better now since he’s getting the medication he needed. We can’t thank you enough.”
“You’re more than welcome, Carlos. Thank you for looking after this place for me. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Pablo.”
“De nada. This place wouldn’t be here for us if you hadn’t bought it out from under that no-good, greedy developer a couple of years ago.” Carlos pointed behind her. “Who’s your friend?”
Angel grinned at Kevin. “That’s Kevin, the new cameraman. Jonathon’s sick.” Temporarily switching to English for Kevin’s benefit she went on, “Kevin, this is Carlos and Pablo Rodriguez.”
Carlos nodded to Kevin. “Can you trust him?”
Her smile widened as she turned back to Carlos. “With you two around, I don’t think he’ll be a problem.”
“I don’t know. He’s too quiet. He looks like trouble.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine. He’s a friend of Miguel, and Miguel wouldn’t have let him come with me if he wasn’t someone he could trust.”
Carlos took a step toward Kevin and sneered, all too obviously doing his best not to laugh when Kevin inadvertently took a step back. “We’ll keep an eye on things here until you leave, just in case.” Then he winked at Angel before he and his brother walked to the grove of trees, calling. “Adiós, Angelina,” as they left.
“Adiós, amigos,” she called back to them as she took the paper sack and sat on the grass under a nearby tree. She looked back at Kevin and patted the grass next to her.
He walked over t
o her, slowly. “This isn’t going to get me shot, is it?”
“Not as long as you behave yourself. Aren’t you hungry?”
He sat, and she handed him one of the burritos from the bag. He chewed thoughtfully. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Okay.”
“Do you hug everybody you meet?”
She giggled. “No, silly, of course not. Only if I really like them. Actually, a hug can be a very powerful tool.”
“I don’t follow you.”
“Well, all I’m saying is, sometimes something as simple as a hug can make all the difference in the world. I mean, think about it. It can turn enemies into friends; it can chase away nightmares, and it can even help to heal a broken heart. People need human contact. They need to know someone cares.”
“Oh.” Kevin briefly wondered about the other morning at the lagoon. Had she been trying to make him her friend or had he been helping to heal her obviously injured heart? Maybe neither—or maybe they had accomplished some of both.
She broke into his thoughts. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“How did you meet Miguel?”
Kevin wondered how much he should tell her. She still didn’t know who he really was. Better keep it simple. Only the most basic facts. “I was in Cabo San Lucas with a film crew a few years back and some of us went to a local bar after work. When I left a couple of hours later, two guys jumped me and took my wallet. Miguel came walking into the alley and stood right behind me. The two guys took one look at him, threw my wallet back at me, and ran. We’ve been friends ever since.”
Angel chuckled. “Yeah, I can see how that could happen. Miguel is a mountain of a man.”
Kevin laughed too, pulling up a blade of grass to chew on. “That’s an understatement. What about you and Miranda? How did you meet?”
Angel looked around at the surrounding countryside. “I met Miranda a couple of months after Michael died. She had started waitressing in a little restaurant a few yards down from where I work. She told me about her background in accounting, and I told her about my financial situation. As it turned out, we all really needed each other.”
Angel's Mission Page 7
