Drive and Determination

by Louise, Kara

  When dampened, her thick, natural curls seemed to have a mind of their own, but they framed her face beautifully. She shook her head a few times and ran her fingers through her hair, deciding she would let it air dry for a while.

  Walking back into the bedroom, her hand swept over the thick, luxurious bedspread. “This is really nice!” She sat down upon it and flopped back. Lying there for several minutes, she concluded that she had never felt a more comfortable bed.

  Turning her head toward the large sliding glass door, she looked outside and noticed that the sun was trying to peek out from the clouds over the lake. She stood up and walked over to the door, opening it and stepping out onto the balcony. A light rain continued to shower down and looking far across the lake, she saw the faintest of rainbows emerging. The slowly strengthening sunlight glistened across the lake. The air was fresh and cool and she watched as the sun and clouds vied for dominance in the sky.

  She gazed out at the scenery before her, and while she didn’t think she could ever live here, she had to admit that it was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen. She even began to consider that Janet and Chad could have been very happy with homes here and in Guatemala City.

  She looked toward the two volcanoes that she had seen earlier. They were both shrouded in a heavy mist. The third was still yet to be seen. Her thoughts went to Will and she laughed as she suddenly thought of how much like these volcanoes he was. Prominent, yet cloaked in mystery. Firm and solid, yet hiding so much. Ready to erupt at any moment? She shuddered.

  Yes, she thought to herself. There was more to him than she had ever imagined. But did she really want to dig deep enough through the layers to discover what lay beneath the surface? What would that mean if she did?

  Her eyes rested on a beam of light coming down from the clouds as it played upon the water. The large gray billows moved across and around the sun, creating unexpected shadows or sudden rays of light. She was mesmerized by the beautiful sight and therefore did not notice that Will stepped out onto the balcony from his suite.

  A light rain continued to fall, but they were protected from it by the balcony above. Will walked over to the edge and grasped the railing with his hands, looking straight out.

  “I have often heard how beautiful Lake Atitlan was, but other than a quick trip a while back when I was here for barely an hour, I’ve never had the opportunity to really see it for myself.”

  Elyssa turned to look at him. His sharply chiseled profile and dark, wavy hair brought a lump to Elyssa’s throat. There was something in his demeanor that betrayed some sort of recollection of grief or pain.

  “Why were you only here for an hour?”

  Silence overtook him and Elyssa waited.

  He turned to look at her and for the first time he saw compassion in her eyes directed at him. She had no makeup on, her damp curls glistened, and she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on. A stirring in his heart gave him reason to hope that her opinion of him was changing and that possibly this visit to Lake Atitlan would make up for the disaster that brought him here a short time ago.

  He chose not to answer and abruptly changed the subject. “There is a nice dining facility on the main floor. Shall I call for you in an hour?”

  Elyssa slowly nodded her head which was met by Will nodding his. He then turned to go back inside.

  They each stayed in their suite until about seven o’clock, when Will rapped at the connecting door. Elyssa unlocked and opened it. Her hair had dried; she had styled it simply and had put on a little makeup. She was wearing a light cotton dress; the only one she had brought along to the lake.

  Will had changed into Dockers and a long sleeved dress shirt that was open at the collar. A slight hint of the cologne he was wearing teased Elyssa’s nose with an outdoorsy scent.

  He looked at her and Elyssa noticed his eyes travel down to her shoes and slowly up again. He tightly pressed his lips together, and Elyssa suddenly wondered whether he was disappointed in her looks. He was probably used to women who only wore the most fashionable clothes.

  Well, this will just have to do! she thought to herself, although deep down inside she regretted that she had not taken more time with her appearance.

  Seated in the small restaurant downstairs, lit only by candles on the table and the setting sun, Elyssa found herself battling her feelings for Will. It came as a surprise to her that she had not really felt any anger toward him in quite a while and was actually enjoying his presence. She knew the romantic atmosphere was certainly no ally to her in helping her curb these burgeoning feelings.

  An unusual curiosity about the man had taken hold of her which she fought with everything in her being to control. It left her unable to talk of even the simplest things.

  Finally, after picking lightly at the food that was brought, she said, “You told me a little about your sister earlier. What about you?”

  “Me? What do you want to know?” Will looked up at her with surprise.

  “I don’t know…” Elyssa shrugged. “I did all the talking at lunch.” Elyssa gave him a disarming smile. “Now it’s your turn.”

  Will took in a deep breath at the sight of Elyssa’s sparkling eyes. “Well, you know I live and work in Chicago.”

  “Ah, yes. Do you live nearby your office?” Elyssa was tempted to ask him if he lived at his office, but thought the better of it.

  “I have a condominium in the city, which is about 20 miles from the office; a relatively easy distance to travel back and forth.”

  “An easy distance you say! I would imagine in rush hour it could take you close to an hour to get to work. Let me have my rural country home where the only traffic we have is when the fair comes to town!”

  “I think you’d like Chicago if you gave it a chance. It’s a main hub for several airlines… you can get just about anywhere from there.”

  “I don’t think that’s enough incentive for me.”

  Will looked at her oddly, wondering if there was any incentive great enough to bring her there. At this point, he was quite certain it wasn’t him. “You are that attached to Santa Ynez? You enjoy living in the country?”

  Elyssa skewed her mouth and leaned forward. “We are talking about me again, but yes, I do. Country living suits me fine and I have no desire to ever live in a large city ever again.”

  Elyssa listened with interest after that as Will began to talk of his family. He told her how his father poured himself into the small family company his grandfather began when he came over from England and settled in Chicago. He talked of his father dying far too young and leaving him to run the company at an even younger age. His mother, it seems, had died when Gina was a child and his father never remarried, having been totally devoted to his wife.

  During the course of the meal, Will spoke very little about himself. Elyssa wondered whether he would confess how he felt being selected as one of the country’s top 50 most eligible bachelors in a popular magazine; or how many hours he usually spends at the office compared to his home; or how he spends his hard earned money any way he pleases. Perhaps, she wondered, he had nothing to say about himself because he had no life other than Pemberleo Coffee. In speaking about his family though, Elyssa had to admit that it appeared he cared deeply for them.

  Elyssa found herself again and again pondering this man and why he had taken so much upon himself for her. Her heart began to swell with a cautious conviction that perhaps he was doing this for her simply because he wanted to.

  When they finished dining, they parted on amicable terms and as soon as she entered her suite, she walked over to the window overlooking the lake. Looking out at the reds and golds that dotted the sky and reflected down on the lake, she didn’t dare step out on the balcony. If Will joined her, she knew his mere presence in such a romantic setting would unsettle her immensely.

  In the final light of day, Elyssa looked out across the lake and smiled when she was finally able to see the very tip of the third volcano p
eering out from behind the clouds.

  Chapter 12

  The next day, Elyssa awakened early. She called for room service to bring her fruit, rolls, and coffee. When she poured some coffee into her cup from the pot that had been brought, she found herself wondering whether it was Pemberleo. After a few sips, she was quite certain it wasn’t. She was surprised at how easily she could tell the difference and how much more superior Pemberleo was.

  When she finished eating, she took a shower and then slipped into a thick terry cloth robe provided by the hotel. She ran her hands down the plush fabric after tightening the belt around her waist and walked over to the sliding glass door. She peered out to see if the weather had improved enough for them to take the boat ride to the village this morning. A few clouds splashed the skies with pinks and oranges, announcing the sun’s approach. The last remnants of the previous day’s storm lingered as a dense mist. It clung tightly to the mountains across the lake, keeping the volcanoes hidden from her sight.

  Opening the door, she walked out onto the balcony and filled her lungs with the morning air. She felt the heaviness that came from warm air and high humidity, but a light breeze teased her with cool wisps that played with her hair. She walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down to the street below, where a few of the locals walked, presumably to begin the new day at work. Glancing back out across the lake, boats of all sizes dotted the waters as fishermen got an early start in the hopes of catching enough fish to make ends meet.

  She turned to step back inside, but was halted when Will stepped out. She instinctively pulled the robe more tightly about her.

  “Good morning, Elyssa,” he said. “How are things looking this morning?”

  He was shirtless, wearing only lounge pants and a towel slung about his shoulders. His hair was still damp from a shower. As she gazed at his well toned form, she could not formulate even a simple answer to his question. The only view impressed upon her was of him, and she hoped her blush escaped his notice!

  She turned back to look at the lake and felt him come stand next to her on his side of the balcony. She took in a deep breath as her heart began pounding relentlessly. “It’s a lovely morning,” she was finally able to say. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful sunrise.”

  “It is beautiful.” He looked back at her. “Have you ordered breakfast, yet?”

  “Yes, I’ve eaten already.”

  “I haven’t ordered yet. I’ll do that now, so we can be downstairs when Manuel meets us. We have a little over an hour before he comes for us. I’ll call when we need to go down.”

  Elyssa packed her things and sat in one of the large plush chairs in the living room as she awaited Will’s call. Today they would set out for the small village for a couple of days. She would stay in Chad and Janet’s modest home while Will would be forced to find something else. A smile appeared as she contemplated him staying in a pension filled with bugs and peeling paint and who knows what all else. Now that will be interesting! she thought.

  Will finally called and said the porter would be coming up for their bags. Elyssa gave one last look around the room and made sure she had everything packed. An appreciative sigh escaped as she beheld what had been her accommodations for the night.

  Going to the connecting door, she turned the knob and it opened. Will immediately walked over to her and picked up her bag, bringing it into his suite.

  “Manuel said he would be waiting for us outside the hotel. It is a short walk to the dock.”

  She walked into his suite and distracted herself by walking to the window and looking out.

  “Were your accommodations adequate?” Will asked her.

  Elyssa chuckled to herself. “Oh, yes,” she assured him with an appreciative nod of her head. “They were more than adequate.”

  “I’m glad,” he replied with a satisfied smile. “I hoped you would like it.”

  Manuel met Elyssa and Will outside the hotel. He and his son had already walked down to the dock, where he had deposited their luggage. His son remained there to watch over it until they all returned. Manuel insisted on carrying Elyssa’s luggage and Will carried his own.

  When they reached the dock, they were both rather surprised by the boat. It was certainly not a luxury yacht. They could easily see why traveling in it during a rainstorm would not have been advisable. It was completely open to the elements and seemed somewhat primitive.

  Their luggage was taken and stored in a small hold while passengers gathered and waited. They were finally allowed to board and Elyssa took a seat. Will came and sat down beside her.

  She and Will were two of only three on the boat who were not locals and were looked upon with friendliness but perhaps a bit more curiosity. Elyssa doubted that many foreigners would embark away from Panajachel to a small village whose name she didn’t even know. The other person seemed to be a typical tourist, happily taking pictures of the scenery around him.

  They arrived at the village after a rather disconcerting forty-five minute ride in this boat that one could hardly believe would remain upon the water. Elyssa wondered whether they even had lifejackets for everyone. She was most grateful to Manuel for insisting they not venture out in the storm yesterday.

  The boat pulled up to a small dock, and after everyone gathered what little belongings they had, they stepped out. Elyssa felt the boat sway and had a little more trepidation than everyone else in taking the giant step out of the boat. Will reached out and took her hand to steady her, making sure she was safely on the dock before he let go.

  Manuel gathered their two small bags as well as the one he and his son were sharing and began to lead the way. “It is a short walk this way.”

  Elyssa and Will followed, and as they passed small shanties with little more than one room and a tin roof, they cast glances at one another several times. Elyssa was shocked that people had so little and she wondered whether the look on Will’s face reflected a disgust at even being here or empathy for the people and their living conditions.

  As they walked through the small dirt streets, Will took it all in. He knew the small farmers would live somewhere around the edge of the hillsides and he depended on Manuel to take him there. He had seen the poorer parts of Guatemala City, but had never actually come this close to simple life. His morning with Elyssa at the pre-school was about as close as he’d ever been to it.

  He looked over at the edge of the lake where people were washing their clothes. He wondered whether they could even be getting them clean. His glance unwittingly went down to the clothes he wore and even though it was a T-shirt and jeans, he knew they were clean and probably cost him more than some of these people made in a month, if that.

  Elyssa looked at the faces of the people they passed. They smiled at her and seemed to have an inner contentment that defied their living conditions, much like the children at the pre-school. They lived simply and were happy. They had none of the stress and worries of modern day, big city life to bring back to their home. They may have had to worry about enough money for food, but many had small gardens in their yards and she was quite sure they looked out for one another.

  They reached a side street and Manuel stopped, looking at Elyssa. If you want to go up to the market square, this is where you will come for the ride up. It will cost you only a couple quetzals.”

  “How often does it run?”

  Manuel shrugged. “Whenever it gets here and fills up with people.” Manuel looked up at a mountain that edged the village. “It’s up there. Are you sure you want to go?”

  Elyssa nodded. “If Janet enjoyed going to it, I am sure I will too.”

  “And Sir,” Manuel said, as he turned to face Will, who was walking behind them. “Will you be going with her?”

  Will looked at Elyssa and then back to Manuel. “I suppose so.”

  A satisfied look spread across Manuel’s face and he vigorously rubbed his hands together. “Good,” he said and he turned to continue on towards the house.


  They finally came to a small white house, complete with a not so white picket fence around it. The garden looked as though it had once been well tended and Elyssa wondered how much time Janet had spent tending it. But it had been neglected for some time, and although frequent rains kept it watered, the weeds seemed to be overtaking what had a short while ago been a nice, manicured garden.

  They walked up to the house and Manuel pulled out a key. He opened the door, allowing Will and Elyssa to step through and he then stepped back out after handing Elyssa the key.

  He turned to Will. “The pension I told you about -- La Vida -- is just around the corner. It’s nothing like you’re used to, but it’s clean.” He pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Elyssa. “If either of you needs anything, you can reach me at this phone number. We’ll be in another village a ways down the shore, but I can be here fairly quickly.”

  “Thank you, Manuel,” Elyssa said appreciatively.

  He turned back to Will. “I will come by tomorrow to take you to visit some of the farmers. What time should I come by?”

  “How about one o’clock?”

  “One o’clock it is.” He turned to leave, but stopped. “Oh, by the way, I made arrangements for us to take the boat back at nine o’clock on Monday morning so we can get back to Guatemala City that afternoon.”

  Now it was Will’s turn to thank the young man. Manuel and his son said their goodbyes and left.

  Elyssa stepped in and looked around the living room in the small home. It was decorated very simply which made it feel more cozy. Will merely stood there with his gaze upon her and she suddenly felt awkward.

  “Do you want to look around?” he asked.

  Elyssa chuckled. “That won’t take very long.”

  She was grateful she wasn’t feeling the overwhelming grief upon coming in here. While she knew Janet and Chad had lived here, she felt a little more composed than she did when she first stepped into their townhome in Guatemala City.