When he heard the bathroom door open, he called, “I’m in the kitchen.”
Elena appeared in the doorway in a clean white T-shirt and pair of drawstring shorts. They were the only things he could find in his wardrobe that came close to fitting.
She eased into the chair across from him. Her damp hair fanned over her shoulders.
“Hi,” she said.
He smiled and held up his bottle. “Want a warm beer?”
“I’d love one. Got anything to eat? My appetite is coming on like a hurricane.”
He squeezed her hand. “Since the power is still out, we’d better finish whatever is edible in the icebox. It won’t keep.”
He pulled a beer from the fridge, opened it and sat it before her on the table.
He couldn’t resist touching her hair. He brushed the back of his fingers across her puffy cheek.
“Does it hurt much?”
She shook her head. “No, it feels numb. Do you have any ice?”
Dominic opened the freezer and found tiny pieces in the ice tray. He put them in a paper towel and handed them to her.
“Here, this is all there is, but maybe it will help.”
“Thanks.” She placed the cool compress against her eye. “It’s not being able to see out of this eye that is the worst.”
He touched her hair again to confirm she wasn’t a dream.
“I’m sorry you had to go through this.”
“I’m glad it’s over. It is over, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I promise you it is.” He caressed her shoulder. The ordeal was over, but he wasn’t sure about the nightmares.
“Let’s get you something to eat.”
He warmed beans and tortillas on the gas stove and fixed a plate for each with salsa picante and slices of cheese on the side.
“A feast,” she said, happily. She took a careful bite of cheese. “Ow, it hurts to chew.”
“Take it easy,” he said, sitting at the table across from her.
“Have any butter for the tortillas?”
He laughed and fetched some from the butter-keep on the counter by the stove.
“Mmm,” she said. “Tortillas and butter, the best.”
Dominic fixed coffee after they finished.
“Do you have any cigarettes?” she asked with a hopeful raise of her eyebrows.
“No, darling, I do not.”
She sighed. “Too bad, I could use one right now.”
Dominic lit the votive candle on the refrigerator alter to the Virgin of Suyapa. He said a little prayer of thanksgiving to the Virgin for Elena’s safe deliverance. He had not forgotten his bargain with God. Elena was safe. He would again become a priest in the Episcopal Church. He always kept a bargain.
He retrieved a candelabrum from the dining room, put it on the kitchen table, and lit the candles. The gloom of the evening vanished in the soft glow of candlelight.
“When do you think the power will come back?” asked Elena.
“Might be a while. That was a pretty bad storm.”
“Is Miguel asleep?”
“Yes. He’s as exhausted as we are. Why don’t you lie down on my bed in Miguel’s room?”
“Where will you sleep?” she asked.
“The couch.” He smiled. “I don’t mind.”
He reached across the table and took her hand in his. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to take her into his arms and hug and kiss her into oblivion. But he didn’t move. She was vulnerable. And so was he. Lord only knew where that might lead.
So they held hands in the silence of the candlelight, each with their own thoughts.
“I think someone’s knocking at the door,” said Elena.
He listened and heard the rapping.
When he opened the door a breath of warm, humid air pushed in. The shapes of Felicia and Susanna loomed in the darkness.
“Thank heaven, you’re all right,” said Susanna. “Elena? Do you know where Elena is?”
“She’s here. Come in. She’s had a terrible ordeal.”
The two women entered both looking like fashion statements, not like they had weathered a major hurricane in a small out-of-the-way Honduran town. Elena appeared in the doorway to the living room in the big T-shirt and drooping shorts.
Susanna rushed over and hugged her. “How glad I am you’re all right.”
Elena tried to laugh, but it came out as a wince. “You look like you were at a party instead of a hurricane.”
In the dimness of the room, Susanna hadn’t noticed Elena’s face, but now that she was closer, she looked with horror on her daughter’s injury.
“What happened to you?” her mother asked. “Did something hit you in this storm? Why were you outside?”
Elena said, “Too many questions at one time. Come into the kitchen. We have candles there. I’ll tell you the story.”
Over coffee and candlelight Elena told her story with many exclamations and interruptions by Susanna.
“You mean it was that man I befriended, Jorge, who did this to you?” asked Susanna. Her face had grown paler and paler, the worse the story got.
Elena reached out and took her mother’s hand.
“It’s over now,” Elena said. “The man is dead. He can’t hurt us anymore.”
Susanna’s eyes filled. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I had no idea or I would never have encouraged his friendship. I am so sorry, dear.” She held Elena’s hand. “Is there anything I can do for you? Why don’t you come back to the hotel? I have plenty of clothes. They have an emergency generator. The meals are good. The hotel itself sustained very little damage.”
“Amazing,” said Elena. “Only my mother could luck out in a hurricane. Thanks, but I have some things at the medical clinic to retrieve.”
Dominic didn’t like the way Susanna and Felicia exchanged glances. He braced himself.
“The clinic roof is gone,” said Susanna. “Everything is soaked and blown about inside.”
Dominic groaned. Months of work blown away.
“Oh, Dominic, I’m sorry,” said Elena. “You put so much work into the clinic.
Felicia, who had remained quiet, spoke up. “I think the two of you should come to the hotel with us.”
“Well, there’s Miguel, too,” said Dominic. “He’s asleep. I’ll stay here with him. But, Elena, I encourage you to return to the hotel with your mother. You’ll be more comfortable there.”
Elena shook her head. Her eyes were puffy and heavy lidded. “I can’t walk that far. Not after today. What I really want is sleep. If you don’t mind, I’ll take you up on your offer of the bed in Miguel’s room.”
She rose and kissed her mother. “We’ll talk in the morning.” Saying goodnight to all of them, she slipped from the room.
“What an ordeal she’s been through,” said Felicia, seeming as distressed as any of them. “I had no idea all this was happening right here in Copan Ruinas.”
Dominic lowered his voice. “Inspector Connie Lascano is coming tomorrow to question Elena. There’s a bunch of people in this ring. Jorge and José were just two of the culprits. Paco, who brought us back, is the good cop. Apparently, he’s one of the few in the department. That’s why Connie was sent here — to clean up the police department and catch the smugglers. She still doesn’t have the ring leaders.”
“This is really terrible,” Susanna said. “Elena’s been through too much. I’m taking her home on the next available plane.” She stopped to think. “But when will that be?”