Pearls

by Mills, Lisa

  Manuel stepped up to help her, wrapping an arm around her waist and lowering her into the water beside him. “You’re shorter than me. I don’t think you can touch without your face going under.”

  Accepting his help, she slid her hands onto his shoulders, allowing him to cradle her against his chest. His body felt warm in the frigid water, and she snuggled a little closer.

  “How far is it?” she asked, her voice breathless as she adjusted to the temperature.

  “The tunnel is just a few meters long, and it’s plenty wide to allow for maneuvering around. We can’t swim side-by-side, but you can follow close behind me and hold the rope to keep us connected, okay?”

  “Okay.” She grasped her lamp tightly in her hands. “I’m ready.”

  He moved closer to the opening and released her. She perched one forearm along the edge of the pool to help her stay afloat while he prepared to make the trip a second time.

  Manuel fumbled with the rope and handed it to her. “Hold on right here, and you’ll be able to follow about two meters behind me. Just give me a few seconds’ head start. You can do this, Isabel. It’s just a short swim.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek and smiled. “Ready?”

  She nodded.

  After drawing in a deep breath, he plunged under the water and slid into the opening in the rock. Clutching the rope in one hand and her lantern in the other, Isabel followed his lead, her heart thundering in her ears.

  Her lantern seemed to lose some wattage in the pervasive darkness of the watery tunnel, lighting only a foot in any direction. Lack of goggles or a mask further blurred her vision. After only a few feet, the closeness of the rocky walls encroached on her comfort, seeming to narrow in on her with alarming malice. She tamped down panic and flutter-kicked harder, allowing the rush of adrenaline to propel her forward.

  Manuel pulled on the rope, aiding her progress, and she glided through the last few feet of the tunnel with a speed that brought relief. She broke the surface of the water on the other side and found herself once again enfolded in Manuel’s embrace.

  Resting her forehead against his chest, she drank in deep breaths of damp, stale air. “Thanks for the extra help. I was a little panicked in there.”

  His chest rumbled with quiet laughter. “You did fine. Second time is much easier.” His voice echoed off the rock walls with a strange hollow ring, and the water dripping from their wet hair and shoulders plopped into the pool with exaggerated loudness.

  Recovered, she moved away from him and found she could touch bottom. “Let’s don’t talk about the second time just yet. I still can’t believe I swam through that hole the first time. How do you suppose Rodrigo did it? He didn’t have underwater lights like we do. He would have been swimming blind.”

  “It took some courage, no doubt. But you have to admit, his bravery was worth it. This is the best hiding place I’ve ever seen.” Manuel held the lamp over his head and glanced around the small room, which Isabel guessed to be about eight feet in diameter. The dome-shaped ceiling that arched a few meters overhead seemed to shift and sway with patterns of light dancing over it.

  Isabel watched the fascinating display for a few moments before turning her attention to Manuel. He had hoisted himself up onto a small shelf indented in one side of the cavern. She waded through the chest-deep water and allowed him to pull her up beside him, thankful for a moment’s relief from the cool temperature of the pool. Lifting her feet out of the water, she wrapped her arms around her knees to conserve warmth.

  “Look at this, Isabel.”

  She turned and saw the small rivulet of water seeping from a crack in the wall.

  Manuel ran his fingers over the fissure. “I’ll bet this trickle becomes a small waterfall during a hard rain. The running water probably carved this niche we’re sitting on over hundreds of years, maybe even this chamber and the tunnel to the main cavern. It’s a good source of fresh water.”

  Isabel shivered and leaned closer to him, seeking his warmth.

  His arm wrapped around her back and pulled her closer. “This is kind of nice. Our own private room; dim, romantic lighting; a reason to hold you close; what more could a man want?”

  The tone of his voice gave her a new reason to shiver, and she tilted her chin to look up at him. With his free hand he traced the lines of her face—her cheekbones, her brow, her jaw—his fingertips finally coming to rest on her lips. She closed her eyes, every one of her senses going haywire. He explored the curves of her lips with a slow, deliberate touch, awakening needs she didn’t know she had and leaving her dizzy with anticipation by the time he dipped his head to claim his reward.

  His skill surprised her. Someone, somewhere had taught Manuel to kiss.

  “I’ve been waiting to do that for a long time,” he sighed when he lifted his head. The dim lamplight didn’t hide the fire in his eyes.

  “How long?”

  “Since you walked into my office that first day and mesmerized me with those beautiful blue eyes.”

  Isabel looked away, a blush burning her cheeks.

  “Then when I learned you’re as smart as you are attractive, I wanted to kiss you even more.” He ran his hand lightly down her arm, making her skin tingle with electricity. “Is it all right that I kissed you, Isabel?”

  She felt the weight of anticipation behind his question. It was a request to take their relationship to the next level. His friendship had become invaluable to her. She looked forward to sharing his company for long hours each day, appreciated his gentle manner toward her, found herself craving the warmth of his touch and the comfort of his smile. He’d come into her life unexpectedly, took his place in a quiet, unassuming manner, became the pillar of strength and stability she needed, offered her comfort and support, and asked nothing in return.

  Her heart said to trust him, love him. But her mind cautioned her against a rash decision, taunting her with foolish choices of the past, reminding her of the unanswered questions concerning the breakin and fire at her apartment.

  Wiggling away from him, she slid into the water and grabbed her lamp. “Shouldn’t we be looking for the treasure or something?”

  His face registered disappointment, and she wasn’t prepared for the pain it caused her knowing she’d put it there.

  He followed her lead and slipped into the water. “Yes. It shouldn’t take long to make a sweep of the area. Not many square feet to cover in here, and no place to hide a chest of pearls except under the water.”

  “I’ll start at that end and you start here. We’ll meet in the middle.” Isabel turned and waded to the far side of the cave, glad to put distance between herself and the awkward situation she’d created. For now, she would busy herself with work. Later, she would consider whether she was ready for a relationship and if the feelings she was having for Manuel were real or just another way to fill an emotional void.

  Thirteen

  After half an hour of probing the walls and floor of the hidden chamber, Manuel knew they’d hit a dead end in their search for the pearls. In addition, he was trying hard to conceal his disappointment about Isabel’s rejection—and failing miserably. He’d growled at her twice in the space of ten minutes and hated himself for causing the wounded looks that appeared on her face.

  She couldn’t control how she felt any more than he could. Besides, he didn’t have any business making a play for her heart when he had nothing to offer. His home, job, and income were all uncertain. She deserved someone who could care for her in style, someone with Raúl’s looks and affluence. He only hoped she would find a man who would treat her well, like he would if circumstances were different and he could offer her that life.

  He dismissed the thought. Better to accept that they would never be a couple so he could salvage the friendship and business partnership. “Isabel, I think we’ve done all we can here. Let’s go back to camp and change into clean, dry clothes.”

  She nodded and walked toward the entrance to the underwater passageway. He’d n
ever untied the rope fastened to his waist, and it tangled around Isabel’s foot as she walked. She stumbled and he instinctively reached out to steady her as she scrambled to regain her balance.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled, not looking his way. She started to pull away from him, but he grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “I’m all right, Isabel.” He put as much emotion as possible into the simple phrase, hoping she’d understand his double meaning.

  Her thick, wet lashes looked lustrous when she turned his way. “Are you sure? I didn’t hurt you?”

  He smiled. She really was a smart woman.

  “Manuel, can we talk when we get back to camp?”

  His gut clenched as he wondered whether this would be a good talk or a bad one. He didn’t really want a lengthy discussion about why she didn’t want a relationship, but he couldn’t deny her when she turned those eyes on him. Keeping his face placid, he agreed. “Okay.” While hoping for the best, he prepared for the worst.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  They made the trip back to the camp in tense silence, and Isabel knew she’d worried Manuel by asking to talk. She was worried too. During the time they spent searching the chamber, she couldn’t stop thinking she’d acted in haste. Despite the fact that Manuel and Raúl were entirely different men, she made the same mistake with them both. She relied upon her eyes and her heart to make the decision when she should have asked for God’s direction.

  They reached the camp, and Isabel slipped into her tent to change, using the moment of privacy to unload her burdens on her heavenly Father. After changing into dry clothes, Isabel picked up the small Bible she had brought with her on the journey. Just holding the leather-bound pages between her hands infused her with confidence. If she allowed Him to make decisions for her, she wouldn’t need to worry about the outcome. Like a benevolent parent, He wanted the best for her life and offered advice and guidance that would lead her to His perfect will. She had not bothered to talk with Him about Raúl and felt the stinging consequences.

  Abuela had pointed it out to her with such clarity. You looked with your eyes, and his beauty deceived you. Now you know to look with the discerning eyes of the Spirit. They are more reliable than your natural vision.

  “God, I want to see beyond the limitations of my eyes. Your Word says that if I acknowledge You in all my ways, You’ll direct my paths. I need Your direction right now.”

  Further words didn’t seem necessary to express the turmoil raging inside her. She simply closed her eyes and opened her heart, offering Him access to her doubts and fear. She knew He would see the desire of her heart, and He would lead her to the best course of action. To Isabel, dating Manuel seemed a natural progression in the relationship they’d begun over a month ago. Friend, companion, and confidant—he’d weathered each marker in the course of their relationship, and she longed to continue the journey, seeing where the path would take them. But as she prepared to offer her heart this time, she wanted divine assurance.

  “Is Manuel a part of Your plan for my life?”

  As she sat quietly waiting for an answer, warmth washed through her and settled a deep peace in her heart. The touch of His presence brought with it a greater clarity of vision, and she began to view Manuel in a different light. Gone was the fear that had plagued her earlier. In its place lay a quiet assurance that her Father, who could see the future, had granted her His blessing.

  Manuel was nothing like Raúl. Though Manuel’s comments about his relationship with God had been brief, he had spoken with sincerity. He wasn’t a man to talk endlessly about his relationship with God when displaying the fruits of it was so much more effective. And when she considered his behavior toward her, he had displayed the values that filled his heart. Daily, Manuel offered her consistency, honesty, and a willingness to show her his weaknesses as well as his strengths. Manuel allowed her a realistic view of himself. She preferred to see a real picture—flaws included—rather than a false pretense like Raúl’s carefully crafted façade. A decision based in truth was a sound one. And a safe one.

  Safe. Fear concerning the unanswered questions about the apartment fire crept into her mind, sliding under the warm blanket of newfound peace that enveloped her and running its cold fingers up her spine. She wanted to snatch her burdens out of God’s capable hands. No, Isabel. With effort she pushed the fear away and clung to God’s reassurances.

  “I’m leaving that in Your hands. I know You wouldn’t mislead me.” Besides, she had no real reason to suspect Manuel’s involvement in the more sinister events of the last month. In fact, she couldn’t find any logical reason to relate the events back to him. Perhaps the fire was a fluke, a coincidence that had touched her life by accident.

  Knowing she was wasting energy worrying about problems she had no control over, she put the unpleasant thoughts out of her mind. Through the thin canvas of her tent, she heard Manuel stirring around the campsite. No doubt he was feeling confusion and disappointment over their earlier encounter, and Isabel wanted to set him straight.

  When she stepped outside, he was sitting by the fire pit, coaxing up a blaze. Isabel sat in the canvas chair across from him and tucked her hands between her knees.

  He glanced up at her. “Time to talk?”

  She nodded. “You caught me by surprise earlier. I wasn’t prepared to talk about my feelings, and I think I hurt you.”

  He prodded the campfire with a stick, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s all right, Isabel.”

  “No, it isn’t because now there’s this awkwardness between us, and that isn’t what I want at all. I like you a lot, Manuel, and the idea of being more than friends … well, it appeals to me.”

  “But?”

  She could see by his expression that he’d assumed the worst and was waiting for the final blow to strike. His pain became hers, and the urge to reassure him overwhelmed her. “I need to go slow so I can work out some issues.”

  “Raúl?”

  “Among other things. I have a bad habit of rushing in and making a mess of my life. I don’t want that to happen again.”

  He dropped the stick into the fire and leaned back in his chair, assuming a more relaxed posture. “What does ‘go slow’ mean to you?”

  “I like how things are between us now. We’ve become good friends, and sometimes, we hold hands or you put your arm around me. We’re just a little ways beyond friendship and that feels right for now.”

  He smiled. “Feels right to me too. I’ve wanted to ask you on a date for some time, but circumstances never seemed right.”

  Laughter welled up in Isabel’s chest. “Does now seem like the right time to start dating? In case you haven’t noticed, we’re hours from the nearest theater or restaurant. I have a sneaking suspicion you were waiting until the cost of dating went down.”

  He smiled. “There may be some truth in that, but I’ll never admit it.”

  “It’s all right. I’m a simple girl. I don’t expect extravagance.”

  “I might surprise you.”

  “You already have, Manuel.”

  His gaze swept over her, and the warmth in his dark eyes spoke volumes.

  “And in answer to your earlier question in the cave, it’s okay that you kissed me, Manuel. Going slow can include an occasional kiss.”

  His white teeth contrasted with his dark mustache when he smiled. “You have the softest lips of anyone I’ve kissed in years. Of course, it’s been two years since I’ve dated anyone, so there wasn’t much competition.”

  “Thanks a lot!” Giggling, she snatched up a can of bug spray and tossed it at him.

  He caught it with little effort and dropped it to the ground beside him. “Don’t worry, you’d have probably won even if there had been other competitors.”

  “What do you mean probably?”

  “It’s hard to be sure when you’ve only kissed me once.”

  Isabel tried to look affronted. “I didn’t kiss you! You kissed me.”

  “If we’re offici
ally taking this relationship beyond friendship, maybe it’s time you kissed me, Isabel.”

  “You’re flirting with me,” she accused.

  “Is that allowed?” He circled the campfire and pulled her out of her chair.

  Adrenaline raced through her as he folded her into his arms. “I suppose.” Her voice came out in a breathless whisper.

  “Are you going to kiss me?” His eyes issued a challenge she couldn’t resist.

  Standing on tiptoe, she attempted to plant a chaste peck on his cheek, but he turned his face at the last second and captured her mouth in a deep kiss. Isabel melted against him, deciding she liked his way better than her original plan. He held her captive for several beats of her racing heart before ending the kiss.

  He didn’t seem in any hurry to let go of her, so she rested her cheek against his chest and reveled in the wonder and excitement of the new closeness they had found. Even more exhilarating was the sense that she had somehow connected with destiny. The peace and rightness she felt in his arms could surely be trusted.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Manuel finished loading his personal possessions and gear into the back of the jeep and decided to start on the general equipment. After determining the hidden chamber was empty, they spent two more days probing every nook and cranny of the area in the cave once occupied by Rodrigo. The markings on the cave wall proved insignificant to their search and the area yielded no further clues. Deciding to move on to the next location, they drove to the visitor’s center and called Raúl’s cellular phone to let him know of their decision.

  Since his hasty departure from camp, Raúl had been staying at a motel an hour’s drive from the cave. He promised to meet them and help transport the gear to the next location—after griping and criticizing their lack of a find.

  A reluctance to leave invaded Manuel’s thoughts. The last few days alone with Isabel had been the closest to perfection he’d ever experienced. At first she’d been shy and a little awkward, as if uncertain how to act around him, but soon they relaxed into a comfortable rhythm, finding the right mix of work and play. The transition seemed as natural as breathing to Manuel. He could quickly grow addicted to her company.