by Vivian Wood
“I wish I was, ma’am,” Alex said. He’d put it on speakerphone.
“And you’re telling me you left two men tied up out there, and what was it? Couple dozen bricks o’ cocaine?”
“Something like that,” Alex said.
“Jesus Christ. Get Child protective Services out to Greystone!” the chief barked at someone. “The feds? Yeah, yeah. Look, Alex,” the chief said. “In all honesty? I’ve never dealt with nothin’ like this. CPS is on their way, but comin’ from Savannah. It’ll take a while. You sure those girls aren’t goin’ nowhere?”
Alex looked at Faith, and she shook her head. “They’re good,” he said.
“All right. What? There’s nobody at CPS on call who speaks Spanish? What the hell?” The chief groaned into the phone. “Might be a beat longer,” she said.
By the time he hung up, it was clear both CPS and the FBI were en route, but there was no telling when they’d arrive.
“You should try and get some sleep,” Alex said. “It’s going to be a long day once they get here.”
“I don’t think I can,” she said.
Mercedes stepped into the kitchen and held out the phone to Faith. “Die,” she said.
“What?”
“Phone es die.”
“Oh!” She took the phone and looked at Alex. “I’ll be upstairs,” she said.
Alex stepped onto the porch to watch for the lights to come up the driveway. When the screen door creaked open, he glanced up and expected to see Mama or Faith, but it was Lee, two beers in hand.
“Olive branch?” Lee asked as he handed him one.
“For what?” Alex asked.
Lee settled into the chair next to him. “Oh, I’d say for the past four years or so.”
Alex let out a chuckle. “Think that’ll cost more than a beer.”
“Beer’s all I got,” Lee said. “And an apology.”
“For?”
“For getting’ all googly-eyed over Rebecca,” Lee said. He stared into the darkness beside Alex. “It was stupid, you know. Just some crush. She and I . . . we never did anything. You know that, right? I’d never do that to you.”
“Yeah,” Alex said. He took a slow sip of the beer. “I do know.”
“Then why you so mad for so long?” Lee asked. “I never even, you know, flirted with her or nothin’. I just thought she was interesting was all.”
“Interesting. That’s a way to put it.”
“Well, hell, you know. Different from round here. Y’all went to big colleges, I didn’t. I’d never met anyone like her before.”
“Count your blessings,” Alex said.
“And now, with Faith . . .”
“What about her?” Alex asked, his throat tight.
“Well, I dunno what you think,” Lee said. “When she arrived? ʼCourse I thought she was pretty. I’m not blind. But you know, as soon as I saw you two had eyes for each other, I never even thought ʼbout her like that again.”
“And when did you see that?” Alex asked.
“Shit, Alex. I dunno. Day two?”
Alex felt embarrassment wash over him. Had it been that obvious? “Thank you,” he said softly.
“For what?”
“I dunno. Saying sorry. Putting up with me holding this goddamned stupid grudge for so long. Honestly, Lee, I don’t know why I clung to it so tight.”
“Sure you do,” Lee said. “You needed somethin’ to hold to. ʼSpecially after Rebecca was gone.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Alex said. The beer had started to sweat the label off. “I’m sorry, too. For taking it out on you. Hell, I knew it was just a crush. I knew y’all didn’t do nothin’.”
“No problem,” Lee said.
“It is a problem. Was,” Alex said. “I knew her for, what, six years? And you were like my brother since we were kids. But once it started, me snubbin’ you and all, I couldn’t stop. And it’s stupid, but it made her bein’ gone easier.”
“It’s not stupid,” Lee said. “I get it. I got it then, too.”
“You’re a good man,” Alex said. He turned to look at Lee. “A good brother. Sorry I was a prick for so long.”
Lee shrugged. “Happens to the best of us.”
CPS arrived before the FBI, although it took eight hours. Nobody at Greystone slept besides the girls. Each of the boys gave up their beds, and Gwen and Jessie came early to help change the sheets.
“Es too much!” Mercedes said.
Faith was firm. “Sleep,” she said. The girls passed out fast, though Sofia and Mercedes managed a shower beforehand.
“You did a good thing,” Gwen told Alex as she put together a lavish breakfast. She patted his head like she used to when he was a child.
The girls stumbled downstairs around nine, sleepy eyed with stomachs that rumbled. CPS showed up right as they finished stacks of waffles, piles of fluffy and cheesy omelets, and endless slices of toast. One officer still had a trace of his Mexican Spanish accent; the other was a slight blonde with an unmistakable Boston dialect.
As soon as the male officer sat down and started to speak, a flood of Spanish started to pour out of the girls. They spoke so fast, Faith threw up her hands at Alex. “No idea,” she confessed.
“I’ll talk to you in the other room,” the blonde said with a nod to her and Alex.
They were both sleep deprived and had pounding headaches but recounted the events over and over for the blonde officer.
“A rifle?” the woman asked Faith. “And you never fired a gun before?”
“No,” Faith said quietly.
“Care to show me the bruises?”
Faith stood up and hiked up her shorts.
Alex gasped when he saw the welts. He’d assumed it had hurt but didn’t expect that.
“Looks like a rifle bruise to me,” the woman said as she made a note.
“What . . . what’s going to happen to them?” Faith asked. “To the girls.”
“Hard to say at this point,” the officer said. “I don’t know, but I’m guessin’ they’re here illegally. Most seem underage. If they have family in Mexico, I’d say they’ll be sent back.”
“Will they be okay, though?” Faith asked.
The officer stopped her notetaking and looked up. “I dunno,” she said. “Why are you so concerned?”
“Why aren’t you?” Faith snapped back. “Sorry,” she said as the woman bristled. “It’s . . . it’s been a long night.”
The officer finally offered up a smile, though it looked strange on her hard face. “That’s probably putting it lightly.”
When they were finally released, the girls were all smiles. They chattered away with the male officer. Mercedes caught his eye and laughed.
Who would do something like this to these girls? “Any . . . any leads?” Alex asked the male officer. “I mean, on who did this?”
“That’s something for the FBI or police,” he said. “We’re just taking care of the kids.”
“Oh.”
“Listo?” the officer asked the girls. “Ready?”
They nodded happily.
“Wait! You’re taking them? Already?” Faith asked. “We just—”
“We drove separately,” he said gently. “I’ve handled cases all over Georgia. Unfortunately, this kind of situation isn’t exactly unique.”
“But where are you taking them? I mean right now? Are they going to—”
“It’s okay, ma’am,” he said. “They’re safe. From what I gathered, they all have families and stable homes in Mexico. I’ll need to confirm that, claro, but I’m pretty good at figuring out when people are telling the truth.”
“But what about until then?” she asked. “Can’t they stay here?” Alex looked at her in surprise but realized he felt the same way.
The officer smiled at her kindly. “I’m afraid not. They’ll be well taken care of, I promise you. There are facilities, kind of like a hotel or a dorm, where they’ll stay in the interim.”
“Bye!�
� Mercedes said, and jumped on Faith with a bear hug. Sofia gave her a hug, too, though it was softer and more reserved. The other girls waved their hands shyly at Alex.
Mama put her arm around Faith as they stood on the porch and watched the officer help the girls into a black SUV. “They’ll be okay,” Mama consoled her. Caleb, Matt, and Lee watched silently from the porch chairs.
“I hope so.”
By the time the blonde officer emerged from the house, she looked satisfied as she tucked away her notepad. “Y’all done in there?” Mama asked. She put a protective hand on Alex’s arm.
“Yes, ma’am, thank you,” the officer said. “I might be in contact with you two,” she said. “But I think I got all I need. You bein’ able to identify two of those men is very helpful,” she said to Alex.
“We’re done?” Faith asked.
“With CPS, for now,” the officer said. “But don’t be surprised if the FBI or police come knocking soon.”
Faith groaned. “I can’t,” she said. “I need to sleep.”
“Then I suggest you get some while you can,” the officer said. Her steps were heavy on the wooden porch as she walked toward her Ford Taurus.
“Y’all do as the officer said, and get some sleep,” Mama said.
Alex took Faith’s hand without thinking. From over Mama’s shoulder, Caleb grinned and tipped an imaginary hat at him.
“Think maybe we’ll take a walk first,” Alex said. “Could use some fresh air.”
“Y’all didn’t get enough fresh air the past couple of days?” Mama asked. She sounded tough, but he could tease out the playfulness in her voice.
“Not the right kind,” he said. He saw Faith blush.
The questioning from that officer, the detailed recount of what had happened, it had made Alex think about how well he knew Faith. He knew he loved her. That was certain, he thought. But he’d just barely found out she spoke Spanish. What else didn’t he know? Her middle name, her favorite flower, or even her favorite ice cream. As they’d sat being interrogated by the blonde officer, he’d realized for the first time he wanted to know those things. Alex wanted more of her, period.
He led her to the trail, her hand tucked snugly into his. They walked in silence toward the beach. He wanted to quiz her now, find out everything, but the look of exhaustion on her face stopped him. There’s time, he told himself. Plenty of time.
Or is there?
When they’d circled back and were at the fork that separated the inn and his cabin, Faith smiled at him and dropped his hand. She started to walk toward the inn and left Alex to his cabin. Alex reached out and took her hand once again. He pulled it gently.
“What about if the police come?” she asked.
“Don’t worry ʼbout it,” he said. “Mama will let us know. C’mon.”
She chewed her bottom lip and let him pull her toward his cabin. Inside, they both headed directly to the bed. Faith collapsed onto the thick down bedding. She looked completely spent.
“Alex,” she started, “we need to—”
“Later,” he said. “The police will be here soon, and I’m guessin’ they’ll be askin’ us to the station on the mainland by tomorrow at the latest.”
“But we need to talk—”
“I know,” he said. “We will. But right now, we sleep.”
She sighed, unable to put up any more of a fight. Alex crouched down and pulled off her shoes. Faith groaned in delight.
He pulled back the comforter and tucked her in. By the time he’d circled to the other side of the bed, pulled off his shirt, and climbed in beside her, her breath was already steady.
Alex wrapped an arm around her, pulled her tight, and spooned her as he drifted off.
Chapter 34
Faith
Faith woke up and squinted at the clock. It had only been a few hours and there had been no call from Mama. She rolled over and looked behind her to an empty bed. Sadness and disappointment flooded her. Again? After all this?
Suddenly, Alex appeared in the doorway. He’d slipped on pajama bottoms in a plaid print and was shirtless. She was still exhausted, but the sight of him with mussed up hair and that perfectly toned torso instantly turned her on. How can I still want him this badly, even after what we’ve just been through?
With him, it will never be enough, she realized.
Alex smiled and brought two cups of coffee to her bedside table.
“Mmm,” she said as he leaned down to kiss her. He sat beside her while she propped herself up on the pillows and took a long swallow of coffee.
He watched her closely as she got her caffeine fix. “What?” she laughed, nervous.
“I . . . I think it’s time we talked,” he said.
“About what?” she asked, in hopes of putting it off.
“About us,” he said.
She sucked in her breath. “Are you breaking up with me?” she asked. Her voice squeaked. She’d heard about this, about trauma and tragedies that tore apart even decades-long marriages. What could it possibly do to her and Alex, who hadn’t even got a real relationship off the ground yet.
“Breaking up with you?” Alex asked, incredulous. “No! God, no, the opposite. I mean, I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “You’re the question mark in all this.”
“Me?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. You. Yeah, I . . . Listen. I’ve never been good at talking about this stuff.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” she asked with a laugh.
“Faith, I . . . I care about you. A lot. Hell, I love you.”
She felt her eyes widen in surprise. Alex had told her he loved her before when they were having sex, but she had chalked it up to the heat of the moment. He hadn’t mentioned it after, and neither had she. Looking at him now, she could see lines of tension running through Alex’s body. He was nervous!
“You love me?” she asked, challenging him to look into her eyes.
Alex met her stare. “I said I did. I just. . .I didn’t trust myself with just anyone. You know?”
That was all she’d ever wanted. To hear those words, she felt the last of the walls between them fall down.
Faith put down her coffee mug and kissed him long and deep.
“I love you too,” she said, and she could feel the relief surge through his body. His hand went to her waist, and she felt the wetness start to spread between her legs. “Alex,” she whispered and pulled back. She searched his eyes and saw nothing but transparency.
“I don’t know what to do,” he said. “I mean, your whole life’s in California. And me . . .”
“Yes?” she asked. “We, uh, we never talked about that,” she said. “What are your plans? What do you want to do? Are you going to stay here—”
He held up a hand. “Slow down on the questioning,” he said with a laugh. “Your law school is showing.”
“Sorry,” she said.
“But to answer one of your questions, I don’t know what my plans are. I know you’re not s’posed to say that, not when you’re almost thirty years old, but it’s the truth.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not one to talk,” she said with a sigh. “I spent my whole adult life preparing for a law career, and now I dread the thought of going back.”
“To California?”
She thought she heard some hope in his voice. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “To my firm, that’s for sure. But as far as leaving law entirely, I just don’t know.”
“You could always stay here,” he said with a shrug.
“Here?” she asked. “You mean—”
“You still got the property,” he said. “And I’m sure Craig or another contractor could do somethin’ with the house. Even if it was just to use the foundation.”
“I . . . you know, I guess you’re right,” she said. “There are all kinds of law specialties I never really fully considered. And if I can pass the bar in California, I’m sure I can here. Maybe, I don’t know, environmental law,” she said as she
remembered his suggestions for the property. “Or immigration law,” she added. She’d never forget Mercedes’s smile, or the way Sofia had looked at her with those trusting eyes.
“I don’t want you to change your whole life, not for me,” Alex said. “I was just, you know, sayin’. You do own a whole island in Georgia.”
“Yeah,” she said with a laugh. “God, that sounds weird.”
“And, hell, I could always go to California,” he said. “Not much keepin’ me here. ʼSides the family, but that’s what planes are for, right?”
“You’d . . . you’d go to California?” she asked. “For me?”
“Not for anybody else,” he said with a grin.
“Ugh,” she said. “You’d hate it. I hate it a lot of the time, now that I think about it.”
He gave her a strange look. “You aren’t s’posed to say that ʼbout your hometown,” he said.
“I don’t mean California as a whole,” she said. “Just, I don’t know, maybe the crowd I ran with back in San Francisco. But some sleepy little beach town, like where I grew up? I could see you there.”
“You mean us,” he corrected.
“Huh?”
“You could see us there.”
“Oh,” she said and looked down.
“That is, if you’d have me,” he added.
“Of course!” she said. “Don’t be weird. So what is it? Georgia or California?”
“Heads Carolina, tails California,” he said.
“What’s Carolina got to do with this?”
He laughed. “It’s a song! A country song, so I’m not surprised you don’t know it. All y’all Californians don’t care much for the good stuff.”
“Hey!” she said. “I have fantastic taste in music.”
“Yeah, I bet you got some Kesha on your playlists and everything.”
“Okay, the fact that you even know who Kesha is says more about you than me.”
“All I’m sayin’ is, we don’t have to make any hard decisions right now. And if it comes right down to it and we can’t decide? Hell, we can just flip a coin.”
“How romantic,” she said.
“That’s me—can’t help myself.”
She bit her lip and looked at him. When she’d arrived on Saint Rose, the last thing she’d expected was to stumble right into her future. Faith remembered that first day, when she’d walked in on the argument between Alex and Caleb. Lee had tried to soothe her with promises that Alex was just that way.