by Kathy Macias
MARIE HAD REFUSED TO GIVE her daughter the Barneses’ contact information, but Julia had tracked them down on one of her social networks. Apparently they had at least sporadic Internet service in this remote area of southern Mexico. If that was the case, how really desolate or dangerous—her parents’ specific words as they tried to dissuade her—could the place actually be?
Julia caught herself humming as she searched the Internet for more info on the area. San Juan Chamula, the closest town to the compound, seemed to be somewhat of a tourist attraction. It has to be a charming place, with its mixture of Mexican-Catholic influence and Mayan culture—even if they don’t allow tourists to take pictures inside its main church or even of the Christmas procession on the way to the building. I can’t wait to see it!
She was especially intrigued with the descriptions of the curanderos, or shamans, men and women who practiced their ancient medicine throughout the area. Her parents’ warning of rumors that some of them still practiced human sacrifice didn’t faze her one bit. Only her mom and dad, with their strict evangelical beliefs, would even consider such a thing to be possible in this day and age. Besides, with all her research, she had yet to unearth any serious proof of such modern-day practices.
Gang violence throughout the country, however, was a real concern, though that seemed more prevalent in large cities than in such remote areas as San Juan Chamula. And with the school being inside the locked compound, she felt confident she would be safe.
Julia sighed. It was as if the possibilities had not only resurrected her youthful dream of teaching children in poverty-stricken areas of other countries, but it had breathed new life and hope into her as well. It seemed she would finally have a purpose again—the first time she’d sensed that since Tom died.
“How can you say that?” her mother had demanded when she’d tried to explain it to her. “What about the students you teach at the high school? Don’t you think that gives you a purpose? And if you really want to teach in some poverty-stricken area, there are plenty of places right here in our own country. Why do you have to go so far away?”
But the more her parents argued, the more Julia was determined to follow through. Her initial contact with the Barneses had been encouraging, and she would be meeting with them when they came home in June for a brief vacation to take care of some business and to visit their grandchildren. Julia could hardly wait.
Meanwhile, she stayed busy tying up all the loose ends that went with wrapping up another school year. The students would no sooner walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, toss their caps into the air, and cheer their accomplishments than Brittney and Tyler would be arriving on Julia’s doorstep. How she looked forward to seeing them again! But how would they react to her news? She had sworn her parents to secrecy so as not to spoil the surprise. She wanted to tell her children about her plans herself—in her own way and on her own time. Her parents would no doubt get to them soon enough and try to plant seeds of doubt and fear in their minds, but she hoped they would see her point of view and support her.
Regardless, if Frank and Carolyn Barnes agreed to take her on as a teacher in their compound, she was going—with or without the support of her parents. True, her children were still college-age and not really out on their own yet, but she would be gone less than a year. And they would have their grandparents to go to if they needed something. They would all just have to understand and trust that she knew what she was doing.
CHAPTER 2
THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN was warm overhead, glinting off the red-gold curls that spilled down Brittney’s back and shoulders. Such a contrast to dark-haired Tyler—definitely his father’s son.
A stab of pain pierced Julia’s heart at the reminder, but she blinked away the accompanying tears as she remained in her spot on the lounge chair under the tree. This was no time to start feeling sorry for herself. School was out for the summer, and her children were home. Though she knew they’d be busy with summer jobs and reconnecting with friends, she was determined to enjoy every moment she spent with them.
Today was no exception, as Tyler manned the grill, keeping a close eye on the chicken so it wouldn’t burn. Brittney busied herself decorating the picnic table in vibrant summer colors, including fresh flowers, bringing a smile to Julia’s lips. So typical of both of them—Tyler concerned with the practical, Brittney with the aesthetic. But both are excited about getting everything ready for a cookout with their grandparents.
“You just sit and relax, Mom,” Brittney had told her as they started preparations a couple of hours earlier. “Tyler and I have got this covered.”
From the looks of the bountiful spread now covering the table—including green salad, potato salad, beans, bread, and an assorted relish plate—she had been right. Of course, Julia’s mom had never shown up empty-handed when it came to food, and today would be no exception. She would no doubt add to the pile of offerings that was already more than they could eat.
Julia frowned and glanced at her watch. Mom and Dad should have been here by now. They’re never late.
As if on cue the glass door slid open and Marie Lawson stepped outside, carrying a hot dish and followed by her husband, John, carrying two more. Where would they put it all?
“We’re here,” Marie announced, ever the bearer of obvious tidings. “We would have been here sooner . . .” Her voice trailed off and she cast an accusing glance at John. “But someone had to see the end of the basketball game before we could leave.”
John Lawson, tall and still fit for his age, grinned sheepishly. “It’s the playoffs,” he explained. “Some people just don’t understand how important that is—especially in overtime!”
Tyler laughed and was the first to embrace his grandfather as soon as both grandparents had placed their food on the table. “I get it, Grandpa, believe me. I snuck inside to watch the end of the game too—in between turning the chicken.” He moved to his grandmother then, as Brittney hurried into her grandpa’s arms.
They’re all so happy to see each other. I’m so blessed to have such a close and loving family. Julia rose from her perch and went to join the group hug.
“So glad everyone’s here now,” she said, chuckling. “Looks like we have enough food to feed everybody in the neighborhood. Maybe we should go door to door and invite them.”
“Nonsense,” Marie admonished. “You can’t have too much food when you have hungry college students home for the summer.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked from one grandchild to the other. She shook her head. “You two are surely growing up, aren’t you? It seems like yesterday you were running around here, playing ‘hide-and-seek’ and sitting on our laps.”
“Well, they’re too big for that now,” John said, easing down on the bench on one side of the groaning redwood table. “And from the looks of things, we’ll all be a lot bigger before this day is through.” He squinted his hazel eyes and glanced at his wife. “I told you we didn’t need to bring more food.”
Marie ignored him as she settled down on the bench on the opposite side of the table. “Trust me, everyone, none of this food will go to waste. And besides, leftovers are always the best part of any meal.”
As the conversation continued while Tyler removed the chicken pieces from the grill and placed them on a serving platter, Julia did her best to join in the festivities. She really was happiest when her family was around her, but it was also a constant reminder that her husband wasn’t. Would she ever get past that? She doubted it, but maybe the trip to Mexico would help.
Tyler was busy regaling his grandparents with his football accomplishments as bowls and platters of food made the rounds. His voice became a buzz in Julia’s ears as she wondered how she would tell them of her plans. She’d already met with Frank and Carolyn Barnes when they were in the States a week earlier, and they were thrilled that she wanted to come. The position was hers if she wanted it—she just needed to let them know as soon as possible so they could plan accordingly.
; Julia grabbed a couple of carrots sticks as the relish plate passed by. She hadn’t even told her parents how far along she was with her plans. Though she had yet to formally accept the Barneses’ offer, she was definitely leaning in that direction.
“Mom, the potato salad. Mom?”
Brittney’s voice cut into her thoughts, and she blinked as she turned her head toward her daughter. “I’m sorry, honey. What did you say?”
Brittney raised her perfectly shaped brows, reddish-gold like her long curly hair, and said, “The potato salad. Could you pass it, please?”
“Oh, of course.” Julia reminded herself to stop daydreaming and focus on her time with her loved ones. She quickly picked up the bowl and handed it to her daughter. As the meal and chitchat continued, Julia determined not to drift off again.
“Well, I’m just glad you two are home to keep your mom company for a while,” Marie observed, smiling at her two grandchildren who sat across from her, next to their grandfather.
Julia, seated beside her mother, turned toward her. “I thought you said they’d be too busy with their own lives to keep me company this summer. Did I miss something?”
Marie frowned, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I just meant that . . . they’re here, that’s all. At least you’re not alone in this house all summer.”
Julia nodded. “Exactly what I tried to tell you when we discussed this a couple weeks ago. I’m glad you’re finally seeing it my way.”
“It’s just . . . ,” Marie hesitated before plunging ahead, “it’s just that I do want to see you get involved in something besides work. It’s not enough. I told you that, and I still feel that way. But I certainly don’t want you traipsing off to teach school in some dangerous, far-off place.” She shook her head. “No, that’s not an option. There are plenty of things to keep you busy right here in your own neighborhood. Why, you could volunteer at the senior center or—”
Before Marie could come up with another option to safely occupy her daughter’s spare time, Brittney interrupted, fixing her green eyes on her mother’s face. “Wait a minute. What’s this about you teaching school in another country? This is the first I’ve heard about it. What’s up, Mom?”
This time it was Julia’s turn to blush—not so much with embarrassment as with anger. Hadn’t she sworn her parents to secrecy until she could tell her children what she was considering? But it was out now; she might as well deal with it head-on.
“Actually,” she said, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders just a bit, “I’m seriously considering going to Mexico to teach at a remote compound near San Juan Chamula. It’s in Chiapas State, the southern part of the country. The people are very poor and have little opportunity for a good education. I—”
Marie laid her hand on Julia’s arm. “So you’re still thinking about going? I thought surely you’d given up on that idea by now.”
“Not at all, Mom.” After a quick glance at her mother she turned her attention back to the three people who sat across from her, all seemingly transfixed by her words. “In fact, I met with the Barneses when they were here last week, and they’ve extended a formal invitation for me to join them for one school year. I’d have to work things out with the school district here, but they’re usually open to things like this, and they have plenty of time to find someone to take my classes for the next year.”
“Mom, this doesn’t exactly sound safe.” Tyler’s dark brows were nearly drawn together into one as he spoke. “I don’t like the sound of this at all. Why would you want to go teach somewhere in a compound? I can see wanting to teach abroad somewhere, but Chiapas? Really? Isn’t that where the Mayan influence is so strong?”
“It is,” Brittney chimed in. “I’ve studied that area and culture, and outsiders are definitely not welcome there. I don’t think you should go, Mom. I really don’t.”
“Neither do we,” John Lawson chimed in. “Your grandmother and I have tried to dissuade your mother, but apparently we haven’t done a very good job.” He fixed a determined stare on his daughter. “Tell me you haven’t accepted, Julia, that it’s not too late. Please tell me you haven’t and that you can drop this foolishness right here and now, once and for all. If it’s a trip you need, I’ll buy you an airline ticket—or a cruise to some exotic island. But almost a year in a place like that? Absolutely not. I won’t allow it.”
Julia’s face grew hotter by the moment. How old did her father think she was? He was talking to her as if she were ten years old. And she didn’t appreciate it one bit.
“I’m afraid it’s not for you to allow or disallow, Dad,” she said, her voice firm, though she had to clasp her hands together in her lap to keep them from shaking. “I’m a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions. And for your information . . .” She paused and looked around the table, catching each person’s eyes in the process. “I have just decided to accept. I’ll contact Frank and Carolyn Barnes today and let them know. I’ll be leaving as soon as Tyler and Brittney go back to school.”
A stunned silence fell on the group, and Julia found herself wondering if she’d made a terrible mistake. But she wasn’t about to admit that to her parents or her children. She’d made an announcement, and she would stick to it.
She was going to Mexico to teach, period. Now she had to get the details squared away so she could begin her new adventure as soon as possible after Tyler and Brittney returned to college.
THE EMERGENCY FAMILY GATHERING had been initiated by John Lawson and orchestrated in such a way that Julia wouldn’t realize what was going on behind her back. John had even stayed home from his job as a construction foreman to enable them to meet during the day. Hurried cell phone texts, sent almost immediately after John and Marie left Julia’s home after the barbecue, had nailed everything down for the following day. Brittney had canceled her planned get-together with a couple of friends in order to ride with Tyler to their grandparents’ home.
The early afternoon heat was already intense enough to require the old Toyota Corolla’s AC to work at full force as they navigated the three-mile drive through the well-kept, older neighborhood. Brittney stared out the window as Tyler drove. Since they’d already had the “I can’t believe Mom is even thinking about this” conversation the previous evening, she didn’t feel the necessity to talk now. Apparently Tyler didn’t either, as he had cranked up his favorite rock station, which precluded conversation of any kind. It certainly wasn’t Brittney’s choice of music, since she preferred classical or country, but she figured she could ignore it for the few minutes it took to arrive at their destination.
As they pulled into their grandparents’ driveway and Tyler shut off the engine, they sat for a moment until Brittney turned toward her brother and broke the silence. “Are you ready for this?”
His face was grim as he nodded. “Absolutely. There is no way we can let Mom do something so crazy. Doesn’t she remember that we just lost our dad a couple of years ago? Is she trying to make orphans out of us or what?”
Brittney raised her eyebrows, surprised at the twinge of guilt she felt as Tyler’s words impacted her. It was the first time it had occurred to her that maybe this situation wasn’t all about her or Tyler after all—or even about her grandparents. Maybe it was something their mother really needed to do for herself.
The thought unnerved her, and she grabbed the door handle. “Let’s go. Grandma and Grandpa are waiting.” But even as they stepped out into the ninety-degree heat, she frowned at the new direction her thoughts were taking her.
MARIE HAD INSISTED on preparing lemonade and serving the butter cookies she’d made that morning—anything to keep her busy until her grandchildren arrived and they could get this meeting underway. Since the first time Julia had mentioned the idea of checking into this teaching possibility, Marie had scolded herself for opening her big mouth. It’s all my fault, she’d told herself over and over again. If I just hadn’t said anything about what the Barneses were doing down in Mexico . . .
&n
bsp; Then she’d increase her efforts at praying and begging God to stop Julia in her tracks. She’s not even serving You, Lord, she’d remind Him. It’s not like she’d be going as a missionary which would be dangerous enough—though I think I could probably accept that. But . . .
Now that Julia had formally announced her intentions, Marie felt twice as bad. She’d even told her husband she was going to try to get hold of the Barneses and tell them to turn down Julia’s application. That’s where John had drawn the line.
“No,” he’d declared as they drove home from Julia’s the previous evening. He’d even shaken his head in emphasis. “That wouldn’t be right. She’s an adult, after all, and God knows the purposes He has for her.” He’d stopped to glance at Marie briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “We’ve always prayed that God would do whatever was necessary to bring Julia to a total commitment of her faith. If this is part of it—which could very well be possible—who are we to stand in the way?”
Before she could protest, he’d continued. “Now, don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t mean I want her to go. In fact, I plan to do everything I can to dissuade her. And I’ll certainly be praying to that effect. I’ve even been thinking that we should invite Tyler and Brittney over to talk about this, as soon as possible. It’s obvious they aren’t any crazier about this idea than we are.”
And so the meeting had been set. Marie fussed with the place settings at the table as they waited for their grandchildren’s arrival. She doubted anyone was all that interested in lemonade or cookies, but then again, she’d never known Tyler to turn down a snack under any circumstances.
Within moments of hearing the doorbell, Marie had everyone seated around the table, sipping cold drinks and munching cookies—except for her. She was the only one who couldn’t bring herself to join in. She wanted to get on with the reason for their meeting and find a solution to their problem.