Broken Circle

by Amy McKinley

  She laughed. “No. I’m content with my smaller sculptures.”

  Her anxiety over what they would soon face evaporated with the possibilities ahead. His unease must have been because he would rather not spend the entire vacation with his mom. Understandable. Who was she to judge? Her parents had loved her, and she them. It was the high expectations they’d set for her that she did not care for. Maybe he wanted to avoid a situation similar to what she’d grown up with.

  They bumped along in a little racer car Alex had flagged down to take them to the Caracas airport. From there, they would have a thirty-five-minute flight to Margarita Island, where his mom lived. They could have flown from Barbados, but Alex seemed to want to add any experience he could share with her before they arrived at their next destination.

  Earlier, he’d called his mom to make sure she would be around this week, as they were going to surprise her. Why he had not paved the way for their stay, she wasn’t sure. All it did was further unleash her nervous energy.

  Liv intertwined her fingers with Alex’s and gazed out the window at the passing countryside below. The blue water stretched as far as the eye could see.

  Before she knew it, they had landed on the island, taken a short drive from the airport, and were pulling into a long driveway. At the end sat a picturesque white colonial with a backdrop of the ocean. Liv’s free hand fluttered to her chest. The scenic view was beautiful, and the artist in her longed to capture the feeling in clay.

  “This is where you grew up?” her voice whispered through the car.

  “Yes.” No further information was given as Alex parked in front of the house and slipped his hand from hers.

  “How did you ever leave?”

  Rather than answer, he exited the car and went around to her side. He opened her door and helped her out. After he got their bags, she followed him up the winding path to the bold blue front door. Alex rapped his hand against the wood, and they waited.

  A few moments passed before a petite woman who clearly resembled Alex opened the door. She had long dark-brown, almost black, hair and laughing mocha eyes that brought a smile to her face. When the woman squealed and launched herself at Alex, Liv was pleased she had listened to his wish to surprise her. His mother drew back, covered both cheeks with her hands, and kissed her son’s face multiple times. A slew of foreign words rushed from the beautiful woman, and Liv almost groaned. No English? She’d taken only two years of Spanish, and that was in high school.

  Alex pulled Liv close, and she blinked at one word she actually understood him say. “Esposa.” Wife. A guarded look passed so quickly between Alex and Rita that Liv thought she had imagined it.

  In flawless English, his mother welcomed her to their home. “I’ve heard so much about you, Liv. If I could have, I would have been at your wedding.” Her thin arms wrapped around Liv, who relaxed at the genuine affection.

  “Come. Come.” She ushered them inside. “Alex will put your luggage in the other room.”

  A rushed exchange of dialogue in words she couldn’t understand resulted in a frown from his mother before Alex turned to Liv with a wink and a promise to be right back.

  Alone with his mother, Liv glanced around, getting caught once more by the glistening waters beyond the living room windows. “It’s so beautiful here. I’m not sure why Alex left.”

  A breezy laugh filled the air before his mom linked arms with her and pulled her outside to the patio. “Sit. I want to hear all about you.”

  “I’m not sure what to say. I may be repeating what Alex told you.”

  “No, dear. Hearing it firsthand from you is an experience in itself. Please…” Her arm waved in a flourish, signaling that Liv should continue.

  “The most important thing is your son makes me deliriously happy, Mrs. Mudarra.”

  “Ah, love. There is nothing better.” She sighed. “Call me Rita.”

  “Of course, Rita.”

  “I’m very sorry to hear about your parents, dear. That must have been a terrible experience. Alex called me and said you needed to get away for a while, to cheer up after such a trying couple of months. I never dreamed he’d come here. I’m so pleased.” She reached over and squeezed Liv’s arm.

  “Thank you. It’s been difficult, but Alex is wonderful with all the attention he gives me. And he was right. We needed to get away, especially with the upcoming addition to our family and the stress he’s under with his job. We can spend some time alone before our dynamic changes.” Liv blinked, surprised at how Rita’s face fell.

  “Your family is expanding? You’re with child?”

  She didn’t know? Alex said he’d told his mom about the baby before they had left for their vacation. “Yes. I’m sorry. I thought Alex told you.” Her heart pounded, and her nails dug into her palms. Why had both Alex and his mother looked as if the world was about to end? Was having a baby somehow a bad memory for the two of them? What could have possibly been wrong?

  “Please excuse me, Liv. I was surprised is all. This will change things, of course, but it’s wonderful news. I’m thrilled for you both and expect to see that sweet little baby often.”

  Liv’s smile wavered, and before she could reply, Alex walked onto the patio.

  “Don’t you have a call to make, Alex? Surely, you remember.” His mother’s eyes glanced at Liv’s abdomen before they bore into his. Alex’s jaw hardened. His tell that he was upset screamed at her—the subtle narrowing of his left eye. To anyone else, it wouldn’t have been recognizable, but to her, it was a red flag. Alex wasn’t happy.

  “You’re right. Liv, please excuse me for a few more minutes.”

  After the door shut, Liv pounced. “What’s wrong, Rita? You can tell me.”

  Rita waved her concern away, her gaze shifting to where Alex had exited. “No. Nothing like that. We have a slight contention with his father. Alex needs to call him, tell him you’ve arrived, and the news of the baby.”

  “His father? I-I didn’t realize Alex had any contact with him, or even knew who he was.” Her brows furrowed. “When we were married, I saw his birth certificate, and there was no father listed.”

  Rita laughed. “That’s merely a technicality, darling. His father is a powerful, amazing man.” Her hand fluttered to her chest, and her eyes sparkled. “When I first encountered him, he swept me off my feet and spoiled me, promising me the world. After those first few weeks, my entire existence changed. You see, I was a Latin dance instructor when I met Juan Carlos. After that first night, he became adamant I would no longer work.”

  “I didn’t realize you were married.”

  “Oh no. We weren’t.” She waved the issue away with a bubbly little laugh. “He has a wife. I am his consort. This house, everything in it, and Alex’s education were provided by him.”

  Liv’s throat constricted at the mention of his father’s infidelity and Rita’s easy acceptance of her part in coming between a married couple. Her unhappy childhood reared its head. Rita acted as though having an affair with a married man was an honorable thing, not something that tore families apart, undermined confidence, and sparked screaming fights. The way her father’s infidelities had impacted her youth was earth shattering in her memories.

  “They had contact while he was growing up?” Her mind whirled. Alex never talked about his father. Could this be why? Because he knew how Liv felt about cheating? She’d assumed he had never met or even been aware of who his father was.

  “Yes, some when he was very young, and then more before Alex went away. Juan Carlos paid for me to fly to the United States and have the best doctors in my last trimester before Alex was born. I gave birth there, and…” she waved away the rest. “It’s merely a piece of paper. Alex is aware of who is father is, how utterly powerful Juan Carlos is, and what that also does for him.”

  What exactly does his father do for him? Unease sat heavy in her stomach, and Liv leaned forward to pick up the tea Alex had brought when he popped out briefly. Her necklace dangled as she
did so, and the happy squeal from his mom made her look up. Liv’s gaze focused on the pendant Rita pinched in her fingers. It matched her own. Liv’s hand went up to hover over her identical necklace.

  Chapter 8

  Vibrant sunlight reflected like tiny diamonds on the water as Alex, Rita, and Liv enjoyed tea, coffee, and croissants on the patio. Liv tore off a piece of the flaky bread and popped it in her mouth. It was so beautiful here. Her brows puzzled together with the sneaking suspicion that Alex’s moving away had to do with his father, as he had never spoken about him.

  They passed the morning telling Rita about their life in the States, and she, in turn, caught them up on friends of Alex’s—who had married whom and who had moved away. There would be moments here and there in which Liv observed how fidgety he’d become, not at all his usual self. She’d even noticed him watching his mom, his left eye slightly narrowed.

  When lunch rolled around, they again sat outside on the patio. There was something about eating fish and vegetable medleys that appealed to Liv in the Caribbean, or South America, rather.

  “Mom, do you want to go sightseeing or to the beach with us? I thought I’d show Liv around some more.”

  Rita waved them off. “You’re sweet to ask me, but no thank you, my dears. I wanted to go to town to meet a friend I was unable to get ahold of to cancel plans we had. You two run along and have fun.”

  That left Liv and Alex alone for the day, or several hours at least.

  “What should we do?” Liv gazed longingly at the ocean spread out before them. Still in the first trimester of her pregnancy, she couldn’t believe how much she craved sleep. An afternoon on the beach sounded like heaven. Hopefully, he would agree.

  Alex chuckled. “You can’t stand it much longer, can you? Get ready, and we’ll go to the beach. Go.” He waved her on. “I’ll clean up here first.”

  With anticipation, she hurried to put on a bathing suit and wrap. She grabbed a wide-rimmed hat and sunscreen then tugged on her bracelet. Finally giving up on trying to get it off, she decided to wait for Alex to help her with the clasp and reached beneath her hair for the closure on her necklace.

  Alex’s hand halted hers as she worked the tricky clasp to the butterfly necklace. “Not that.” The tick was back in his jaw. He nodded to her wrist and the handcrafted bracelet with the intricate fastening mechanism she had struggled to remove. “While we’re here, you need to leave those on.”

  Liv emerged from the bathroom after showering the next morning. Her stomach growled loudly. God, she was always hungry lately. She made her way to the kitchen, bypassing the floor-to-ceiling windows at the back of the house, which showcased the sparkling lake beyond. She and Alex had spent precious hours yesterday afternoon walking along the beach, swimming, and relaxing in the sun.

  If she had grown up here, she wouldn’t have left. The small town inspired her, and she longed for her clay, even for just a few hours to create.

  Rita joined them in the evening, a happy glow on her face. Alex’s moods wavered from content to guarded. When they next had a moment by themselves, Liv would ask him about it.

  Meanwhile, she soothed herself with the thought of traveling to Greece with her husband and having him all to herself once more. When they were alone, things were as they should be, and she was blissfully happy. With Alex’s recent kaleidoscope of emotions, Liv guessed he would want to leave and spend time together, just them.

  Well rested and showered, she followed hushed voices into the kitchen, only to draw up short at the dark expression on Alex’s face and the serious one gracing his mother’s. “I’m sorry, did you need a minute?”

  Alex shoved his chair back, took a breath, and turned to her with a small smile. “Good morning, beautiful. Have a seat. I made a plate of fresh fruit and eggs.”

  Liv slid onto the chair Alex held for her and reached for the glass of water he’d poured. God, she wished she could have coffee. Decaf was pointless. Only seven months left.

  He hovered in the kitchen and chatted for a moment while he finished his caffeinated coffee. Traitor. The heavenly aroma tormented her, and she swallowed another gulp of water that did not satisfy.

  Alex leaned down, tilted her head up, and placed a kiss on her lips. “I’ll be back shortly. Mom, no embarrassing stories.”

  She narrowed her eyes, wondering about his stern expression and emphasis on “stories.” A guarded look passed between Alex and his mom. What didn’t he want her to hear?

  He turned to leave, and Rita’s satisfied demeanor spiked her suspicions. Getting to her feet, Liv caught a glimpse of Alex pulling his cell phone from his pocket. Wait, that’s the black one, the phone used for informants and case correspondence only! Why would he need to use that one on their vacation?

  In quick succession, he pressed a series of numbers as he let himself out of the house. Something wasn’t adding up. His low voice carried, but only muffled noises drifted into the house, not enough for her to make anything out.

  Following her instincts, she hurried and thanked his mom for breakfast before rinsing her plate. “If you don’t mind, Rita, I’m exhausted from travel and, well, the pregnancy. Think I’ll lie down for a bit.”

  “Of course, dear. I was beyond tired when I carried Alexander. I’ll run a few errands while you rest.” She patted Liv’s shoulder and swept from the room.

  In the bedroom, Liv paced. The sound of his mother leaving the house fueled her to take action. Moving the gauzy curtains to the side, Liv caught a glimpse of Alex disappearing down a trail within the tall palm trees. She slipped from her room, being careful to shut the door behind her so it appeared she was sleeping, and left through the back door. She hurried over to where she last saw Alex and entered the grove of palms. There was a narrow path, and she quickly walked along, thankful it didn’t branch off…yet.

  Swiping the perspiration from her forehead, she picked up her pace when she spied crystal blue water through the dancing leaves. The break in the foliage gave her a blinding view of the water…and Alex. He stood near the edge, peering out along the horizon at a boat that neared the little sandy cove. What was he doing?

  Removing her sandals, Liv exited the tree line and approached him. When she was a few feet away, she spoke over the lapping water. “What’s going on?”

  He whirled around, all color draining from his face. “Liv! Go back.” He rushed her, gripped her arm tight enough to leave fingerprints, and hurried her toward the vacant path.

  Yanking her arm free, she stepped away. “Alex, what’s wrong?” The sound of a boat’s horn caused her to lean around him, but her hair tangled in the breeze, partially obscuring her vision. The boat had moved closer, and she could make out two men on the deck—one with binoculars raised. And…were those machine guns strapped to their bodies?

  She took a stuttered step back, and her gaze flew to his. “Alex, answer me. What’s going on?”

  A pained look flashed across his harsh features. “You weren’t supposed to be here, Liv.”

  “Alejandro! So good you brought her along,” one of the men yelled, now close enough that she could make out a few more details. He looked like an older version of Alex.

  Alex cast a glance over his shoulder and swore with vehemence. “Fuck. It’s too late.”

  The boat dropped anchor. The two men who had been on the deck approached in a dinghy. Only a few seconds remained until they would reach her and Alex. This would be the first time she witnessed his work. Her pulse raced. That was what this was, right? Work?

  “Liv.” His tortured voice breathed out, and his eyes pleaded for understanding, or forgiveness, as she nibbled on her lower lip. “I never wanted you involved in this. No matter what happens, I love you so much. More than you’ll ever know. If nothing else, remember what you mean to me, how good we are together.”

  “Alex, you’re scaring me.” Her heart pounded, and fear clawed at her to turn and run. This was a mistake. She should have listened to him, stayed at his mother’s hou
se, and taken a nap. Now she couldn’t change her rash decision, and it was too late. The men were upon them, and there was no running away.

  Alex’s hand clamped on her wrist, and he dragged her behind him as he turned. “Father.” He nodded his head. “Mateo.”

  Father? Despite the heat, Liv shivered at the coldness emanating from her husband’s tone. What sort of rift lay between them, and who was Mateo?

  “Isn’t this a surprise that Olivia came along?” A calculating gleam flashed in the older man’s black-as-coal eyes.

  “She isn’t staying.” Alex’s voice rang with cold conviction.

  “Step aside, Alejandro. I’d like to meet your wife, and I’m sure your brother would too.”

  Alex hesitated a moment then transferred the iron grip he had on her wrist to her waist, wrapping his arm around her as he stepped back and to the right so they were side by side.

  Liv’s heart pounded at the sight of the men up close. Doing her best to ignore the guns strapped to their chests and tucked into the waistbands of their pants, she offered a smile to the older man. Shorter than Alex’s five feet eleven, the man eased his posture, and his lips twitched into a semismile. Despite the teasing quality to his features, she wanted to run far away. Even without the weapons, she detected an arctic cruelty within the depths of his dark eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the leer in his brother’s expression as he perused her face and body, and she repressed a shiver.

  “Olivia?” the older man asked. At her nod, he grinned. There would be no correcting him to use her nickname.

  “I am Juan Carlos, Alejandro’s father. I understand Rita’s been keeping you all to herself. Imagine my surprise when she called about your arrival.” He winked, his gaze locked on her, even when he no longer spoke directly to her. “Alex will have to explain his tardiness on informing me you were coming and the happy news.” He rubbed his hands together. “Well then, Olivia, you’ll have to come with Alex to my home.”