"If you knew about this lawyer, my talk with Jack was for nothing." And my risk, she thought.
"Not really. It always helps to have a politician on your side."
"Nick, I don't know if he's on our side, but he knows everything about this case. He knows about Jenni being taken in Mexico, about Teresa, and I gave him every detail of what happened in Jessup. Even names, places, all about the Cabbage Patch Dolls."
"That's okay, Alex. We'll contact Arizona state officials as soon as we land. I'm sure we'll have their complete cooperation on this. We don't want anything done there until arrests have been made here. We're after the head honchos of the ring. After that, everyone else will fall into place. The rest are just pawns, anyway."
"Nick, if . . . that is, could you make sure the Arizona investigation includes Jack? Since he knows all about the ring in Jessup, and in a way, had a hand in helping to find Jenni, he should participate in bringing the accused to justice. Don't you think so?"
Nick glanced warily at her but didn't say anything.
"Please, Nick. Jack's an old friend and I promised him I’d give him credit for helping me. Of course, I had no idea this would happen today. I thought he would have to do it, through you know, channels."
"An old friend, huh?"
"Just an old friend, Nick. I feel I owe him this, for old time's sake."
Nick answered tightly, "Sure, Alex. As long as this is all you owe him."
"It is." She slipped her hand into Nick's and murmured softly, "I love you, and I'm very glad you're with me this time. All this time, the waiting has been hard, but alone, it's hell. I'm nervous about what this day will bring ... or won't."
He leaned over and kissed her serious lips. "Put a smile on that beautiful face, my darling. This is going to be a happy day, and we're going to see it through, together."
Her lips quivered into a faint smile, and she gripped his hand tightly. The plane started its descent over Columbus, Ohio.
The next hour was a blur in Alex's memory. It was funny how she remembered specifics of the accident that took Teresa's life. Colors, smells, individual faces. But today her focus was toward events to come, on one little sweet-faced child with dark hair and eyes. More beautiful than any doll created.
FBI agents in three-piece suits with walkie-talkies attached to their belts and, she was sure, guns hidden beneath their armpits, met the plane. Introductions were made but names flew immediately out of Alex's head. She was whisked through the airport into a waiting car, and escorted through the city. Since it was Sunday, traffic was light and they zipped along at a rapid clip. Alex was sure they were exceeding speed limits but guessed the FBI could do that when they were on a hot trail.
She should be excited, she thought, but other emotions took precedence; mostly fear. What if . . . a dozen what if’s swirled in her head.
She sat stiffly in the backseat, looking neither right nor left, not caring where they were going. She didn't need to memorize this trip. Nick was here. She spoke very little and clutched the frayed teddy bear. Alex was acutely aware of Nick's presence, of his concern for her, of his love. It was a strong feeling, like warm vibes, and it gave her strength to keep on with this frustrating chase. She prayed this time it wouldn't be futile.
Finally the car pulled to a stop before a house. It was a typical house, a place in suburbia with neighbors and a car parked in the driveway. Alex wondered if the neighbors had any idea what was going on here. Two more cars pulled up behind them. Suddenly FBI agents with discrete phones in their ears were everywhere. It's like a movie, Alex mused, feeling almost as if she were detached from the action and watching the scene on an ultra-wide screen.
But she was very much a part of the action in this scenario. She was ushered up the front steps and events whirled faster than ever. Flashes of badges . . . startled cries . . . the drone of rights being read. Alex moved past the doorway —was shoved past, actually—and began a room to room search.
This place, unlike the quiet one at Jessup, was a busy hub of activity and noise. A T.V. blared in the den. Someone in the kitchen was diligently filling a row of baby bottles with formula, and a radio played rock music in the corner.
Several women who obviously took care of the children scurried out, possibly trying to escape. Didn't they know the exits would be blocked? Alex's heart pounded as she pictured Jenni's small cherubic face.
"There's a bedroom in here." Nick motioned and led the way.
She practically ran into the room but halted with a sharp gasp. Two infants had been sleeping, but with the noise of the invasion, their naps were disturbed. One raised his head, took one look at Alex and Nick, and began to cry. That prompted the other one to join in the wailing.
Alex grew frantic. "Oh, God, Nick! She isn't here!"
"Let's look upstairs."
Alex bounded up the staircase and reached the second floor ahead of Nick. Someone pushed past her, causing her to drop the teddy bear. She ran on. Where? Where is she? "Jenni! Jenni!"
There were other infants in the upstairs bedrooms, and several toddlers in another room. As Alex rushed from one room to another, she left a trail of upset and crying children. Brown eyes! Brown eyes! Where are you?
It seemed that every child in the place was screaming. Then the cacophony died away and Alex heard only one.
Only one small voice shrilled above all the rest. "Mamacita! Mamacita!"
"Jenni! Oh Baby!!"
Wildly, Alex grabbed the child up in her arms, squeezing her small body, laughing and crying at the same time. They swirled around and around, dancing in a circle. All the miserable days and sleepless nights and weeks of searching were compressed into that one magic moment of hearing Jenni squeal with laughter.
"Mamacita! Mamacita!"
Nick watched the scene for a moment then turned away, embarrassed by the rush of emotion he felt. No one saw him wipe away the unbidden tears that formed in his golden-flecked panther's eyes. If Alex had been watching him at that moment, she would have known he hadn't lost touch with his feelings. And she would have seen the love clearly written on his usually stoic face.
Tough and ruthless as he was, Nick had never experienced such absolute joy nor felt such deep gratitude as he did while watching Alex whirling the dark curly-haired child in her arms. His feelings for the two were cemented forever in that moment.
When Alex calmed down, she turned an ecstatic, tear-stained face to Nick. "Come here. I want you to meet Jenni."
The child kept her chubby arms tightly around Alex's neck, but lifted her head to gaze curiously at the large man who stood there, clumsily holding a frayed teddy bear.
"Jenni, this is Nick. He helped me find you today. Can you say 'Hi, Nick?"
Jenni gazed steadily, silently at him, then her dark eyes dropped to the familiar teddy bear he held.
Nick smiled and offered her the toy. "Is this yours, Jenni? He's been looking for you a long time. And so have we. Thank God you're safe. Would you like to hug him? He's pretty lonesome."
Her little brown hand tentatively reached out for the teddy. Jenni clutched the bear tightly and snuggled it next to her heart. "My bear," she said possessively. Then she looked up into Nick's soft, tawny eyes. "Gracias, Nick."
"De nada," he mumbled, thinking he might melt on the spot. He touched her chubby golden cheek affectionately, and she bashfully ducked her head against Alex's shoulder.
He spoke gently to Jenni but his words were directed to Alex. "You'd better get used to having me around, Jenni, because I expect to be your adoptive father, if I can persuade your adoptive mother to marry me."
"Nick?" Alex looked up at him, startled. They had never discussed what would happen when they found Jenni.
"Sorry, I didn't have time to plan all this with you, Alex. But I can see this little kid needs a father."
"Not half as much as I need a husband," she said softly, with a happy smile.
"Is that a proposal?"
She nodded, her eyes glistening
with fresh tears.
"I accept," he murmured. "I thought you'd never ask." He kissed her lips until a small chubby hand pushed his face away.
"My mamacita!"
“Yes, she is. But I hope you’ll share her sometimes. Like at night.”
Alex laughed, still somewhat giddy. "I can’t believe this. All this. Today."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "She gets the teddy bear at night and, mamacita, I get you!"
Alex smiled warmly, tears still evident in her indigo eyes. "Nick, thank you for not giving up on her ... on us."
"I wouldn't have missed this moment for anything in the world, Alex. Now both of you have me in your clutches, which is exactly where I want to be. Come on. We have a date with the local police and the FBI. You have some identifying to do. File some charges. Sign papers. Then we can go home."
"Where's home, Nick?"
"First, I figure we'll have to return to Hermosillo to start proceedings to adopt Jenni legally."
"While we're there, do you think Padre Ramon would be willing to perform a wedding?"
"I think he would be glad to make all this legal . . ." Nick smiled as they started downstairs. "And to give this child some parents. Then we'd both better consider settling down. After all, we're a family now. I'm tired of apartments and moving around and living out of boxes. It's time we had a house."
"And a decent car!" Alex laughed. "My, my, how domesticated you've become in just the last few minutes, Mr. Diamond."
"See what you do to me, woman? I won't be satisfied until you're Mrs. Diamond. There'll be no more holding back on love, Alex ... for the three of us." His lips sought hers again and his long arms embraced both Alex and Jenni. This time, the little girl hugged him back.
Email from Hermosillo, Mexico
To: Carol M
From: Alex J Diamond
Subject: Happiness is. . .
Nick and I were married last week. Jose and my friend Rosemary were our witnesses. I'm sorry you missed the wedding but I'm sure it's one Padre Ramon will always remember. It was very emotional, but not for the usual reasons.
Jenni was a darling little flower girl but she wet her pants halfway through the ceremony and was so embarrassed she cried the rest of the time. We had to shout our "I do's" above her wailing. Family life is a wonderful challenge, huh?
The adoption will take some time in the next few months, but our lawyer sees no problem. Meanwhile, Nick and I are having a honeymoon for three.! Thank God for Rosemary and her husband Sam. They've been baby-sitting with Jenni to give us a little privacy. Believe me, though, we can't stand to let her out of our sight for long, now that we finally have her back.
We'll be seeing you soon when we move to Phoenix. Nick has sworn off guns. He'll do FBI recruitment and special forces training sessions for both state and federal governments. I've always wanted to run my own pre-school and now seems to be a good time to do it. I am an overnight wife and mother now. And I've never been happier!
Love, Alex
The End
Alex and Nick enjoyed these foods while in Mexico:
Pollo en Mole
1 tsp. olive or salad oil
1 onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
¾ cup chicken broth
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
¼ cup ground peanuts or peanut butter
1 Tbsp. each chili powder & unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp each ground cinnamon & ground cumin
¼ tsp. each black pepper & cayenne
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
3-4 prunes (liquefied in blender w/chiles)
To a skillet, over medium high heat, add oil, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring until onion is tinged brown; add 1 Tblsp. broth. Then add tomato sauce, remaining broth, chili powder, cocoa, cinnamon, cumin, pepper, cayenne, and ground peanuts. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Add chicken; continue to simmer until chicken is firm, about 15 minutes longer. Serve chicken and sauce on rice with corn tortillas on the side.
Pargo a la Veracruzana
1 ½ lb. red snapper fish
¼ cup vegetable oil
½ cup flour
½ tsp. salt
2 large tomatoes, cubed
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 red bell pepper, cut into rings
1 green bell pepper, cut into rings
1 medium jar salsa
Put flour and salt in a plastic bag, then coat fish in this mixture. Heat oil in a large frying pan, add fish and brown on both sides. Reduce heat to medium low and add celery, tomatoes, peppers, and the jar of salsa. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Serve over rice. Beautiful and delicious!
Guacamole
2 large avocados
½ cup onion, diced
¾ cup tomatoes, chopped,
2 jalapeño chiles, diced
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
2 limes, juiced
1 small clove garlic
salt to taste
Peel avocados and remove pit. Mash well with a fork, stir in diced onion, tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro and garlic. Squeeze juice of limes into mixture and salt to taste. Some people like to add a small amount of cottage cheese in their guacamole to make it go further. Serve with corn chips for dipping.
Galletas de Bodas
Traditionally served at weddings, but also at Christmas time.
1 cup butter (or margarine)
½ cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour,
¼ tsp. salt
sifted more powdered sugar, enough for rolling cookies (approx. 1 cup)
Cream butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add flour, salt and nuts gradually to creamed mixture. Mix thoroughly. Shape into two long rolls about 1 ¼ inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate several hours. Cut into ¼-inch slices and place close together on ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 350º for 15 – 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Remove from baking sheet and roll in powdered sugar immediately. Makes 4 dozen cookies.
Recipes from Corazon Contento – Sonoran Recipes and Stories from the Heart, by Madeline Gallego Thorpe and Mary Tate Engels. Available on Amazon.com and Texas Tech University Press.
Mary Tate Engels, author of more than 30 romance novels, soon to be on ebooks at Smashwords, also has two non-fiction southwest history books with Texas Tech University Press: Tales from Wide Ruins, Jean and Bill Cousins, Traders; and Corazon Contento – Sonoran Recipes and Stories from the Heart, co-authored with Madeline Gallego Thorpe. She has three sons, two granddaughters, has raised a wolf in her back yard, and has adopted two black cats for good luck.
Discover other titles by Mary Tate Engels at www.marytateengels.com/
Loves Dawning: http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Dawning-ebook/dp/B004DCB8W0
A Lasting Love http://www.amazon.com/A-Lasting-Love-ebook/dp/B004D4ZX10
A Rare Breed http://www.amazon.com/A-Rare-Breed-ebook/dp/B004HZXT9S
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