Sorry for the long delay. I enjoyed my vacation in Mexico. I stayed in a little bungalow on the beach, just a couple of miles north of Tulum. The bungalow front door opened to a beautiful isolated bay. I walked the protected waters of the bay as I described in the chapter 10. I swam with the fishes and enjoyed the peace and solitude.
I had completed a rough draft of the final chapters before I started my vacation. While on vacation, I thought about the ending of my story. I was hit with a great epiphany, my ending sucked. After much thought and hand wringing, I have begun an alternative ending. I hope you will enjoy the alternative chapters.
Chapter 11
Sometime in the early afternoon Day 15
Bobby woke up feeling Amelia's warmth radiating into the curve of his body. He felt infuriated by her contact. How dare her… no... no… she didn't do anything wrong. She was just trying to keep them warm. Guilt and shame washed over him. His anger was energy better spent on helping them get to safety.
Desperately, he wanted to distance himself. He lifted his arm. She stirred and settled. Good, now he needed to slowly backup. He tried to move away, but she followed his body, wiggling her way closer. She mumbled something Bobby didn't understand. He stayed as still as possible, hoping he didn't wake her up. She kept rubbing against him and murmuring. She reached for his arm and hugged it against her. Crap, now what was he suppose to do?
Amelia moaned softly and her eyes fluttered open. Bobby quickly pulled his arm from her side. She rolled away from him and sat up, wiping her eyes.
She spoke in a soft voice. "Did you sleep any on this comfy old rock bed?"
Bobby grumbled, "I slept ok."
Trying to keep his irritation in check, he quietly added. "Thank you for keeping me warm."
Amelia didn't miss the duplicity in his response. She didn't feel it was wrong to keep him warm. He could have gone into shock. Should she feel guilty about enjoying their cozy snuggle? Definitely not… While he was sleeping, he pulled her in closer, instinctively needing comforting. She would just be patient until he decided he wanted to talk.
Cautiously, Bobby pushed himself up in to a setting position feeling the deep ache in his stiff muscles and joints. He spent the awkward silence testing his gross motor skills, hoping to limit audible grunts as he moved his aching body.
Finally guilt won over his anger. "I'm sorry Amelia. I shouldn't… be… so grumpy."
Amelia moved closer to his side. "Bobby, I know you didn't want me to lie next to you. I'm sorry, but I felt safe in your arms. I needed real human contact."
Bobby reached out and covered her hand with his. "We both did. Thank you."
He squeezed her hand and took a breath. She could tell he was struggling with something more.
Bobby pulled his hand back and rubbed his neck letting out a large sigh. "I'm not use to depending on someone else for help or comfort. When I have, it always ended up a disaster."
Amelia thought for a moment. "This time is different. You are starting with a disaster and ended up needing a little help and comfort."
Bobby chuckled. "You are not going to let me have my pity party, are you?"
"No. Not on my watch."
Amelia felt they were starting to connect on some level. She wanted to shift the conversation to something less taxing on both of them.
"Bobby, where did you grow up? I detect a faint Brooklyn accent."
"Bingo, I grew up in Brooklyn. Canarsie is where I survived my misspent youth. You are from Manhattan; and I detect a posh Ivy League accent. Harvard?"
Bobby could see Amelia smile. "You got me. I graduated from Harvard with a PhD. in the History of Art and Architecture. My family is from Manhattan, a boring snobby group."
Bobby looked into the shadows of her face. "Amelia, how old are you?"
"Bobby! That is a rude question to ask a woman!" Bobby felt the heat of embarrassment rise to his face.
Amelia smirked. "OK, I'm thirty-two. And how old are you?"
"I'm thirty-seven. My family is not boring and mostly dysfunctional."
"That explains how you know to flow with the punches." Bobby grimaced, she was closer to the truth than she realized. He thought of his mother in Carmel Ridge, his brother, his job and his father. God knows sometimes he just wanted run away from everything.
He realized how strong Amelia must be to hold up under the pressure of her kidnapping; her brother's torture and death. She was facing all of it with courage and blessed resolve, but she was starting to hit too close to home.
"Bobby, tell me about you and your family."
"There is so much. I wouldn't know where to start." Bobby groaned.
"OK. Give me the condensed version." Amelia watched Bobby squirm at the thought of answering her question.
Bobby knew the quick answer. The answer had been there for as long as he could remember. No one ever cared to ask. He rubbed his chin, trying to build the courage to share. After all they had been through; he didn't think she would judge him. She already knew the one thing he planned to keep secret from everyone.
"My alcoholic father beat me. My mom is schizophrenic… and beat me. My brother is a homeless gambling drunk, and I am a detective for the NYPD Narcotics Division."
Her heart went out to Bobby. He had been through so much and yet he seemed to be a caring and thoughtful man. She didn't know much about his childhood, but she guessed he never had a real childhood. He seemed to rise above anything Suarez threw at him.
"You busted Suarez. That is why he has this love/hate relationship with you? You survive because you know abuse."
"No… Yes … Amelia. I survive because I know life holds no permanence, only death is permanent. If you wait long enough, things will change, as long as you continue to survive."
Bobby grew more uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. He fidgeted with his sandals and looked at the water.
"How about we immerse ourselves in the warm water rather than personal demons?"
Bobby went to the edge of the rock ledge and took off his sandals. Amelia followed to help and he shrugged her off.
"I can do this."
Amelia didn't hear any animosity in his voice, just determination. She pulled off her sandals and joined him. She felt at a loss to find some conversation that was safe with Bobby. She opted for comfortable silence.
Bobby and Amelia floated quietly in the warm cenote.
Bobby tried to relax his tired battered limbs for another night of flight from Suarez. He hoped Suarez lost the battle with a rival gang, but luck never ran in his direction. Maybe he could try again to convince Amelia to go alone.
"Amelia, please think about going for help without me. You found me a safe place. You can come back for me later. I'll be fine."
"No, Bobby. Don't start that argument again. I am not going to leave you alone for a day or two. Did you think about what would happen to you, if I don't make it to the resort? If you can't go now, a couple of more days without food would cause you to deteriorate further. How would you swim out of here and get help?"
Amelia paused, a thought popped into her head. They needed food, there was food everywhere outside.
"Bobby, did you see the movie Castaway, with Tom Hanks?"
"No, I am more into books." He was happy she changed the subject, but had a feeling he was about to get shot down again by her logic.
"I didn't think I would like the movie, but I found myself engrossed with this man's survival on an island. He first survived on coconuts. They seem plentiful around here and thanks to the movie; I know how to crack a coconut."
Bobby shook his head. "No. It is too dangerous out there during the day."
"Bobby, you need nutrients to help you get stronger. You are only going to get weaker. The milk from the coconut is very tasty and the meat is full of protein and vitamins. It's like a one a day vitamin pill in a hard case. They are everywhere outside."
"No. We'll make it to the resort tonight. I can go one more day without food."
"Look, I promise I will not be gone too long and I will be as quiet as a church mouse. Besides you can't stop me."
Before Bobby could protest she slipped silently into the water and disappeared. Bobby stared at the ripple from her departure.
Bobby knew he was the weaker of the two, he didn't need the reminder. He felt the muscle and ligament damage with every movement. His ribs were most painful and the punctures in his feet made walking difficult and uncomfortable; don't even think about the hand or knee. No, he couldn't chase her down even if her life depended on it.
And… did she even think about the noise, breaking a coconut would make?
Amelia reappeared on the other side and as quietly as possible, she climbed out of the water. She knew she delivered a low blow to Bobby, but she was tired of his antiquated need to protect her. She just needed to find a few coconuts that were still green, lying around on the ground.
She listened for movement in the jungle before setting off. The jungle was live with squawking birds, complaining to each other over territory. She felt the area was safe and began her search.
Bobby climbed out of the water and sat with his back against the cave wall. She reminded him of a quote he once read by Eleanor Roosevelt. "A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water."
He looked around the cave and saw her sandals. She left in such a hurry, she didn't take her sandals. Please be safe Amelia.
TBC