I have this urge to make an excuse and run; just run. This is ridiculous. I am throwing my marriage away, that is if there is any chance for it anyway. No no, this is just meeting an old, um, friend. It has absolutely no meaning. That's why I have trouble even picking at my guacamole and my quesidilla. I'm sipping at my beer like there's no tomorrow. This cannot be good.

As if he can see through my skull with those new eyes of his, he puts his hand on his chin and gives my the slightest wry little smile I've ever seen. "I know. This seems a bit weird and you're probably wondering why I got in touch with you."

Um, yeah..tell me! Wait I don't want to know. "Well, it would be kind of nice to know why we're sitting here." I almost start to give him a smile and a semi-eye roll when I catch myself...not that it would matter either way.

"This is about a mutual friend of ours. You may remember him."

"El? What's going on with El?" I'm sounding, and feeling, a little panicked. This just has a bad sound to it.

He puts his drink down and lets his glasses make eye contact. "There's a slight problem in Mexico."

"Okay, no. Just no." I almost pound the table with my fist. "I am not going back to that country ever again. We almost got killed. You may be up for risking your life but I have two kids and this is not happening." I take a deep breath...almost had forgotten about that inhaling and exhaling thing." I'm pretty sure people are staring at me but I don't even care. My stomach is in knots and can't even think about eating or drinking now.

"Will you at least hear me out before you finish your panic attack?" He swigs his drink. "There is no one else who will do this. And I owe him. We owe him."

Damn it all. I cannot argue. I lift my glass of water, and then place it down right on the same ring it created on the paper tablecloth. I'm really not thirsty but I don't know what to do with my hands. I'm sure he can hear my fumbling and sense my anxiety. No I'm not as anxious as I was. I'm starting to get mad. What gives him the right to interfere with my life after all of these years? I have a marriage that's collapsing and I have a career and two kids who need me. I do not have time for this. I want to walk away and leave him with the check. I want to be rid of him and all of Mexico and the memories. Part of me does, anyway. Okay, well no. Mexico gave me some of the best memories of my life. I didn't know it then but those days were magic. I just can't afford to go back to that now. There's too much here for me. Okay, well, my kids are at least something good.

"El's wife is missing." Again with the sunglasses that stare at me with intensity.

"When do we leave?"