When the plane touched down in Cuba, Katey Miller was asleep against the window. A flight attendant woke her softly, and Katey was pulled away from her dreams and back to reality. Was she really here, was she really doing this? Maybe her mother was right, she should leave this in the past and save herself the pain. But she knew she couldn't do that, she didn't come all this way for nothing. She would find out what had happened to Javier, even if it killed her.
She left the airport and settled into her hotel. After freshening up she went to the Oceana to touch base with Yolanda and take her to lunch. Yolanda was very happy to see her, but unfortunately, she did not know where Katey could find Javier.
"I think I know where I can find him, Yolanda, I was just wondering if maybe you had seen him in the past few years."
"He used to come by every once in a while, but after the revolution a lot of people just seemed to get lost. Things are not as we had expected they would be."
"Yes, I've heard."
"You have?"
Katey smiled.
After lunch the two women embraced in a fond farewell.
"I will try to stop by again before I leave."
"I hope you do." Yolanda replied. "It was very nice to see you Katey. And in case you were wondering, you still are no square."
Katey laughed; surprised she remembered and left Yolanda to return to work.
Katey looked at her check list.
Oceana – check
Suarez casa –
La Rosa Negra –
Her next stop was the Suarez's home. The entire walk there she kneaded her hands together, and the closer she got the harder her heart began to pound against her ribs.
She marched up to the metal gate, which had rusted since she had last touched it, and the look of it saddened her. She waited a moment, almost expecting someone to see her there and welcome her in. But no one appeared. She pushed the gate, but it did not open.
The house looked abandoned. But it couldn't be.
She saw an old man walking by and decided to ask him.
"¿Vive la familia Suarez aquí?"
"The no live there no more, child."
"Do you know where they have gone?" she asked desperately.
"No, lo siento."
"Gracias." Katey said, and the old man left her.
"Now what?" she said to herself.
