Saying Goodbye...and Hello
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Chapter 34
..Two days later…
It was like any other day at the Mexico City Train Station. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. A lone train arrived with a loud rumble, its doors making a loud 'swoosh' sound as train passengers departed and disappeared into the mass of people.
Amanda was walking with her hand engulfed in Pepita's tiny one. They were here to meet Javier and Ria Muñoz, Pepita's uncle and aunt from America. They were coming to pick Pepita up and take her back to the town of San Angelo, Texas, which will be her new home until her parents were in good enough condition to travel.
An intercom from up above blared loudly, first in Spanish and then in English: Tren de Washington DC con destino a Dallas, Austin y San Angelo, llegando en diez minutos por la Vía 2….Washington DC train bound for Dallas, Austin and San Angelo, arriving in ten minutes on Track 4…
Just before they reached Track 2, Amanda let go of Pepita's hand and now stooped down to her level to button the little girl's new, bright red coat. It was a smaller version of the camel wool coat that Amanda had worn on her many visits to the train station.
"Pepita, you must keep your coat buttoned if you expect to stay warm," Amanda stated in a firm, motherly tone.
Pepita nodded to acknowledge she heard, but still kept her head morosely down. Her voice was barely audible above the crowd and train noises, "Okay, I will, Señora," she mumbled into the collar of her coat.
Amanda stopped buttoning Pepita's coat midway, a concerned look sketched on her face.
"Pepita, why the long face?" she questioned, "I would think you would be very excited to meet your aunt and uncle and start your new adventure in America!"
Pepita raised her head, her eyes somber, "Oh, I am happy to see my relatives, Señora Amanda! It's just..." her voice faltered, "no..." she sadly shook her head,"it's... nothing, nothing at all..."
This worried Amanda even further.
"Pepita, you are breaking my heart with your sadness! Sweetheart, you know you can tell me anything! Surely you know that!"
The little girl's huge, brown eyes looked earnestly at Amanda.
"Oh, I do not mean to break your heart, Señora Amanda! You have done much for me and I will forever be grateful!"
"Then tell me what is bothering you, Sweetie!" Amanda encouraged her.
"It's just..." Pepita paused, fumbling with her words, "I thought Señor Lee would be here... to say... goodbye to me…"
Amanda checked her watch again. Last time she spoke to Lee, he had verified he would meet them here. But looking about the bustling station, there was no sign of him. Where was he?
Amanda felt she had to make up an excuse in order to not make Lee look bad.
"Now, Sweetheart, I'm sure Señor Lee would be here if he could," Amanda stated in a gentle tone, "but he is so busy arresting all the Cartel people...and...and...he just wants to be sure the town is safe again. That takes time."
"But he has to be here!" Pepita insisted, "He made a special promise to me!"
That was news to Amanda as she tentatively asked, "Oh? And what was this special promise?"
Pepita looked at Amanda with hopeful eyes, "Señor Lee promise to me that when he come here to station, he will tell me a most wonderful story!"
"A most wonderful story?" Amanda looked puzzled, "You mean another fairytale about a princess with her bat?"
"Oh no! Even better!" Pepita claimed, "He say it is a story that begins an adventure!"
Amanda could not imagine what Lee meant, but he better be here soon. She tried to appear chipper for Pepita's sake.
"Welllll, there's still time...you just wait; he will be here!" she enthused, as she now straightened the little girl's collar. Then she stood up.
Pepita wasn't totally convinced as she tilted her head to peer up at Amanda, "Perhaps, Señora, he has forgotten about me..."
Amanda put her hands on her hips, "Now you listen to me, young lady! Señor Lee could never forget about you...not when you have given him so much to remember! "
Pepita's expression looked wistful, "Really? I hope that is true, Señora."
"You BET it's true, Sweetheart! And...and even if he doesn't make it to the station on time, he will definitely tell you that special story when he visits you in San Angelo in a few weeks! So no need for sad eyes now on such a happy day! "
Pepita's eyes sparked with interest now, "Oh? He will visit me later in Texas? Did he say that to you? Will you visit me, too?"
Amanda smiled at Pepita's sudden change in mood.
"He did and I promise to, as well."
When Pepita looked pleased again, Amanda stated, "But we are getting too far ahead of ourselves, I think. Right now we need to go stand at the right tracks in order to meet your relatives, alright?"
This time Pepita happily nodded and grasp Amanda's hand again. Her steps seemed lighter now.
Amanda looked down lovingly at Pepita. She will miss this little spitfire of a girl. Without her courage and spunk, her mission would not have been successful. Amanda loved this girl like a daughter, as she continued to look at her with admiration.
The crowd approaching them was getting heavier now. As Amanda continued looking down at Pepita, she suddenly felt someone grabbing her arms which had been held tight to her sides, while forcing her to turn and walk the other way.
"...Oooo!" was her automatic response to the rude grab.
Then she heard a familiar male voice whisper softly in her ear, "You're supposed to say 'excuse me'."
Her forehead furrowed as she turned her head to view the person and, instantly, butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she found herself staring at Lee's handsome face.
"Oh! Señor Lee!" announced Pepita, as she instantly leaned in and hugged his legs.
They stopped walking as Lee laughed and bent down to hug her back.
While they greeted one another, this gave Amanda time to note Lee's unusual outfit. He was wearing a short-waisted silk jacket, over a white dress shirt with a black bow tie and black slacks, much like a fancy waiter's outfit. In his right hand, he held a wrapped box.
Still embracing Pepita, Lee turned to focus his eyes on Amanda and her knees felt weak. Then he stood and grabbed her sides again and began walking again.
"Say 'excuse me'," he reminded her again, emphasizing the last two words.
And suddenly Amanda's memory clicked and she understood what was happening. It was a reenactment of the first time.
She cleared her throat, "Excuuuuse me!" Amanda stated, pretending to look indignant at Lee's sudden appearance.
"Just walk with me," he stated breathlessly, as he looked back, pretending to make sure he wasn't being followed.
"I will not!" Amanda indignantly stated, remembering to turn away from him.
"Please..." Lee acted, sounding desperate, as he held on to her, "I'm in trouble…"
Amanda managed to wrestle herself out of his grasp, "Oh no! I gotta go!"
She began walking the other way and he caught up with her, and now they stood facing one another as Pepita continued watching with great interest, as if she were watching a play.
"Just one more thing!" Lee's gorgeous eyes were pleading, "Please! I'm in trouble!"
"No!"
"I'm in trouble, please!" Lee restated, giving her his most earnest look, "Please!"
It was so natural for them to relive their meet-up; it seemed like only yesterday as they easily remembered their exact gestures and lines.
Amanda momentarily shut her eyes as if she was already dreading her decision in helping a stranger. When she opened them, she looked resigned to her decision.
"What is it you want me to do?"
He shoved a package in her arms, "Take this. It's a matter of life and death!"
"Life and death?" Amanda questioned, as she took the package.
Lee continued explaining, "Hand it to..." he paused here and gave Pepita a quick wink, "...the brave girl in the red coat!"
Pepita's eyes opened wide when Amanda then handed the package over to her.
"What? What is this?" Pepita looked in surprised awe, "This is for me?"
"It's from both of us," Lee said as he exchanged a warm glance with Amanda.
All interest in how Lee and Amanda met was forgotten as Pepita quickly opened the small, long rectangular box and gasped with surprise. She pulled out a lovely charm bracelet. Dangling from the gold chain were charms of a helicopter, a yellow taxi, a motorbike, and the biggest charm was one of a little red truck.
"Oooooohhhh!" Pepita squealed as she hugged her new jewelry piece tightly.
Lee knelt down on one knee until he was even with Pepita, "May I have the honor of putting this exquisite piece of jewelry on our precious truck princess?"
"Oh yes, YES!" squealed Pepita excitedly.
With the clasp securely on, Pepita held her arm away from her to admire the bracelet, "It is most beautiful! Just like the first time you two meet!"
"Welllll," doubted Amanda, "I wouldn't say our first meeting was exactly beautiful...it was more like a moment of desperation!"
"But it IS a beautiful meeting, Señora! And today it is a new start and this time you can be together forever!"
Lee and Amanda exchanged awkward glances.
"I don't think..." Lee began.
"...that will ever happen," Amanda stated, completing the thought.
Pepita's eyes turned worldly, as if she knew something they didn't, "Two people meet the same way again. It was meant to be."
Amanda tilted her head at the little girl, "Sometimes, Pepita, I think you are a very old soul!"
But Pepita was no longer listening as she was kept busy wiggling her new precious bracelet around her wrist.
CHOO!CHOO! CHUGA...CHUGA…CHUGA...CHUGA…
The sound of an oncoming train signaled to them that a train was pulling in and Pepita's uncle and aunt would be arriving soon.
"Come on," Amanda stated, taking hold of Pepita's hand again as Pepita continued to view her new bracelet "Your auntie and uncle are here! Let's be the first faces they see on track 4!"
And as Amanda held one of Pepita's hand, Lee was on the other side, holding the little girl's other hand, as well as her suitcase.
#
Lee and Amanda only had fifteen minutes to chat with Pepita's auntie and uncle and say goodbye to Pepita before the newly unified family boarded again and the train went on its merry way. The final hug was the hardest to complete and it was difficult for Lee and Amanda to separate from the little girl.
From the train's window, Pepita blew kisses and then wiggled her bracelet for them to see.
CHOO!CHOO! CHUGA...CHUGA…CHUGA...CHUGA…
They were still waving, long after the train had pulled out of the station. It was a heartfelt goodbye.
Amanda turned and watched as Lee wiped his moistened eye. He immediately noticed her watching him.
"I HATE when dirt gets in my eyes!" he claimed.
"Yeah, suuuure it was the dirt!" she smiled knowingly.
"You're right," Lee admitted, "It wasn't dirt in my eyes. I'm really going to miss that little half-pint!"
"Me, too," Amanda agreed, "that little girl can really tug at your heartstrings!
"Not only tug at the heartstrings," Lee corrected, "she can also pull it down and twist it all around as well!"
Amanda chuckled, "Yeah, little kids are good at doing that."
"It's not only little kids that can do that, Amanda," he opaquely stated.
She stared at him hard, "What do you mean by that?" she asked.
They were alone at last, with another completed mission under their belt.
Lee turned away from her and stared off in the distance, "This mission has made me realized how grateful I am to have you in my life, Amanda. And I was just thinking about what the kid had said earlier...that perhaps...from this day on...at this train station...this could be a new start for us..."
He turned back to watch her reaction. He silently willed her to forget about the many times he had frustrated her or claimed she wasn't his partner.
His heart was pounding a mile a minute as he waited for her to answer.
She gave a half-smile, "I'd like that."
Lee felt he could breathe again.
Of course Amanda's kind nature would forgive him. But it still felt great to hear those words.
"Great! And maybe with this second chance, we won't mess it up," Lee honestly stated.
"You mean YOU won't mess it up," she corrected him.
"Correction noted," he humbly stated, then declared, "So we are partners again."
Amanda surprisingly answered with, "Not so fast, Buster! I'll have to think about us being partners again!"
Lee's mouth dropped, "What?" he incredulously asked.
She carefully watched his reaction as she rambled on, "I mean, after all, I did pret-ty well for myself for awhile on this last mission! It was nice having to make decisions on my own with you not yelling at me! I enjoyed doing the mission on my own, especially since that means I get all the credit!""
She noted when Lee's expression turned from one of alarm to one of amusement.
"You almost had me," he finally stated.
The jig was up.
"So what gave me away?" she asked, "Was it the 'I get all the credit,' that did me in?"
Lee responded, "No, actually, it was the 'I enjoyed doing the mission on my own' part that made me realize you weren't serious. After all, who wouldn't want to work with me?"
Amanda hid her smile, "A bit smug, aren't we?"
"And yet here we are, completing another mission together again.." he maintained and then added, "oh, and speaking of missions together... Billy had already informed me of our next assignment together; that is, if you can give up your I'm-a -lone-hermit-spy image to work alongside me. Soooo...what do you say, Amanda? Will you be my partner for this next mission?"
He didn't have to wait long for her answer.
Amanda looked at him with complete sincerity, "What is it you want me to do?" she quietly asked.
And at the mention of the exact phrase she stated at the train station the first time they met, he smiled.
"Come on...let's go home..." he stated before softly adding, "partner."
Her smile lit up the entire station, "I'm more than ready... partner," she happily responded back.
And as they walked away from the train station, they enjoyed experiencing their first time together again.
Only this time, it would be better.
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THE END!
So after a year, it is done. Thank you for sticking by this story and going on this fun journey with me! I don't have another story in the works, but there are several in my head, so I'll be back here someday!
Please review for the last time!