Chapter 3
The next day, she couldn't wait to see Rudy. She dashed into his office, only to find him in the middle of a discussion with several other scientists who had attended the conference with him the day before. Rudy excused himself for a moment and motioned for Jaime to step outside with him. "Rudy, I was wondering if I could have a minute…I, uh, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." Suddenly she felt awkward around Rudy, not knowing how to approach the subject.
Rudy knew this was coming, he had set her up after all. "Why don't you give me a few minutes, and I'll take you to lunch and we can talk – okay?" He put his arm around her, knowing she needed it right about now. "You can wait here in my office, or maybe go visit with Callahan. I'll come by and get you as soon as I'm finished."
Jaime nodded as she looked him in the eyes. "Thanks Rudy, I appreciate it." She didn't feel like talking to Callahan about their trip, there was so much more on her mind, so she waited in Rudy's office. They walked out to his car and drove over to the Mall, grabbing lunch on the way. Rudy found a secluded spot in the shade by the Reflecting Pool and they sat down on a bench to eat their lunch.
Before Jaime could speak, Rudy jumped in. "So, I guess you have a few questions about Oscar right about now." He knew that's what she was after, and there was no reason to make it more difficult on her that it already had been.
Jaime looked at him incredulously. "You knew- you knew I'd go snooping around didn't you?" She wasn't sure whether she was angry or grateful. "I didn't mean to… I mean…I didn't mean to find out. I thought I was just looking at a few…pictures. Then the cat – Kitty – she was stuck just like you said, but I couldn't find her…Oh Rudy!" Leaning into his chest, her eyes were filled with tears.
Rudy patted her gently on the back. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea, sending you in there unprepared. It's just…well, I've watched you over the years, and I can tell that you have…feelings for Oscar. " Jaime's eyes met his. She couldn't believe she was that obvious. Rudy took a deep breath. "Honey, he's been through more than any man should have to bear, and I don't know if he'll ever be able to commit to someone again. I just don't want to see you get hurt." This was going to be difficult, but he had already started down the path now, he might as well go all the way.
"Oscar was married before, as you've probably already guessed. Suzanne was the daughter of one of our ambassadors. They met at a diplomatic party about 15 years ago. They dated for a few months, and then got married. Oscar was just mad about her. I'd never seen him so head over heels in love with anyone. Then a year or so later, Rose and Sam came along – twins. Everything was perfect – for a while, until Suzanne began to have problems with Oscar's work. It was dangerous, and she wanted him to quit. He refused, telling her that she knew what he did when she married him, and that he could take care of them."
Rudy paused for a minute, his eyes began to get moist. Jaime clasped his hands in hers, a terrible sense of dread forming in the pit of her stomach. "And?...Where are they now?"
Rudy swallowed hard and began again, ignoring Jaime's question for the present. "As I said, Oscar and Suzanne were having problems. He was still madly in love with her, but I don't think she felt the same way anymore. She was always sniping at him, disparaging him and his work. He had recently been threatened by an Asian terrorist group, and that didn't help matters any. Anyway, he wanted to take her away to Maine to a cabin he has up there, so they could try to work things out. One day, they had a real quarrel, and she stormed out with the kids. She said she was leaving him, loaded the kids on their boat, and left. He watched her as she rounded the bend. Then he saw the explosion. By the time he drove around to the point, the boat was in flames… He swam out to it, but couldn't find his family. The police divers looked for two days, but couldn't find anything. Then the NSB was called in. They determined that the bomb was set by the terrorist group – they had made good on their threat, but missed their target. They assumed it would be Oscar on the boat. Hansen found the bodies himself. He said there were burned beyond recognition."
Jaime was in shock. She had never dreamed that the smiling people she had seen in the frames had met such a tragic fate. The sick feeling in her stomach burned her insides. "Oh, Rudy. I had no idea. That poor woman – those poor children. I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like for Oscar."
"Jaime, he blames himself. He felt he didn't take the threat seriously. He was the one who refused to quit the O.S.I. " Rudy could see Jaime beginning to protest. "Honey, I know it's not his fault, but he doesn't see it that way. He's never gotten over it – he'll probably never get over it – it's been twelve years since they died. Anyway, maybe now you'll know why he seems so…reserved…sometimes. He's dated off and on several times over the years, but he's never let anyone get too close. I think he's afraid for them – and for himself. "
That night Jaime was still digesting the words she had heard from Rudy. He had asked her not to tell Oscar – to let him tell her in his own time. Jaime felt like she would forever be living a lie until Oscar knew that she was now aware of his past.
The days dragged on, even the cruise didn't lighten her mood. Usually Jaime was the life of the party, but she just couldn't break herself out of the funk she was in. Even Sarah's off-key rendition of "I am Woman Hear me Roar" during Karaoke night barely elicited a chuckle. All she could think of was Oscar.
It would be another month before she would see him. He was coming out to L.A. for a meeting with some representatives from the Chinese government, and Jaime had asked if he would like to come over for dinner the night before. Thankfully, Oscar had said yes.