While California will always be home to him, there's just something about Texas that Ricardo can't ever really let go of. He had had some good times here, and it helps him to feel close to his heritage as well. So being back there, one final stop before he plans on returning to Egypt- hopefully with Alicia and Andre in tow as well, if they could ever cut through the rest of this red tape in time, which ugh... is proving to be more complicated than Ricardo could've imagined, even with his various connections brought about from years of working for one of the richest men in the world.

Trying to rid his mind of these thoughts, Ricardo enjoys his time in Texas as best as he can. Explores it in ways he hasn't in a long time, visiting familiar haunts, finding new ones. There's a few new restaurants, struggling in the wake of the last couple of years, and he enjoys trying them out, tossing money their way. It's fun, and helps make the long phone calls he has with Egypt every day, getting a little closer every day to sorting out his family's VISAs, almost bearable.

He's rubbing his forehead during another of these calls when the voice on the other end asks, "So it is just you, your wife, and your child? No nanny for the child?"

He's about to say no, when he pauses, wondering. "Si, yes, actually. There is. Sofia." They had talked in length before he'd left for Texas about how she was going to miss them and wished she could accompany them. He almost feels stupid for not thinking of it sooner. He's not sure if this will slow things down, he hopes not, but it feels right to include her.

There's a pause, a shuffling of papers, a note being made. "Very well. We will contact you in one to three business days with further information. Thank you."

And the call disconnects. Ricardo stares at the phone in confusion, unsure if that means they're going to be approved, or he'll need to go through all of this jargon one more time. Either way... he thinks he's just involved Sofia in a trip she wasn't planning on actually going on, and oh shit... He lunges for his phone, dialing her quickly. "Sofia? Lo siento, I have some news, are you sitting down?"

He explains the situation to her and listens to her sitting back with a hard phlomp, cringing. "Sofia? Are you alright? I'm so sorry, it jut- I don't know, my mouth worked faster than my brain, I didn't mean-"

"Your mouth is a beautiful thing, mi hijo," she says quietly, shutting him up immediately. "I did not want to impose, but... all I could think about the last few weeks is how badly I was going to miss you all if you went to Egypt. How I wished I could go too, but did not want to force your hand on what was a family trip." She sounds near tears, and he feels like a horrible person. "I... I am so happy you thought of me at all, Ricardo."

He bites his lip, digging his fingers into his thighs. "Sofia," he breathes out. "My god. I am so sorry, I never thought..." He shakes his head. "I don't know what I thought, I just... never imagined... it's been such a long couple of years, and the pandemic is still bad out there in places, I never thought you'd want to fly anywhere right now. I should've asked instead of assuming. I hope... you can forgive me."

She still sounds a little shaky, but much warmer. "Of course, you were forgiven long ago, mi hijo." She pauses. "You truly want me on this trip with you?"

"Of course I do!" he says. "Every time I saw something amazing in Egypt, I wished I could have you with me to experience it alongside me. Now... now I think we'll be able to."

She laughs softly. "I cannot wait."

"You'd better get packing then, I think this call ending more promising than any of the others have yet. So maybe, perhaps, I am close to getting it worked out where all four of us can go."

"I will, Ricardo. And again, muchas gracias. I love you."

He breathes out slowly. "I love you too, Sofia. We'll talk soon."

She hangs up and he lets his hand go limp, resting the phone by his side. He shakes his head, still perplexed by how things have changed so suddenly, but in such a good way, too.