Page 70 of Healing Love
He felt her shake her head against his chest before she leaned back to look into his face.
“No, I’m really okay,” she said. “I got an email from Sister Genovia who is coming to the Red Cross event. So, I emailed my reply back. I’m going to go, Cam.”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion, saying, “Are you sure it was her?”
“Yes,” she replied. “She said that Lorainne passed away the night we left and that she had not seen Sharon again.”
Knowing that Cam was in doubt, she led him by the hand over to her laptop, showing him the email.
“I’m going to have Luke take a look at this. I want the Saints to follow up and make sure this was from her.”
“You think it’s false?” she asked, her voice now fearful.
Hating that he put that there, he said, “Don’t know. But I’ll feel better if we check it out.”
Nodding, she smiled, loving his concern and settling back into his embrace.
The Saints worked around the table once more. Assignments were handed out and the new cases were discussed. Bart looked at the calendar and asked, “Jack, would it be okay if I took a few days next week off? It’s been a while since I visited my grandmother in Virginia Beach. I’ve got a cousin there also and I’d like to head out for a family visit. It’ll give me a chance to catch up with some SEAL buds stationed there.”
“Absolutely,” Jack replied, then looked around the table. “Come to think of it, most of you haven’t had anysick or vacation days. You want ‘em, you put ‘em on the calendar and we work around them. Everyone got that?”
Everyone nodded before going back to business.
Luke said, “I’ve got some info for Cam, but figure the rest of you would like in on it.”
Cam turned his immediate attention to Luke, but a quick glance around indicated that all the other Saints were on alert.
“Miriam received an invite to a Red Cross appreciation event but had decided to decline. Last evening she received an email from Sister Genovia, now back with the Red Cross, still in Mexico. The email said that she would be at the event and wanted to see Miriam. And according to Cam, she has now replied that she would attend,” Luke reported. “As you can imagine, Cam wanted me to do an email trace to see what I could find out.”
Sending his information to their tablets, he reported, “The email did come from a computer located at the Red Cross main center in Los Mochis. I contacted them directly and they confirmed that Sister Genovia was returned to the Red Cross center where she has remained working in their main hospital. The storm wiped out more villages that were already damaged from the earthquake and so she’s been busy.”
“So, the cartel let her go?” Bart asked incredulously.
“Apparently,” Luke said. “But not willing to take their word for it, I contacted Alberto for direct confirmation. Manuel went and visited her there. According to the Sister, after Miriam escaped and Lorainne died,someone in the cartel must have taken pity on her and allowed her to return to her Red Cross duties in Los Mochis. It could be their belief system, but from what Miriam told us, Sister Genovia was a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps, fearing the wrath of God, assisted in letting her return.”
“What about the event?” Jack queried.
“She’s got a flight into Richmond on Friday evening and the event is Saturday. I also checked with the Richmond Red Cross, and they said the diocese will be taking care of her while she’s in the country and then her plans were to return to Mexico to continue her work.
Cam slowly nodded his head, knowing that Luke had thoroughly checked everything. Heaving a deep sigh, he thanked his friend, adding, “Thank fuck. Maybe this nightmare is about over for her.”
25
Friday night came faster than Miriam was prepared for. She had spent time with her family since returning from Mexico, but still felt their nervousness around her as though she would disappear at any moment. Cam told her that his family knew he had rescued her thinking that would make her more at ease. Instead, she now fretted, wondering what they must think of her.
Before she had time to convince herself this was a bad idea, they were pulling into the driveway of a neat home in an older neighborhood on the south side of Richmond.It looks so much like the home I grew up in,she realized, taking a deep breath.
As the evening progressed, she could not help but smile at the family dynamics.It not only looks like my home, but they act like my family!
Henrico and Bonita welcomed her immediately with hugs and kisses before ushering her through the houseto the backyard, packed with adults and children. Cam introduced his sisters, Daniella and Bianca, along with their husbands and children. A handsome man, similar in build to Cam with a devilishly wicked smile, was introduced as his brother, Emilio. Emilio immediately took Miriam’s hand, kissed her fingers and began leading her toward the chairs set up near the tables laden with food.
“I’ve been looking forward to seeing if I could steal you away from my brother ever since he showed us your picture,” Emilio said, a sparkle in his eye.
“Emilio!” Bonita yelled. “Behave!”
Emilio threw his head back and laughed as Cam swooped in, grabbing Miriam’s hand while cuffing the back of his brother’s head.
Miriam could not help but laugh at the antics that reminded her so much of her family. After the meal, Bonita maneuvered her over to the side as the men talked and her daughters were watching the children.
