Notes from a Spinning Planet—Mexico (25 page)

“Take care,” calls Sid. Shelby just nods, then puts the phone back to her ear, saying, “I'm back, Mom.”

After we're outside, we tell the guys about what just happened.

“I always knew you had real nerve,” says Ian with admiration.

“Good for you,” says Ryan. “I wondered myself about talking to her parents. They might have their problems, but they're reasonable people, and I know they love their daughter.”

“Well, it seemed the only thing to do,” says Sid as we load things into both cars. “We couldn't just leave her like that. I hope it all works out.

“I told her I'd be praying for her,” I say. “In fact, I said we all would. I hope you guys don't mind.”

They all agree they'll be praying. And then, after Ryan promises
to drive carefully, Ian lets him take me in the Jeep, and Ian and Sid take the car. But before we go to the airport, we want to deliver our letters of recommendation to Francesca. Sid sealed them all in a big yellow envelope, and we'll drop them at the hotel for her. Hopefully, Francesca will be there.

As usual, it's hectic in the office at Playa del Monaco, but Francesca smiles and waves to us, and I go around to the other side of the counter and hand her the big envelope.

“I have something for you as well,” she says, handing me a bag. “It's not much, but it's my way of saying thank you. And my great-aunt's address is in there if you want to stay in touch.”

“I do,” I tell her. “So you're moving in with her?”

“Next weekend. I already told my boss I'm quitting,” she says quietly.

“Well, we have to go now,” I say.
“jAdios, mi amigal”

“Adiós, mis amigos,” she calls out to the four of us. “jMuchas gradasi”

“Thanks so much, you guys,” I tell everyone as we go to our cars. “I appreciate your help with the letters, and I know Francesca does too.

I get back into the Jeep before I open the bag she gave me. Inside, wrapped in layers of tissue paper, I find a small Mexican doll. I'm not sure what the significance of this is, but the doll is lovely, and although it's not new, it's in good shape. And the face reminds me of Francesca. And just like she said, there on a small white card is Lenora Tarrago's address in Todos Santos.

“I'm coming back here someday,” I tell Ryan as he follows Sid and Ian down the highway. “And I'm going to visit Francesca in Todos Santos when I do.”

“Me too,” says Ryan.

“Really?”

“Yeah, of course.” Then he turns and grins at me. “Maybe we'll come together.”

id and I are on our flight back to Seatde now. Getting out of the airport was much simpler than getting in, although Sid informs me well have to go through customs in Seattle. “Just De warned: they'll probably be very interested in that doll Francesca gave you.”

“Oh.”

We're both tired and don't talk too much during the first half of the flight. I'm still trying to process everything Ryan said to me, wondering if it really happened or if I simply dreamed the whole thing. But then I remember his metaphor about me being like a sunset and Shelby more like fireworks, and I think, yeah, it was real.

“I had a message from Lydia,” says Sid as she closes her cell phone. “She's so excited to see us again.”

“That's right,” I say suddenly. “I almost forgot.”

“You're not having second thoughts, are you?” asks Sid. “I mean, about being roommates with Lydia and me during winter semester?”

“Of course not. It's just that so much has happened I almost forgot about school.”

“Yes, it's back to the normal life soon.” Sid sighs.

“Well, not completely normal for you,” I point out. “You are an engaged woman.”

She holds out her hand and examines her ring, smiling. “Yes, I am.”

“When did Ian get that anyway?” I ask her. “I can't imagine shopping for something like that down here in Mexico. What if it wasn't a real diamond?”

She laughs. “Oh, it's real, all right. He bought it in Ireland. He actually called my assistant to find out my ring size. I can't believe she didn't spill the beans.”

“So he knew before he came down here that he was going to propose?”

“He knew before Christmas. He had wanted to do it on Christmas Eve.”

“Instead, he got New Year's.”

She nods and smiles.

“Have you guys set a date?”

“We were thinking about summer, but that seems a long way off now.” She glances at me. “And we're not getting any younger.”

“Why wait?”

“Oh, I've got a couple of projects I need to take care of, and we haven't setded on where we'll live.”

“That's right,” I say with concern. “You're not going to move from Seatde, are you?”

“Not anytime soon. But it is possible to continue my job from any location.”

I frown.

“Ian said he'd like to look into the possibility of opening a restaurant in the Seattle area. So you just never know.”

“That's a great idea,” I say. “I'm sure Ian would be a hit in Seattle.”

“Ian would be a hit anywhere,” she says. “I miss him already.”

I nod. “I know how you feel.”

Her eyes open wide, and she looks closely at me. “Things seem to have taken a quick turn for you two. At first I thought you were just having a good time on New Year's Eve and perhaps you could just blame it on Cabo. But then I saw Ryan looking at you, and suddenly I wasn't so sure. It'seems to have turned fairly serious.”

So I tell her about some of the things that just transpired, admitting that even my head is spinning a little. Oh, I don't tell her everything—some things aren't meant to be shared—but I tell her enough that she's nicely surprised. And that's sort of fun.

“Well, you know I love that boy, Maddie. And even though I wanted to knock him across the side of the head for spending time with Shelby, I figured he'd come to his senses sooner or later.”

“Oh, he did.”

“I guess I just hadn't figured on this.”

“Me neither.”

She's looking at an airline map now, studying it fairly closely, almost as if she's measuring miles.

“Counting up your frequent-flier miles?” I ask.

“Nope.”

“Planning another research trip?”

“Nope.”

“What then?”

“Trying to pick a location that's midway between Ireland and Seattle.”

I consider this. “Would that be like Tibet or Istanbul or something?”

She laughs. “I was actually thinking of the other direction, going east from Seattle—fewer miles that way.”

“Oh yeah.” Call me geographically challenged.

“Like right here.” She points to a spot.

I peer down at the map again. “New York?”

She turns and looks at me. “Ever been to New York?”

“Yeah, right. Like when would that have been?”

“It's a very cool city, Maddie. And lots of history too. Everyone should go there at least once.”

I grin. “Hey, you know me, Sid. I'm always game to travel.”

“So do you have the bug then?”

I think about this. “Maybe so,” I admit. “I mean, it seems funny when I consider how freaked I was over the air turbulence when we were flying to Ireland last summer. Remember how I had that huge panic attack, imagining a crash-landing down on the polar icecap and being cannibalized by other passengers?”

She smiles and nods. “I remember wondering if it had been a mistake to invite you along. But you got over it.”

“And now I love going places,” I say happily. “It's like I feel comfortable wherever I am, whether I'm riding a bike down a lonely road in Ireland, or being one of the few white people at a sing-sing in Papua New Guinea, or blasting down a crowded highway in a wreck of a car in Mexico. Its like I'm going to be just fine, you know?”

“So what happened, Maddie? What made you change?”

“Probably several things. Mostly I think I've learned to trust God more. I mean, if I start getting worried or freaked, I just try to put it in Gods hands. Sometimes I imagine God cradling the globe in his hands, and I tell myself that as long as I'm with God, the Creator of the universe, I can be comfortable and at home anyplace on the planet.”