I had just started my second mug of java and pan-fried bread when Doreen came back with her Land-Rover. Sitting on the ruins by the road, the sun had just started to lighten the sky, but Doreen had turned her lights off and was being as quiet as possible. Since I was sitting in the darker section of some overarching wall, she probably hadn't seen me.
Doreen swung her legs out of the driver's seat and slowly closed the door as silently as possible.
Behind her, I asked, "Ready for some coffee?" And watched her jump. "How was town?"
"I had to go get something." She looked me in the eyes, as if to see what I had figured out.
"That's pretty much what I thought. Meet anybody we know?"
"I don't know what you are talking about! Are you accusing me of doing something?" Doreen was a storm cloud now, ready to peal thunder.
"Oh, just let it go. There's nothing valuable here, so your business is your business." I noticed the photo cases were gone from the back seat. "You have to try this native coffee. With the bread, it's like one of those high-priced coffees with donuts." I took her arm and lead her back to the church ruins.
She relaxed as she walked.
The Father met us at what was the main doors with her mug. "Here. Just poured it. Hope you like goat's cream."
We all trooped into the main sanctuary toward the center, where a small fire was being tended by a native woman. The smell of fried bread, eggs, and sausage all filled the air from her frying pan. A big pot of coffee was suspended from an iron hook and swung away from the fire to keep it hot, but not cooking.
Alphonse was all smiles as usual, and stood as we returned. "Ah, so the prodigal daughter returns in one piece - with a mug of java to boot! No better way to start the day, in my estimation - a beautiful, intelligent woman and some spicy native brew - the two most valuable items a man could enjoy, in my humble opinion." Al gave a small bow as he said so.
Doreen, used to him and his Latin flattery by now, smiled in return.
"Joe was worried about you, but knew you could handle yourself. Meanwhile, our little lady here showed up to make coffee and sweetbread for us - so life is perfect once again." Al sat on a nearby stone and sipped his brew, adding a dollop of rum from his flask for more flavor.
"Well, father, what's up today?" I asked.
Father George broke into his habitual smile. "Well, we have to meet some visitors at the figure today. They are coming in with some heavy equipment down the trail you both used. It's taken them about three days to get here and they'll finish setting up about noon, which is just enough time for us to get back into the valley and have a nice lunch."
Doreen coughed and almost dropped her mug, but caught it in time, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Wrong pipe." she explained.
Al and I looked at each other. The father was just looking into the small fire, seeming to just enjoy the interchange as he did the sun rising in the east.