It was now or never, Nick knew. Then again, it had been such a pleasant evening so far. His news would ruin the mood.
Nick, Buck, Maggie, and Anna sat at a small wooden table underneath the thatched portico of the restaurant. It was a night of celebration and appreciation for Anna’s hard work and for Maggie’s…everything. The aroma of the fried fish, homemade French fries, and local salsa lingered in the night air. The waitress removed their empty plates and asked if they wanted coffee. A large macaw parrot on a perch in the corner made them laugh every time it spouted off colorful language.
A light rain cooled the night, and Maggie pulled a sweater over her shoulders.
“Thank you, guys, so much for dinner,” she said, dabbing her mouth with a napkin and putting it down in front of her.
“Yes, thanks so much,” Anna echoed.
“I hope you know how much we appreciate what you’re doing down here, Maggie,” Buck said. “This tough old soldier has shed more tears this week than he can remember. Of course I remember shedding a few when Jeremiah got his temporary legs. Oh, Nick. Where did the time go? I’ve been meaning to show you a picture.” Buck grabbed his cell phone from his pocket, pulled up a photo, and showed it around the table—Jeremiah and Buck standing together on their prosthetic legs. Buck shed another tear. “Come to think about it, I guess I’m just a big cry baby.”
They all laughed.
Nick was conflicted seeing his young patient in Memphis. He dreaded going back to the grind, but knew there were good works to be done at the MED. “Man, that’s great. Thanks so much, Buck, for helping see to it that he was fitted.”
The waitress set down a coffee in front of each of them. An old-fashioned jukebox played Latin love songs.
“You’re being awfully quiet, Nick. You okay?” Maggie asked.
Nick looked at Buck and knew it was time. He swallowed. “Well, it’s just that Buck and I are thinking of going to Tikal.”
The color drained from Maggie’s face as she leaned back in her chair.
“I don’t know, Maggie,” Nick was quick to interject, “there are still so many unanswered questions for me about John. I think I’m supposed to go to Tikal. I don’t know how to explain it.”
They sat in uncomfortable silence.
Maggie processed the news. “And if I tell you no?”
Nick looked at Buck. “Then we won’t go,” Nick said, almost hoping that was her answer.
“What good do you think it will do?”
Nick and Buck had decided they would tell her nothing about the map or the villages or FOCO. Maybe they were making too much of all of it.
“You can blame it on me, Maggie,” Buck offered. “I encouraged Nick to do this.”
Maggie smiled at Buck, but saw right through him.
“What are you thinking, Maggie?” Nick asked.
“I’m wondering if I could ever go with you.”
“You are absolutely welcome. I hope you know that.”
“I know that, Nick,” Maggie smiled. “I just don’t know if I could go. I know John is in heaven, probably stirring up some sort of ruckus as we speak,” she said, trying to break the tension. “I’ve already thought about this whole thing. I know there is nothing I can do to bring him back to me. It’s just that I couldn’t stand it if something happened to either of you two.”
“I promise I’ll take care of him.” Buck put his arm over Nick’s shoulders.
Maggie shook her head. “I’m telling both of you to be careful.” She pointed a finger at each of them, almost daring them to disobey her.
They saw the resolve in her eyes.
“When would you go? Aren’t you both leaving Sunday?”
“Uh…tomorrow?” Nick said tentatively.
“Oh, you guys.” Maggie picked up her napkin, crumpled it, and threw it at Nick. “Nothing like giving a gal a little time to think.”
“I’m sorry, Maggie. I know this is hard, but we won’t go without your blessing.”
Maggie sat in silence.
They knew she was praying.
Finally, she said, “Okay, but you guys have to promise to be careful. I think you should go, but I’m just not ready to go along.”
Nick and Buck smiled without joy but satisfied with the decision.
Anna hadn’t spoken during the entire conversation. Now that it had been decided, she said. “I’ll go with you.”
“No!” all three said in unison.
Anna’s face turned red, but she continued, “Look, you guys speak about ten words of Spanish between you. A lot of good that’s going to do you.”
There was another long silence.
“Your whole team is headed to Antigua tomorrow for a week of shopping. You don’t want to miss out on that, do you?” Maggie asked.
Anna leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and dug in her heels. “I know I’m going to be a whole lot more useful to ya’ll.”
Nick looked at Buck. They both shrugged. She was right. They looked at Maggie.
“All right, but I’m not feeling very good about any of this.”