Rafael thought riding in a jet plane was about the most fun a kid could have. He didn’t wipe the grin off his face the entire flight to Mexico City. Tommy and Kelly couldn’t help but smile at one another, as well, seeing the little boy’s excitement to see the earth from the air and knowing he would be reunited with his father in a matter of hours.
They’d let Rafael have the window seat. Tommy sat in the middle seat. At one point, she turned with a wide smile from watching Rafael and was startled to find Detective Kelly staring at her with an odd look on his face. Immediately, she felt the flush as her skin reddened and looked down. Damn, her redheaded complexion always gave her away, she thought.
Feeling his gaze still on her, Tommy looked up and met Kelly’s eyes. His eyes were misty and she felt, rather than saw, him raise his hand toward her face. Then his face began to move closer and her breath caught in her throat. Suddenly, Rafael whooped with joy over seeing the Grand Canyon out the window below and the spell was broken. But before he turned away, Detective Kelly gently brushed a loose strand of Tommy’s hair back behind her ear and then let his fingers graze her cheeks as he settled back into his chair.
Tommy stared at him, but he wouldn’t look up. Instead, he cleared his throat and grabbed a pack of cards.
“Okay, Rafael, get ready to lose at Go Fish.”
“Bring it on,” Rafael said with a grin.
The trio had a brief layover in Mexico City to catch a smaller plane that would take them to the rural landing strip. Apparently, the landowner whom Rafael’s father worked for owned his own plane and pilot and agreed to fly Rafael’s father to the remote airstrip to pick up the boy.
During their layover, Tommy excused herself and hurried off to the gift shop where she filled a bag with some of Rafael’s favorite American candy and bought some Mexican stamps.
“What’s in the bag, Tommy?” Rafael asked as soon as she returned.
“It’s a secret. You’ll see.”
About a half hour after leaving Mexico City, the smaller plane landed, bumping along the red dirt of the rural airstrip. There was nothing for miles except small rolling hills and giant cactus ripe with purple, red, and pink blossoms. A small shed stood at one end of the landing strip.
After his three passengers had disembarked, the pilot pulled away and parked at the end of the narrow runway, giving another plane room to land and allowing him room to take off later on.
Rafael was the first to hear the distant motor of another plane approaching. This small plane also kicked up dust on landing. As they waited for it to taxi toward them, Rafael could barely control his excitement. He was holding onto both Tommy and Detective Kelly’s hands and jumping straight up and down.
“That’s Senor Pinto’s plane. He’s the one who owns our land. He is a very nice man. He has a mansion, but no kids. He always gives us toys for Christmas.” Rafael talked nonstop, trying to say as much as he could with one breath.
Then, the plane stopped and he became very still. The hatch opened and a small set of steps unfolded. Then a figure appeared in the doorway.
“Papa!” Rafael shouted and broke free, running over to the plane. The man coming out of the plane ran, as well and the two met halfway in a great big hug.
The older man, wearing a plaid shirt, work boots and jeans, whipped off his cowboy hat and put it on Rafael’s head before he lifted him up in the air and swung him around. Rafael screamed with laughter.
Then, the man put Rafael down and stooped into a crouch. Standing a few inches away from Rafael’s face, he held the boy’s chin and spoke in low tones. Rafael looked very serious and nodded several times before a great big smile broke over his face and he leaped into his father’s arms again.
Tommy wiped a tear away. Detective Kelly put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze.
“Happy tears,” Tommy said, turning to him.
“I know,” he said and gently wiped away a tear she has missed. “I’m trying not to bawl myself. That would ruin my tough cop image, you know.”
Rafael and his father walked over to where Tommy and the detective stood.
Up close, the older man looked to only be in his forties, but a lifetime of working out in the sun had worn deep creases into his burnished skin. His hair was still black with just the tiniest frosting of gray at his temples and his eyes crinkled as he smiled at Tommy and the detective.
Rafael was suddenly serious. He took his father’s hand, put it in Tommy’s, and then said something to his father in Spanish, before turning to Tommy.
“Tommy, I would like you to have the pleasure of meeting my father, Senor Vasquez.”
A fragment of Tommy’s high school Spanish returned to her as she gripped the man’s hand. “Senor Vasquez, el gusto es mio.” The pleasure is mine.
“Encantada.” Likewise, the man said, before he was introduced to Kelly, who spoke to him in Spanish. During their conversation, both men looked her way several times, but Tommy didn’t know what they were saying.
Rafael led his father back over to her.
“My papa wants to tell you something. I will translate.”
“He said thank you for bringing his son home. He realizes now that …” and here Rafael got tears in his eyes as he translated. “Although at first he thought he couldn’t give his son the life he deserves here in Mexico, he realizes now that his son belongs here with him.”
It was the older man’s turn to swipe at some tears that had seeped out of his crinkly eyes.
Mr. Vasquez went on, and Rafael continued to interpret.
“He says Mr. Pinto — the landowner — has given him his own plot, given him the deed on the ranch and his own stock of cattle, so he is a landowner now, too, and can pass that onto his … children … his son.”
Rafael looked at Tommy. “Guess I’m going to be a real cowboy.”
She smiled. “You’ll be the best cowboy there ever was. I know it.”
The pilot came over and said something to Rafael’s father.
Mr. Vasquez nodded and said something in Spanish to his son.
“We have to go now, Tommy,” Rafael said, looking excited. “I get to fly in another plane!” Then he looked a little somber. “I’m going to miss you.”
Tommy handed him a little backpack. Inside she had packed the treats from the airport gift shop and some photos she had printed out this morning. They included a photo Kelly had snapped of the two of them.
“Here you go, Rafael. I put a pad of paper and a bunch of envelopes with my name and address on them. I bought some stamps at the airport. Write me. Please.”
“Yes, Tommy. I promise.”
They hugged and when Tommy pulled away, Mr. Vasquez came over. He took both of her hands in his and then stood there, his wise eyes looking deep into hers, saying what words never could. He stared at her for a few seconds and then squeezed both of her hands and said, “Gracias, Senorita St. James. Vamos Dio.” Go with God.
“Thank you. Vamos Dio.”
Then, holding hands, Rafael and his father, walked away and boarded their plane.
Kelly started toward the other small plane to tell their pilot they were almost ready to leave, but Tommy stood riveted at the spot where she had said goodbye.
She stood still as the doors to the small plane closed and the propeller started up.
The red dust swirled around Tommy St. James as the small plane taxied down the dirt runway and turned around. The whine of the engine grew louder as the plane turned and started to go faster down the runway, once more coming toward Tommy. It would pass her right before it lifted into the air.
As it went by, Rafael’s smiling face appeared in one of the windows and his small hand pressed against it, fingers splayed. Tommy raised her hand in a similar gesture, smiling until her cheeks hurt. Then, blowing a long kiss toward the plane that was growing smaller in the blue sky, she turned away, turning her back before the tears slid down her cheek.