I didn’t want us to start the trip as if we’re going to be lovers. I still have so many questions that are unanswered, and the more I want them answered, the more I think that I don’t want to know.

I’m confused, but there’s one thing that’s abundantly clear… I want to put the past behind me. But curiosity gets the better of me, and I want to ask him, but then I stop myself from doing it.

I tried calling Mom a few times, and this morning when I was headed to the airport, the line was disconnected as if they didn’t exist. As if I had the wrong number, I didn’t know anyone in the Seychelles, all I could do was assume that they managed to get the money from someone. I couldn’t contact anyone else in the family because their numbers were on my old phone. I could call the town and figure out how to get in touch with certain family members. The ones who were happy to be in touch with us when we had money and turned their backs the moment we fell on hard times. The term ‘blood is thicker than water’ only seemed to be useful when they wanted money, and they were ignorant the moment there was no money for them to take.

I shake my head as I think about the one family that wasn’t related to me and they helped me in more ways than anyone else had done in their lives and they wanted nothing from me. Well, just one thing, and that was love.

I take out my new cell and look at the photo of them. The one we took last night when I had to say goodbye to them. I could be watching a movie or even talking to Ted. Trying to figure out what he has planned for, once we get to Mexico. I’m not stupid, his ticket was an invitation for us to be together, I didn’t have to take it, but I did because I knew he’d made me feel more of a woman than anyone else had done…More than myself.

He’d shown me there was more to life than being alone. Something I’d taken for granted for far too long.

But I want to be with the new Marco, Ted. The one that’s not part of the mobster gang and the only way to do that was to act like strangers.

I trace a finger down my cell as I look at Fred’s infectious smile, the sadness in both Cheryl and Olivia’s eyes which they’d try to hide, but did a bad job of doing.

“Your parents and sister?” Ted asks as he peers to the right and looks at my cell. Trust him to think of everything.

We checked in separately, but he still managed to make sure that we sat together in Economy. A far cry from First Class or even riding on his jet. He was changing, and maybe he hated it, but I could only find out if we pretended we knew nothing about each other.

“No. Yes. It’s a bit complicated. I’m just sad to be leaving them.”

He nods his head and asks, “Why do you have to?”

I sigh. “Because I want them to be safe,” I whisper as I look to make sure the guy sitting next to me isn’t listening, but I can see that he’s fast asleep. “There’s someone after me, and I don’t want them to be caught up in the midst of it all. I love them too much.”

He agrees, “It’s best to protect the ones that you love.”

“Have you ever done that before?”

He smiles. “Yes. I’m doing it right now.”

I stop and look at him. He’s telling me that he loves me. But we don’t even know each other. No longer are there tears in my eyes. My mind flashes back to last night when I was talking about it with Olivia. She told me that I should go to Mexico.

‘Olivia, he tried to kill me. And my family,’ I reminded her.

But she looked at me with sincerity in her eyes and said, ‘So, that’s why you spend most of the day looking at his table. Waiting for him to come into the diner?’

She raised an eyebrow at that point; I knew we were unfinished business. I came to the airport to see him. To thank him for the money. I spent all night debating what to wear. Olivia helped, and she said, ‘You have to go. Life’s too short. I want you to be happy. Go after him, Leah, otherwise you’ll regret it.’

I left out the part about her life being in danger if I didn’t leave. I had a feeling that it was going to come back to haunt me and I had confirmation as soon as I didn’t hear back from Mom or Hayley. They were dead or as good as dead, that’s why Marco insisted on me leaving. He wouldn’t have brought the ID and money if something hadn’t happened and that was the only thing I could think that could make made him want to insist on me having it. As well as the fact that he’s gone out of his way to change his appearance or maybe this is the real Marco coming out. The one I’m intrigued to get to know better.

“What’s your story?” I smile as I wonder if he’s going to act as if we know each other or if he realizes what I’m trying to do and the need for this to work.

“I’m leaving the past behind and starting up a new tourist boat guide business across Mexico.”

“Wow,” I say, as I’m impressed that he’s already found a plan. Mine started with getting to the airport and didn’t go any further than that.

“Yes, I used to work in business. But I’m not looking to grow it. Just keep it simple until retirement.” He winks at me.

“You don’t look as if you’re ready for retirement.”

He comes so close that our lips could almost touch if he wants them to, but he doesn’t as he teases me with his woody scent. “I still have a couple of decades, which is a lot less than you have.”

He has me there, but apart from teasing each other about our ages, our conversation changes to my Spanish lesson. The one I was hoping to have on the plane, and now I’m having it. I can’t think of anything better than going to Mexico with Marco.

That’s if he’ll have me.

I’ll just have to sit back and wait and see.