change her clothes she began packing up to go home. She didn’t look forward to being in the truck without someone to sleep on. Resolutely she banished the thought from her mind, the thought of strong, broad shoulders and a soothing voice, and picked up her old clothes to change for the ride home.
But out of the corner of her eye, as if she’d made him appear by thinking about him, Josh was approaching. Easily visible above the crowd, he was wearing his three-piece suit, the jacket slung over his shoulder just like the first time she’d seen him. She stood staring at him as the contrast of light and shadow played tricks on her eyes, afraid that if she took her eyes away for even a moment, he would disappear like a mirage.
Their eyes locked and held as he came closer and closer until he finally stood facing her, his eyes taking a tour of her new skirt and sweater. She felt her body respond as if he’d touched her. But he didn’t. He only looked. Her skin tingled, her heart pounded until he finally spoke.
“Are you going somewhere?” he asked.
“Yes, home.” She followed his gaze. “Oh, you mean because I’m wearing... These are my new clothes I bought from Jacinda’s friend the weaver.” She was babbling. She couldn’t stop.
Jacinda sidled up to Josh. “¿Le gusta?” she asked, nodding her head at Catherine.
He smiled. “Me gusto mucho,” he assured her, using one of the phrases he was sure of. The Spanish class he’d taken before he’d come occasionally paid off.
Pleased, Jacinda went back to her packing while Catherine’s face turned the delicate pink of her sweater.
“I’m glad I caught you,” he said. “I owe you a dinner. And I’ve got some news for you.”
She shook her head. “You don’t owe me anything. Can’t you just tell me the news? The truck will be here in a few minutes.” She began piling papayas into boxes with potatoes without knowing what she was doing.
“It will take longer than a few minutes. It will take about three hours, about as long as it takes to eat dinner in a restaurant around here.” He rocked back on his heels, radiating patience, waiting until she made up her mind.
“Not if you go to the Folklore Club in the city,” she said, smoothing the fabric of her new skirt.
“Is that the place that’s crowded with Peace Corps volunteers?”
“Yes, it’s busy and noisy, but the food is good and cheap.”
He shook his head. “That’s not where we’re going.”
“Oh.” She was suddenly out of breath and out of fruit and vegetables to pack. The women were starting the trek to the truck, the leftover produce on their backs once again. “How would I get home?” she asked a little desperately.
“Taxi,” he answered. “I’m going to go get my car, anyway. I have my new hose in here.” He lifted his briefcase, then set it down. “I know what’s bothering you. You don’t know how to tell Jacinda and the women. I’ll handle that.”
Openmouthed, she watched him waylay Jacinda as she passed with a stack of empty boxes and explained, augmenting his limited Spanish with sign language, that he was taking la Catalina to dinner and would bring her home in a taxi before the rooster crowed.
There was no mistaking Jacinda’s approval. The look in her eyes was worth a thousand words. And before she knew it Catherine was being hustled out of the marketplace with Josh’s hand firmly on her elbow. Skyscrapers, rising to meet the hills that surrounded the city, cast shadows over the wide streets. Teregape was bathed in a reddish glow.
With the sun sinking behind the altiplano the temperature was dropping, but Catherine didn’t notice. She felt the warmth of Josh’s hand on her arm. He said he had news. He wouldn’t take her out to dinner to give her bad news, would he? Standing there waiting for a break in the steady stream of cars, she didn’t know.
She couldn’t think. She could only feel, and what she felt was light-headed and short of breath. And after eighteen months she could hardly blame the altitude. It must be something else.
Chapter Four
Stepping off the noisy crowded street and into the Restaurante Roberto was a shock. Suddenly it was calm and quiet. A maitre d’ in a tuxedo glided forward across a tiled floor and bowed from the waist.
“Buenos noches, Guillermo,” Josh said.
Guillermo’s eyes flickered over Catherine for a moment, and a faint smile crossed his