men in Palomar do.”
He stood slowly and looked out across the choppy water. “Are you telling me you don’t think they should get the loan?”
“No, of course not. It’s your decision.”
He shook his head. “It’s Duran’s decision. We’re here to gather facts and give him our opinion.’’
She stood and brushed the crumbs off her pants. “Sometimes the price of a loan is too high.”
The men pushed the balsas back into the water for the return trip. Catherine rolled her pants up and waded into the water. In the boat she trailed her hand in the water as the paddles dipped silently in and out. She felt a sinking sensation in her heart. She didn’t envy Duran if he decided to turn them down. Maybe he would or maybe he’d follow his inclination and give it to them.
She looked over her shoulder across the blue-green water at Josh in the boat behind her. Even from that distance she could see his brow was furrowed and he was thinking it over. Maybe the villagers would be able to maintain a balance between efficient fishing and overfishing even with motorboats. But she was worried. Was this what it was like to take an uncomfortable, unpopular stand? Is this what bankers did every day?
Back on the island the children were just leaving the schoolhouse. Miguel’s son waved to them mid shyly invited them to come with him to visit his uncle, who was a boat builder. The boy was clutching the toy boat he had been working on the night before.
Josh smiled and Catherine said they’d be happy to meet the boat builder. “I think I know what your recommendation will be,” Josh said as they followed the boy along the path to his uncle’s.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, she answered, “Don’t listen to me. I don’t know anything about making loans or fishing for that matter. Forget what I said.”
“I can’t. What’s happened to the woman who made up her mind before she even got here?” He took her hand and they walked side by side down the path lined with reeds.
“She’s here. But she’s confused. I want what’s best for the people and what’s best for you...”
“But you’re not sure what that is and neither am I,” he confessed.
She glanced up at him. “If this is what it’s like to be a banker, then I feel sorry for you.”
He pulled her close, his hip hard and solid against hers. “Don’t. Sometimes banking has unexpected rewards. Sometimes someone comes to my office by mistake.”
“Like me?” she asked. “That was no mistake.”
“And asks for something impossible,” he continued.
“Like a loan to buy a truck?”
“And I say no.”
“But you feel bad about it.”
He nodded and smoothed her hair with his hand.
“So you change your mind.” She turned and pressed her palms against his. “Josh, I don’t want to let you down.”
The emotion in her voice surprised him. He motioned the boy to go on ahead and linked his arms loosely around her waist. “You’re not going to let me down. What’s happened to you? I’ll never forget your telling me all you wanted was some small change and you asked me what I had to lose.”
“That was before I knew you, before I realized what you had to lose. Before I realized how much your job means to you.”
“No more than yours means to you.” He slid his hands up her arms until he held her by her shoulders.
Her braid had come undone and the loose tendrils framed her face and softened her earnest expression. “This is just one of my jobs. The farm in Palomar is just one of the many farms I’m going to work and the Mamara are just one tribe of Indians I’m going to help. It’s not the same for you.”
He watched, fascinated, while her cheeks turned pink as she grew more animated.
“You’re moving up and I’m moving sideways,” she explained. The sun shone on her dark hair as the smell of reeds drying in the sun at the boat builder’s house wafted their way. The boy had long ago disappeared down the path, and they were alone, hidden from view by the tall grasses.
“Then how do you think our paths crossed?” he asked, tucking a dark wisp of hair behind her ear.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “But I’m glad they did.”
He leaned forward and captured her face between his hands. He felt the warmth of her face, watched her take his hand in hers and kiss his broad palm.