Found at Sea - By Anne Marie Duquette Page 0,29
aloud. He instantly regretted his slip of the tongue, but wouldn’t apologize for the honesty behind it.
“Well,” Tanya said, recovering quickly, “you’re pretty rude.”
And you’re not? But all he asked was “How are you?”
“Are you blind or just stupid?”
Jordan folded his arms across his chest and said nothing. She wants to argue...to show me her stuff. Well, I’m willing to watch. I need to know what I’m dealing with—what Aurora’s up against.
“So you’re the guy Rory thinks will spring us all.” Tanya released the bars so she could flip her hair up and away from her face with a practiced motion. “When? I’m sick of this place, and Mom needs some fresh air. U.S. of A. air.”
So—at least she cares for her mother. “How is she?” Jordan asked.
“In the hospital—or didn’t you hear me the first time?”
“Has anyone questioned you about our venture?” He introduced the subject abruptly, hoping to ensure a truthful answer.
“Nope.” She seemed a bit puzzled.
“Good. If anyone does ask, your aunt wants you to keep quiet about our plans. Think you can manage that?”
“I suppose...for now,” she said, deliberately taunting him. “Just make sure your plans don’t take too long. Tell Aurora to move faster and get me out of here.”
Just as deliberately, Jordan turned his back on Tanya and politely addressed the guard in Spanish. “I’m finished here. Could you please show me out?”
The listening guard threw a disdainful look at Tanya, then approached Jordan, throwing a Spanish insult at Tanya as they left the hallway. Jordan knew Tanya understood it by her reaction. The guard’s words were the Spanish equivalent of Jordan’s earlier remark.
“White trash.”
* * *
AURORA SAT ON the edge of her sister’s bed, since there were no chairs for visitors, and held Dorian’s hand. Dorian seemed even thinner and more listless than before, sick and disheartened. Wasting away. Aurora’s visit hadn’t cheered her sister at all, not even talk of how Jordan and she were now legal partners.
“Come on, Dori...” The old nickname brought back memories of “Rory and Dori,” two happy children who stuck together through thick and thin until Aurora wasn’t a child anymore. “You’ve got to eat. The doctor says you aren’t getting enough nutrition.”
Dorian started crying silently, tears rolling down her face. Aurora suspected she didn’t have the strength for anything more, and cold fear filled her heart. “Dori, don’t...” Aurora pleaded, close to tears herself.
Now what do I do? I can’t leave her like this....
“I can’t help it,” Dorian sobbed. “My family’s split up, the lawyers have failed, and I’ll never see Gerald again. We’ll never be together, ever.”
Aurora looked in vain for a tissue box, then reached for a corner of the sheet and dabbed at Dorian’s cheeks.
“Listen,” Aurora said, suddenly inspired. “I’ve saved the best for last. I’ve got news about Gerald.”
“You have?”
Aurora nodded, hating herself for the lie. “Yes. He’s in the men’s jail not too far from here. And I’ve got to tell you, it’s a lot plusher than what you and Tanya have to put up with.”
Dorian’s hands squeezed Aurora’s. “You talked to him? How is he?”
“Fine. Great. In fact, I think he’s putting on weight.” Good thing Jordan’s not here now to listen to me spin these tall tales.
“When? When did you see him?”
“Right before I came here. He asked me how you were but, Dori, he was worried when I told him you’re sick. And next visit, I’ll have to tell him you’re even worse.”
“Don’t,” Dorian begged. “Tell him a white lie for me.”
“You want me to lie?” Inside, Aurora winced at the irony of her question.
“Please, he’ll worry. I’ll be fine. Just fine by your next visit. Tell him that.”
“Well, I don’t know...”
“I promise I’ll force down this prison slop. Tell Gerald that Tanya and I are okay. Tanya is. That part’s not a lie.”
Aurora considered the question. “All right, but only if you promise to do everything the doctors say and try to eat. I want you out of this sickbed before I see you again.”
Dorian sighed with contentment, and some of the stress left her face. “Did you tell Tanya the good news about her father?”
“Not yet, but I will. I wanted to tell you first.”
“Go tell her now,” Dorian urged. “I’m tired.” Before Aurora could protest, Dorian signaled to the guard with a weak, beckoning gesture. Aurora had no choice but to rise and kiss her sister on the cheek.
“Give Gerald my love,” Dorian whispered. “Tell him I miss him. And please, please, get us out